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For E.

For the ff.net freaks, youve supported me from the very beginning.

Smashwords Edition

2012 era !oberts, "## !ights !eserved

$his e%book is #i&ensed for your persona# en'oyment on#y. $his e%book may not be re%so#dor given away to other peop#e. (f you wou#d #ike to share this book with another person,

p#ease pur&hase an additiona# &opy for ea&h re&ipient.

$his book is a work of fi&tion. $he names, &hara&ters, p#a&es and in&idents are produ&tsof the authors imagination, or are used fi&titious#y. "ny resemb#an&e to a&tua# persons,#iving or dead, events or #o&a#es, is entire#y &oin&identa#.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER O NE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER F IVE

CHAPTER S I

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER E IGHT

CHAPTER N INE

CHAPTER TEN

AUTHOR I NFOR!ATION

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PROLOGUE

New "or# $a% a smell li#e &o ot$er'

T$e %am( air o) t$e $arbor' T$e roaste% *o))ee a&% (astries at *o))ee s$o(s e+ery ot$er

*or&er' T$e t$i*# smo, o) t$e %aily tra))i*' T$e &ose-ti*#li&, aromas o) !om a&% Po( (i..a (arlors e+eryw$ere'

Li+i&, i& New "or# ma%e o&e ,et /se% to $eari&, a lot o) so/&%s %/ri&, t$e &i,$t' T$e%r/ (atro&s s$o/ti&, )or a ta0i' T$e yo/&, *o/(le ma#i&, lo+e o& a s1/ea#y be%' T$eol%er *o/(le ar,/i&, abo/t %is$es a&% ot$er $o/se$ol% *$ores' T$e $/&,ry artists (layi&,o& t$e street aro/&% t$e *or&er' T$e a*ti+ists $a&%i&, o/t )lyers e0*laimi&, t$e +ario/si&2/sti*es aro/&% t$e worl%'

Peo(le were )rie&%ly' Peo(le were r/%e' Peo(le were sweet' Peo(le were st/*#-/('E+eryo&e was always i& a r/s$ to ,et somewhere.

It was a (la*e Abi,ail !o&t,omery *alle% $ome'

It too# $er some time to ,et /se% to t$e $/stle a&% b/stle o) New "or# b/t o&*e s$e wast$ere3 s$e &e+er loo#e% ba*#' Not t$at s$e wa&te% to' S$e *ame )rom t$e (ea*e a&% *almo) Los A&,eles to (/rs/e $er li)elo&, %ream' S$e $a% a**om(lis$e% a lot i& $er 45 yearsa&% t$e worl% was at $er )i&,erti(s'

Slee(3 as Abi,ail $a% soo& %is*o+ere%3 was a l/0/ry' S$e o)te& o(erate% o& less t$a& si0$o/rs a slee( &i,$tly a&% wo&%ere% $ow s$e e+er ma&a,e% to %o 5-6 $o/rs &i,$tly li#ere,/lar )ol#' T$ere was somet$i&, to t$at ol% sayi&,7 &o rest )or t$e wi*#e%'

Her bliss)/l slee( was o&*e a,ai& %ist/rbe% by w$at s$e t$o/,$t was t$e *ell ($o&ealarm *lo*#' S$e always $a% t$ree alarms set to it' T$e )irst o&e at 8798 A!3 )or w$e& s$e&ee%e% to ,et /(: t$e se*o&% o&e3 ;7Go%3 yo/ better be i&2/re%3? s$e *roa#e%'

A low barito&e *$/*#le ,reete% $er' >Goo% mor&i&,3 Pri&*ess' To( o) t$e mor&i&, toyo/'?

Him' Abi,ail=s +irt/e a&% $er +i*e' He stoo% o+er si0 )eet tall wit$ a bo%y t$at wass*/l(te% by $is )ormer li)e as a bo%yb/il%er a&% $is */rre&t o&e bei&, a (ro)essio&al

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wrestler' His brow& eyes were so)t a&% i&+iti&,' He $a% a small so/l (at*$ /&%er $islower li( t$at a%%e% a le+el o) %isti&,/is$e% so($isti*atio&' He was t$e A%o&is to $erA($ro%ite'

Abi,ail met @/lia& Ta&&er by *$a&*e' T$ey bot$ $a((e&e% to be at a *o))ee s$o( i& New

"or# a&% literally b/m(e% i&to ea*$ ot$er' S$e was &ot i&tereste% a&% $e rele&tlessly (/rs/e% $er' A&% t$e& it be,a& a )rie&%s$i( t$at was more t$a& be% b/%%ies b/t &ot1/ite a relatio&s$i(' E+e& t$ey $a% a $ar% %es*ribi&, t$eir sit/atio&' B/t w$ate+er it was3it was a *losely-,/ar%e% se*ret' Very )ew #&ew abo/t t$eir relatio&s$i( a&% t$ose w$os/s(e*te%3 %i%&=t as# 1/estio&s'

>To( o) t$e mor&i&, to yo/3 too' Goo% &i,$t'? S$e $/&, /( t$e ($o&e'

A )ew se*o&%s later3 $e *alle% ba*#' Abi,ail barely (i*#e% /( $er ($o&e be)ore it sto((e%ri&,i&,' >@/lia&3 w$at is it ?

>I was wo&%eri&, i) I *a& see yo/ ? He as#e%'

>"es3 yo/ *a&' Now I=ll tal# to yo/ later'? Abi,ail $/&, /( t$e ($o&e a,ai&'

@/lia& *alle% a,ai&' T$is time3 Abi,ail was&=t bei&, so (olite' >O$3 t$is better be ,oo% ?

>I=m waiti&, o/tsi%e yo/r %oor'?

Abi,ail imme%iately sat /( i& be%' >W$at ?

>I=m waiti&, o/tsi%e yo/r %oor3? $e re(eate%'

Abi,ail *lose% $er ($o&e a&% we&t strai,$t to $er )ro&t %oor' Not o&e )or )eeli&,restri*te%3 s$e always sle(t &a#e%' S$e o(e&e% $er %oor a&% was ,reete% by t$ree si&,lere% roses a&% @/lia& i& a (i&stri(e% b/si&ess s/it'

S$e always t$o/,$t at$letes loo#e% aw#war% weari&, s/its' Somet$i&, abo/t weari&, as/it t$at $a% way too m/*$ >bli&,? or was ob+io/sly ill-)itte% ma%e Abi,ail wo&%er w$yt$e at$letes were&=t s(e&%i&, t$eir millio&s o& a ,oo% tailor' B/t t$e& t$ere was @/lia&'E+ery (ie*e o) )abri* )it $is bo%y (er)e*tly' A&% as m/*$ as s$e lo+e% to see $im s$ar(ly-%resse%3 s$e was more ea,er to see $im ta#e o)) t$e s/it'

@/lia& loo#e% at Abi,ail a&% traile% $is eyes %ow& to $er breasts a&% lower' Her (etite)rame was (er)e*t )or $is lar,e o&e as well as t$eir *o&trasti&, s#i& to&es' S$e $a% a ri*$3eart$y a&% bea/ti)/l %ar#&ess t$at *om(leme&te% $is ta&&e% s#i&' Her e1/ally %ar# eyesstoo% o/t i& $er o+al s$a(e% )a*e'

S$ort ebo&y */rls )rame% $er )a*e a&% @/lia& *o/l%=+e swor& s$e was a 1/ee& rebor&' Her%a&*er=s bo%y was to&e% a&% $er le,s were stro&, a&% )le0ible3 a )a*t (ro+e& by t$e

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CHAPTER O NE

Re$earsal was at two a&% Abi,ail was ,oi&, to be )as$io&ably late'

Abi,ail !o&t,omery #&ew s$e wa&te% to be a star w$e& s$e was yo/&,er' Abi,ail

!o&t,omery $a% always *ra+e% t$e s(otli,$t' E+er si&*e s$e was a little ,irl3 s$e *o/l%remember ta#i&, $er $airbr/s$ a&% si&,i&, alo&, to so&,s o& t$e ra%io'

S$e was W$it&ey Ho/sto&' S$e was !aria$ Carey' S$e was Celi&e Dio&' S$e was C$a#a$a&' S$e was !i&&ie Ri(erto&'

W$e&e+er $er (are&ts $a% )amily a&% )rie&%s o+er3 Abi,ail wo/l% *reate $er ow& sta,e i&t$e %e& a&% %o sets a&% ta#e re1/ests' S$e always ima,i&e% t$at s$e was ,oi&, to be astar' S$e 2/st %i%&=t #&ow i& w$at *a(a*ity'

Her lo+e )or (er)ormi&, *arrie% t$ro/,$ $er *$il%$oo% a&% a%oles*e&*e years' S$e was

always t$e star (er)ormer i& s*$ool (lays a&% $er &at/ral tale&t s$i&e%' S$e st/%ie%*lassi* mo+ies a&% *o/l% mimi* t$e *$oreo,ra($y o) Fre% Astaire a&% Gi&,er Ro,ers'S$e st/%ie% sta&.as a&% m/si* )or $o/rs3 &ot lea+i&, m/*$ )or a so*ial li)e' B/t it was

(er)e*tly )i&e by $er3 Abi,ail reaso&e%' S$e wo/l% $a+e )rie&%s a,ai& w$e& s$e )i&ally blew /('

S$e was ele,a&t a&% ,ra*e)/l wit$ t$e *$arm a&% *$arisma o) ol% Hollywoo%' I& a Va&ityFair i&ter+iew3 s$e sai% s$e as(ire% to be #&ow& as a& e&tertai&er a&% bri&, ba*# w$ats$e terme% as t$e >tri)e*ta?7 si&,i&,3 a*ti&,3 a&% %a&*i&,' S$e always )elt t$at i) a&yo&ewas ,oi&, to s(e&% time a&% mo&ey3 t$ey better ,et t$eir mo&ies wort$' Her t$eory (ai%

o))7 s$e wo& &/mero/s a**ola%es a&% awar%s' Pro%/*ers a&% %ire*tors were ea,er to wor#wit$ $er as m/*$ as s$e was ea,er to broa%e& $er ra&,e'

A)ter $er sta&%ar% yo,a a&% me%itatio& i& t$e mor&i&, )ollowe% by warmi&, /( $er +o*al*$or%s3 s$e $/rrie% o/t o) $er New "or# a(artme&t to $er )a+orite *o))ee s$o(3Ca))ei&ate%' It was t$e same ro/ti&e s$e $a% w$e&e+er s$e $a% a (er)orma&*e a&% it%i%&=t *$a&,e +ery m/*$ or at all' S$e li#e% t$e mo&oto&y o) $er li)e'

T$e s$o( was b/sy wit$ t$e a)ter&oo& *row% alrea%y7 *olle,e #i%s wor#i&, o& t$eir (ro2e*ts3 )ilmma#ers a&% s*ree&writers wor#i&, o& t$e Ne0t Bi, T$i&,3 e0e*/ti+es%e*i%i&, t$e )ate o) ma&y ot$ers wit$ a sim(le *li*# o) t$eir mo/se' T$e li&e was em(tyt$o/,$ a&% Abi,ail l/*#e% o/t' S$e was ,oi&, to be early to war%robe a)ter all'

O&*e s$e re*ei+e% $er or%er3 Abi,ail was wal#i&, o/t o) Ca))ei&ate% w$e& s$e b/m(e%i&to a ma& w$o was &ot (ayi&, atte&tio&' Her i*e% *o))ee *r/s$e% /( a,ai&st t$e *o/(lea&% sli((e% )rom $er $a&%s i&to a ri%i*/lo/s mess o& t$e )loor'

>S$it ? Abi,ail e0*laime% as s$e stoo% ba*# a&% trie% to sal+a,e $er e0(e&si+e blo/se'

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>Wat*$ w$ere yo/=re ,oi&,3 will ya= ?

>I=m sorry3 !iss3? t$e ma& ,rabbe% a )ew &a(#i&s a&% $a&%e% t$em to Abi,ail3 w$o1/i*#ly s&at*$e% t$em away'

>"o/ sir3 owe me a&ot$er *o))ee3? s$e %ema&%e%'>I $a+e o&e better3? t$e ma& smile%3 >I owe yo/ %i&&er'?

Abi,ail )i&is$e% *lea&i&, $ersel) o)) a&% *a/,$t eyes wit$ t$e $a&%some stra&,er be)ore$er' >O$3 yo/ $a+e to be #i%%i&,'?

>It=s t$e least I *a& %o3? t$e ma& (ersiste%'

>No3 it=s &ot3? Abi,ail=s irritatio& was ,rowi&, by t$e mi&/te wit$ &o *a))ei&e i& $er+ei&s3 >t$e least yo/ *a& %o is b/y me a&ot$er */( o) *o))ee'?

>As t$e la%y wa&ts3? t$e ma& )ollowe% Abi,ail to t$e *o/&ter a&% (ai% )or $er *o))ee'>Now *a& I ,et t$at %i&&er ?

Abi,ail smile% at t$e barista3 w$o $a&%e% $er *o))ee' >No'?

@/lia& Ta&&er $a% rarely bee& t/r&e% %ow& by a woma&' T$ose w$o %i% t/r& $im %ow&$a% to $a+e bee& ase0/al' T$ere was &o ot$er reaso& )or it'

T$e so($isti*ate% bea/ty $e e&*o/&tere% at Ca))ei&ate% was&=t ase0/al' He swore $e saw

a twile i& $er eyes w$e& t$ey *a/,$t ,la&*es a&% $er se&s/ality oo.e% t$ro/,$ $er )/ll3 (o/ty li(s' S$e was bea/ti)/l3 i&telli,e&t3 a&% $a% a s$ar( to&,/e'

He was %a..le% by $er' S$e $a% a& o+er)lowi&, *o&)i%e&*e abo/t $er3 t$e ty(e o) awoma& t$at wo/l% 2/st a ,i+e a loo# a&% yo/ #&ow s$e mea&t b/si&ess' S$e was +a,/ely)amiliar a&% @/lia& %i%&=t #&ow $ow b/t $e $a% %e)i&itely see& $er be)ore' S$e %i%&=tloo# li#e a ,irl w$o was aro/&% t$e way' S$e %i%&=t loo# li#e someo&e w$o was &ew tot$e *ity eit$er' He $a% see& be)ore3 somew$ere' )ut where*

>"o3 yo/ o#ay3 ma& ? @/lia&=s )rie&%3 Hiram We&%ell3 as#e%' >"o/=+e bee& m/tteri&, to

yo/rsel) )or t$e (ast )i+e mi&/tes' Di% yo/ ta#e a b/m( too ma&y times ?>I met t$is woma&3 t$is bea/ti)/l woma&3 at Ca))ei&ate% %ow& t$e street' S$e loo#e% so)amiliar a&% I=m tryi&, to remember w$ere I saw $er'?

>O&e o) yo/r ri&, rats ? Hiram as#e%'

>O$ &o3? @/lia& s$oo# $is $ea%' T$e woma& $e e&*o/&tere% was all *lass3 a s$ar(

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*o&trast to t$e ,ro/(ies $e %ealt wit$ o& a re,/lar basis' >I wo/l% $a+e %e)i&itelyremembere% $er'?

>Was s$e a )a& ?

>I %o/bt s$e e+e& #&ew w$o I was3? @/lia& ,la&*e% /(' +aybe thats why ( #ike her.>Well3 w$oe+er mystery woma& is3 I=m s/re yo/=ll )i&% o/t soo& e&o/,$3? Hiram too# aswi, o) $is water3 >yo/ rea%y to ,o o/t We ,otta eat a&% t$e& *at*$ t$at (lay'?

>"ea$3 s/re'? @/lia& s$r/,,e%' >I %o&=t #&ow $ow i& t$e $ell I ma&a,e% to $a+e yo/*o&+i&*e me to ,o to a Broa%way (lay'?

>D/%e3 yo/ &ee% to %o somet$i&, besi%es wor# o/t a&% wrestli&,3? Hiram s/,,este%3>yo/ &ee% to be more &ivi#i ed. A&% yo/ #&ow $ow *$i*#s li#e it w$e& me& are&ivi#i ed.?

>"o/ a )ool3 Hiram3? @/lia& b/m(e% )ists wit$ $is )rie&%'

>A&% t$at=s w$y yo/ lo+e me'?

>Sorry I=m late3 To&y3? Abi,ail r/s$e% i&to re$earsal' >I was rea%y to lea+e /&til somem/s*le$ea% 2er# s(ille% *o))ee all o+er me' B/t I=m rea%y to ,o &ow'?

>Pri&*ess3 it=s )i&e ? T$e *ost/me %esi,&er sas$aye% $is way o+er to Abi,ail' >We 2/st&ee% to ti,$te& /( yo/r war%robe a little b/t it=s all ,oo%' Was $e */te at least ?

Come to t$i o) it3 t$e stra&,er at t$e *o))ee s$o( was more t$a& a little */te' He was,or,eo/s' Abi,ail %i%&=t $a+e a s(e*i)i* ty(e o) ma& s$e was i&to b/t s$e was (retty*ertai& t$e *o))ee s$o( stra&,er was 2/st $er ty(e' S$e )elt a $eat rise i& $er bo%y t$at%i%&=t $a((e& o)te& a&% a ti&,li&, se&satio& betwee& $er t$i,$s' T$e o&ly t$i&, t$atsa+e% $er stro&, %esires was re$earsal' >He was alri,$t3 I ,/ess'?

>!mm-$mm 't$at mea&s $e was )i&e3? To&y la/,$e% as ot$ers 2oi&e% i&3 >so w$e&=st$e )irst %ate ?

>T$ere is &o %ate3? Abi,ail s$oo# $er $ea%'>Well3 %i%&=t $e as# )or yo/r &/mber ?

>"ea$3 a&% I t/r&e% $im %ow&'? E+e& Abi,ail $a% to sile&tly 1/estio& w$at s$e wast$ii&,'

>O$ t$at=s ri,$t3 I )or,ot abo/t Bob3? To&y &o%%e%'

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