Eve Of A Thousand Wakes

Ashley Palmer barged into the forty-fifth floor of the Grayson Enterprises building. Jake's office was naturally the best in the entire company—a lavish corner office at the executive corridor's end. After all, he was the company's Chairman. His private secretary, Tammy, waited outside his chamber like a sentinel. She was a tall redhead who intentionally wore clothes one size smaller so that little of her curvy shape was left to the imagination. Ashley knew Tammy was one of Jake's mistresses, of which he had many. "Mrs. Grayson, this is a pleasant surprise," the secretary greeted her with a plastic smile. "Mr. Grayson is just about to wrap up an important meeting. Meanwhile, you can wait in the VIP lounge." Tammy pointed curtly toward a luxurious waiting room adjoining the Chairman's office. Ashley narrowed her eyes. Pleasant surprise? Give me a break, bitch! Ashley was Jake Grayson's unfortunate wife and endured his lies and infidelity. She was a beautiful, classy twenty-four-year

"If you're messing with me, I swear I'll strangle you with my bare hands," Ashley added. "We'll get to the revelation shortly, doll," Doyle replied. "What about the paycheck?" Ashley fished into her purse and removed a paper bag. Doyle extended his hand to relieve her of it, but she held back and shook her head. "I've brought your three thousand dollars, Harry. I'll give it away, but first, you must tell me what you discovered." Doyle shrugged. "Fine. I'll do you one better. I will show you what I unearthed." The dashing detective opened his Prius' back door and invited Ashley in. Once they were inside and the tinted windows were up, he booted up a laptop and placed the mouse pointer on a video file. "This will not be easy, doll," he warned. "I'm going to play it, but you can stop watching anytime if it is too much for you." "Why are you being so ominous? Who is the culprit?" "See for yourself." Doyle clicked play. The video looked like it was taken from a CCTV security camera

"Why did you do it?!" Ashley asked in a fury. "Was it even worth it? I have already been reinstated as Chairperson!" Scarlet laughed hysterically, pointing at her stepsister. "You ask why? Because Dad always loved his firstborn daughter more! I had to live under your shadow! All my life, I received hand-me-downs. Always second priority! Arthur always favored his previous princess, Ashley!" "You never deserved or earned the happy life you lived! Did you think I would torture myself, watching you have a loving husband? Or let you become the Chairperson of Palmer Industries? There's no way I'd let any of that happen! So I destroyed everything!" Scarlet's eyes were wild and flaring as if she was possessed. "You need a psychiatrist, Scarlet," Ashley said, deeply disturbed by her sister's outburst. "But first, you will go to prison!" "What is going on?" a voice asked from the door. Ashley turned to see Mary Palmer, Arthur's second wife and mother of Scarlet. Mary was in her forties b

Even though Ashley's inner being rejected him, her body was instantly aroused by Jake's touch. It had always been like that. Jake was a maestro when it came to sex or even foreplay. He was a fantastic kisser, and he knew all her weak spots. In her previous life, as a slave of the Grayson family, Ashley couldn't remember the last time she had been touched amorously. The young woman, with shattered self-esteem, had no sexual drive. The married Jake of the future had treated her like a disease, ignoring how attractive she was. Perhaps he felt guilty for betraying his wife? Right now, it felt like years... no... decades since Ashley had been touched so tenderly. Her body felt like it was freshly thawed from ice. Jake caressed her thighs and slid a sneaky hand between them. Ashley pressed her knees together on instinct. She didn't want him to know how hot the fire was between her legs, how wet she was already. Jake raised a questioning eyebrow. Why was Ashley resisting his advances? T

Ashley turned to the receptionist. "Could you tell me Tessa's room number? Don't be alarmed; we are soon to be sisters-in-law. My wedding's tomorrow, so I need to discuss a few things. But Tessa's phone is switched off." Bella was reluctant, but it was difficult to say no to someone from the Palmer family, who could purchase the Marigold Hotel with a snap of their fingers. Besides, the union between the Graysons and the Palmers was the talk of the town. It was usual for the bride to barge into her future sister-in-law's room a day before the wedding. "Miss Grayson is in Suite No. 4," Bella said. "But she doesn't want to be disturbed..." Ashley ignored her and rushed into the elevator. On the way up, she tried to put things together in her head. The back panel of the elevator was a mirror, and Ashley observed her reflection. She had missed looking like that. After their wedding, Jake ruined her beauty and health by imprisoning her in a maid's room. She was treated worse than a serva