~ 41 ~.

Garrett was able to resolve his client's problem and retain them as a customer. His joy was short lived when he heard the panic in Hailey's voice mail. His heart almost stopped when he heard Hailey's frantic message. He dialed Hailey's house phone and cell phone several times, but she wouldn't answer either one. He dialed Trevon's number. Trevon answered on the second ring. Garrett said, "Man, you better not hurt Hailey."

Trevon responded, "What are you talking about? Hailey was fine when I left. In fact, she kicked me out."

"Well, she's not answering her phone now so something's up. I can feel it in my guts." Garrett weaved in and out of traffic.

Trevon said, "I'll go back and check."

"Where's the police officer that was supposed to be watching the place?" Garrett asked. He was furious at himself for putting business before staying there to protect Hailey himself. He hoped the gut feeling that alerted him to possible danger, was off keel. He needed Hailey to be safe. If something happened to her, he would never forgive himself. She had to be okay.

Trevon said, "Oh I'm sure someone's there by now." Trevon caught Garrett up with the latest.

Garrett sped through traffic and didn't care if any cops were around. He was pissed at everyone at this point. He said, "What in the hell happened? I can't trust you...the police."

"Hey man, we're on the same team," Trevon said, "Don't be tripping with me like Hailey was."

"You're closer, go check on my baby. And Tre," Garrett said.

"Yes," he responded.

"If you harm one hair on her head, you are as good as dead." Garrett hung up and dialed Hailey's house and cell number again but was still unsuccessful in reaching her. He called Morrison. Morrison was just as pissed as he was when he learned of how incompetent some of his men had been by leaving Hailey's house unprotected. "What in the hell happened man? Someone was supposed to be outside of her premises at all times?" Garrett asked.

Morrison responded, "I'm on it. I'll get a car over there pronto."

"I'm on my way there now," Garrett said. "I also have Trevon headed to her place. Man, if something has happened to her."

Morrison interrupted him before he could finish his statement, "Nothing is going to happen. I'll have one of my men there a.s.a.p."

"This can't be happening," Garrett said over and over..

"Calm down Garrett. I'll get someone there right away," Morrison assured him before ending their call.

Garrett called Caroline's desk but she didn't answer. He took a quick glance at the clock on the dash of the car. Caroline should still be at work. Where was she when he needed her? While maneuvering through traffic, Garrett dialed Caroline's cell number.

"It's about time," Garrett said, when Caroline answered.

Caroline sounded out of breath. "What's up boss?"

Garrett said, "I need you to call Sam and find out Shareeka's location. I'm in a time crunch and don't have time to look for Sam's number."

Caroline responded, "I'm sort of busy right now but I'll do it as soon as I finish up here."

"Drop what you're doing and do it pronto," Garrett insisted.

"Anything for you," she said, before ending the call.

Garrett thought that was strange. Normally, Caroline would be eager to do any task he gave her. He didn't have time to think about Caroline, he needed to get to Hailey and fast.

"Garrett," Hailey screamed.

"He didn't hear you. I had already disconnected the call," Caroline said. "You know we're going to have a little fun before they get here. Why don't you take that pen and write a note to your fans. Let them know how much you hate to leave them, but life had gotten to be a little too much for you to handle."

"That sounds like suicide. I'm not doing it. If you're going to kill me, kill me. Because there's no way I'm going to write a note."

Caroline kicked the magazines that were now on the floor. "I guess you don't think I mean business." She aimed at the glass table and shot. Hailey used her arms to cover her face, as glass flew in lots of directions.

Hailey felt like she didn't have anything to lose. She yelled, "I still want to know why you're doing this. I've never done anything to you."

"If it wasn't for you, I would be with the man I love."

Hailey wanted to confuse her. "Garrett? I had no idea you and he had a thing going on."

"You're not the brightest are you. No stupid. Not Garrett. Who have we been talking about? Trevon. I thought once he got with that slut Shareeka you would be out the picture. But you just wouldn't go anywhere. I could have gotten rid of her with a check. You. You just wanted to hang on to a man who didn't want you."

"News update. I'm not messing with Trevon anymore. I've moved on." Hailey was pissed now that Caroline had her in this situation. If she was going to die, she was going to speak her mind.

"He hasn't moved on. You're all he talks about."

Hailey said, "If Tre loved you, he would have asked you to marry him, not Shareeka."

"He could love me if you would stop trying to entice him. Tre knows I love him. It's just a matter of time before he feels the same way."

Hailey threw her arms up in the air out of frustration. "Caroline, look at me. Look at me closely as I say this. I do not want Trevon. I am in love with Garrett." She said it. She hadn't even admitted it verbally to Garrett yet, but here she was telling a crazy person her feelings.

Caroline said, "And that's another thing. How are you going to go from one friend to the other? That's low down."

"Since we're being honest and I probably only have a few minutes of my life left anyway. Let's get something straight," Hailey said. "Who I'm with was never any of your concern. Maybe if you had gotten the psychological help that you obviously need then Trevon may have taken you seriously and you and him could have written off into the sunset."

Hailey wished now that she hadn't run Trevon off. Caroline paced the floor swinging the gun back and forth as if she was trying to think of what to do next. "I suggest you get to writing," Caroline said. She threw the notebook at Hailey. It fell right in front of Hailey on the floor.

Hailey kicked the notebook away. "You might as well kill me because I'm not writing a suicide letter. If I write anything it would be to let them know how crazy you are," Hailey snapped.

Caroline aimed her gun directly at Hailey. Hailey closed her eyes as she prepared to die. Her entire life passed before her eyes. She recalled her childhood. How fun it was growing up with her parents. The trips she took to her grandparents in Grand Cane, Louisiana. The fun of modeling and travelling all over the world and lastly she thought about the love she had for Garrett that she now regrettably never told him about.

"Good riddance," Caroline said.

Hailey's eyes remained closed. She prayed to God as she heard the clicking sound of the gun. Her eyes jerked open when she heard the shot that changed her life forever.

Caroline fell forward. The trigger on the gun was released and the bullet barely missed hitting Hailey as she ducked to the side. Trevon rushed over and got the gun. "Are you okay?"

Hailey dazed responded, "No. I mean Yes." The realization of her being alive hit her. "I'm alive. I'm alive," she kept repeating over and over.

The police entered the front door. "Drop your weapon now or we'll shoot."

Trevon placed the gun down on the floor and turned around with his arms up.

"Officers he's okay. It's her. She's the one who tried to kill me," Hailey explained, as she pointed where Caroline's body laid.

~ 42 ~.

"She's still alive," one of the officers said. "Someone dispatch an ambulance."

Those were the first words Garrett heard when he made his way through the commotion outside. His heart didn't beat until he saw Hailey. She was sitting on the couch next to Trevon with a blanket wrapped around her. They must have been talking about Shareeka.

Hailey's body trembled. Her eyes lit up when she saw Garrett walking towards her. Garrett said, as Hailey wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here," he said, as tears filled his eyes. He was relieved that she was safe.

"Sir, we need to ask Ms. Barnes some questions," one of the uniformed officers said.

Trevon stepped in and said, "Give them a minute will you."

Garrett appreciated Trevon stepping in for him. Hailey filled him on what had transpired. He was just as shocked as she was. All of this time, his secretary, the one he trusted, was behind everything. "If Trevon hadn't showed up when he did, that would be me on that stretcher," Hailey said.

Garrett said, "Trevon, I owe you."

"No you don't," Trevon said, "I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately. It's time that I made a change."

The officer said, "I don't mean to interrupt, but we really need your statement now Ms. Barnes."

Hailey relayed the information as best as she could remember. "I'll never forget coming so close to losing my life," she said, as she told her story.

Garrett said, "There are reporters out there. Do you want me to handle them?"

Hailey took a few deep breaths. "No. I have to face them sometime so it might as well be now. Just let me go get myself together."

Garrett said, "Tre, let them know Hailey will be out to talk with them shortly. I don't know what she's thinking, but you know Hailey always get her way."

Trevon left to do as he was instructed. Garrett surveyed the room where the tragedy happened while he waited on Hailey to return downstairs. "I'm ready," Hailey said. She still wore the same casual outfit she had on before but her hair was now pulled back into a ponytail.

"You sure you want to do this?" Garrett asked.

"Let's do it," she said, as she took his hand and they walked outside.

Cameras flashed and question after question were asked. Garrett said, "Please. Ms. Barnes won't be answering any questions. If you don't hold it down, she'll just go back inside."

It immediately became quiet. Hailey cleared her throat and spoke. "I'm so fortunate to be able to stand before you. Less than an hour ago, my life was in danger. I pray that the woman who attempted to take my life can now get the help she needs. A lot of things will come out over the next few weeks I'm sure. Some will be true and others might not be. I will be as honest and forthcoming as I can through my publicist from this moment forward. Before I go, I want to thank GT Securities because it was the owners Garrett Morgan and Trevon Swint who were instrumental in me still being alive at this moment. Thank you Trevon for what you did and thank you Garrett."

Hailey turned around to walk back inside. Garrett followed her. The reporters were not satisfied with her statement, they wanted more, but Hailey kept walking as the questions kept coming. "Thank you for what you said about GT Securities," Garrett said.

"I meant it."

"I feel guilty because Caroline was my secretary. I should have figured it out. It should have never come to this," Garrett said, as he wiped the hair hanging in front of her eyes.

The police didn't clear out from Hailey's place until later that afternoon. They wanted to make sure they had enough evidence and information for their case against Caroline. Trevon had remained behind to filter any questions concerning GT Securities freeing Garrett up to remain by Hailey's side.

Hailey closed her eyes and enjoyed the massage Garrett was giving her. She turned over and said, "You know there's something I've been meaning to tell you but put off."

"What's that beautiful?" Garrett said, through loving eyes.

"As my life passed before my eyes, the only thing I could think about was that I never got to tell you how much you mean to me...how much I love you," Hailey said.

"You're not just telling me that because of the stress of the situation are you?" Garrett asked, as if he was holding his breath.

"Garrett, I've been in love with you for awhile. It just took me this long to realize it. You bring out the best in me. I want to be the woman you need...the woman you want. I want to be your babies mama."

Garrett laughed. "I love you too Ms. Barnes." He pulled Hailey into his arms and they kissed and kissed.

Their kisses were interrupted by a knock on the door. "It's me Tre," Trevon said, from the other end.

"It's unlocked," Hailey yelled, as her and Garrett sat up in the bed.

"Everybody has cleared out," Trevon said.

Hailey said, "I don't know if you heard me when I told the officer that she had planned on killing Shareeka next."

Trevon shrugged his shoulders. "She should consider herself lucky then."

Hailey crossed her legs. "As much as I don't like her, I don't wish death on her or anyone else."

"Ask me that in a few months," Trevon said, as he attempted to laugh.

"This has been a long day," Hailey said, as she stretched her arms up.

Trevon said, "I know I'm beat. Well you two, I'm about to go. I just wanted to let you know so you could lock up."

Garrett said, "Tre, man I owe you."

"Yes, you do. But since I'm a good friend, I'll give that one to you," Trevon said, as he walked out the room leaving them by themselves.

A week later, Hailey sat in her office at the studio and her agent Carmen who also had a dual role as her publicist, sat across from her. Carmen, dressed in a cream colored suit, said, "All you need to do now is decide who you want to grant an exclusive interview with."

"Whoever I go with, make sure it states in the contract that the money received will be donated directly to NAMI," Hailey said.

"Okay, I'll make sure that the National Alliance of Mental Illness gets the check."

Someone knocked on her door. Hailey responded, "Come in."

Garrett walked in. "I didn't realize you had company. I can come back."

Carmen stood up. "So this is the man who has stolen Hailey's heart. You're even better looking in person than you are on television."

Garrett blushed as he shook Carmen's hands.

"We're through here. Hailey's all yours," Carmen said, as she left them alone in the office.