Shaniece Bryant, a well-put-together woman, deserved to have any man she so chose, and for any man to outright reject her, must mean he was gay, unborn, or dead. She was not the drop-dead gorgeous type, but her curvy form, which swayed delicately on a pair of legs that was sure to get even the Pope’s attention, made men crumble like breadcrumbs. She wore her light brown hair bobbed slightly above her shoulders, making sure it hugged her smooth, oval-shaped face like a Cleopatra wig. From head to toe, she made sure everything had the right balance and shine.
She had changed her wardrobe to accommodate her new profession as second in command to Leroy Paxton, but she was far from looking like a matronly church mother. She’d been a halter-top, miniskirt, fishnet, wearing chick, who’d been forced to hide all of it in neat little packages. But the time would come when she would use them again. For now, she kept busy maintaining a certain image. One slip up and all of the effort she’d put into getting where she was, could be lost. She was determined to perfect her craft and perfect her hold over Leroy – two things that would secure her position, which was heavily threatened by Leroy’s wife.
Michelle had remained below the radar for a long time, but it was only a matter of time before her wrath exploded. That foolishness she pulled on Sunday told Shaniece she had better up her game. She had better strengthen the noose around Leroy’s neck. Thank goodness for her awesome mind because she had already set the next stage of her plan in motion.
The upcoming Sunday had been designated as Women’s Day and it was Shaniece’s time to ‘drop’ a word in the house. She never understood the importance of the sanctimonious titles given to the church leadership, who were adept at public speaking. Anyone with a little training and a little practice could do what she did at Mount Moriah. Toss in a couple of scriptures from the King James Bible and the congregation was hooked.
Politicians did it all the time when they visited their church, hoping to win the hearts of people who didn’t know any better. That thought reminded Shaniece of what she needed to do to make sure her sermon was tight and that it fit in with the season. That way, those trusting fools would believe she’d been given a ‘divine’ revelation from God. You see, the politicians had their way and she had hers.
“Let’s see what’s appropriate for this Sunday,” she said, spreading out a collection of sermons from some of the most famous preachers around the world. She picked out a few that she thought would resonate with her ‘spirit’. How to fast for forty days. “No way, I don’t even fast.”…Spending quality time with God. “Oh please.”…Heaven or Hell, where would you go…”I’m in heaven right now if you ask me.”
Be aggressive and seize your destiny…“Oooh, I like the sound of this one, make me wanna shout up in here…”
She slipped the disc into the DVD player and quickly, a heavyset man appearing to be in his mid-forties lit up the screen. She upped the volume to her taste and focused in, listening for key phrases that were sure to get the congregation up and jumping. Words were powerful, but the right words were lethal. The words she chose, not only had to be right, but also had to have the ability to manipulate and control her subjects.
“Hello?” Her Samsung Galaxy chirped next to her.
“Shanny, how you doin’?”
Shaniece sat up straight. Her baby sister was the only one who still called her by that silly name. She wondered what she wanted now; she had just given her two thousand dollars. “Hey Ellie, I’m fine. Why you calling? I just spoke to you last month.”
“Seem like I caught you in a bad mood,” Ellie said “You have plenty of anger in your voice.”
“No, Ellie, I’m fine, really.” Shaniece held the bridge of her nose with two fingers. “What do you want?”
Ellie breathed heavily into the phone. “I’ve been thinking a whole lot these days, Shanny…”
“Thinking?” Shaniece held her breath in anticipation. “About what?”
“Promise you won’t get mad at me.”
I’m already mad. Between you and my brother, I don’t know who gives me the most stress, Shaniece thought. “What is it, Ellie?”
“It’s just that. I don’t know…”
“You need more money?”
Ellie sighed. “No, Shanny. You gave me enough money to last me and my son for a month. I’m thinking about leaving that dumb job anyway, but I only work because I’d go crazy sitting in that house all day. And I’m thinking about taking ‘lil man out of that school, and I–”
“Ellie, I can’t stay on the phone, listening to your rambling. I’m preparing my sermon for Sunday. I can’t waste–”
“Sermon?” Ellie sounded as if she’d been punched in the gut with that one. “You’re a preacher now, Shanny? What’s going on with you these days?”
“There’s nothing going on with me,” Shaniece hissed. “I’m busy with this job–”
“You just said it was a sermon, now it’s a job? Which is it, Shanny? Why do I feel as if you’re keeping something from me?”
Fact was that Shaniece had kept everything from Ellie. All these years she’d told Ellie that she’d been hired by a huge corporation to oversee their International Public Relations Department. Technically, Shaniece was doing a lot of public speaking at Mount Moriah and she was somewhat in charge over a large body of people, but it was not the truth that Ellie needed to hear.
Shaniece had originally planned to keep Ellie away from Leroy, at least, long enough to ensure that her agenda had been established. If she’d told Ellie her plan from the beginning, Ellie would have objected and would have probably reported her to the police. Leroy was the only man Ellie would die for, and he had Ellie’s mind swinging like a fool.
“It’s just that I miss you so much,” Shaniece heard Ellie say. “And it’s never been the same around here since you left.”
Shaniece stood up and paced to calm her nerves. “You’re twenty now, Ellie. You don’t need me there hanging around–”
“I’m in Brandon and you’re in Tampa. We’re only a half hour away, but it feels as if we’re worlds apart. I want to bring ‘lil man and move there with you–”
“Are you out of your mind? No way!”
“What’s wrong with us comin’ to Tampa to live with you?”
Shaniece searched for the words to say without crushing her sister’s heart, which had been delicate all her life. “Ellie, you know that I love you and that I would do anything for you and your son, but this is one thing I can’t do, at least; not now–”
“Why?”
Because when you see Leroy you will lose your senses and botch my entire plan. Your meeting with Leroy has to be planned to happen at the right moment. “Please, don’t put me on the spot like that,” Shaniece said.
“Why are you treatin’ me this way?” Ellie cried. “I feel like you’re tryin’ to get rid of me…”
“Ellie, don’t say crazy things like that. I’m doing the best I can, helping you pay the bills. I don’t under–”
“I don’t want your stinkin’ money! I want my sister! Why can’t you understand that?”
Shaniece’s heart began to melt. Their mother overdosed on heroin when Ellie was four and by the time that she’d turned six; their father had gotten locked up for pushing drugs on the street. Ever since then, Shaniece had played the role of mother to both Ellie and their brother. And if Ellie knew their brother was now living in Tampa as well and that he was in on Shaniece’s plan, she would go ballistic.
“Give me a little time, Ellie. Let me think some things through and I promise I’ll get back to you.”
“You’re not just sayin’ that to get me off your back, are you?”
“Have you ever known me to lie to you?”
“No, Shanny. But how long do you need?”
“I don’t know, Ellie.” Shaniece sat back down in front of her DVD player, turning it off. “Just give me some time and I will make a decision. Sounds fair?”
“I don’t know how much more of this loneliness I can take. And these
thugs around here are getting crazier every day. I don’t want ‘lil man growing up in this environment…”
“I know, Ellie, believe me, I know. Now kiss my nephew for me and I promise to be in touch.”
“Please, Shanny, don’t make me have to track you down.”
Chapter Nineteen