Stalking for Dummies ~ part 1

by A. Sylvur

Stalking was a distant subject most heard through a friend, who knew a friend, who knew a friend, who knew a friend, and so on. Vaguely, Charlotte remembered one of her best friends had made a passing remark that he was once the focus of a stalker. Although she wasn’t in Dwayne’s life at that time, she knew stalkers were bad and not something women should romanticize. But the future Mrs. Zephaniah Langshore, Lori Masuss went on and on about how her Zephy was perfect even though he technically stalked her when they first met. On the other hand, stalkers were only bad if the attention was unwanted. In that case she had several stalkers; however, with mentally unstable people loose in the world, she guessed stalking could rapidly turn deadly. That thought gave her shivers. She didn’t like it when her life wasn’t under her control. If there was one thing she prized above everything else, it was feeling indomitable.

“Are you ignoring me?”

“What?” She blinked as her coworkers chuckled behind their coffee cups. Charlotte replied to Lori, “Oh no. That is fascinating and I never tire of hearing that story.” But Charlotte’s thoughts were on stalkers and how she would defeat one at his game.

Affronted, Lori lifted a brow. “I’m sorry if I made you ladies jealous. As a bride, I’m allowed excitement which makes me ramble about my good fortune.”

“Jealous? Me?” Charlotte shook her head with a laugh. “Nonsense. Personally, I never want to get married.”

Two other girls raised their coffee cups in a toast to that statement as they said, “Here, here.”

The others in the kitchen nook rolled their eyes as another co-worker walked in.

“One night stands are my thing. Use the jerk then leave him before he shows his true colors and save yourself a heartache . . . that’s my motto. But, I’m happy for you.” She took a sip of coffee. “And I never get tired of hearing the story of how you met Zephaniah, who, by the way, happens to be gorgeous.”

That comment caused the fiancée to smile. “He is dreamy.” With a pointed look, she added, “And mine.”

“Yes. And as much as I hate to leave your amazing stories to work, business calls.”

Before any of the workers could leave, Lori brushed past Charlotte as she announced, “And my Zephy is waiting for me.” The fiancée flaunted her luxurious fur coat, expensively short cocktail dress and her gorgeously tanned legs in extremely fashionable high heels.

Jealousy had nothing to do with the emotions the small show evoked, Charlotte told herself as she opened her cell phone and texted one of her best friends.

Charlotte

Date: November 27, 1:48 PM

.. stalk me

“Ouch.” Samantha commented after she was certain Lori was gone. “Ever notice how Lori puts on such a big show about their so called love? And yet, I, well, not only myself, but others have noticed how her Zephy keeps one Miss Shortle very close and can’t seem to keep his eyes off his hot little secretary?”

Immediately, Charlotte received a text response and rolled her eyes. “Mr. Langshore has been professional and has never done anything to warrant your rumors. If he felt something for me, I’d be the first to know.”

Charlotte’s co-workers didn’t feel she noticed and let her know it with a pointed look, which she ignored to read the text on her mobile:

Dwayne

Date: November 27, 1:48 PM

.. NO!

“He’s awfully sweet on you.” Martha remarked.

Preoccupied, Charlotte replied, “Mr. Langshore is a very nice man and he’s sweet on everyone.” She read the next text reply:

Dwayne

Date: November 27, 1:50 PM

who is this? do i no u? u crzy?

Offended, she spoke to the text, “What?” Then replied:

Charlotte

Date: November 27, 1:50 PM

its me, Lottie! nd yes you do know me! ..stalk me!

Irritated, she tapped her nice manicured nails on the counter as she planned to convince him.

“Problems?” Daniel watched Charlotte struggle with her very expressive emotions.

She shook her head and read the next message.

Dwayne

Date: November 27, 1:50 PM

y? … ms mitch?

She jerked as though she’d been slapped.

“That didn’t look good, Sam. She was just insulted.” Darlene commented.

Charlotte’s lips curled in anger as she typed:

Charlotte

Date: November 27, 1:51 PM

tht was cold and uncalled for! NO! .. i dont! its complicated.. forget i askd for ur help!

Two seconds after she sent the text her cell phone rang and she scanned the caller. It was Dwayne, so she ignored the call. “Where were we?” She dove back into the conversation with her co-workers, but was interrupted by another text message.

Dwayne

Date: November 27, 1:52 PM

im sorry, Lottie. stop ignoring my calls. just pick up the damn call. PLEASE! i have to no whats going on!

Upset, she took a deep breath and blinked back tears of anger as her cell phone vibrated again. “Excuse me; I need to go to the ladies room and take this call.”

Slyly, Samantha, the romantic followed her boss’s secretary.

Her hands tightened, but she gave in and answered as she walked around a corner, “Hello?”

“You know it’s me. What’s going on? Are you in trouble?”

She needed to be strong. Dwayne was rather intimidating when he was upset. Calmly, she wiped a few stray tears as she entered the Ladies bathroom.

“Lottie, are you crying?” He sounded wounded.

“No.”

He groaned. “I’m sorry. What’s this about? Why all of a sudden do you want me to stalk you? Do you have any idea what stalking is?”

“No. But you’ve been through it, so you can educate me. I think it would be good practice for me to learn how to defend myself against a stalker.”

“The best defense is not to date one.”

It took a lot of control for her not to scream. “Oh, yes. How silly of me. I forgot my stalker detector on my night stand. I just remembered you told me never to leave home without it.”

“You are too much to handle, you know that?”

“I do which is why I’m single. So, will you help me?”

It sounded like he covered the receiver then said, “Do I get to rape you?”

Aghast, Charlotte entered a stall. “She raped you?”

“No. But I would have preferred that to a bullet. And you didn’t answer the question.”

“Rapists don’t ask to rape their victims.”

“Neither do stalking victims ask to be stalked.”

His mark offended her, but got her attention. “Fine. But you better make it enjoyable, because you won’t get another chance.”

Dwayne laughed. “You’ll beg me to come back.”

“In your dreams.”

“After that one night . . . I’ll be in yours.”

It was too much, she laughed. “You are so full of yourself.”

“And that is why you and Jenn love me.” She heard him kiss someone then a soft female laugh came through the connection.

“Of course. I should have known.” She rolled her eyes and said, “Tell Jennifer I love her and thanks for her help.”

Dwayne exhaled. “How did you guess she told me to say those things?”

“I know it’s your lunch and you need your body guard. Tell her I would be very willing as her victim.”

“The two of you have to stop teasing me like that. It’s just down right twisted the games you two play with me. Not to mention the things I do for the both of you.”

Jennifer took the phone and said, “Hey, hottie Lottie.”

“Hello, luscious Jenn.”

When Dwayne moaned in sensual agony, they both laughed.

“I love doing that to him. But seriously,” Jenn added, “be honest. Is this just a practice or is someone after you? You know that Dwayne and I can get rid of him . . . legally.”