Erosa Knowles_-_Secrets[1](1).pdf

Secrets

By:

Erosa Knowles

Wealthy Industrialist David Baxter died and left Chastity, his Administrative Assistant the

bulk of his estate. Great right? That was until she faced his greedy relative in a court battle over

the estate, which opens a can of Secrets . Court exposure sets off a string of events that reach as

high as the United States Senate Chambers and as low as State prison walls. Through everything,

Chastity once again must face her past Secrets . Desperate measures won‘t allow her to push her

childhood friend, Lt. Cmdr. Kenton Stone to the side, she needs his help, even though she hides

the biggest Secret of all from him.

Published by Sitting Bull Publishing

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product

of the author‘s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual

persons, living or dead, businesses, organizations, events or locales is entirely

coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered

service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for

identification purposes only. The publisher does not have any control over or assume

any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their contents.

SECRETS

ISBN: 9781937334079

First Edition Electronic August 2011

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,

electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information

storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Erosa Knowles.

ABOUT THE E-BOOK VERSION: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows

you to one LEGAL copy for your own personal use. It is ILLEGAL to send your copy to

someone who did not pay for it. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online,

offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented,

is forbidden without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright

owner of this book. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this

copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement

without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in

Federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

Edited by: Vicki Zalascek

Chapter 1

Chastity March admitted she‘d lost this round. After multiple refusals to attend mediation,

today she waved the white towel in surrender as she strode down the eerie halls of the old

Philadelphia law firm. The clicks of her serviceable low-heeled pumps against the beige ceramic

tiles competed with the loud thumps in her chest. Tendrils of cold seeped from paneled walls

plastered with portraits, a pictorial morgue of men and women who were long dead. Like a fox

salivating over sheep, their faces leapt at her as she passed. Slashes of smiles, gruesome in their

attempt to appear benevolent, mocked her. She suspected these vultures had created gold nests

from the fear and ignorance of people like Ms. Cook, the elderly housekeeper at the ranch. The

thought leached all moisture from her mouth and throat.

Each dreaded step to the opened doorway at the end of the hall sent the nausea already

churning in her gut, up a notch. An acrid taste filled the back of her throat as she drew closer to

the room. Closer to the inquisition. Closer to the disaster with her name on it.

Today, she'd dressed in her best black suit, each of the five buttons securely fastened on the

boxy jacket. The straight skirt fell a respectable distance below her knees. She'd pulled back her

dark, thick curly hair into a chignon lying on the base of her neck; stubborn tendrils escaped

from the sides, caressing her dark face. Her goal was to look professional, act professional, be

professional; but most of all, don't kick Maude Stone‘s lily-white ass. Not that the woman

deserved her consideration, she didn't; however, since she represented Mr. Baxter's estate she'd

put her personal feelings aside. For the next few hours anyway.

Inhaling, she bolstered her wavering courage before stopping at the doorway. Sunlight

glinted off three drinking glasses set on the long table at the rear of the room. Two people sat

around an oval mahogany table in the middle of the room, talking softly. One was an older white

male with brownish-blonde hair, average build, and a large round face with buck teeth. The other

was an anorexic-looking older woman with blondish hair, pale skin and thin, almost non-

existent, lips.

Chastity‘s eyes slid to the corner of the room, widening in pleasure at seeing Mr. Jamison,

Mr. Baxter's attorney, well, her attorney now, who sat looking at some papers. One knot in her

stomach eased at the sight of someone she knew who wasn't overtly hostile toward her. Entering

the room, head high as Mr. Baxter had instructed, she headed toward her attorney, aware that all

conversation had stopped.

Either he heard her approach or he‘d been watching the doorway, because he stood with a

welcoming smile and extended his hand to her.

Mr. Jamison pulled out a chair for her. "Hello, Chastity. How are you?" His deep husky

voice brought a smile to her face. Calm and soothing, she wondered if he practiced to get it just

right.

Another knot unfurled in her stomach. Moisture returned to her mouth, allowing her to

return his greeting without stammering. She sat and pulled her chair toward the table. "I'm fine,

sir."

"Call me Richard. I'm your attorney now." His palm rested on her tightly clasped hands

lying on her lap. "Don't worry, things will be fine. This is just a preliminary. David told me he

discussed this possibility with you." His brow rose in question.

She nodded after realizing he spoke of Mr. Baxter. "Yes. Yes, he did. But, I never liked the

idea, plus it‘s a long drive from the ranch." She slid her hands from beneath his and looked

around the table.

He leaned forward and spoke softly. "I understand. David explained you've only left the

ranch a few times in the past ten years."

She nodded. In order to keep her tough skin tight, she veered away from all discussion about

the ranch.

"We'll try and wrap this up quickly, then you can be on your way." He smiled and returned to

the papers he'd been looking over.

Exhaling, Chastity fought the rising nausea at the thought of answering questions about her

life, about Mr. Baxter, about the ranch. Some things should be left alone. Two more people

entered the room.

"Damn."

She glanced at Mr. Jamison's scowling face and followed the line of his gaze. Her stomach

dropped, kicking her heart into high gear as she recognized the overblown, plasticized face of

Maude Stone, Mr. Baxter's sister. The greedy bitch who had started this mess. At five foot three

and two hundred pounds, she'd stuffed herself into a light pink suit. Her belly hung over the top

of her skirt and the tight sleeves of her jacket threatened to cut off her circulation at any moment.

Next to her stood a short, gray haired woman with large lips that appeared frozen in a pout. Not

at all attractive on a woman her age.

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