My Plan

The Ladies in Yellow hold a special place in my heart. We are a group of married (and some recently divorced) women of men who work in the entertainment business. The business can be strenuous on relationships but it is a business that supports our extravagant lifestyles.

Every week, the Ladies and I gather to talk about upcoming charity events, concerts at our husbands’ venues, anything that will get us a spotlight in the media really. We have to keep up the brand, of course.

Each couple plays a role. Samantha and Travis are in charge of finances. They keep up the books and are in charge of all the money that is donated. Travis’s official title is a financial advisor for most, if not all, my husband’s companies. That puts Samantha in the role of a treasurer for the Ladies in Yellow. Travis is like my husband’s right hand man. His wife, I could care less about.

Charlotte is our southern bell. She is sweet and caring and loves to feed people. She started a non-profit to feed single fathers and it actually bloomed into feeding entire families. She is a great chef and an even better human being. Her husband on the other hand is useless to me. He follows her around the kitchen with a self-made title of “Kitchen Manager”. I guess he brings food when our husbands have meetings so Arthur keeps him around.

I set a bowl of grapes down on the table with the other horderves the Ladies sit around. One of them, Charlotte, is giving her ideas for the upcoming major event.

“Since I am usually in charge of the food, I figured a 5-course display and charcuterie will be the best for this particular event. We will start with a vibrant salad and all the fixings.” As she rolls out the menu, I drift off thinking about what I will say in our next meeting. The one following right after this one with my exclusive group. I need to make sure everyone is on board with how things are expected to turn out.

When I come back to reality, Charlotte is finishing her spiel. “How do you Ladies feel about that?” The Ladies all nod in agreement. “Wonderful!” Charlotte sits down with her notebook, all smiles.

“Last time we went over budget for catering and I will say Travis was not happy.” Heads up, Samantha is the one of us that always has something negative to say. Her husband Travis is equally smug. “So this time, Charlotte, if you would be so kind and stick to the plan, this will go splendidly.” She gives a sarcastic grin and sits back down. We’ve only been here half an hour and Samantha is already rubbing me the wrong way.

I sit down next to my Yellow Assistant, Mara. She is a beautiful young woman from a small country town. When her parents died she moved here to the big city and met Shane. He was head of security at one of Arthur’s hottest night clubs for years. Good guy. Unfortunately, he lost his life while on a job securing one of our largest donors. That was two years ago, Mara hasn't really left my side since.

“I will be sure to go over both the budget and the menu with Charlotte before finalizing.” I flutter my eyes to let Samantha know I picked up on the sassy attitude. “Who’s next?”

“Nutrition is complete” Mara says as she checks if off of her list. “Next, we should discuss entertainment. Kipland, you’re up.” Mara tucks the clipboard under her arm and grabs a few cheese cubes before she returns in the seat next to me. Kipland stands and begins to speak.

“I am proud of you Ladies in Yellow. The charity for orphaned pets raised enough money to help us secure talent for this lovely gala! Thank you to everyone who participated in recruiting new sponsors!” She smiles, clapping her hands loudly and the other women follow.

Kipland is always so cheery and excited. She makes me sick. Just because her husband is my husband’s business partner she thinks she is supposed to be mine. Nothing against her, she is great at scoping a place and knowing if it will be worth us securing and starting a business. She just isn't my favorite person in our group.

“Now, I am honored to announce, our sound for the evening will be smooth jazz.” She closes her eyes and sways back and forth. “The feel good music that will make everything more elegant.” Tired of watching her daydream, Samantha rolls her eyes and says, “Get on with it Walter Mitty!” Kipland clears her throat and continues, “Our guest of honor will be James and the Sax-Boys!” She claps again leading the crowd. Everyone seems impressed.

I look over at the bleak member of the Ladies in Yellow. Not surprisingly, she’s the only one that looks unhappy. “It’s amazing that we can afford such a star studded group but don’t you think we should be paying our catering staff more? Especially because, like I said before, we went over budget last time and Travis and I made up the difference.” The room goes silent.

I am absolutely sick of this girl. “Listen Samantha, we have all heard your concerns. We thank you and Travis for being such great leaders in this group. Arthur and I will see that you are compensated.” I look to Kipland. “Thank you Kipland. I am sure James and the Sax-Boys are worth every penny.” Kipland nods and lifts her head. “ Thank you Madam.”

After a few more formalities, stern looks and shy giggles, the Ladies begin to leave one by one. Once my day room is left with just us Goldies, we continue our next portion of the meeting. The Goldies are my top members. There is Mara, my assistant, Charlotte, our nutritionist, the best scribe known to man, Knixon and myself– Madam.

“Thank gracious I only have to keep up with what is said in these meetings and not the malicious looks Samantha gives us all” Knixon said. If I had to choose one of the Ladies in Yellow as my best friend, I would say Knixon is that. She has kept my family’s secrets over the last 8 years. She is dedicated to making sure we all succeed. She sees and hears everything. That is why I made her our scribe. When we need to backtrack and clear anything up, she is always fully prepared.

I close my eyes tightly and let out a deep sign “I understand.” As Mara closes the blinds and shuts the doors and windows, I check the nanny-cam to make sure the babies are still sleeping.

“Now that the Ladies are gone, let’s narrow down our plan” Charlotte starts. “Madam, we have fixed the menu the way you have requested. I only have one question for you. How will we distinguish our plates from theirs?”

“Easy!” I lean forward in my chair to make sure they can all see me clearly. “The only waiter we will accept anything from is Stephen. He will be keeping our platter separated. No one but us four are to take from his tray.” Before I can continue, Charlotte interrupts. “Excuse me, I don’t have a Stephen on my catering team.”

I press my lips together, “That’s right. Stephen is a part of my team. Remember the kid Arthur took under his mentorship a few years ago?” Mara almost spits out her drink. “The guy that was supposed to be taking business notes from your husband during the day and laid in your bed by night?” I cut her a sharp look, “Yes. Stephen.”

Stephen was a kid whom Arthur hired as a bookkeeper originally for one of the clubs. He was fresh out of college with zero work history and a dollar to his name but a wardrobe that would make you think he comes from money. He worked hard and was later promoted to Event Special Services so we worked closely on a few projects. That led to a brief romance that was nothing but a good time for me. Not serious at all.

I give no more energy to the messy comment made by my assistant and move on. “He will be posing as a waiter. He knows the drill. All of us and our husbands are safe.” I know Stephen well, he is a loyal man. We have nothing to worry about. I have run down the plan with him extensively.

I watch as everyone settles in their seats. I notice Charlotte wears a peculiar face. She says, “If we are going to add more members Madam, I think you should consult with us first.” She looks around the room, “right ladies?” The room is silent. “I mean, I think we all know that kid would go to war for you because of your history–”, she stops and looks me in the eyes. “I don’t mean to go there but do we trust him to protect all of us?”

“Everything I do, I do in the best interests for all of us” I say. “Isn’t that what Arthur and I have always done?” No one is speaking so I add more power to my question, “well, isn’t it?” I finally hear the room comply. “Alright! Seems we have covered everything. Any questions?” Silence.

After a long pause, Kipland says, “I just want to personally thank both Madam and Arthur for always keeping us and also hosting us. Cheers!” She raises what is left in her champagne glass and the rest follow. Cheers to me and my husband. She’s right, we take care of everything for our members. This task will be no different and when this is all over, Arthur and I will still come out on top as it should be.

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It is the night of the big event we have all been waiting for. The venue is decorated beautifully and people are chatting in small groups. I walk in with my husband on my arm. The host sits us down at the table in the front with the core Ladies in Yellow and their husbands. The other half of our Ladies are at a table nearby. They are close enough to interact with us, but just far enough to not hear what we are saying at our table.

“I have never been more nervous in my entire life,” Mara loudly whispers. I give her a face a parent makes at a noisy child in church. “I’m sorry,” she said more quietly, “I just feel like something bad is going to happen.” As I raise my champagne glass, I look around the table and say, “Tonight is the night we have all been waiting for. Thank you all for each and every thing you have done while being a part of my husband and I’s organization. From this day forward, all of our problems will be washed away and all the dead weight will be tossed as needed. Cheers!” Everyone lifts their glass and all say, “Cheers!”

As the night continues with strong drinks, delicious food and good music, I am waiting on a specific dish. Arthur squeezes my hand and says, “be patient my love. Your mushroom soup is coming.” I slap my hand across his chest and whisper steely, “be quiet!” Knixon must have spotted the tension and leaned over to me. “Don’t worry Madam, everything is going to go perfectly.” She grins and leans back in her seat.

Charlotte must have had a few too many because I see her husband talking closely to her ear. I can faintly hear him say something about “the right ones will die” and it makes my ears perk up. I chime in, “Hey, not here!” Charlotte looks up at me, eyes wide. “Madam, you have no idea! This plan is evil and I don't think I can go through with it.” She stands up and I stand up along with her.

“We are talking about people we know and love here!” Her tone is growing louder, I try to calm her down. “Charlotte, we love everyone here. Just sit down okay. Back away from the cocktail and sit so we can talk.” Tears begin to come down her face leaving black mascara running down her cheeks. “No Madam, you don’t understand! You don’t understand! How would you feel if you knew the wrong person was going to die? What would you do?”

At this point she is almost screaming. I give Arthur the look and he waves two fingers. Shane and his security team scoop Charlotte up and carries her out with her husband being escorted out not too far behind. I take a deep breath. She almost blew it! Before anyone else can say anything, the waiters bring out the next dish: the most anticipated mushroom soup.

Stephen sets a bowl down in front of all of us and looks at me. “Bon Appetit, Madam.” He smiles shyly and I do the same. I watch him walk away but my gaze is interrupted by Arthur clearing his throat. Figures he would still be jealous of my relationship with his intern. I look around the room, this is it. Once I see most of the room enjoying their soup, I begin to enjoy my own.

After a few moments, I felt a tickle in my throat. It became so intense I began to cough. “Are you alright, Madam? Drink some water” my husband says to me. I grab the glass from him and try to swallow. I can’t. All of a sudden I have no feeling in my fingers and I hear the glass shatter to the floor. Everyone at my table stands up.

For a second, everything is dark. When I come to I am surrounded by my peers. Mara leans into my ears and says, “You’ve taken advantage of us long enough.” Samantha steps into view, looking down at me. “You deserve every minute of this slow, painful death.” I am paralyzed. I reach out for help. Knixon puts my arm down. “No one is coming to save you. You’ve made us miserable for years.” I look over at Arthur. He caressed my cheek. “Madam, my sweet wife. You plan to take us out has backfired. You and your lover Stephen are the only ones dying tonight.”

I try to look for Stephen. I finally see a group of people surrounding a body on the floor. He is spazzing. It is Stephen. This is suppose to happen to them! To Samantha, to Travis, to the other members who have been dead weight! I carried this group! I catch Stephen’s eye. He puts his hand out to me. When I try and move towards him, he goes limp.

“Wolfsbane! Putting it in the soup was a marvelous idea. Now, Knixon and I can marry and do the Ladies in Yellow right. My companies will thrive with your scibe as my new wife. Will will mourn and give you an extravagant ceremony. It is over for you. Goodnight Madam”, Arthur whispers in my ear. How could this be happening? My own plan against me? My lover dying because of me. I begin to cry. I feel the hot tears on my face and then nothing. It goes dark.