The Fixer

By K J Thompson

Book 1 in The Fixer series. Adopted at birth twenty-three-year-old Elizabeth Sparks is forced to start a new job working at Macalister Services. Strongly attracted to her new boss Bran Macalister she finds out that he has many secrets. Before she can even start her new job as Bran's personal assistant, there is an attempt made on her life. Due to all the secrets kept from her, not only from Bran but also from her parents maternal and adoptive. It comes down to Elizabeth making a decision of who is going to die.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K J Thompson
• Release date: Apr 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310397639

K J Thompson

I was born and raised in Kansas as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz said, "there is no place like home!" I have always been an avid reader and also wanted to try my hand at writing. However, I grew up in a generation where spell check and computers did not exist. Writing was always a distant dream until now! I have many stories on many subjects I can't wait to get out for others to enjoy.

Book preview

The Fixer

Copyright 2015 KJ Thompson

Cover by Island

http://www.selfpubbookcovers.com/island

All right reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any printed or electronic form without the permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, and events either are the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter One from Book 2 The Fixer's Secrets

About KJ Thompson

Other books by KJ Thompson

Connect with KJ Thompson

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my husband for his support and encouragement through this whole process. He always has my back and supports me in whatever I want or decide to do as long as it is not detrimental to my health. Such as skydiving, not something he supports or wants me to try.

Thanks to my children for inspiring me to go after my dream of becoming an author. Because I want the best for my family it motivates me to push myself in becoming the person I want to be.

Chapter 1

It was a dreary, raining morning when my alarm went off for the second time. I am not a morning person so I always set it so I can hit the snooze at least twice before getting up. It's a stupid thing to do because I do not go back to sleep in ten minutes. When the alarm went off for the third time, I rolled over and hit it in disgust with a glare of my face as if my look alone would make the morning rewind.

I am twenty-three, and when high school was over, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. My adoptive parents did not push the issue of making me go to college. However, I felt obligated not to let them down. They did save me from who-knows-what-kind-of-life I could have had if not adopted, something that scares me even thinking about it. To keep everyone happy I decided to attend two years at the local Junior College to receive my associates' degree. Always thinking I would decide later in life what I wanted to do forever.

With my degree, I landed a job as a receptionist at one of the local doctor's office. Not a glamorous job but it paid the bills. As my father always says, I am a jack-of-all-trades-and-master-of-none because I liked to do so many different things but nothing holds my interest for a long period. Such as, the urge to draw would come in spurts. I would have a week or two that all I wanted to do was draw. The next I could not stand the thought of picking up a pencil. To face a life of nothing but drawing just did not appeal to me, and I felt the same about all the things I liked to do. They were fun for a short period from time-to-time but nothing that I was so passionate about that I could think of nothing else.

Pushing my body to get out of bed, slowly I walked into the bathroom. The cold bathroom floor always seems to wake me up a little. I share this apartment with my best friend, Grace Patrick. We have been friends since we were in the first grade. Inseparable all the way through school, we decided no reason we should fight it. Neither of us was in a hurry to settle down, so the logical thing to do was to get a place together. Both of us were an only child, so we considered each other sisters.

Grace is very energetic in the mornings, so I was not surprised to find her already in the bathroom and almost ready for work. She works at a law offices as a receptionist and loves it. After starting this job, she decided, this was the field where she belonged. She is now taking classes online to earn a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies. With only a year left of school, she can then move up in ranks from receptionist to paralegal. Her boss, Mr. Bright, has already told her the position is hers when she completes her schooling. I am very proud of Grace for sticking to this and following her dreams. Now if I could just figure out what my dream is so, I can start following it.

Good morning Beth, Grace said smiling at the sight of me in the morning.

Everyone calls me Beth because I never go by my full name Elizabeth. It is just too long and old-fashioned in my opinion. Except my father, he calls me Lizzie bear and mom calls me Liz. I never minded that when I was younger but now that I am on my own, and all grown up those names sound childish to me. I would never tell them that of course it would break their hearts.

I wish you weren't so chipper in the morning's Grace, it makes me feel bad about myself because I am never that happy to get out of bed, I grunted out.

Noticing that Grace had her long blonde hair up in a French twist, makeup on, not that she needed it, and her pinstripe pantsuit looking quite beautiful so early in the morning. Rolling my eyes, I squeezed past her into the bathroom to start my morning routine.

Cheer up, it's Friday! How about you and I do something fun this weekend and get you out of the slump you seem to be in lately? Grace asked me as she made the final touches to her already perfect hair. She glanced over at me with her eyebrows raised, knowing full well that she was going to get a rise out of me by saying that.

I'm not in a slump; I just don't like mornings. I will be just fine after I have my coffee. I gritted through my teeth, as I started the water for my shower.

Okay, we will make plans tonight when we both get off of work. I have to go, love you girl, Grace said as she gave me a peck on the cheek. I just nodded and pulled my night clothes off and jumped into the shower.

As I let the water cascade over my body and wash away the sleepiness, it helps my mind to start waking up. A shower and a lot of caffeine are what my body craves to get me going. I love the nightlife though; that is when I come alive. Maybe I should think about a job on the night shift! No way, too many creeps out at night, I said aloud to answer my thought.

Wrapping the towel around myself I headed into the kitchen where Grace had a pot of coffee already made. I poured a large cup and began drinking greedy sips to wake up. I grabbed the red scrubs from my closet, Friday's scrub color. I do not understand the logic behind everyone wearing the same color and matching, but this is what the doctor ordered. He also wore the same color as everyone else but with his white lab coat over the top so he would stand out from the nurses and receptionists. As if the patients didn't know who their doctor is and might get him confused with one of us.

I hurriedly dressed and pulled my hair back into a ponytail, hitched my bag, and opened my umbrella to run for my car. It is not a great car, but I liked it, a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire that I worked two years during high school to buy used. Charles and Mary Sparks, my adoptive parents, were big on earning your way. A trait that I did not appreciate in my teens when I was working so hard to save up for that car, but now as an adult all grown up and on my own, I did. This one trait has turned me into the very independent woman that I am today.

Arriving at my car with only soaked feet, I got in and started it up to get warm from the coolness the rain had caused in my body. I shudder as I turned on the heater, pulling away from my apartment building to make my way to work. Living only a few miles from the job was very nice and a plus when you live in a semi-small town. Although I did not mind the thought of the hustle and bustle a large city offered, I could not get myself to move away from my parents.

Seven minutes later, I pulled up to work for another eight hours of answering the phone and facing sick people. I like my job; Dr. Clark was a very popular doctor in town, not to mention very handsome but very married. He was medium built slightly muscular with blond hair neatly combed at all times, and the bluest eyes I've ever seen. The office was always hopping with back-to-back patients five days a week. I walked through the back door to begin my day, almost running right into Dr. Clark's nurse.

I gasped and grabbed at my heart, and both of us jumped, good morning Sarah.

Good morning Beth, Sarah said as she briskly walked on by to make sure all three rooms were ready to start accepting patients for the day. Before rushing into the first room. She peered back over her shoulder and said, Dr. Clark has a meeting today at ten o'clock, it should only last thirty minutes but do not schedule any patients during that time, please. I didn't have time to answer before she disappeared into the room.

The first hour and a half went as usual, patients came in, and I registered them, pulled their files, and made sure all paperwork was in order for them to see the doctor. I was pulling a file on a patient, when I had that feeling someone was watching me. Looking up and into the lobby where the patients wait for the nurse to call them back to a room. That is when I saw him.

A man was standing just inside the door, not moving, just staring at me with a mysterious look in his eyes. He was very handsome, broad in the shoulders like a quarterback. With his suit and tie on it was hard to tell what kind of muscular structure he had but I could tell that he was very big on keeping himself in shape. His dark hair looked like he jumped out of bed put some moose in it and stood out in the wind. It was all over the place, but it complemented his strong jaw line and blue-gray eyes. I am an eye person and love usual eyes. His were unique and unusual like none I have seen.

Our eyes locked, my breath caught in my chest as he walked towards me to the counter. He cleared his throat and smiled, Bran Macalister, I have a meetin' with Dr. Clark at ten in a very husky and sexy voice with a Scottish accent. I quickly gained composure and started breathing again; I had not realized that I was holding my breath until my body reminded me that it needed oxygen to live. Jolting me from my obvious lustful look I was giving this stranger. I am sure I looked like an idiot with my eyes glazed over staring with a dumb look on my face.

He continued to smile at me while I fumbled around completely flustered, which he was enjoying I could tell by the amused smile on his face. Okay, Mr. Macalister I will let the doctor know you are here. Please have a seat, and he will be with you shortly. I finally managed to get out. His smile grew even bigger revealing two very cute dimples.

Why was I acting like this? It was not as if I had never seen a good-looking man before. Even Dr. Clark was very good-looking and had even hit on me a couple times. I of course, would never date a married man and told him so, thinking he would fire me for not accepting his advances. Which he did not, instead he respected me for standing up to him. I don't think that anyone has ever told him no before. Since I turned him down, we have grown to be good friends.

Thank you, the stranger said as he nodded and seemed to be looking at all of me.

This stranger has awakened something inside of me and now I have to find out more about him. Was he a salesperson? Was he applying for a job? I could only hope that were true. Why had Dr. Clark not told me about this meeting? Frustration set in; if he had been a patient than I would have all his personal information. Now I'm going to have to ask Dr. Clark, not that he would tell me but I have to try.

I watched as Mr. Macalister walked to a chair where he had a clear view of me. Hurriedly I looked away before he caught me looking at his backside as he was walking away. Boy, I did enjoy that view.

Beth… Making me jump and gasp again, Sarah was standing behind me with a file.

Are you okay? Her eyebrows raised in surprise at my jumpiness. Yes, I am fine. You just startled me that is all as my face flushed from being caught gawking at this man. Not that she seen where I was looking, the guilt reared its ugly head in my thoughts.

I need you to set up an appointment for this patient to have surgery next week, Sarah said as she handed me the file.

Okay, and by the way Mr. Macalister is here to see Dr. Clark, his ten o'clock meeting, can you please let him know? I said to Sarah as I took the file.

I cannot help the pull I felt to look back at where Mr. Macalister had chosen to sit. To my surprise he was staring right at me, even when our eyes locked he did not look away or pretend he was not looking in the first place. My heart skipped a beat then started to speed up as he smiled a smile that showed off his dimples which caused me to melt inside. This man was so gorgeous I could not help the broad smile I gave in return as I twirled my hair around my finger and chewed on my bottom lip. Man, was I acting like a little school girl.

Bran stood and started to walk back to me, when Sarah opened the side door for patients to enter the back, Bran Macalister. The look of disappointment was on his face as he gave a nod and walked to Sarah and the open door. I understood that look because I felt the disappointment as well. Was he coming to talk to me? Maybe he was going to ask me out. The thought went through my head, and I started to get excited just thinking about going on a date with this stranger. Why was this man having such a strange effect on me? I must be losing my mind as I tried to shake off the giddiness.

I've had a few boyfriend since high school, but none of them lasted very long when they found out that I was unwilling to put out for them whenever they wanted or at all. I was not a virgin, but I did not sleep with every guy that ever took me out on a date either. Getting serious about someone was out of the question for many reasons. The main one is because I do not want to get accidentally pregnant and find out that the man does not want to hang around for the raising of the child. The thought of putting a child up for adoption was very personal to me and something I would never be able to do. I did not want to raise a child by myself either, so the best solution was not to get involved with a man and put myself in that situation.

I take many precautions when it comes to this subject, making sure I am on the pill, and I carry condoms in my purse, so I do not have to worry if the need ever arises. Experienced is not what I would consider myself nor will I need any of that protection, but better safe than sorry is my motto.

Having been with one guy my whole life, and it was forced sex when I was a freshman in high school. Grace was the only other person that knew what happened. I did not feel the need to announce it to the world, and since I did not get pregnant. I just dropped it, against Grace's wishes, of course. I believe that is the reason Grace wanted to go into law because of what happened to me. The boy was a jock in school, and it would have been his word against mine. We were dating at the time so it would not have looked good for me, and I did not want to put my parents through the humiliation of the court. The typical reasons most teenage girls do not push the subject when it does happen.

Thirty long minutes later, Mr. Macalister returned from the back glancing over at me with a huge smile on his face. His smile was different than the one he had given me before he went back to speak to the doctor. The smile had a mischievous child look to it as if he'd just gotten away with something bad and was very pleased with himself. I returned the smile, as he walked out the door. Disappointment fell over me because I did not think I would ever see this stranger again.

The rest of my day was routine, and my mind kept drifting back to him. I cannot wait to get home and tell Grace about this mysterious man and the feelings that he had somehow moved inside of me. Grace and I shared all of our thoughts and feelings with each other and never kept secrets. That was our secret to staying best friends for so long. However, I cannot help but wonder if he had seen Grace first would he have even noticed me the way he did? I hated myself for letting that tinge of jealousy seep into my thoughts. Not that I am always jealous of Grace, but I do think that she is prettier than I am.

Grace has never taken a boyfriend from me and never would; in fact, we have never dated the same guy. This was an unwritten law or something for best friends; you just do not ever date the same guy it only causes problems. She was the best beautiful friend a girl could ever have, and she always had my back no matter what the situation.

Chapter 2

At quitting time, Dr. Clark came up to me and said, We need to talk, do you have a minute? I was taken aback by the look on his face.

Sure I am just closing my computer down, I said as my eyebrows came together in worry. Racking my brain, I knew that I had made some mistakes in the past while I was learning the job. I could not think of any mistakes that I had made recently that would warrant a "talking to."

I followed the doctor back to his office, have a seat Beth, he said as he moved around his desk to sit behind it. I was reluctant moving over slowly to the chair in front of his desk.

Thank you… doctor you look like you are about to tell me my relative died or something bad like that, is everything okay? Concern in my voice not only from the look on his face but wondering what could have possibly had transpired today to cause this situation.

Dr. Clark leaned his elbows on the desk and lowered his head into his hands. I knew at that moment that whatever was bothering the doctor was now going to involve me whether it did directly or not. He slowly glanced up at me with sad eyes. Beth I have done something very bad, relief and confusion both washed over me. Relief that this was not something that I had done, and confusion because he was coming to me about it.

Okay, I will help you in any way I can, as you know, I said with my eyebrows drawn together to show my confusion. His eyes did not leave mine as he shook his head slightly. He sat there and stared at me without saying anything.

I could not stand it any longer, what have you done Steve? I never used his first name while in the office, but I just could not stop myself. The frustration from the lack of him speaking was building inside of me. I knew this was bad because he was having such a hard time getting it out. Due to his lengthy pausing I now get the feeling that he may be in some serious trouble with the law or something.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath you know the guy that came to see me today? I cannot get the image of that perfect specimen out of my mind.

You mean Mr. Macalister the man you forgot to tell me you were having a meeting with? I said with a little more bitterness than I had meant to have in my tone.

Yes, that would be the one, he said with ashamed eyes.

Who was he Steve? What is going on? I ask in a hurried tone, trying to encourage him to tell me what this was about and how it included me and the mystery man.

I owe him money Beth, a lot of money that I do not have. He said as he lowered his head back into his hands. My immediate thought was, how could a doctor owe more money than he made, this was unimaginable to me. I quickly brushed that thought to the side.

How much money are we talking here Steve? Is he a broker or something? Why are you telling me this? I asked. Knowing I was hitting him with a lot of questions but if I was going to help him, I had to know the answers.

Tears started forming in his eyes as he stared at me, it is not the money that I am worried about Beth.... and Mr. Macalister is a business partner so-to-speak. I cannot help but notice that he did not tell me why I needed to know any of this. I gave him that questionable look, and you are telling me because…? I drew out the question this time for him to fill in the blank.

He said he would forget all about the money if I could give him one thing instead, he said as a tear rolled down his cheek. I did not like seeing any