Lies of a Real Housewife (31 page)

Not only was I a target, but Johnnie’s attorney had already threat-

ened to have my parole violated for extortion i
f they ever heard anything about the rape again. This was another reason I had needed Phaedra’s guidance, but she had completely rid herself of me. Her lifestyle had changed from the old days of being a crook. She just refused to help me. She gave me all the direction in the world when we had illegal dealings, but the rules of the game had changed. I wasn’t privy to the rule book anymore. So I did what I had to do. What I thought was best for my children and myself, I went with that. I met Johnnie at the Fulton County Library, signed an agreement not to

prosecute, and took the money.

I used that money to make moves. After relocating my family to an-

other home, I purchased a new vehicle, took my babies to the beach in Florida, and I also published my first
book, ‘Life Beyond These Walls’, which I

had written while I was in prison.

Dr. Alveda King, a prolife activist, was instrumental in providing

me with some much necessary help along the way. I had pretty much given up on my rap career after that incide
nt. I was too apprehensive and didn’t want to do music anymore. Johnnie not only raped me, but he had also snatched

my dream away from me.

The only thing I wanted to do now was share my story with young

women. I had experienced and survived just about e
very hurt known to the human being. I got on the telephone that day and called all over the city until I found a program for young women that would give me an opportunity to

volunteer my services.

When I first met Dr. Alveda King, the niece of slain civil rights

leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she was counseling at a pregnancy crisis center for teen girls. I shared my life story with her, and she was completely

blown away.

Dr. King’s mission is to fight everyday for the lives of children. She

looked at me as child, a child that needed to be born again. She promised me the first day I met her that she was going to help me get my life on track, and she did. She immediately began my healing process by allowing me to help the young women in her center. I never knew that my life story could prove to be so rewarding. The day I visited with Dr. King in her office, changed the focus of my whole existence.

Chapter Eleven

“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes

the fear of the Almighty.” Job 6:14(NIV)

Prior to this book, and over the last few years, my life had been a

constant struggle. Becoming one with me, myself, while forgiving I, proved to be a much harder task than I thought it would ever be. The process of reconciliation wore on me, and it almost took me out. Trying to suppress all of my bad memories was actually harder than remembering them. Dr. King kept her promise. She remained very active in my life. Helping me see past the pain, Dr. King gave me a newfound love for the misguided and mistreated children throughout the world. She singlehandedly guided me to

a safer place.

My first book signing for the book, ‘Life Beyond These Walls’, was

at the Martin Luther King center in Atlanta, GA. I chose that title because I knew that you could be locked behind mental walls in your mind, not just walls made of concrete. I felt so honored. Dr. King made one call and it was

done. She put me on a pedestal. She showed me that I had worth.

Ms. Lorna Murphy showed up in addition to other parole officers I

had over the course of my three years, Tammy Boone and Amy Roberts. My old boss from GDOT, Princess showed up and her boss, Rachel Brown, did as well.
All of these people came out, and they showed their support. My cousin, Angie, and other people who not only believed in me, but knew I deserved a second chance, came out. I could never thank them enough. These were the people who truly helped me. Their belief in me along with my faith equaled

success.

Of course Phaedra never showed her face. I was disappointed, but

not at all surprised. In fact, the last time I spoke with Phaedra was when Johnny raped me in June of 2008. I often wondered about Phaedra,
and how her life turned out. Every time that I would think of her, my brain would quickly remind me that she had gone on with her life. And I had to do the same thing. Phaedra wanted to leave the dirty deeds of our past in the past. That was understandable to me. I wouldn’t wish what I’d been through on

my worst enemy.

Sharing my story as a preventative method to keep young women

from making the same mistakes was a proven success. It took me almost

thirty-two years to realize that I was not a mistake, and that my life had true meaning. It had value. After almost thirty-two years, I found my purpose. There were countless counseling sessions, and being taught to think after the thought, I finally found peace within. I was now able to live my life as a normal adult. I was finally able to love my children, love my life, and not resent anything at all about life. Ever! This was my life now. I felt that I had finally

put all the negativity of my past behin
d me.

Then I caught the first episode of ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ on

the Bravo Television Network. The episode I saw aired on November 28, 2010. It was always my presumption that Phaedra had moved on with her life, distancing herself from her criminal enterprise. I assumed she was now on the straight and narrow. So I was in a total state of shock when I learned that she married Apollo. Apollo was my criminal partner, our criminal partner. As I watched the show, I was about to die. I mean massive heart attack pains ran

through my left arm.

I knew damn well that I didn’t just see Everett driving them to and

from the hospital in Savannah, Georgia when she had the baby. Oh, and please don’t let me forget how Everett had everybody featured in the show fro
m the federal halfway house, when the Rolls Royce picked him up for Phaedra and Apollo’s wedding. Hold up! Wait a minute…!

“Bi**h you sent a Rolls Royce to pick this man up from the halfway

house when my children and I lived in a shelter? What the hell?” I found

myself shouting at the television set.

Then I started wondering about my relationship with Phaedra after I was busted. Do you know how many times I called this broad? How many times I had reached out to her? No really. I don’t beg, and I don’t run behind anybody, but she should have reached out to me. Why was the entire gang there except me? I know for a fact that I had earned my stripes! Was this real,

man? I mean was this sh** actually happening?



Phaedra had not moved on with her life at a
ll. She was still involved

with these people which meant she only distanced herself from me. But why only me…? After doing more research, I learned that while Everett Tripodis was in the halfway house, and before he got released from Federal prison, he wo
rked as a paralegal for her law firm. Wait a minute! Now let me get this sh** straight. I’m sorry mama King for cursing, but please just give me this

moment.

Okay, so Phaedra was a slick bi**h. I knew this because she taught

me how to be smooth. Phaedra
married Apollo so he couldn’t testify against her, and of course, she masterminded getting his life on track upon his release from prison. She gave Everett, Apollo’s street brother, and our partner in crime, a job as a paralegal working for her law firm. She did nothing for my children, or me, but I had sacrificed and lost everything. Didn’t I fit into this

equation anywhere? What about me? Why didn’t she help me?

Check this out right. For those of you that feel like she doesn’t owe

me anything. I really could care less how you feel or what you think, but for the sake of argument let’s consider this for a moment. When she was the ringleader, we had made an agreement, an unwritten contract. The verbal agreement was, if I ever got caugh
t, Phaedra would represent me.

Phaedra Parks didn’t do that! Nor did she even try! Phaedra Parks,

an attorney who studied law, could truly care less. She knew what was going to happen to me if I ever got caught. Once I was nabbed by the law, she sat back and did nothing. It was one of my hardest lessons in life. There was no

honor amongst thieves.

Then I started thinking again, like I always do! I began to play the

course of our relationship through my mind over and over again. Things started to finally
make sense to me after that. I remembered when I first arrived in Clayton County Jail, when I was pregnant and Phaedra ignored all my calls. I remembered the conversation with Attorney Freeman. That was the only reason she showed up. I believe he forced her to because he didn’t want to be

involved, so she had no choice.

I remembered my Federal trial when she said it was a conflict of

interest. I remembered Everett’s lawyer telling Judge Evans that I was the mastermind. I was the fall guy for the entire
operation. Phaedra was never ever my friend, and she had a plan for me the moment she met me. Once it dawned on me how I had been played, I cried helplessly. I hadn’t cried that much since the death of my mother. She even went to my mother’s funeral,