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My interview with Tatum was today, so I decided to have Poetic and Tatum come over. Poetic used his camera man and I was fine with that. He explained to me that a lot of his staff knew what went down with him, but they were loyal enough to sign NDA’s. One of the main things they had to sign off on is to never open their mouths about Carol Peterson or what happened to him. I know a lot of them felt like they did the wrong thing while continuing to work for him and not opening their mouths, but at the same time Poetic explained to them that it worked out for him. He truthfully believed that if all of this came out when he was younger he may not be as successful as he is now. I kind of understood where he was coming from, but at the same time would he had been living a long life with pain and suffering with no family and friends. I know we became friends fast, but I truly believe he was the brother I needed and we were in this for the long haul now. I sat in my home office for about two hours. I needed some me time and some time to talk to the man upstairs. Through all of this I learned to put GOD first and that was another great thing I learned from Symphony Taylor. The light knocking on my office door brought me from my thoughts.

“Come on in.” I yelled, and in walked Poetic.

“What’s good man,” I said while getting up and pulling him in for a one arm hug.

“How you doing?” I asked.

“I’m good, the question is how are you?”

“I’m good, I just needed some time to process it all and send some prayers up for my strength today. How about you ready for this? I know it’s hard for us both, but you’ll be in that bitches presence.” I spoke being honest.

“Yeah, truthfully man, I don’t know how I’m going to feel or how this is going to turn out but I believe I got this. Hell, we got this we’ve came along way and it’s time. Plus, I need to get this shit done so I can love Tatum the way she needs to be loved. I need this to run my company the way it needs to be ran, and last but not least I need to be the voice of others.” A crept up on my face and I had to pull mt bro in for a hug.

“My nigga, you sound like someone that’s in love, someone that’s in therapy, last but not least my bro that’s ready to live that happily ever after life and I’m fucking with it. I’m so happy for you bro, you don’t understand. When we first met I saw the pain in your eyes, but I just didn’t know why. Then I talked to Carol Peterson and put two and two together so fast right then and there I knew we needed each other. I really appreciate you for so many reasons, you may not understand but eventually you will. We needed this friendship.”

“Oh, trust me I get it now, I never in life appreciated friendship like I do now. I’ve always believe that things happen for a reason and our friendship happened for this very reason, to finally get this old bitch out of our lives. So, let’s get this shit on and popping we got some money to make when this shit is done.” He didn’t have to tell me twice. Poetic left out and I said one more prayer before I headed out to my family room where everyone was set up for the interview.

* * *

I was sitting here palms sweating nerves all over the place, but one thing about me was I was going to get it together as soon as I looked across at my beautiful wife telling me to breath and I got this. Although they were in my house it was a screen I was sitting behind whereas though they couldn’t see me all that could be seen was a dark figure. The count down had begun and it was just about time for the interview.

“Hello viewers for those of you who don’t know I’m Tatum Reece from Media Frenzy and today we have an exclusive interview. Some things we will discuss will be sensitive and not for viewers under the age of sixteen. Today we have childhood actor Desmond Collins who I know for sure a lot of you wondered what happen to him since his career was short lived. Well today we have Desmond Collins himself to tell us all we need to know about his acting career.”

“Hello Desmond Collins, introduce yourself to the audience.”

“Hello everyone, my name is Desmond Collins and I was born here in New Jersey until my mama moved me away to keep me safe. So, she thought that’s what she was doing, but it did nothing but bury something deep inside of me that needed to be exposed.”

“Now Desmond, I know this can be a lot and if you need me to stop and take a break at any time let me know.”

“OK, no problem.”

“Alright, so tell us why did your mama move you away?”

“So, it started when I was about eleven, I think maybe ten and it lasted til I was about thirteen, when it got to be too much and I had to tell my mama thinking she was going to save me.”

“What started at the age of ten or eleven?” Tatum asked and it seemed like my heart was jumping out of my chest because this was the first time I was going to get into details.

“The first time Carol Peterson touched me.” The sound effects of folks’ oh’s and ah’s could be heard, before Tatum continued. I hesitated, but my wife gave me a head nod letting me know I can continue.

“So, Desmond let me clarified what you just said. Carol Peterson Americans icon, celebrity mogul touched you inappropriately?”

“Yes Tatum, that’s exactly what I’m saying.” Then she did the sound effects again before she spoke.

“I know this can be hard but can you get into details. Those are some pretty heavy accusations.” Tatum spoke.

“Yes indeed they are, but it’s something I can no longer hold on too. I need to get this out to be a better man to my family. I can no longer let Carol Peterson live rent free in my head.”

“Alright, well let’s get into it. Ladies and gentlemen Desmond is going to get into details of what happen the first time then he will break down how it continued in a shorter story. So, please stay quiet and let him tell his story.”

“I remember all so well how excited me and my mama was that I had got accepted to be in Carol’s new series, Camera Kids. I was doing so well then about six months into the series getting out good. She started doing weird stuff that I wasn’t sure about. I was young and I just knew I was a star and we would forever have money and I didn’t have to worry about me and my mama starving. I never knew who my daddy was so it was always me and my mama and we struggled. So, becoming a star was big for me and her. Carol took advantage of that, when she saw that we struggled and she was the best thing that happened to us at that time she went with it. One day my mama was about to drop me off, but her and Carol had a meeting first. I didn’t know what it was for back then, but I remember our lights being off, but when we got back home they were back on. So, now that I think back she must have asked for an advance or something. After that shit got weird. Carol’s exact words were, If you want to make your mommy happy and keep the lights on you won’t tell her about our private time. And I was ok with that because I hated seeing my mama cry because we needed shit.” I said, causing Tatum to do a bleep sound to cut out the curse word.

“Wow, so she used your vulnerability and took advantage?”

“That’s exactly what she did.”

“Ok and what happened after Carol sad that?”

“She took a drink out of a glass that had some brown liquor in it. Once she finished her drink she had a blue comfy couch that we always sat on and she sat close to me. Then she looked at me and said, Desmond, are you going to be a good boy and my best actor and keep this meeting between me and you. I looked at her and nodded my head. Carol then unbutton my pants and eased her hands in my underwear and begin to play with my private part. I had no clue what the fuck was going on. I just went along with it because I knew we wouldn’t be poor or struggling anymore. I wined a little bit because I was so confused, and Carol said, Desmond, stop crying like a baby. I only have room for big boy actors on my set. You either stop crying or I’ll tell your mama you’re not going to be a big star anymore. So, I stopped crying and let her do whatever she wanted to do. It started out as her just playing with me. Then her putting her mouth on me. Then when I reached thirteen that’s when she started making me penetrate her and I had just about enough after that I couldn’t take it anymore.” The room was quiet and nothing could be heard but sniffling. I held up pretty good though I had some tears but I was able to control myself.

“Wow, I’m stunned at the news I’m hearing right now. So, you said you couldn’t take it anymore, so what did you do?” Tatum asked.

“My thirteenth birthday Carol threw me a big celebrity birthday bash and told my mama she was having a sleepover for me and a couple of the other co-actors and she had staff watching over us so we would be good, but in all reality it was a night of just me and her. I will not get into details about that night but lets just say I had my first threesome at thirteen years old.”

“Oh, my goodness, this is so heart breaking. So, tell us what happened next what made you tell your mama?”

“After that night I felt horrible and couldn’t get my mind right and Carol’s exact words were, you’re of age now so man the fuck up, do you know how many men would have enjoyed the night we had. I keep telling you stop all that fucking crying or you and your mama will be back in the poor house. That right there showed me how much of a monster she was and if I didn’t stop this shit right now it would keep getting worse. So, when I got dropped off by Carol’s driver my mama was waiting in the doorway for me and the minute she asked, how was my night, and if I had fun, I broke down and fell to the floor crying. My mama had so much worry in her eyes it scared me.”

“Alright everyone we’re going to take a break we will be back in five minutes.” Tatum said turning her attention to me.

“Are you good, do you need a longer break?”

“No, I’m good just want to get this over with.”

“Alright cool, so this will be the last setting. I will asked what happen after you told your mama and what she did with the information. Then I will ask about you and your mama’s relationship. Then you will go into to telling us how you and Symphony got together and how much her and your kids mean to you.”

“Ok, my Media Frenzy watchers welcome back, we took a break and now we are back. Desmond Collins has let us in on some disturbing things that he’s been through living this Hollywood life. So, how did your mama react after you told her the news?”

“She helped me up and took me in the house and asked me everything that happened. Once I was done she laid me on the couch kissed my forehead told me she was sorry this happened to me. She then grabbed her purse and car keys and told me she would be right back. I assumed she went to pay Carol a visit, then next thing I know a couple of hours later she came back and woke me up. She then explained how we had enough money to move and start over somewhere else fresh and I didn’t have to worry about Carol Peterson again.”

“Desmond Collins, I truly appreciate you doing this interview for me. I feel like this will help so many people that are going through this in silence. So, after all of that you still maintain to live a successful life. You have three children and a beautiful wife. How do they play a part in your happily ever after?” Tatum asked.

“They are my happily ever after, see men are always known to be the strong ones. So, when people hear stories like this they are judged as being weak. One thing about me is I’m going to go to therapy weekly or as much as needed. I’m going to always lead my family in the right direction. And where I lack, my wife has my back, which is why I knew from the beginning she was my person she was the one I needed in my corner through all of this. I’m able to be the man of the house and when I’m having a weak moment she doesn’t judge me she makes me remember just how strong I am. So, never ever think for a moment that you can’t end up having a happy ending after a dark past.”

“Well, y’all heard it here first on Media Frenzy, never think for a moment that you can’t end up having a happy ending after a dark past. Desmond Collins thank you so much for this interview. Media Frenzy watchers thanks for tunning in and we will be back with another exclusive that’s connected to this so stay tune.” Tatum said ending the show. Just like that the interview was over and I didn’t feel bad about it at all.

“You did great baby, and I’m so proud of you.” Symphony said while walking over to me and sitting on my lap.

“Thank you, baby, and once again I wouldn’t be able to do this without you. You’re definitely my rib.” I said causing her to smile right before she kissed my lips. I wasn’t even going to lie this interview was just what I needed it was like a weight had lifted off my shoulders. All the camera men packed up their things and headed out. While me Symphony, Tatum, and Poetic stayed at my house and enjoyed some dinner and each other’s company.