Chapter 1
Other books by Colleen Hurst:
The Darkhami Chronicles:
Book 1 – BLOODLINES
Book 2 – THE RISING DARKNESS
Book 3 – SHIFTING TIDES
Book 4 – LAST BREATH
Oleander Syndicate Novels:
Book 1 - BONDS OF BROTHERHOOD
Book 2 - HEAD OF THE DRAGON
Poetry collections:
LOVE, LIFE, and SPIRIT
MIND, HEART, and SOUL
NATURAL FORCES, HUMAN SPIRIT
Non-fiction:
BROKEN SPIRAL:A short book about diagnosis, treatment, and managing living with Bipolar Disorder.
And more to come!
Copyright © 2024 Colleen Hurst
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
ISBN:
Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously.Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination.
Cover image by Jim Cooper from Pixabay
First Edition 2024
THE CHARITY WIFE
A romance novel
CHAPTER 1
Jenna picked up a magazine from Annelynn’s nightstand.“Ooooh, the ‘Bachelor’ issue,” she mentioned as Taiya rifled through Annelynn’s closet.
“Is someone spousal shopping?” Jenna teased Annelynn.
“Actually I bought it for the article about the best colors to wear depending on the month you were born.”
“Uh huh.”
“Seriously? That’s a thing?” Taiya asked her best friend, Annelynn, “What color…” her words were interrupted by Jenna’s louder voice.
“Oooh, check this out,” Jenna ignored Annelynn and Taiya. “The top three are same ol’ same ol’, but number four is some rich guy named Park Jin Li. His parents migrated here from South Korea. He was born here. It says that he is independently wealthy and spends a lot of time doing fund raisers and philanthropic stuff.”
“Ooh?Must have a big heart,” Annelynn smiled. “How does he look?”
“Delish. Yummm.”
Taiya rolled her eyes.
“Let me see that,” Annelynn grabbed her magazine from Jenna’s hands. “Hmm. Not bad. He’s well-built and kind of exotically handsome.
Taiya raised an eyebrow, her interest suddenly peaked.
Annelynn continued, “Listen to these ‘pros’ and ‘cons’.” All eyes were on Annelynn.
Jenna spoke up, “Pros first. And you, get dressed already,” Jenna scolded Taiya.
“Alright, ‘pros’. Independently wealthy.”
“Which means you don’t have to worry about being poor and you won’t have to work,” Jenna asserted.
“Donates to charities like that one that helps abused children,” Annelynn continued.
“Which means he has a heart and a soft spot. Maybe he’s even passionate…” Jenna’s thoughts drifted to some intimate daydream.
“Family is high on his list of importance. Which means a wife would be very important as she would definitely count as family,” Annelynn supposed.
“Okay. So what are his cons?” Taiya was surprised to find herself curious.
Jenna took the magazine back. “It says that he has a reputation for being cold and aloof when it comes to running his businesses. He’s very serious-minded when it comes to work. And it says that he’s never smiles.”
“Well that doesn’t sound fun at all,” Annelynn suggested.
“He owns a casino in Vegas,” Jenna added.
“Is that under ‘cons’?”
“No it’s just part of his profile.”
“Wonder why he lives here when he has a casino all the way on the other side of the country,” Taiya murmured.
Jenna shrugged.
“So what makes him eligible as a bachelor if he is ‘cool and aloof’?”
“He has a lot of money and supports many charities. Although I’d be fine with just the lots of money,” Jenna replied.
“Of course you would,” Taiya said softly. “I’ll pass. I prefer love and devotion to money and popularity.”
Jenna looked at a half-dressed Taiya. “Oh come on already! Just pick something,” Jenna moaned as Taiya grabbed, yet another dress from Annelynn’s closet.
“Oh leave her be. This is a big night for her. It’s her first night out after Roy dumped her,” Annelynn replied.
“Gee. Thanks,” Taiya shot Annelynn a look.
“I just meant… Sorry,” Annelynn said quietly.
“Yeah yeah. I know. Roy ‘The Ass’ dumped her months ago. When that happens you have to just get back on the horse,” the advice came from Jenna. “Hurry up or we’ll miss the free admission.”
“If you ask me,” Annelynn spoke to her best friend - Taiya, “You dodged a bullet with that one. He was unpleasant to say the least. And there was the way he used to berate and talk down to you. He was always insulting you. I got worried for a while.”
“Worried?” Taiya asked.
“That his outbursts would escalate from just verbal to physical. He had all the makings of an abuser.”
“I suppose he could… but he never laid a finger on me. I could take the rest of it. His words were just words.”
“Nope. I’m with Annelynn on this one. That man wasn’t just saying words. He was using words to manipulate you.”
“How would you know?” Taiya asked Jenna. “Your relationship experience is all horizontal.”
Jenna rolled her eyes but responded to Taiya. “Just because I sleep with guys doesn’t mean they don’t speak. If I come across one that puts me down or insults me, I ditch them before they get too cozy. Now get dressed!”
“Fine, fine. I wear this blue one,” Taiya frowned. “Free admission? Are we going to a concert?”
“Sort of. Remember I told you about this musician. George Z and the Castaways?” Annelynn asked.
“Oh yeah. But they are going to play regular music too right?” Jenna wondered out loud. “Like a DJ?”
“Yes. But you have to see George. He has some great songs. I just wanted you two to hear them. I think you’ll like them as much as I do,” Annelynn smiled at her friends.
Annelynn had shoulder length dark curly hair that she often wore plaited. She had dark brown eyes and a moderate brown complexion. Annelynn was average height and definite ‘runway model’ material.
Taiya, her best friend, was a little shorter and had auburn hair with dark brown eyes. Taiya was naturally pretty though she never considered herself anything but plain.
Jenna, on the other hand, was a little heavier and curvier than her two friends. She had blonde hair and hazel eyes. She had a membership to a gym strictly for the purposes of using the tanning beds to keep her complexion evenly tanned all year long.
“I’m sure we will,” Taiya returned her best friend’s smile.
“This will be awesome,” Annelynn declared. She was excited to help get her friend back into the dating scene. Taiya was crushed when Roy left her for someone else. They’d dated for a year and a half. She even worked with him as his assistant at the local college where he taught marketing courses. Everyone else thought she was safer without him.
Annelynn noticed Taiya’s expression. “Don’t worry. It’s not like you have to find a date tonight. We’ll be there to keep you company regardless.”
“Hey, if I find someone willing to…,” Jenna winked at her friends, “Don’t wait up.”
“Thanks. I wasn’t counting on you anyway,” Taiya mumbled out loud.
“I’ll be there with you all night,” Annelynn reiterated.
“I know. Thank you. If you weren’t going to be there, I wouldn’t be going.”
“Want me to do your make up?” Jenna asked. “I can get it done faster than you.”
“No thank you. I prefer not to look like a street walker.”
Jenna rolled her eyes. Annelynn grabbed some blush and eye shadow from her collection. “Here, try these. They go with your skin tone and coloring.”
“Thanks. This won’t take long. I promise.”
In about ten minutes Taiya was ready to go. She was nervous, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her from hanging out with her best friend.
The trio left Annelynn’s apartment. Her building was across the street from Taiya’s studio apartment. “I’ll drive,” Taiya said.
“Why do you get to drive?” Jenna sounded annoyed.
“Two reasons. I’m not drinking. And if you drove, you might end up in someone else’s car, leaving us without a ride.”
“A fair point,” Jenna concurred.
On the drive to the club Taiya thought about her parents. Her mother had been a violinist and her father, a composer. They had told her and her brother - Bradon - many times about their musical careers that ended when they had Taiya. Taiya sighed. Her parents always made sure that she knew she was the reason they were no longer made music together.
“What’s wrong?” Annelynn never missed a change in her best friend’s mood.
“Sorry. Nothing. I was just thinking about my parents.”
Annelynn understood immediately. Taiya had told her some time ago about how her parents always seemed to blame her for the unhappy parts of their lives. Usually when music was brought up, it also brought up those memories for Taiya.
“Try to cheer up. I want you to enjoy this night. Remember, it’s not necessarily about getting you a date. It’s about getting you out of your apartment to have a little fun. No heavy expectations. Just a little fun.”
“Yes. Thank you. You always seem to know what I need.”
“Blah blah blah. Do you two need a room?” Jenna asked.
“Uh no. Idiot,” Taiya was getting annoyed with Jenna’s snide remarks.
“Idiot? If I’m an idiot, what are you?”
“Nice come back,” Annelynn teased. She frequently had to moderate between Taiya - her best friend - and Jenna, who was her clubbing buddy.
The trio arrived at The Razz Club in time to get free admission. Later arrivals would have to pay the cover charge. Annelynn suggested that they get a high top near the side of the stage, close to the dance floor.
“Fine with me. Wherever you want to sit,” Taiya responded to Annelynn’s idea.
“Wooohooo! Dance floor baby!” Jenna shouted to her friends over the loud music.
“Right. Get table first. Then you can dance to your heart’s content.” The reply came from Annelynn.
“Actually, I think I’ll have a drink or two first.”
“Of course you will,” Taiya said quietly.
“Suit yourself,” Annelynn told Jenna. “You can watch our purses while we warm up the dance floor.”
“No drinky poo first?”
“Don’t need it,” Taiya replied with a smirk.
“Right. Prude. ”Jenna intended for it to come out as a joke, but it sounded more like she was mocking Taiya.
“Let’s go,” Taiya told Annelynn.
Taiya let herself get lost in the music. The loud music made it easier for her to ignore her surroundings. She could barely hear when Annelynn spoke right in front of her.
Though she found herself looking at her surroundings. All the lights and other ambient décor of the club reminded her that she should at least try to have a little fun. She appreciated her best friend’s company and smiled at her. Her reverie was broken by the sudden presence of Jenna.
“Hey yo’ ma’ homies,” she shouted over the music.
Taiya could already smell the alcohol on Jenna’s breath. It was no surprise. When Jenna was clubbing, she tended to start off by having a couple of hard and fast drinks. Annelynn’s consumption of alcohol was more responsible. Fewer drinks consumed over a period of time so she could enjoy the taste and wouldn’t have to ask others the next morning about what she did the night before.
“Hey yourself,” Annelynn replied politely.
“You’re supposed to be watching our purses,” Taiya pointed out.
“Sorry, it’s dance time,” Jenna retorted.
“We better get our purses,” Annelynn said.
“I’ll get them, you can stay here if you want,” Taiya offered.
“I think I’m going to get a drink. You want one?” Annelynn asked Taiya.
“Strawberry Daquiri - virgin,” Taiya replied.
“Coming right up!” Annelynn said as she headed to the bar.
Minutes later Annelynn returned trying not to spill the drinks. Jenna swayed back and forth to the music while scoping the room for guys. Taiya had enough listening to Jenna’s man-meat commentary and suggested they let Jenna do her thing while they go back to the table.
Annelynn and Taiya chatted until the roadies began setting up the stage for the live band - George Z and The Castaways. Annelynn asked Taiya to go back to the dance floor so they don’t miss any of the band play.
The ladies were not sure how long they had been on the dance floor when someone from the club took the mic and introduced the musical act. “Put your hands together for George Z and The Castaways!” The club sounded with many whoops, whistles, and shouts. Some very drunk girl decided to throw her bra onto the stage and was promptly escorted out of the club.
George blushed at the event. A moment later he started strumming his guitar and leaned toward the mic. He started the night’s set with an upbeat pop song.
Annelynn and her two friends had stopped dancing to watch the intro. The first song was certainly danceable, so the trio went back to dancing. They were approached by a couple of guys. Annelynn thought they looked like the ‘jock’ type. They smelled of beer and were obnoxious. They asked the three ladies if they wanted to join them. Taiya declined. So did Annelynn.“Nah.We’re good here. Thanks.”
“What about you?” one of the guys asked Jenna.
“Sure, why not?” she grinned and waved at her friends as she walked away with a man on each arm.
“One of these days she’s going to get in serious trouble…” Taiya remarked.
“So what do you think?” Annelynn asked Taiya, pointing at the stage.
“So far so good. I like this song. It kinda rocks and has a great beat for dancing.”
“I knew you would!”
“Does he write all his songs?”
“Yes! I think someone else collaborated on a few of them, but most of the songs are all his!” They continued to shout at one another over the volume of the music.
“Impressive!” Taiya paused from dancing to watch the man behind the mic. He was tall, blonde, broad shouldered, and his muscles showed when he hit his guitar strings heavily. Impressive, she thought to herself.
In that moment, George looked down for a moment before leaning back to the mic.
“Did you see that?” Annelynn elbowed Taiya. “He totally smiled at you.”
“Un no. He was just looking at the audience.”
“No. I’m pretty sure he was looking directly at you.”
“Really? And why would he do that? He’s obviously got a lot of fans and followers that are trying to get his attention.”
“Well he wasn’t smiling at me.”
“As nice as that notion would be, that I could catch the attention of someone like him, I’m not all that special.”
Annelynn punched Taiya in the arm.“Oww! What was that for?”
“For putting yourself down. Just because that asshole Roy couldn’t see how amazing you are doesn’t mean you aren’t a wonderful person.”
Taiya sighed and took a quick look at George before turning back to Annelynn and dancing. It would be wonderful for someone like him to notice me… unrealistic, but definitely dream worthy…she thought to herself.
The next song was introduced by George himself. “Thank you for coming out tonight. I hope you are having a great time at The Razz Club,” he paused to allow the whoops and hollers to die down. “We are going to slow it down a bit with this next song titled ‘You think you know me’. I hope you like it.” Then he turned back to look at his band. He counted to three and the music began.
It wasn’t exactly danceable but Annelynn insisted that they stay by the stage to watch George. Taiya was surprised to realize that she was ‘feeling’ this song. The doubt, loneliness, and sense of loss struck her hard. She led her friend to their table.
“What’s wrong? Why are we back here?” Annelynn asked.
“I wanted another Daquiri. You want one too?” was her reply.
“Yeah. Why not.”
Taiya went to the bar and took the drinks back to the table. “I was just thirsty.”
“Uh huh,” Annelynn replied doubtfully. “You over think sometimes.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think it’s why you have a hard time just letting loose and having fun.”
“I don’t want to drink to have fun, nor do I think you should need alcohol to enjoy life.”
“I agree. And I’m not saying that you need alcohol to loosen up either. You, actually, used to be more relaxed and enjoy things more. Right up until you hooked up with Roy. He changed you.”
“He did? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I tried, remember? But you always shot me down. Seriously, he was actively trying to lure you away from your friends.”
Taiya recalled the way Roy had used subtle methods to steer her away from her friends so that he was first and usually the only one in her life except for her family. “Yeah… I should have listened to you much sooner…” she lamented.
Annelynn smiled and nudged her. “Better late than never!”
“Yeah. Thank you for that!” Taiya half hugged her best friend.
They pair just watched and listened for the rest of the song. “Wow,” Taiya said when it was over.
“Wow what?”
“Some very powerful lyrics and the melody… the whole thing felt mournful.”
“It’s a sad song. It’s supposed to sound that way.”
“Right. I just hope he plays something more upbeat.”
Taiya got her wish. George introduced the next song. It was a pop song, his first release off his first album. Taiya took a quick sip of her daiquiri then she and Annelynn went back to the dance floor.
They were surprised when Jenna reappeared and rejoined their little group.As if on cue, Jenna explained, “Couple of losers. All they wanted to do was go out back and smoke weed.”
“And all you want to do is stay inside and drink beer,” Taiya pointed out.
“And dance. Don’t forget the dancing part. I came here to dance. They just wanted to stand around. Not my idea of fun. I could have stayed home or stood on any street if I just wanted to stand around.”
“Fair enough. Welcome back!” Annelynn told Jenna.
George and The Castaways kept things moving with another upbeat song, but then George leaned to the mic for another introduction. “Let’s give couples a little reason to hit the dance floor with a love song,” he declared.
This time, Jenna and Annelynn went to the table. Taiya wanted to watch from near the stage front. His voice was simply clear, precise, and rhythmic. She felt herself melting at the beautiful blend of his deep, luring voice and the instrumentation that she felt down to her core. She wondered what was happening to herself. Taiya had never been affected by music or lyrics this way before. She wasn’t just hearing them, but feeling them as well.
She hadn’t realized that she’d been staring until she suddenly noticed that he was looking at her. The smile on his face warmed her from her head to her feet. She blushed and turned away from the stage and decided she needed to talk to her best friend. After all, don’t besties talk about crushes and other similar things?
She got to the table where Jenna and Annelynn were enjoying their drinks. Annelynn noticed Taiya was walking with a purpose. “What’s up?” she asked Taiya.
“Bathroom, now. Please,” she answered.
“Uh okay.”
On the way to the bathroom, Taiya’s phone began to ring. She sighed heavily. Then she showed her friend that her phone was going off and pointed toward the exit. “Be right back!” she shouted at Annelynn.
Annelynn stayed in the bathroom waiting. She could tell Taiya was very irritated when she returned. “What is it?”
“I have to go. Something came up with my brother and my parents were on the way here to get me….”Taiya’s face contained a stern frown. “But I have to drive there.”
“Oooh. When is he going to grow up?”
“Who the hell knows. And when will my parents stop bailing him out?”
“Not that she’ll notice but tell Jenna I said ‘bye’.”
“I will. But what else were you going to tell me? Your brother’s woes weren’t what made you insist we talk in here.”
“You’re right. But I’m afraid that will have to wait. For now, just know that you were 100% right about this guy. His music is amazing and I had a nice time… for whatever time that was.”
“We’ll do it again, soon. I promise.”
Taiya pulled a $ 50.00 out of her purse and gave it to Annelynn, “For a cab or Uber since I can’t take you home.”
Annelynn hugged her best friend and watched her head to her car. She sighed. She thought Taiya always got the short end of the stick when it came to her and her brother. Taiya’s parents always bent over backwards to help their son but rarely lifted a finger to help Taiya. It also bugged her that Taiya’s parents blamed her for their not pursuing their musical careers.
George spotted a woman in the crowd, intently watching him and his band. The second time he’d glanced in her direction she seemed to be daydreaming. He smiled and had to stop himself from chuckling when she blushed as she came out of her daydream. George wondered what she was daydreaming about, but only for a moment. He had to get back to singing.
