Delilah. Shelia M. Goss

burst into his office without knocking. He snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of Delilah’s voice.

      Delilah smiled. “Nothing. I just dropped off something to the pastor. You two make such a cute couple.”

      Julia responded, “Well, now that you’ve dropped it off, you can be going.”

      Delilah turned to face Samson. “Remember what I said.” She winked at him, turned, and twisted out of the room.

      “I know it’s wrong, but I can’t stand that woman,” Julia said.

      Samson threw the disk Delilah had given him in his briefcase. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

      Samson and Julia were in separate vehicles, so instead of leaving one at the church, they each decided to drive. He followed Julia home to spend a little time with her before heading home.

      It wasn’t until later that night, while lying in his bed, that he remembered the disk Delilah had given him earlier. He retrieved it from his briefcase and placed it in the DVD player. For some reason the disk didn’t immediately start playing like it normally would, so he played around with the remote. The screen remained fuzzy, but when he turned the sound up, he realized that what he was watching was no ordinary video. Within seconds, the visuals became clear and he saw his naked bottom staring at him on the screen.

      There was no misunderstanding what was going on. The video showed him and Delilah in the heat of passion. He watched the video, wishing he could turn back the hands of time. He had been celibate for years, and Delilah had him breaking vows to his fiancée and, more importantly, to God. He could try to lie his way out of it, but the proof of his sin was not only a vision in his head, it was recorded for anyone to see.

      Chapter 11

      Delilah slept with the phone by her ear. She expected Samson to call her as soon as he saw the video. Morning crept up on her. She glanced at her phone and didn’t have one missed call. “I wonder if he even watched it.”

      Delilah knew her obsession with Samson was on the borderline of being considered psychotic, but she loved him and wanted him like she had never wanted any other man before in her life.

      She dialed Samson’s phone number. Her phone beeped. Trusts Enterprise’s number flashed on the caller ID screen. She disconnected the call with Samson and clicked over. “Delilah speaking,” she answered.

      “Any news?” William asked.

      “I’m working on it,” she responded.

      “Don’t disappoint me,” he said before hanging up.

      “I can’t believe I made a deal with the devil.” Delilah slammed down the phone.

      After the conversation with William, Delilah took a long shower. Her phone rang while she dressed. A smile crept across her face when she saw Samson’s number displayed on the caller ID. “I knew you would call,” she answered.

      “I’m coming over now,” was all Samson said.

      “I’ll be waiting.”

      Delilah changed her clothes several times. She wanted to look sexy for Samson, but then again, she wanted to play hard-to-get. The problem with Samson was, in her opinion, that she had been too accessible to him. She would be less forward from this point on.

      She reached for the room fragrance and sprayed it in the air. The fruity aroma spread throughout the house. She did a clean sweep of her living room to make sure everything was presentable.

      Before Samson could ring the door bell, Delilah greeted him at the door. “Come in.”

      Samson didn’t say a word. He walked directly to the living room and sat down. Delilah left him there and returned with a twelve ounce can of his favorite soda.

      “You can keep that,” he said.

      “Suit yourself.” Delilah popped the cap off a can of Sprite and took a sip before sitting down next to him.

      Samson moved farther away from her. She didn’t move again. He reached into his jacket pocket and waved the disk she had given him in her face. “You had no right taping us.”

      The forceful tone of his voice concerned Delilah. She had never seen Samson this angry.

      “I can’t see you every night, so I needed some reminder of our time together.”

      “Where’s the hidden camera?” Samson stood up and started picking up the figurines around the room. “Is it in here? Is it under here?”

      “There’s no camera, Samson.”

      “I forgot, the video shows us in your bedroom.” Samson placed the figurine back on the table and looked directly in Delilah’s eyes. “Lately, people have said some bad things about you, and I’ve taken up for you. But now…”

      Delilah stood up and walked in front of him. “Now what? Can I help it that I fell in love with you? How do you think I feel knowing that I’ll never be good enough for you? That you only want to use me?” Tears formed at the corners of her eyes.

      Samson turned away from her. “It’s not like that. I can’t have this video get out. This could affect my ministry.” He turned around and looked Delilah in the face. “Do you really love me?”

      Delilah whimpered. “Yes, I love you more than I’ve loved any other man.”

      “Then destroy the video and promise me no one else will see it.”

      “I can’t make that type of promise,” she responded.

      Samson reached for her hand and held it. “Please. I’m begging you. Get rid of it. I’ll do anything.”

      Delilah had Samson exactly where she wanted him. Julia was history. She imagined replacing Julia in Saturday’s wedding. Where would she get her dress on such a short notice? Delilah squeezed his hand. “You can call off your wedding and tell Julia you and I are getting married instead.”

      “Delilah, you know I can’t do that.” Samson released Delilah’s hand.

      “Well, you did say anything,” she pouted.

      “Anything but that. You know I love Julia.”

      Delilah thought about William and Trusts Enterprise. She could now fulfill her obligation to William, and get him off her back and collect the rest of the money he promised her. “You can sell the property to Trusts Enterprise. That would make me happy.”

      Samson released Delilah’s hand. “Why are you concerned with Trusts Enterprise?”

      “I work for them. My boss told me they were interested in the church property. I need the commission, so if I make the sale, I get the bonus.”

      “Sorry to disappoint you again, Delilah, but I refuse to sell out. Selling the property to Trusts Enterprise is not an option.”

      “Please. Do it for me.” Delilah batted her eyes a few times.

      “Never in a million years.”

      Delilah picked up the disk from the sofa. “Then what am I to do with this?” She waved the disk in the air.

      Samson took the disk and broke it in two. “That’s destroyed. Now promise me you’ll destroy the video so I won’t have to worry about this showing up again.”

      Delilah moved closer to him. “Promise me you’ll always be a part of my life.”

      Samson cleared his throat. “I can promise you that I’ll be there as your pastor, but nothing more.”

      “That’s not what I was talking about and you know it.”

      “You’ll find someone else who is available and will make you forget all about me. Watch.” Samson pulled her into his arms.

      One minute Delilah was angry with Samson, but with this