“Miss Bridge!” Mr. King was standing behind her. When Phoebe spun around he had a look of wonder in his eyes. “I would like to introduce you to the chief shareholder of the bank.”
Phoebe looked at the man beside Mr. King, her eyes flickering in surprise. Why did he want to be introduced to her? She was just junior staff.
He smiled at her slowly and then he cleared his throat. “Actually, I wanted to ask you to lunch at the Villa Rose…heard that the chef, Caleb Wright, does some excellent food.”
All ears were perked up around the surrounding cubicles and Vanessa's head popped up sharply at that.
Phoebe smiled. “Well er, sir...” There was something disturbingly familiar about his voice and his perfume.
She looked at him closely and then it suddenly dawned on her that it was Ezekiel. How could it be Ezekiel, though? His features were asymmetrical, even perfect, not a scar in sight, but who could mistake those eyes and those curling eyelashes and that body.
“That's why you went to Switzerland?” she squealed, running into his arms, almost trampling Mr. King.
She hugged him tight and he gripped her even tighter.
“I missed you so bad,” she mumbled in his jacket.
“I missed you too,” he whispered in her hair.
He looked over her head at Mr. King. “I am afraid I am going to have to fire her.”
Mr. King had still not recovered from Phoebe's squeal of delight and mad dash toward Mr. Hoppings. “Oh well, Sir, may I ask why?”
Phoebe was giggling and trying to burrow herself even closer to him.
“I am going to marry her,” Ezekiel said solemnly, “and I want her with me when I travel. Her attendance record would be atrocious if she stayed here.”
Mr. King nodded in dazed understanding.
Ezekiel walked Phoebe through the bank, with her stunned co-workers looking on in disbelief.
When they reached his car, Phoebe hung onto Ezekiel like a limpet.
“You look gorgeous,” she said, staring at him avidly. “My gosh, we are no longer beauty and the beast, are we?” She asked, drinking him in.
“No,” Ezekiel chuckled. “Now both of us are beautiful together.”
“I had no idea you would do this.” Phoebe touched his cheek once again. “Your scars are all gone, just when I was gearing up to tell you that I love you, scars and all, and beg you to come home.”
Ezekiel chuckled and then stared at her seriously. “It took your selfless decision to be good inside and to reconcile your attitude and motivations to God to make me overcome the fear I had of doing the procedures.”
He twisted around in the driver’s seat and held her hand. “I am so proud of your decision to be independent and to find yourself without a man's validation, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to re-think that position, Phoebe Bridge. I’m a rich man, there's nothing much I can do about that, I can scale down my businesses and I am doing that but I'll always be wealthy. Despite this handicap, will you marry me?”
Phoebe stared at him and then laughed. “Of course I'll marry you. I'll be more than happy to pledge to love, honor and cherish you as long as we both shall live, with the utmost honesty, before God and man.”
He kissed her deeply. “Remember when you said that your friend, Erica, told you that if we got married it would be ‘unholy matrimony’?”
Phoebe nodded.
“Well, that won't be true now, will it?”
Phoebe shook her head. “I love you, Ezekiel. I loved you even when you were ugly on the outside.”
Ezekiel touched her cheek tenderly, “and I, I loved you even more when you discovered your true beauty within.”
THE END
Author's Notes
Dear Reader,
THANK YOU for reading Unholy Matrimony! If you enjoyed reading this book, PLEASE leave a review on wherever you bought this e-book.
You can also check out my BOOK LIST, for other Three Rivers titles. You will also find other titles and upcoming books and their release dates.
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Continue scrolling for an excerpt from If It Ain't Broke, Book 4 in the Three Rivers Series.
Thanks again. All the best,
Brenda
Keep reading for an excerpt from If It Ain't Broke.
Chris and Pinky's story
Chris eagerly sorted through the mail that was arranged neatly on the desk in his study. Today was Thursday, the day he gets his weekly updates from his P.I. in Cayman. His hands hovered the manila envelope and then put it aside for last.
He had other mail too. His eye caught a gold envelope with fancy lettering on the front. He picked it up contemplatively and sniffed the air; it smelled really sweet, like roses.
He opened it and saw an impressive invitation, Chris Donahue and Guest: you are cordially invited to the nuptials of Ezekiel Abbas Hoppings and Phoebe Amita Bridge on Sunday, December 8 at the Lion's Gate Estate, Grand Cayman.
A tremor raced through Chris' when he read the words Cayman and then he spared a thought for Phoebe and Ezekiel—he was happy for them. He had seen his friend and neighbor recently. He had looked so different and relaxed and extremely happy.
He ran his fingers through his hair and got up from the chair he had been sitting in. It was as if a fat fist was cutting off his air when he thought of Cayman—he wondered if Ezekiel invited the Palmers. Wasn't he friends with Kelly?
After nearly three years, would he be seeing Kelly face to face at this particular wedding, and what if they brought his son? Was he supposed to act as if he didn’t care when he saw him?
He would decline this invitation. He couldn't go through with it. He had declined the invitation to go to Erica and Caleb's wedding. That one had been too close to home, and who were they expecting him to carry, anyway. He hadn't dated anyone since that disastrous few months with that clingy girl, Estella.
His mouth tightened in pain. His life so far had been work, work, and more work. He had more money now than he had ever had, but he was left with the cold dregs of unrequited love for a married woman who had his only child and was living happily with her husband in Cayman.
He lifted the brown envelope almost reluctantly. He would be in a bad mood after this seeing its contents. He wished his nosy housekeeper wasn't around. There was something about Pinky Black that made him angry too. She was defiant and nosy and didn’t know the meaning of subservience. Her bright, perkiness annoyed him. He had fired her twice before, and everyday since rehiring her he has thought about firing her again.
He looked at the envelope again, he was stalling, and for good reason. He always felt like a dirty voyeur who was punishing himself unnecessarily with the pictures he commissioned the detective to take of his young son and his mother. He had only started having them trailed and pictures taken of them after finding himself in an extremely dark place on his son's first birthday.
Why should he just step back from his child's life? He needed to know how he was getting on; that the knowing was also a punishment for him didn’t matter.
He opened the envelope and there they were: a picture of Kelly and Mark walking on the beach. Kelly was in a sky blue maxi dress and his son was in swimming trunks with a bucket in hand.
To Chris he seemed to have grown taller, taller than he looked in last week’s pictures. His hair was longer too, almost like a girl’s, and curly. Mark’s little cherubic cheeks had a dimple and Chris felt his and again realized that his son was a miniature copy of himself.
Kelly was looking slimmer and toned and he wondered if she was working out. He heaved a sigh, forcefully slammed down the thoughts of her from his mind and put the pictures back into the envelope.
He
still held on to them though as his mind tortured him about the two of them. Usually he read the detective’s report but these days it was getting repetitive.
Last week Kelly took him to a kiddies’ attraction; the week before that he had a cold. His heart had throbbed uncomfortably until the detective reported that he was well again.
He loved his child. He wanted him. Not because of some selfish desire to break up their family but because the boy was his—his first born, and why was he the only one punished for that ill-fated affair?
He sighed, a big tremulous sigh that did nothing to loosen the tight fist that had taken permanent residence around his heart. He locked the manila envelope, along with its contents, into a bottom draw of his desk.
He was thinking that he would frame some of the pictures to track the development of his child. Then again maybe not, that would mean that everyday would be Thursday for him.
He heard a soft knocking on his study door, and he contemplated ignoring it, but knowing Pinky she would barge right in and bulldoze him with her overwhelming personality after trying the soft approach.
“Come in,” he said gruffly, bracing himself for his unconventional housekeeper.
Pinky popped her head around the door. “Hey boss man, I've got drama class tonight. Won't be around, ya dig?” She was chewing a gum as if she was going to murder it.
Chris sighed, “Pinky, how many times must I ask you not to refer to me as boss man.”
“Four hundred and ninety,” was the facetious reply. “I started counting it on my phone.” She came into the study fully and Chris inhaled sharply. “What on earth do you have on?”
Pinky looked down at herself. She was in very tight bike shorts and a red halter neck blouse. “Do I look dangerous?” She purred and swayed her hips while walking up to Chris' desk.
OTHER BOOKS BY BRENDA BARRETT
Resetter Series
Never Too Late (Book 1)- Addi finds out she is a resetter and goes back to the summer of 92 to change her family's lives.
Never Say Never (Book 2)- Skyler's handsome college lecturer, who happens to be her neighbor, has a T in his palms. Should she tell him the significance of it. If she does, would he believe her?
Now or Never (Book 3)- Ten years later Addi and Randy meet again at Randy's engagement party. Why is it that the chemistry between them was still so potent? Can they ever have a future together? Would Randy choose her this time around?
Almost Never (Book 4)- Tech genius Joshua Porter had all but given up on love. He then meets Portia, an escapee from the female penitentiary and his life takes a turn for the adventurous.
The Scarlett Family Series
Scarlett Baby (Book 1)- When the head of the Scarlett family died, Yuri had to return home to Treasure Beach for the funeral. What he didn't count on was seeing Marla, his childhood sweetheart and his best friend's wife. And when emotions overwhelm them and a few months later Marla is pregnant, Yuri wants the impossible: his best friend's wife and the baby they made together...
Scarlett Sinner (Book 2)- Pastor Troy Scarlett realizes the hard way that some sins are bound to be revealed, like the child that he had out of wedlock with his wife's mortal enemy from college. His wife Chelsea was not happy with the status quo. She was not taking care of the son of the woman she had so despised from college. And she could not get over the deep betrayal that she felt from her husband's indiscretion.
Scarlett Secret (Book 3)- Terri Scarlett had a soft spot for her friend, Lola. She was funny and sweet and they looked remarkably alike. But when Lola's Arab prince demands his bride, Terri foolishly exchange places with her friend and they meet up on a world of trouble.
Scarlett Love (Book 4)- Slater always looked forward to delivering packages to the law firm where he could get a glimpse of the stunning female lawyer, Amoy Gardener. Unfortunately, for Slater a woman like Amoy would not take him seriously, especially when she found out that he could not read!
Scarlett Promise (Book 5)- Driven by desperation Lisa Barclay decides to make some extra money by prostituting herself after being kicked out in the streets. Her first customer turns out to be a popular government senator and then to her horror he dies...
Scarlett Bride (Book 6)- When Oliver Scarlett's missionary work in the Congo region was coming to an end, he had a decision to make, marry Ashaki Azanga and save her from being the fourth wife to the chief of the village or leave her to her fate and get on with his life...
Scarlett Heart (Book 7)- After receiving a heart transplant shy librarian Noah Scarlett started to take on character traits that were unlike him and he kept dreaming of a girl named Cassandra Green...
Rebound Series
On The Rebound--For Better or Worse, Brandon vowed to stay with Ashley, but when worse got too much he moved out and met Nadine. For the first time in years he felt happy, but then Ashley remembered her wedding vows...
On The Rebound 2- Ashley reinvented herself and was now a first lady in a country church in Primrose Hill, but her obsessed ex friend Regina showed up and started digging into the lives of the saints at church. Somebody didn't like Regina's digging. Someone had secrets that were shocking enough to kill for...
Magnolia Sisters
Dear Mystery Guy (Book 1)- Della Gold details her life in a journal dedicated to a mystery guy. But when fascination turns into obsession she finds herself wanting to learn even more about him but in her pursuit of the mystery guy she begins to learn more about herself...
Bad Girl Blues (Book 2)- Brigid Manderson wanted to go to med school but for the time being she was an escort working for her mother, an ex-prostitute. When her latest customer offers her the opportunity of a lifetime would she take it? Or would she choose the harder path and uncertain love with a Christian guy?
Her Mistaken Dreams (Book 3)- Caitlin Denvers dream guy had serious issues. He has a dead wife in his past and he was the main suspect in her murder. Did he really do it? Or did Caitlin for the first time have a mistaken dream?
Just Like Yesterday (Book 4)- Hazel Brown lost six months of memory including the summer that she conceived her son, and had no idea who his father could be. Now that she had the means to fight to get him back from the Deckers, she finds out that the handsome Curtis Decker is willing to share her son with her after all.
New Song Series
Going Solo (Book 1)- Carson Bell, had a lovely voice, a heart of gold, and was no slouch in the looks department. So why did Alice abandon him and their daughter? What did she want after ten years of silence?
Duet on Fire (Book 2)- Ian and Ruby had problems trying to conceive a child. If that wasn't enough, her ex-lover the current pastor of their church wants her back...
Tangled Chords (Book 3)- Xavier Bell, the poor, ugly duckling has made it rich and his looks have been incredibly improved too. Farrah Knight, hotel heiress had cruelly rejected him in the past but now she needed help. Could Xavier forgive and forget?
Broken Harmony(Book 4)- Aaron Lee, wanted the top job in his family company but he had a moral clause to consider just when Alka, his married ex-girlfriend walks back into his life.
A Past Refrain (Book 5)- Jayce had issues with forgetting Haley Greenwald even though he had a new woman in his life. Will he ever be able to shake his love for Haley?
Perfect Melody (Book 6)- Logan Moore had the perfect wife, Melody but his secretary Sabrina was hell bent on breaking up the family. Sabrina wanted Logan whatever the cost and she had a secret about Melody, that could shatter Melody's image to everyone.
The Bancroft Family Series
Homely Girl (Book 0) - April and Taj were opposites in so many ways. He was the cute, athletic boy that everybody wanted to be friends with. She was the overweight, shy, and withdrawn girl. Do April and Taj have a love that can last a lifetime? Or will time and separate paths rip them apart?
Saving Face (Book 1) - Mount Faith University drama begins with a dead president and several suspects including the president in waiting Ryan Bancroft.
&n
bsp; Tattered Tiara (Book 2) - Micah Bancroft is targeted by femme fatale Deidra Durkheim. There are also several rape cases to be solved.
Private Dancer (Book 3) Adrian Bancroft was gutted when he returned to Jamaica and found out that his first and only love Cathy Taylor was a stripper and was literally owned by the menacing drug lord, Nanjo Jones.
Goodbye Lonely (Book 4) - Kylie Bancroft was shy and had to resort to going to confidence classes. How could she win the love of Gareth Beecher, her faculty adviser, a man with a jealous ex-wife in his past and a current mystery surrounding a hand found in his garden?
Unholy Matrimony Page 14