Chapter 9: The vicious plot

The beautiful star who was born to sing wasn't only crawling, but now, she was also walking very uprightly!

She was beaming brightly and shooting all over the globe with the sweetness of her voice.

Whitney was now in her nineteens, signed a major record contract with Clive Wilson and now had her first album out on the market for the public to enjoyed and critique as much as they wanted to.

But none of the critiquing weren't negative... they were all positive; loved and enjoyed by every living soul who had the volume of her songs turned to their ear.

Clive Wilson and Ann Hathaway were now feeling exceptionally proud of her and how far they had come along with their decision to show the waiting world what a very exceptional singer Whitney Washington is. Especially, Ann, who had been with Whitney for the past three years, rehearsing songs after songs in the basement of her house, and working tirelessly for this moment to arrive and come alive in their lives.

Hearing Whitney's songs on the radio one night, Gail and Dorothy packed their suite cases and were on the next flight to California for the big celebration. They too had started readying themselves for this big moments by eating right and staying fit; so they would be better able tag along for some of the journey, the young lady in their lives were embarking on in their homeland and also around the world.

Unfortunately, Dorothy's daughter, Elizabeth was unable to make the flight because she was still having her college sessions and couldn't miss out on her education to be one of Whitney's main group-pees. However, she was telling all her friends on campus that Whitney was a very dear friend of hers and how they had stayed at her house and had shared bed and even ate meals together.

But Elizabeth promised her mother that soon as she was on college break, she would be catching the next flight to California to join in the celebration of Whitney's success with them.

And even though, overjoyed by Whitney's grand accomplishment, Elizabeth knew that her college sessions were her top priority at the moment, but she couldn't wait for spring break to arrive so she could travel and partake in this historic moment with the girl who was from her home town and who she once had a one night stand with.

However, Ann had Benjamin picked up her daughter and her friend Dorothy at the airport and brought them back to the Sherrington Hotel where they were staying. So they could shower Whitney with their love and support during these times when strangers from all walks of life were up in her face and forcing a mic down her throat, just to get her to answer questions that might be quite unknown to her.

Seeing all these familiar faces in one room, made Whitney's heart filled with much gratitude, and now she wasn't perceiving Ann, Gail and Dorothy as her friends, but as her family.

They were the ones who had kept her encouraged, fork out money from their own pockets to facilitate her dreams, and were by her side from the very beginning after Dorothy discovered her singing all alone inside Gail's mother's house while they were gone to see the doctor after Gail set Elizabeth a fire after having a jealous fight in Dorothy's back yard in the middle of the night.

Clive Wilson now brought in the team of make-up artists, wardrobe team, and asked Peter Tosh who was still on the pay-roll, to stick around and help Whitney with whatever she needed to make her comfortable during this time of her first album debut - unveiling. So she could breathe and relax better during this period when the heat was on her like a raging furnace, and almost every television station were calling to have an interview with her back to back.

Whitney could sing for sure and had a vocal like no other!

She was tall and beautiful, also funny at times.

But, there were moments when she could be shy and withdrawn; not wanting to say much around a bunch of unfamiliar faces; only remaining still, and being observant to whatever that was going on around her.

And Clive thought to himself.

"She is a real, masterpiece!"

Whitney's very first major television interview went extremely well, with Clive, Ann, Dorothy, and also Gail seated at the front row of the audience; beaming with smiles and cheering her on. And in that moment, Whitney publicly acknowledged all those who were with her from the very beginning of her singing career and who worked like dogs to make sure that it happen for her. Before answering any of the questions posed to her by the interviewers at the television station.

And with her acknowledgement of those who had lifted her up and kept her up high, the universe was loving her much more. Because, not only was she gifted with a wonderful talent, but everyone was seeing, hearing and feeling the kindness of her soul; how she loved giving honor where honor was due, and how filled with gratitude she were to them regardless of the pedestal that she was lorded upon.

Before her interview was ended, she stood up and sang for the entire watching audience, received a standing ovation after she was done blazing the roof with the melody of her voice and the lyrics intertwining with rhymes and telling a profound story at the same time. Just after leaving that TV studio in California, Clive received a call from another television studio in New York City, inviting Whitney to come and chat with them over in the big apple!

So, she could spread the message of her music there and graced them with her beautiful presences and the harmonious melody of her tantalizing voice!

Moments after Clive had accepted that they would be in New York City in the next two days, Japan, England, Africa, Spain and Dubai was calling, pleading and beseeching for Whitney Washington to come to their land and blessed their shores with her astounding gracefulness and her charismatic voice.

The entire globe was crying for Whitney Washington to come to them, and many movie director wanted her in their pictures as well! Some were even writing stories just to accommodate her beauty, her charm and magnificent and elegant composure.

But Clive was saying. "Not now!"

He wanted her travelling the world as a musical sensation before embarking on the big picture screens. He wanted to be in control of her and everything around her! Especially now that he was thinking about divorcing his cheating wife!

Through their travels all around the country and outside of it, He and Whitney had developed an amazing friendship and he loved the way she spoke to him and treated him even though he was twice her age and didn't see himself as any match to be her lover or future husband; but she was making him feel happy and for him, that was enough for now.

Nonetheless, since Clive had no intention of releasing Whitney to the film industry right way someone came up with the idea that she should start making videos while she sang the lyrics to her songs and she would generate even a bigger audience because persons would be watching her on the screens just like she was in the movies. Clive, now in full control of her vision and her career as an artists, thought it was an excellent idea because she would be still singing the songs from her album while her presences would be show casing for her fans to see her. And since she was still singing a thirty percent of her music video sales would be going into his pocket from that invention. Clive now had Whitney performing to each of the twelve different songs on her very first music album in music videos and all turned out to be a great success and had fans craving for her even more than before.

Indeed, she was a spectacular sight to see on the screen and people were asking for more of her!

Now Whitney was singing and acting as a singer in all her music videos, bringing more and more of her style and fashion to the public's eye, and causing everyone walking around, looking like her in one manner or the other!

Some senior, settling in their golden years, but bent on staying hip and young, were suddenly revive back to youthfulness; getting wigs and dressing themselves up to look like the beautiful singer named Whitney Washington. And other were also displaying an attitude to match the persona of the beautiful singer, as they try walking hip and kept on bobbing their heads to her music as they went along their daily business.

They had the hair, the nails, the jackets, and also the right make-up on their faces, with their earphones stuck in their ear, listening to her music while they occasionally snapped their fingers, and tap their feet on the floor and the melodies of Whitney's songs bellow in their hearing. Whether it was going into the church or the bingo games, they were sporting their Whitney pedophilias and loving every moment of it.

It was approximately a year since Whitney's career took off and she began touring outside of her country for the continent of Africa to way down under in Australia and back again to Europe and then to the United Emirates where kneeling and praying as the sun goes down were their religious order of the day. Each country was very excited and overjoyed to have the beautiful singer come to their land and performing for them in their luxurious hotels and giving their guest from all over the world something to talk about.

And indeed, they were talking!

Kings, queens, dignitaries and high state of government official wanted her presences, at their function and intended on paying her very big bucks for doing so. And with some, even hoping that with a voice like hers, she probably could make the cripple walk again and bring millions to their organizations and affairs!

But just after returning home from one of her long singing tours, Whitney was asked to perform at one of the largest stadiums in the Big Apple where many from all around the world would be watching her on the television and also in person!

And in that performance her voice suddenly cracked!

She was doing too much... overworking her voice, singing for many social affairs, as well as some private ones... close door affairs where the majority of the public were not invited or allowed to hear her crooning the atmosphere with her amazing sounds.

Whitney was exhausted and she needed to get a rest from all that journeying and working of her voice which now the effects of her overworking herself were being manifested for all to witness. And so, she took that rest!

It was quite a short rest, but a rest nonetheless, that would help her voice to heal and re-cooperate from all is strenuous activities.

When Whitney had reemerge from her moment of long resting, she told Clive, she was heading out to California where she was being offered a major part in a movie. And from there, she and the crew would be travelling to the state of Georgia where the production of the film would be taking place.

But Clive begged her not to go. Encouraging her to rest for a while longer and then make another music album. But Whitney insisted that she wanted to branch out - test the waters... do something different. And if, she found that the movies weren't for her, which she certainly doubted they weren't, she would return to singing and making more albums with him by her side.

Sadly, Whitney and her small crew set off to California from New York City, to dabble into the pool of the movie business, and leaving Clive Wilson disappointed, somewhat worried and hurt. Because he somehow felt, she was going into the hands of the; who is who in the Hollywood movie circles and she might never return to singing with him again. But the contract had run its course and she was a very wealthy young woman now and she had made him quite a handsome fortune as well, making him financially secure for the rest of his life.

Two weeks later, she was settled in the state of Georgia where the movie production of; "Guarding My Love" started filming and all seemed to be going very well.

And one Friday evening after the movie crew had called it a rap and closed off set for the day, some of the crew members decided to go out and have a bite at one of the local restaurants.

It was after six... the darkness had started descending on the earth and the rain was pouring heavily on the outdoors making inside the restaurant feeling like home - warm and cozy with all its candle lights and the dimness of the overhead lights.

And there, in the warm and friendly atmosphere of the Italian restaurant with its sparkling lights shimmering all over the room, Whitney's eyes saw another set of eyes staring into hers with much intensity; causing her heart to throb hard against the walls of her chest.

The attraction was definitely there, and for him, it was love at first sight!

Soon the tall and handsome stranger with piercing blue eyes was making his way towards her with a pleasant smile on his face.

They seemed like a perfect match, and one that was certainly made in heaven, even though, he was some years older than her.

He was into her, heart, mind, body and soul!

And he saw her as the one who would make his world complete!

But, little over a month after Whitney and Kevin Keating started dating, a familiar face came along on the scene who happen to show up exactly where Whitney and Kevin would go on their long walks together in the park without much recognition from her admiring fans.

It was Bogle Brown from her school and he didn't hesitate to call out her name when he recognized her walking with the tall and very handsome stranger, holding her hand in his.

Briefly, they chatted, embraced each other and without reservation Bogle asked Whitney for her phone number. And on an impulse, she gave it to him not remembering that she was a star now and this could be trouble for her later down the road.

But they were actually from the same community... the same neighborhood and had changed many classrooms together and was one of the friends who had visited her when she suffering from her eating disorder; anorexia nervosa.

The act of handing over her phone number to her longtime school mate had made Kevin completely furious inside and sweating from his head to his heart!

Kevin knew that she was a big star and didn't everything in his power to shield her and keep her out of arms way, but with this young fellow form her past reconnecting with her made him not only jealous, but he was also worried. Worried that this young lad, was too immature for her and would damage her image of being a superstar very soon if she should get caught up with him.

And soon, his fears were realized when the media had pictures of him and her in the same park they went walking into; kissing each other on the lips.

Their act of passion and romance, it one could call it that, were all over the front pages of every newspaper locally and internationally. Many persons were surprised that the famous singer had taken on such a man with what they refer to as 'low caliber' in her life.

She was just too beautiful and just to goof for him, many thought. But as time went by, Kevin was out and Bogle was in, and now they were everywhere like two love struck teenagers and who didn't know what to do with themselves.

Kevin tried his best talking and pleading with her to let this guy go and he would marry her and give her a good life, because this Bogle guy was going to take her down a destructive path and ruin her career, her life and her future!

However, Whitney firm a steel bound concrete wall, decided that she was in love with him and how was the one for her, and how she was going to make their relationship workout. Meanwhile, all he was doing was sucking out as much cash as he could, out of her account, going shopping here and there, and spending her money at all the high-end stores around town for the gents and ladies. And then flaunting himself with other girls with her money; especially the younger girls who were unable to make a conscious decision about their future.

It was now nine moths going on to ten months, and the movie shoot was wrapping up crew and ready to start marketing their film to the world. And within that same week of shutting down set, Whitney announced to the globe that she was indeed in love with Bogle Brown, carrying his child and had plans of marrying him.

Ann and Dorothy pleaded with her not to marry this guy because from what they had read in the tabloids, he was no goo for her.

Her father Christer Huston who constantly glue himself to the television always anticipating that something... some news would come on the television about his daughter and where she would be going and what she was doing since she had refrain from calling him as regularly as she used to. Nervously called his daughter, and beseeching with her not to marry this fellow because he sounded like bad news and how she was losing favor with the crowd - the public, her fans; because of him.

Stubbornly, she protested and declared that it was her life and that she could do with it, whatever she pleased on doing with it.

And with her baby-bum now showing and a wedding on the way, Whitney invited all those who she considered to be very dear to her heart, at her spring wedding in the lush green lands of Atlanta Georgia. Where she had now taken up residency and ready to settle down with the man of her dream and the presumable beautiful baby who was now on the way.

It was a grand red and white wedding with all the extravagance one could imagine in the atmosphere.

Whitney in her white gown, covered in floral laces and her groom supposed to be in his white tuxedo and a red bow-tie to go along with the team were all set for the big day in the middle of June. She anticipated how handsome and sharp her husband to be would look after getting his hair trimmed, his facial hair removed or lined-up, which wasn't that much, and how ready they were for this special occasion to be realized in the eyes of all their friends and god.

But while at the venue in her dressing room and getting her make-up done, Whitney's telephone rang and she answered it. Everyone in the room could tell that something terribly had went wrong!

Her eyes were pop wide open; dancing left to right in puzzlement as if, she had heard news that someone close to her had died!

"What is it?"

Ann asked with a worried look on her face.

Immediately, she dropped the phone to the floor and slumped into her chair and then announced sobbingly.

"There won't be a wedding!"

"What!"

Dorothy exclaimed.

"Why?"

Gail questioned with a glass of Champaign in her hand and a look of concern written all over her face.

Tearfully, she replied while clutching to the handle of the chair as if, she was in labor pain.

"The cops found Bogle with three bags of cocaine in the trunk of his car and now they are hauling him off to jail!"

Immediately, Dorothy raced by Whitney's side and wrapped her arms around her, encouraging her that all will be alright with her and her baby. And how they all would be by her side during the entrance of her first child into the world. Gail and Elizabeth who were her bridesmaid and maid-of-honor did the exact same thing; comforting their friend in her time of trouble as slumped into the chair and drip many tears. Meanwhile, Ann made her way to the other side of the room, got on her phone and started dialing, but who she was calling, no one knew at the moment.

However, something in Ann's voice had expressed to all those in the room that she had much elation of Bogle Brown going to jail for a very long time. Seconds later, she walked back to where Whitney was seated and then placed the phone to her ear and told her Clive Wilson was on the phone.

In no uncertain terms he told her to stop her weeping because she had no business being with that loser. And as soon as the baby was outside of her body, Peter Tosh would be sent to her house to whip her back into shape and get her prepared for the music studio and the stage once again.

Strangely, flashes of the two men who had come by the Sherrington Hotel to clean up dirty work Clive had sent them there to do. After his own wife had sent her male lovers to their hotel room and she had to be brave and pound on one of them mercilessly with an iron bar. And who brutally attacked her and Francine, almost ripping her face off and choking the life out of Clive's assistant, Francine Hemmings.

The thoughts were intuitive, instinctive, telepathic and a knowing of the gut, and Whitney tearfully asked Clive.

"Did you set up my fiancé... putting drugs inside his car, so he get arrested and go to jail?"

Suddenly, a moment of silence lingered in the air to what seems like an everlasting wait!

Then, Clive Wilson spoke not answering a yes or no to any of her questions.

But simply and deliberately he said to her.

"My young princess, you have to watch your image in this music business."

"That is not what I ask you, Clive!"

Whitney shouted.

Ignoring her comment, he went on to lecture.

"You can't allow some dude to run into your life, tear you down, claiming that they love you when they have never put any form of invested time into your life and have no intention of doing anything good for you either; away from taking and taking and then taking some more from you until they are satisfied, they have dragged you down into the mud and leaving you there on your own!"

"But he was my child's father and we were going to be happy together and start a life together... don't you see that?"

Whitney blurted out with all her emotions while tears and make-up continued dripping from her face like a broken sewage line!

Still not in tuned with anything she was spitting out from her lips, Clive Wilson went on with his sermonizing speech to her.

"Furthermore, god didn't make beauty and talent like yours to be locked away in some house with a thug, claiming he wants to marry you after he already knock you up with child! Then pretty soon, you will have to be on stage, singing your ass off just to care for him and the baby you carrying for while he fools around with his buddies!"

"Do you have any idea what negative impact this will have on your singing career?"

Clive Wilson asked sternly.

Whitney now buried in sorrow, hurt, and shame, clicked on the button on the phone, disconnecting their conversation, dropped herself to the floor, as if, she was having some strange out-of-body experience and continued to wept bitterly.

For a while, she laid there on the floors with her beautiful white gown spreading all over the surface of the floors like the pebbles of white roses splatter all over in its garden.

Burying the troubles and shame of her past and preparing herself for what would be coming her way. Because she now knew, she no longer would have to fight the image her mother was expecting her to have or the image the music industry was counting on her to portray to her fans around the world or when invented to speak on various television shows it eyes from the four corners of the globe scrutinizing her.

It was now going to be a complete new struggle for her, and that was going to be, struggling with the image of being a single mother.

But with much grace and tenderness, Ann assured her that such struggles would not be for long, since Kevin Keating still wanted to marry her and place a wedding ring on her finger.

Which he certainly did, four months after her baby girl was born.

And for the many years that would come and past, some with love, others with news of wars, and even more with economic raise and fall, the legacy of Whitney's voice and songs lingers on.

The End