Episode 27

MY V.I.

(a soap opera)

Mary Haley hung up the phone and wandered back through the mid-century modern masterpiece.

The home belonged to a mysterious man that Mary knew simply as "Mayhem."

She continued through the house which was impeccably decorated with a tasteful mix of Mies van der Rohe, Baughman, Paul McCobb, Eames and Danish Modern furnishings. This ecclectic style wasn't her "cup of tea," but the owner certainly was.

Cruel, harsh and demanding; Mayhem was all of these, and he held Mary firmly in his dread sway.

Standing at the sliding glass door - she stared out at the monster that had forcibly stolen her heart. He was unaware of her spying as he sat by the pool, cleaning his semi-automatic pistol.

He was dark, handsome and strangely familiar. All that, combined with his enormous wealth and power, made him diabolically delicious in Mary's mind.

She had needed someone to take care of since her dear, Danny Bonaduce had flown east and left her behind. In Mayhem, she had stumbled across more than she could handle and she knew it, but she would worry about that tomorrow; right now she was too busy being in love with him.

Wearing only a red satin robe and a pair of leopard print mules; she stepped out onto the patio and called to him in a low, sexy voice, "Hello, lover."

He swung completely around and pointed the gun squarely at her.

"Damn it! I told you never to sneak up on me! You want me to blow your head off?"

Mary rushed over and sat at his feet. Placing her head in his lap she mumbled, "I'm sorry, sweetheart - I forgot."

He grabbed her hair, pulled her head up and looked her in the eyes.

"Did you make that phone call?"

Mary stared back and whispered, "Yes, baby. I called Trudy."

"And what did you tell her?"

"Just what you said. I told her that I'd be covering Ken's shift on Wednesday night . . . right?"

He tossed her aside and stood up. As he walked across the patio toward the house, Mary called out, "Right?! Wasn't that what you wanted me to say?! Baby, wasn't that what you wanted me to say?!"

Her desparate cries went unheeded as he opened the sliding glass door and disappeared inside the house.

TUNE IN NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EXCITING EPISODE OF MY V.I.!