Of Diamonds and Dreams

Chapter 11

"Sometimes the heart is so heavy that we turn away from it and forget that its throbbing is the wisest message of life, a wordless message that says: live, be, move, rejoice....you are alive! Without the heart's wise rhythm, we could not exist.

-----Michael Jackson (from his book, "Dancing The Dream")

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Tony's grip was like a vice as he jerked my arm, sending packages flying across the floor and scattering the contents of my purse everywhere. He had me cornered in an alcove behind some large plants, well out of sight of any passersby. I stared at him in shock and disbelief. I sputtered, "T-tony!"

He sneered, "Well, well, well. If it's not Cassandra, Michael's whore. I see you've been out spending his money."

I jerked my arm trying to loosen his grip, but it was no use. He held on even tighter, nearly cutting off the blood flow to my hand. Finally finding my voice, "Get your filthy hands off of me now! One yell from me and the security guys will be all over you and your ass will be in jail. That is, if Michael doesn't kill you first!"

He shoved me hard against the concrete wall, nearly knocking the breath right out of me and clamped his sweaty hand over my mouth. I struggled, but he pressed his full weight against me, his strength easily overpowering my meager efforts. I tried to scream, but the sound was muffled under his hand, sounding more like a pitiful whine and I knew that no one would hear it above the piped-in music playing over the speakers. Even more distressing was the fact that the particular area of the hotel we were in was almost deserted at that time of the morning. Tony smirked, a twisted smile on his face as he said, "I happen to know that those overgrown gorillas who Mike uses for security aren't anywhere close to here. Do you think that I'm that stupid? Now listen to me, bitch....and listen good. Mike's been trying to track me down, but I'm way too smart for him."

I tried to shake my head in denial because I knew that Michael hadn't been looking for him.....at least I thought he hadn't. Frank had been adamant that they leave Tony alone. Surely, Michael hadn't gone against his advice. That would not be good at all! Oh God, I thought, please tell me he hadn't pursued and threatened Tony anyway! Tony continued, "Don't bother denying it. I've been very careful, not even going to my house because of this shit. You ruined my life, you worthless whore!" He punctuated that last word by grabbing my hair with his other hand and jerking it forcibly before adding, "Now you're gonna go back to his room and convince him to call off his dogs. Get him to back down and leave me the fuck alone...OR ELSE! You got that?"

I stared with wide, fearful eyes at his crazed expression and nodded 'yes' as he continued to terrorize me, "You will not tell him that I was here. You never saw me today and I don't care how you do it. You can use that body of yours or whatever. If you don't convince him to back the fuck off, I'll make you wish that you had never been born. Do you hear me, slut?" I nodded again, a tear falling to my cheek and the hand over my mouth began to tighten, smashing my lips painfully against my teeth. Tony hissed, "You wouldn't want anything to happen to your precious Michael, now would you? And don't make the mistake of thinking that I can't get to him either....because I can and I will, if necessary. Even that big, bad Jimmy was no match for me. That stupid ass never saw it coming when I knocked him out cold," he laughed snidely.

Getting enormous pleasure out of my torment, he continued, "You really don't know who you're messing with, do you, bitch?" My body began to shake uncontrollably from the pain of his hold on my hair, my neck was aching from the odd angle he held it in and I couldn't even raise my leg to kick him in the nuts, he held me so tightly against the wall. Tony reiterated, 'Do as I say! Get him to call off his goons and you'll never have to see me again....otherwise, the next time you do see me, I'll give you something to remember me by. And your sweet Michael....he just may never sing another note or dance another step. Do we understand one another?" I nodded quickly in agreement and he smiled....a sickly sweet smile and said, "Good!"