Pernicious

|Chapter 21|

PLEASE READ THE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS CHAPTER: Thank you!
March 25, 1988

Encino, California

12:00 pm

Katherine Jackson's Perspective:

For a moment, I peer outside at the beautiful California day. The sun seemed to shine a little brighter than usual today. Flowers that I planted delicately swayed in the gentle spring breeze.

Everything was peaceful.

It isn't long before I go back to doing some last minute tidying up. Only moments later, I hear a timid knock on the front door. Upon opening, I am greeted with a warm smiling young woman. Giving her a warm smile back, I pull her in for a quick hug.

"Tatiana, sweetheart, how have you been?" I ask.

"I've been alright, how about yourself?" She asks back.

"Eh, I've been so-so." She answers, shrugging her shoulders. "I've been kind of bored now I'm not on the tour anymore."

"I'm sorry about that dear. I wish there could have been something I could have done to change his mind." I say empathically.

"It wasn't his decision, it was Franks, or so I heard. He wouldn't even let me see him. I haven't seen him or talked to him since." She expresses with gloomy eyes.

"Why haven't you at least talked to him? I could get you his phone number." I offer to her.

"Because of her..." She remarks in a low voice.

"Because of who?" I ask puzzled.

"Naya...She would never let me speak to him."

My jaw dropped slightly. The thought of them together again swirled around in my head and it began to ache. I thought I heard somewhere that they were together, but I ignored it and believed that it was just tabloid trash.

But I suppose it's true...

"Tatiana, why don't we have a seat in the living room and we'll discuss that over there." I inform kindly.

She gives me a nod and I bring her over to the newly decorated and cleaned living room. Slowly, she sits down and leans her back against the leather couch.

"Oh, do you want anything to drink, dear?" I offer.

"No, I'm alright, but thanks for asking." She responds politely, but for some reason, she appeared to show signs of being uncomfortable.

"Oh, okay..." I start. "Well, I'm going to go make some tea. I'll be back in a second." I kindly excuse.

After making some chamomile tea, I come back into the room and sit down on a chair which is directly across from Tatiana. With a steaming cup of tea still in hand, I peer over to Tatiana and study her curious face.

"What do you know about Naya Bronwyn?" She asks very suddenly.

At the sound of Naya's name, I purse my lips and blow daintily over my tea.

What don't I know about Naya Bronwyn?

For a moment, I zone out and focus my attention behind Tatiana. My mind argued whether I should tell Tatiana about what I have come to know about Naya. Apart of me felt empathetic for her, yet another part of me did not.

"Well?" She asks dazed.

My focus snaps back on her and after taking a tiny sip, I put the cup on the coffee table and lay my hands in my lap.