Illicit Obsessions:

Last time on Illicit Obsessions . . . . . . . .

" You know, you've been acting really weird lately." Greg told Antonio as he was lifting dumb bells.

"I'm just tired," Antonio aid while going down on his push up. "There's o much work to be done and all."

Greg looked at him skeptically. "Yeah, right."

She approached Antonio.

"Hello, my name is Simone Jackson, I'm here for an Anthony..or Antonio Madison.."

"Antonio Madison, that's me. " Antonio said metamorphosizing into a professional business person. "You're here for a painting."

"Yes I am. " She replied. "I'm awful sorry that I am late. I had some other stuff to take care of, and I lost the track of time, and ....."

"Don't apologize," Antonio said comforting her.

"No, " Simone said firmly. "I'm not buying this picture for $800."

A look of disappointment struck Antonio's face.

"How about I give you 2000 for it?" Simone asked.

Antonio eyes widen. "You wanna run that by me one more time?". . . . . .

"Okay, $10 000? That's my last offer." Mrs. Jackson said as she took out her cheque book from her handbag.

Antonio face was pale. He didn't know if he should take the money or decline the offer. He knew that Simone was filthy rich and she would always have money regardless. However, Antonio then felt guilty because it would be like he'd be using Simone Jackson just because of her financial status. Antonio turned to the two men. They stood there staring Antonio as if he had committed a felony or something. They did say a thing. They just stood there.

Antonio swallowed his spit and took a deep breath, and utters the words that conscious felt that right. "Sold."

"I just phoned just to say that you are one sexy brotha, " the seductive voice said. "Bye." The phone clicked. Antonio stood their watching the machine. Who the hell was that? How did they get Antonio phone number? Who was she?

Now, Episode Two:

Chapter Three

"What!" Greg said in amazement as he dropped his Big Mac in his tray. "She what?"

"She wrote me a cheque for $10 000, for my painting." Antonio said munching on his fries.

Greg picked up some fries and stared at Antonio oddly. "Let me get this straight. This women, a suppose called client comes into the art gallery with these two so- called body guards right?"

"Right." Antonio said sipping his soft drink.

"And then, you and her do business, and you show some of your paintings correct?"

"Correct," Antonio replied as he began to bite into his Quarter Pounder.

"She then stumbles upon that painting you did two months ago with those two naked people, and she wants to buy it not for $800, but $10 000?" Greg asked, still bewildered over the fact.

Antonio nodded his head.

"Yeah, right." Greg said.

"Why don't you believe me?"

"Yeah I believe you. I also believe that men have PMS"

"I don't believe this," Antonio said shaking his head, "Dipstick, here doesn't believe that a woman paid me $10 000 for my work."

Greg stared at Antonio. "Dipstick? I think someone's been watching too many reruns of Friends."

"Fine, you don't believe me? I'll prove it to you." Antonio said digging into his wallet in search of the cheque. He pulled it out and showed it to Greg.

As soon as Greg saw the four zeros, he immediately started gaging. He began coughing holding his stomach as though he was poisoned.

Antonio sat there in front of him smirking. "Believe me now?"

Greg straighten himself out, and looked at the cheque. He then looked out at Antonio.

"I have two questions," Greg said, as he continued to sip his drink in order to clear his throat. "Why, and how?"

Antonio shrugged his shoulders. "I don't maybe it's my natural good looks that I possess."

"Yeah , which has done nothing for you but attract lesbians." Greg shot back.

Antonio gave Greg a dirty look and got up from their table. Greg began to laugh , but when realizing that Antonio had already gotten up from the table he quickly grabbed his tray.

"Hey Tony, I was just joking. God, your so god damn sensitive!" he said as he left McDonald's following Antonio.

Antonio stormed in the gallery exasperated. Greg like a little puppy followed him apologizing.

"What's wrong with you? I said I was sorry." Greg said.

Antonio ignored him.

"Okay, I'll do this more formally. Antonio Robert Christian Madison. I, Gregory Malcolm Philip Brownstone apologise for the way I acted. I acted foolishly and I regret it. Is my behaviour excused?"

Antonio shook his head and smiled. "You're a joker , you know that?"

"Tony, what do you want me to do? You've been acting so menopausal for the last couple of days and it's making me sick." Greg protested. "Now tell me, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"I'm okay. Chill." Antonio said as he approached the main receptionist. "Any calls for me, Lisa?"

"No, except for one." Lisa said. " Some woman was asking for you so I just transferred her to you voice mail."

"See buddy, a girl called for you." Greg interjected.

"Ah, shut up Greg, geezz." Antonio said.

Lisa turned to Greg who was at her side of desk. "Is he still bent off about that lesbian in the gym?"

Greg quickly told her hush, but it was too late. Lisa's voice had already travelled far enough for Antonio's ears to capture what she was saying.

Antonio turned to Greg, as Greg began to fake an exit leave.

"Greg," Antonio said in a nice, but sarcastic way, "Exactly how many people did you tell about what happened yesterday morning?"

"Tony, I'd love to chat, but I got some...files, that's it files to take care of," Greg said racing towards to the elevator. "Later."

"Greg get back here!" Antonio shouted down the corridor.

Lisa shook her head, and went back to work.

Antonio reached to his office and activated his voice mail.

"Hi, do you remember me? Did you get my message last night on your machine? I must admit, when I first lay eyes on you, were something let me tell you. So young, so innocent. Don't think this is over, there is a lot more to come artist boy."

Antonio screwed up his face more in confusion. Who the hell was this woman? Antonio began to think hard. The first person that came to mind was Simone Jackson. It has to be her, Antonio thought. The way she was eyeing me, it had to be her. But what if isn't her? Wait it can't be her! She doesn't have my number! Or maybe she does? Antonio continued to listen to the message.

Anyhow, I'm going to take a nice afternoon nap. I'll daydream about you. See you later. Or one more thing? I'm not a lesbian."

Antonio immediately started to get annoyed.

"I'm gong to kill Greg if this is that last thing I'll do." he said.

* * * * * * * *

Antonio looked at his watch.

"Gosh! Is it to seven already?" he asked himself, as he began saving his work on his computer.

There was then a knock on the door.

"It's open." Antonio yelled from his chair.

The door open and Greg came walking with some files in his hands.

"Oh it's you," Antonio said, with sarcasm.

"Yes, it's me," Greg said defensively. "What thumb tack did you sit on?"

"The one that was on my voice-mail." Antonio replied.

Greg looked at Antonio with a confused look on his face. "Say, what?"

"The message on my machine."

"Tony, no offense or anything, but what the hell are you talking about?"

"It was bad enough what happen in the gym yesterday morning, but you had to go so far to set up woman for me, because you felt sorry for me."

Antonio got up from his chair and grabbed his briefcase. "I don't appreciate you doing that."

Greg became more confused then ever. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"That woman you had on my machine." Antonio replied.

"What woman?" Greg asked.

"That woman you had leaving messages on voice-mail and on my machine at home." Antonio said as he began to leave his office.

Greg started to get exasperated. "Did they poison your Quarter Pounder at McDonald's or something? What woman are you talking about? I didn't make no woman leave no message on your stupid voice machine."

"You didn't?"

"No."

"Then who the fuck did?"

"I don't know. Maybe some girl likes you Tony. You really need to take a fuckin' chill pill. In fact, forget about a chill pill. The whole damn bottle!"

"No this is stupid!" Antonio said as Greg and himself exited out of his office. "Someone woman is leaving these steamy messages on my machine."

"Who?"

"That's just it! I don't know." Antonio said as he began locking than door.

Greg began scratching his head. "Let me see. Which pathetic girl would be obsessed with you?"

Antonio smacked Greg on his arm. "Cool down on the insults. I have had enough on my mind as it is."

Antonio continued to think about the messages. When he and Greg were in the elevator, he continued to think about the seductive voice on the other extension. What if it was Simone? She obviously was flirting with Antonio (if Antonio can tell what flirting was.) As Antonio and Greg got off the elevator in the lobby they passed Lisa.

"Have a nice weekend." Antonio said to her.

"Yeah, have fun with the auctioning tomorrow." she replied.

"Shit!" Antonio froze. "I totally forgot about that."

"You didn't receive my message on your machine last night?" Greg asked.

"Yeah," Antonio said. "But I also received her message as well."

Greg looked at Antonio and began shaking his head.

* * * * *

As Antonio stepped through the door of his apartment. He immediately went to the machine to listen to his calls.

First Call: "Tony, it's your mom again. Remember I told you pick up some paint brushes? I also forgot to ask you to pick it up four rolling pans. Home Hardware has them on sale for $9.99 each. It's only limit two, but do what I told you do before. Buy the two, drop them off in your car, and go back and buy another two and go to a different cashier Tony. Remember! See you Sunday. Oh your father says, hi. Anyways see you Sunday."

Antonio began to laugh. "Mothers, " he said to himself. "You can't live with them, you can't live without them."

Second Call: "Yo, Tony it's Larry. I'm calling from Central Square about tomorrow. I forgot to tell you, that another one of your paintings is going to be auctioned. Uh, the one with the two people on the beach. Or was it a forest?? Well you know one which I'm talking about. Anyway, got a go, I see a cop about to put a parking ticket on my Lexis. Stupid ass.....anyway gotta go."

Antonio walked into the kitchen, and began pouring himself a glass of orange juice. As he began drinking it, the third message began on the machine.

Third call: "Hi, artist boy it's me."

Antonio immediately spat the juice abruptly out of his mouth into the kitchen sink.

"I dreamt about you. And oh was it ever good! Do you really want to know who I am?"

Antonio nodded his head. "Yes! Yes! Who are you? Tell me!"

"Well that's for me to know, and you to find out." she replied leaving Antonio squirming.

The sexy voice continued, "I guess you must be wandering how I got your number as well eh artist boy? Let's just say I got my connections."

There was then a sudden a pause.

There was some mumbling at the background of the message.

"$10 000." the voice replied on the voice. The sexy voice reappeared on the machine. "Anyhow, I've got to go know. I'm going to take a nice warm soothing bubble bath. I'll be thinking of you. Expect to hear from me....no. Make that, expect to see me really soon. Bye."

Antonio stood there in front of the machine. His mouth was half opened and he began to shake his head in bewilderment. Antonio finally knew the voice. Antonio knew who it was.

Chapter Four

Saturday night came very fast, especially for Antonio. He had a lot to do for the entire week and was a big surprise to see how the weekend arrived so quickly. Antonio stood in front of his bathroom mirror tying his tie. Antonio had on a black pants, a black dress top with a black vest with roses printed on it. His tie was the same pattern like this vest.

The doorbell rang.

"Who is it?" Antonio shouted from his bathroom. As one can tell, Antonio is very lazy when it comes to actually answering the door.

"Greg." shouted the voice behind the door.

"The door's open." Antonio shouted as he began to apply some cologne on.

Greg opened door and came modelling into Antonio' apartment. Talk about dress to impress! Greg had something similar to what Antonio had on except the vest was brown, his shirt was white with the collar opened ( aka, the GQ look.) His pants were brown and had on dress shoes similar to Doc Martens, except it was all black with no yellow stitching.

Antonio walked out of the bathroom and stared at Greg. "Gee, talk about fashion."

"I know," Greg said vainly, "There are going to women at that gallery that are going to be dressed to kill." He began modelling in front of Antonio. "Now tell me, don't I look like Mr. America?" he asked.

"Well Mr. America, it looks like to you forgot to do something." Antonio said

"What?" Greg asked.

"Mr. America forgot to zip his all-American fly." Antonio replied staring at Greg's zipper.

Greg looked down and saw his zipper was down.

"Shit," Greg said as he began zipping his fly fast. "Now how do I look?"

Antonio sat down as he began to put on his shoes. "Greg, we are going to an art gallery, not a club."

"You're so naive Antonio," Greg began. "Painting's that we are auctioning are starting at $500. Rich women will be there."

"Speaking about women," Antonio interrupted, "Guess who's been leaving those steaming messages?"

"Who?" Greg asked.

"Remember the client who bought my painting for 10 grand?"

"Who, she?"

"Yep."

"Get out here!"

"It's her, I'm telling you."

"You expect me to believe something like that? Why the hell would she have an interest in you?"

"I don't know."

Greg began making his way towards the door. "That client, who bought your painting for 10 grand is the mysterious female seductive voice that has been leaving all these messages on your machine."

"Yeah," Antonio said turning off the lights heading towards the door. "She has the hots for me" Antonio than grabbed his hat from the closet.

"You know what?" Greg said as he stepped out in the hallway, " I just thought of something."

"That's a first." Antonio said pulling the door behind him and locking it.

Greg gave Antonio the finger and continued. "She might be there tonight?"

"Who her?" Antonio asked.

"No, Oprah Winfery. Who the hell do you think?" Greg said making his way towards the elevator.

"Please," Antonio began to beg, "The last thing I need now is to meet her, and rekindle the moments of those hot steamy messages she left on my machine."

The elevator bell rang and the doors opened. Antonio and Greg both walked in.

Greg pushed the P1 button. "Why are you acting like you and her had a bad experience or something? For god sakes Tony, she think's you're all that, and your sexy. She doesn't want to kill you or anything."

Antonio turned to Greg. "But Greg, she's my client. The last thing I want to so is to sleep with my client, and then we fall madly in love. Yeah that's it. We fall in love, contract the Love Jones virus, get married and have ten kids. Gee, I can see it now. Our first child named, Sinquisha, then Leroy, then Kenya, then Bonquisha, then Linquisha, then.........."

"Will you shut the hell up already!" What the hell is wrong with you? Bonquisha? Sinquisha? Not only have you been watching too much Friends, but you also have been watching too much Ricki Lake, and Jerry Springer." Greg yelled.

"Greg, you don't understand do you?" Antonio said as the elevator bell rang and the doors opened to the underground garage parking. "Do you think it's normal for a girl to start leaving steamy messages on your machine when you've only met once?"

Greg stopped in front of his car. He then turned to Antonio. "Wait a minute! Wait one second! You're talking like this was definitely her on your machine. How do you know it's her to begin with? How do you it ain't some sick woman from the Bellevue Institute or something?"

"How much did she offer me for that painting Greg?" Antonio asked.

"$10 000," Greg replied opening the door to the driver seat. "Why?"

"Well, while she was dramatizing her so called `seductive voice' someone in the background mumbling a question to her. She quickly replied $10 000."

Greg raised his eyebrows. He then shrugged his shoulders. "I don't what to tell you Tony,"

"Now do you believe me." Antonio asked.

"Well I believe in one thing," Greg replied. "If we're not at that Art Gallery within 15 minutes, we'll be late,"

Antonio quickly jumped in the car, and Greg started the car. Greg spun the car and fled out of the garage on their way to the art gallery.

Antonio and Greg arrived at he art gallery. Everybody in the gallery were dressed elegantly. Some were dressed all in black while others were dressed casually.

As Antonio and Greg both got a drink from a waiter, a voice shouted from the front back of the art gallery.

"Excuse me everybody, may I have your attention. The auctioning of the paintings is going to begin in ten minutes so will everybody have a seat. Thank you."

Antonio began to get nervous. He then turned to Greg. "I hope my paintings sell good."

"Why are you worrying?" Greg said munching on a appetizer. "You'll paintings will do great."

Everyone was soon seated. Greg and Antonio sat in the front seats. The auctioning began. A middle-aged old man step up behind the podium.

"Good evening everybody, and thank you for attending our auctioning this evening."

Greg began to tap Antonio on his shoulder.

"Check out the girl with long black hair." He said pointed behind them.

Antonio looked over to see who Greg was talking about but did not see who. "Who?"

"Her." Greg said still pointing.

"Who?"

"Her!" Greg said raising his voice.

An old lady sitting behind Greg tapped him on his shoulder.

"Shhh!" she said putting her wrinkled bony finger to her mouth.

Greg gave her a dirty look and turned around.

The MC continued. "We will now start our auctioning with a wonderful painting by Antonio Madison." The audience clapped as the curtains opened. Antonio's painting was like a statue as it was on its easel. The lights illuminated every single stroke his brush made on the canvas.

"We will begin the bidding at $600," The MC concluded.

One person in the audience raised their hand for 600.

"I see 600," the MC began. "Do I see 650?"

Another hand from the audience sprung up.

"I see 650, do I see 700?"

Another hand sprung up from the audience. Each bid the MC offered, a hand sprung up form the audience. Hands were going up like popping popcorn. The bid continued for 5 minutes straight. Antonio face lighted as he saw how many people wanted his painting. The bidding was at now $5000, and people were still bidding.

$5000, Antonio thought. This could be my night!

The bidder continued. "Do I see $5050?"

A voice all of sudden emerged with in the back of the audience. I bid $10 000."

Every body in the room began to turned their head to the voice and began to gasp.

Antonio at first jumped in excitement of the amount some stranger had bided, but something did not sound right. Antonio began to screw his face. The voice, he thought. That voice. It sounds familiar. No! No! It couldn't be? he thought. But deep down Antonio knew who it was. The words "$10 000" began echoing in his mind as the seductive voice began whispering in his mind, "Bye artist boy." Antonio swallowed real hard and slowly turned around to the direction of the voice. There stood a silhouette in the back of the room of a tall woman with long hair. Antonio felt anxiety penetrate every pore in his body. It was Simone.

Antonio opened his mouth saying the only words that came to mind, "SHIT!"

Next time on Illicit Obsessions. . .

Antonio shook his head in bewilderment.

"She must be rich," Greg began as he continued staring at her. "She look's fit too."

Antonio continued to stare at Simone as she continued walking towards the back. He shook his head in confusion. He did not what to do. He felt almost stalked. Stalked? Antonio thought to himself. This women is really interested in my painting that's all......I think.

"What was her name again?" Larry asked.

"Simone Jackson." Antonio said.

"I know that woman, but I've seen her name elsewhere. I just can't remember where?"

"I'm having a cocktail party next week at my house. Friday that is. The same day you're suppose to deliver my painting." Simone said as she began pacing.

"Uh, that's great." Antonio said. "Uh what time do you want the picture delivered?"

"Four o' clock." She said.

"Fine. I'll have the couriers bring to your......"

Simone quickly interjected.

"I want you to bring it."

Antonio gaped his mouth. "Me? Why Me?"

"I like personal deliveries." Simone said coyly.

"No." Antonio's mom got out of the kitchen with her hands on her hips. "Tony, don't get yourself involved with any women. Just because she carries female organs, doesn't make her the best female on the planet you know."

Just then, the phone rang.

Antonio looked at his watch.

11:55 pm.

"Who the hell would call me five minutes before midnight? Gosh, if it's Greg . . . "

He reached for the phone on his night table and lifted up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Hi. . . . Antonio?" asked the voice.

Antonio jumped up from his bed.

"Simone?"

Stay in web next time for,

Illicit Obsession

Executive Producer:

Dwight Barrett

Created by:

Dwight Barrett

Written by:

Dwight Barrett

Directed by:

Gee it's kinda of obvious

This has been an:

A Lonely Boy/Confused/

psychotic/ neurotic/

okay shut up already

production.

Copyright 1998.