Two more days until the big event and Benjamin's name had been dragged through the mud, he had just won a high-profile case that went nationwide a few months ago, and then he was running for political office on a family-first, tradition-based platform, only for the video of his cheating to go public.
The mayor had already come out a few days ago and rescinded his backing of Benjamin, calling it appalling and against the principles of his new campaign.
Benjamin himself had yet to come out of his hotel room downtown for days as news reporters haggled to get a single word from him.
They were also at my doorstep and workplace, wanting interviews and stories. All I told them was that everything they needed to know was in the video I put out, and other than that, I had no comment.
Charlize ran with it. With the fame and the pictures all over the internet, she was on cloud nine. She ignored the people that called her names or sent her horrible letters and threats. All she wanted was her name up in the lights.
Sheila came by the other night to tell me that Charlize had already been offered high-paying porn jobs and photo opportunities. I was glad I had just made this woman's new career in porn.
Then Charlize made the biggest splash last night. She went on an interview online and revealed that it wasn't just herself, that there were others, other friends of hers that had slept with other high-profile members of our so-called community, including Stuart, she didn't reveal her friend's names, but she did say there would be more video releases.
I cringed at the thought of what was going to happen next. "What had I started?" I asked myself.
"Not your fault mom," Sheila said as she met me for breakfast. "These people did it to themselves," she tried to reassure me.
I knew this was my doing deep down that I had started the ball rolling down the hill, and now it was just a matter of time before it got out of control.
Reporters were everywhere trying to get their hands on the following videos of politicians, lawyers and law enforcement leaders, which Charlize had said were part of a vast web of cheating and lies.
Of course, it was all over the talk radio, some of them saying it was all a hoax to bring down the chain of government and slandering people's names.
I wasn't slandering Benjamin's name; he had said many bad things about me on that video. None of it he could take back with an apology or money. He deserved what was coming to him. I didn't feel bad for any of the others. I only felt bad for their wives and their families.
"I have to get in front of this," I nodded.
"What are you going to do?" Sheila asked.
"I have to talk to him," I nodded.
I knew it was a long shot, but if there was any saving grace in this matter, I knew I had to tell Benjamin, to tell the truth about everything, kill it before it got the chance to be too big, sure it would bring down some of his friends, but if it came from him it would be better than the alternative.
"No way!" Benjamin yelled at me as I tried to talk to him over the phone. "Do you know how far this goes?"
"I have an idea," I replied. "Charlize told Sheila about your little boys club downtown," I said. "How all of you sit down with cigars and drinks while girls dance around in skimpy clothes, while you guys talk about...."
"Fuck, that stupid little bitch!" Benjamin yelled. "She's going to get herself in trouble she can't get out of," Benjamin said.
"Yes, Ben go ahead and threaten a twenty-year old," I shook my head.
"Anything happens to her, her friends or her family it will be on the news before you could bat your eyes, then it will get really out of control."
"I wouldn't do that, but there are some others that would take that risk," Benjamin said.
"Let them, but you have to get out before it swallows you up," I pleaded. "If you go...."
"Alison, I can't," Benjamin said as he hung up.
I shook my head as I looked at Sheila. "Any luck with Charlize?" I asked.
"Nope the stupid bitch intends on releasing a video today of the boys club, supposedly Nadine has had it for months," Sheila said, sitting back in her chair.
"Call your siblings, I want them all here," I nodded.
I knew the shit was about to hit the fan and hard.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I called Charlize and told her to meet me at my house once everyone had come. My thought was that maybe I could beg her to drop all of this. She seemed like a reasonable person the first time we talked.
"You started this Alison," Charlize said as she sat in my living room. "Benjamin said you would walk away with his offer, if anything happened, but you put out that video for all to see, why shouldn't I?"
"Because it was just you and him," I shook my head.
"How did you get started with all of this anyway?" Dawson asked.
They had all come as quickly as they could. Even my grandkids were here, not at the house at the moment. They were out and about doing fun things.
"I got invited to a party," Charlize shrugged. "One thing led to another and the next day I got invited to show up downtown, was told it would be fun, a few drinks with some people that would help my dancing career, and maybe meet a few people in the business."
I nodded. Of course, it was to rope her in.
"It was a bunch of old men, sitting at this closed club, well it looked closed from the outside, but inside, it looked brand new," Charlize smiled. "There were tons of other girls dancing on poles and drinks were flowing as well as other things, and that's where I met Ben."
