Sick Obsession: A Twisted Love Story

by Shawanda Carter

  “Okay. Is your family big?” Lizeth asked.

  “It’s rather big,” Nelson said.

  "I don’t think Nelson wants to be asked about his family Lizeth," Darrius interrupted.

  "It’s okay with me Darrius. Besides, your wife is too beautiful to just sit here and be quiet," Nelson said, staring at him as if he can see through him.

  What is up with this guy? Darrius wondered.

  "I hope I am not being disrespectful, but I am sure you realize how beautiful your wife is,” Nelson said. Darrius nodded in agreement.“Lizeth, tell me about yourself, what kind of work do you do now? I read somewhere that you were one your way to being a damn good lawyer then all of a sudden you left it all behind,” Nelson said.

  “She is a wife now,” Darrius interrupted. Nelson and Lizeth looked over to Darrius who was staring at Nelson with irritation.

  "Well Darrius, I was not trying to offend you in anyway, but I believe she can answer for herself," Nelson said.

  “No offense taken, but I already answered your question, therefore she has answered,” Darrius said firmly.

  “You are correct, I can speak for myself,” Lizeth said as she gave Darrius a sarcastic look. “Well I grew up around here in Tennessee. I had both my parents in the home and they both worked. My father was a Lawyer and my mother was a Registered Nurse until both retired. I am an only child,” Lizeth responded.

  “Wow that is great. So you followed behind your father practicing law?” Nelson asked.

  “Yes I did. He was the reason I was able to find employment so quickly,” Lizeth admitted.

  “It’s not often you find women who follow their fathers in careers. I find that amazing,” Nelson said.

  “Well I’ve always like law as long as I could remember,” Lizeth said.

  “Well I think you should get back into it, they could use you out there,” Nelson implied. Lizeth glanced over to Darrius, unsure of what to say.

  “Well how about some dessert?” Darrius said, changing the subject.

  "Sure. I will go and get that,” Lizeth said, getting up from the table.

  “Nelson I don’t mind you having dinner in my home, but I would appreciate it if you stop trying to boost my wife’s head up about a career she once had that she decided to give up,” Darius said.

  “You mean stop telling her the truth,” Nelson stated.

  “What?” Darrius asked.

  “Your wife was great at her job and she could have been greater. Did you not see how her eyes light up when I mentioned it?” Nelson asked.

  “You’re out of line Nelson and I would like it if all questions from here on out be about business and business only,” Darrius said.

  "Sure, if that’s what you want Mr. Jackson then that’s what it will be," Nelson said. “One thing though,” Nelson said.

  “What is that?” Darrius asked.

  “Did your wife give up her career because she wanted to or because she did it for you?"

  Once Lizeth came back into the dining room, she again found the two men staring at each other. It seemed that every time she left she walked back into something else.

  “Okay, I have some cherry pie and ice cream,” Lizeth offered. “I hope that is okay with everyone,” she added.

  “That sounds good,” Nelson nodded.

  “Great,” Lizeth smiled as she served the men their pie.

  “Well I will leave you two to talk as I have a kitchen to clean,” Lizeth said.

  “It was nice meeting you Mrs. Jackson and the meal was wonderful,” Nelson complimented, getting up from his chair to shake her hand. “I look forward to hopefully seeing you again,” he added.

  “You may call me Lizeth and thank you, it was a pleasure to meet you as well,” Lizeth said as she went back into the kitchen.

  “Well I do hope this evening was not that bad,” Nelson said, sitting back down to enjoy his pie.

  "No it was not that bad,” Darrius said, looking at him “We just have to understand the boundaries and we will be just fine."

  "What are your boundaries Mr. Jackson?” Nelson asked.

  “Simple. My personal life is off limits. I don’t want you asking about my personal life and I will do the same. It’s just business at all times, if that is still on the table,” Darrius responded.

  “The opportunity is still there Mr. Jackson,” Nelson said.

  “That’s good to know,” Darrius said.

  “If that’s how you want it, then it will be just business with us two,” Nelson agreed. “Well I seem to be getting a little full and I think it’s time for me to leave,” Nelson said.

  “I will walk you to the door,” Darrius said. As they walked towards the front door, Darrius called out to Lizeth to bring Mr. Carter’s coat.

  "Again, it was a pleasure to meet you both. Hope you both enjoy the rest of your evening," Nelson said as he went out the door.

  “I will walk you out,” Darrius said as he escorted Nelson to his car.

  “I do hope that this evening did not damage our chances of working together,” Darrius said as they walked to Nelson’s awaiting limo.

  “Well I don’t think it did much damage Mr. Jackson. You’re a man who wants everyone to know the rules beforehand,” Nelson said. “Just as I,” he added.

  “Thank you for understanding that,” Darrius said.

  “No problem,” Nelson replied as his driver got out of the limo to open the door for him. “Besides Mr. Jackson, I will be seeing you again. I will call to set something up with your secretary. If that is ok with you,” Nelson said, getting inside of the limo.

  “That would be fine,” Darrius said with a sigh of relief. Maybe we can salvage this after all.

  “Good night Mr. Carter.” Nelson rolled down the window of the limo and waved. As Darrius turned around to walk towards the house, Nelson’s limo stopped and he motioned for Darrius to come back to the back window. “Just one thing Mr. Jackson. I want you to understand that since we are strictly business that you are my business now and I know everything about you,” Nelson informed him.

  “So what are you saying?”Darrius asked.

  "Well at this point, you could have the chance to work alongside me. However, there is the matter of your personal affairs. I will need you to be fully committed," Nelson said.

  “I don’t have any personal affairs that would hinder this potential partnership,” Darrius said.

  “Don’t patronize me. The first thing with me is you have to remain honest and truthful. If not, then how can I trust you?” Nelson said.

  “You’re right, but I assure you that I don’t have anything that would cause any kind of friction,” Darrius insisted.

  Nelson just looked at Darrius and for a minute, he said nothing. He finally spoke. “Mr. Jackson, your personal affairs that I am referring to will not just hurt you. I am speaking on the several women you have outside of your marriage," Nelson stated.

  Darrius was stunned. He knew that this is what he was hinting at earlier but he knew that he had been careful. He wondered how he found out. I can’t believe this shit, Darrius thought. He was at a loss for words. His secret was out and now he had to see what it was that Nelson Carter wanted to do with it.

  “I will contact you Darrius,” Nelson said as he rolled up the window and drove off, leaving Darrius there standing at a loss for words.

  Why is he just standing there? Lizeth wondered as she watched her husband and Mr. Nelson talk. I don’t know what it is with those two but it’s strange. One minute they are relaxed and calling each other by first name, and next they are formal, calling each other by last name. What a roller coaster! she thought, shaking her head.

  Lizeth open the door to call Darrius inside but he was coming in as she was opening the door. “Why were you standing their looking lost?”she asked.

  "No reason,” Darrius said, walking past her.

  "Darrius what is wrong with you? You entire mood has changed," Lizeth called to him as he walked past her and went
up the stairs.

  "No it hasn’t, you just in your feelings." Darrius yelled back. Lizeth was furious and went after him.

  “How am I in my feelings?” Lizeth asked, coming in the room behind him. Darrius went and sat on the bed to remove his clothing.

  “I don’t feel like talking about this, I have to get some rest,” Darrius said.

  “Fine. Just so you know, I will be calling the firm I use to work for to see if they have a place for me. If they do I will be going back to work,” Lizeth said. Darrius got up from the bed and walked towards Lizeth.

  “What part of I don’t want you working did you not get?” Darrius said, staring at her with a tight jaw.

  “Darrius I am a grown woman and I only stopped working because of you, but now I want to go back to work,” Lizeth said.

  “Why can’t you just understand that I am the man? I work and you stay home!” Darrius said.

  “I am not okay with that any more Darrius. I stopped for a while until you got your business up and running and now that you do, I think it’s a good time to rejoin the work force,” she told him defiantly.

  “I don’t give a damn if you are or not! I said no. Everybody keeps putting these ideas in your head that you need to go back to work when you really don’t!” Darrius yelled.

  “You’re not open to compromise at all are you?” Lizeth asked.

  “What compromise? I just said what was going to happen, so miss me with all that other shit you talking,” Darrius snapped. “Look, I am about to head out for a minute, I just need to clear my head,” Darrius said.

  “Where are you going Darrius?”

  “If I wanted you to know I would tell you,” Darrius said over his shoulder as he walked out the room.

  Darrius had been riding around for a while after leaving the house, contemplating on what had just happened. That was an odd meeting with Nelson. A man I’ve only known for a short moment knows more about me than just business. What’s his angle? I think he may have had me followed, or someone is talking to him. I guess he really does mean it when he says he has to know who he is getting in business with.

  He tried to think of who could have talked but he kept coming up blank. No one really knew about his personal affairs like that anyway. “I wonder what it is he wants then?” Darrius said aloud. Then Lizeth wants to go back to work, even after we agreed that she would become a homemaker. I need a drink. Hmmm, I know something that would be better than a drink. Darrius pulled out his phone and dialed a number and a woman answered the phone. “Hi sweetheart, are you coming over?” she asked.

  “Yes, so be ready for me when I get there,” Darrius said and hung up the phone.

  Lizeth looked over at the bedside clock and could see that it was four in the morning and Darrius was still not home. She tried his cell but it kept going to voicemail. Then it stopped going to voicemail because it was now full with messages she left. Where is he? She was trying her best to stay up but her eyes kept closing. “I can’t believe he is not home yet! Where could he be?” she said out loud. She tried his cell one last time but it was completely off this time. Lizeth could no longer fight off her sleep and she drifted into a deep sleep. She must have slept through her alarm because when she woke up it was 1:00 in the afternoon. Lizeth looked at her cell phone to see if maybe he called, but there was no missed call from him or any text messages. Lizeth got up and took her a shower. Once she got out and put some clothes on, Darrius was still nowhere in sight. Lizeth was beginning to worry. Nevertheless, that worry soon turned to anger once Darrius finally came through the door.

  She was so furious with him that she didn’t say anything, she just walked past him and went out the door. She heard the door open and could feel him staring at her, but she didn’t turn back around, she just kept walking towards her car. Once she had the key in the door to unlock it she heard the door close. He must have shut the door, she thought. She was just about to get in when a hand pulled her back. She turned around to see that it was Darrius, who clearly looked like he was drinking and god knows what else.

  “Li—” Darrius was about to speak.

  “No!” Lizeth cut him off, putting one finger up. “I don’t want to hear one word from you.” She pushed him away, jumped inside of her car and drove off. Lizeth was on a mission today despite how her day started.

  Lizeth went by the old firm she use to work for to see if they had an opening and to her surprise they were more than willing to give her a job there. They said because she was so good they felt that in a year she could be back on track to building up her clientele. Lizeth was so excited to hear that. She then went shopping and got her nails and hair done. Once she was finished pampering herself she went to the grocery store to get groceries. She was enjoying her time away from the house. Darrius was calling her every second he could so she decided to turn off her phone.

  When she pulled up back at home, Darrius was already at the door. “Where were you Lizeth?”he shouted.

  Lizeth was still pissed at him and decided that she was not going to entertain him. Lizeth continued to retrieve the groceries from the car without saying or looking at Darrius.

  “I know you hear me talking to you woman!” Darrius shouted. Lizeth grabbed all the bags she could and brought them inside to the kitchen. Darrius was grabbing bags as well, still yelling and talking mess. Lizeth was in a better mood and she was tuning Darrius out. Once all the bags were in the house, they began putting the things away.

  “So you’re not going to say anything to me?” Darrius asked. Lizeth still didn’t say anything, she just continued with what she was doing.

  “Well fuck it,” Darrius said. Darrius decided to go to his office and focus on work. Once he got there, the office that was usually full of life with people walking in and out, was half empty. He got onto the elevator and pressed the button to the top floor. The elevator music was so soothing and relaxing. Darrius always enjoyed it. Once the elevator hit the top floor, the doors opened. Darrius stepped out to his floor and he noticed just how nice his office really was. He went into his office to find it neat as always, thanks to Martha. To his surprise, it was not much work on his desk to do.

  Darrius had already completed the new club owner’s blueprints and faxed them over to him. The owner approved the design and said they can begin on the groundwork some time in a few months. ‘Then there was the call he would be receiving from Nelson. Hopefully it’s about business and nothing else, Darrius thought. Darrius began looking in his message tray to see if he had any messages and of course, he had a small stack of them. At least this would give me some time to allow Lizeth to calm down before I go back home. Darrius began calling and handling all the messages so that when Monday came he wouldn’t have an overflow of them. Before he knew it, he had finished all his calls and prepared his things for the following week. Darrius shut his computer down and was getting ready to leave when he heard the elevator.

  That is weird, he thought. No one should be here and the cleaning people do not come until nightfall. Darrius checked his watch to make sure. It was just past four o’clock. Yeah they don’t come till ten o’clock. Darrius got up and headed towards the door, but on the floor he noticed a piece of paper. He picked up the paper and it was a note addressed to him that read, “What goes around comes around Darrius.”

  What the hell is this? he wondered, looking around. His first thought was Nelson Carter. Darrius took the note and placed it in his pocket for evidence so he could show it to Mr. Carter and let him know that he does not play these types of games. Who the hell does he think he is?

  He walked to the elevator and once there his mind went blank and his body went stiff. On the elevator door was a pair of lips in the shape of a kiss in red lipstick with the message, “What goes around comes around Darrius.”He shook his head and chuckled. Somebody is playing games.

  Chapter 4

  Darrius initially thought it was Nelson leaving those notes, but after the meeting they had a few months ago he wa
s not sure anymore of who sent the note or wrote on the elevator. A few months had gone by since Darrius first received that weird note in his office and the writing on the elevator. Since then he had received random things here and there. There were pictures of him going about his day, along with pictures of him in provocative positions with some random woman he had on the side. Along with that, things between him and Lizeth seem to be getting back to normal. They came to a decision that she was able to return to work and he had begun working alongside Nelson.

  Darrius still wanted to keep it a ‘professional only’ relationship, but eventually they started hanging out outside of business. Darrius found it weird how close he felt to Nelson, as if they were two of the same. Nelson even offered to help him find out who was really behind the notes and pictures. Darrius thought it would only be fair since he accused Nelson of being the culprit in the first place. Some would think that the two were more than just business partners, but longtime friends. Which at this point is what they were becoming. Darrius was hard at work when Martha walked into his office with a package that came for him.

  “Mr. Jackson, the delivery person left this for you,” Martha said, placing the box onto his desk. Darrius looked up at the box that had no address on it.

  “Martha, do you see something wrong with this box?” he asked her.

  “No sir, I do not,” she answered.

  “Well allow me to point it out for you,” Darrius said in a condescending tone.“There is no return address! Did you forget what the office procedure is for mail or deliveries without a return address?”

  “I apologize,” Martha said. “It was at my desk when I came back from lunch,” she added.

  “Well just get rid of it,” Darrius said as he looked back down to his work. It seemed that whoever was doing this was taking it up a notch. They would call his phone with just breathing and continue to call him up at work. Darrius had an automated service placed on the phone lines so that whoever it was would not keep the phone lines tied up. It was working out just fine until the voicemail systems would be full of messages with only breathing. Darrius was really annoyed with this and wanted to find out soon who was behind it all.