7701 Southwest Whitmore Lane

By Alexis Regis

Independent, beautiful and successful legal powerhouse, young Ysabella Marie Taylor seems to have it all. Or does she? Lately, there was something missing. Something she was afraid to confront or accept.

Made by circumstance, Ysabella was determined to remain in control. Suddenly without invitation, her life is turned upside down. Love violates her space. Propelling her into a tornado of unwanted, unforgiving emotions. As she grows comfortable submitting to the idea of love, and the unknown of the future, things rapidly change. The chain of events to come would force her to face demons of her past and incredible challenges of the future. Ysabella Marie Taylor gained and lost a lot in her lifetime. Now the question remains, could she ever be happy?

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Oct 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781456629267

Book preview

7701 Southwest Whitmore Lane

by

Alexis Regis

Copyright 2017 Alexis Regis,

All rights reserved.

Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com

http://www.eBookIt.com

ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-2926-7

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter One

She immersed herself in the center of the pool, allowing her weightless, weary body to relax. The lukewarm water embraced her, a welcomed experience to end her day. Her record for holding her breath was one minute thirty-eight seconds. Unacceptable. She allowed her head to be swallowed up by the water, lifting it after what appeared an eternity. With eyes closed, she reached for the stop button on the watch she wore on her slender wrist. She brushed her loose wet curls away from her face. One minute. Damn it! A brief wave of disappointment moved through her. She’d hoped to do much better. But then again, there’s always tomorrow.

Oh. Tomorrow... Ysabella moaned in annoyance. She took pleasure in trying cases, but only as they drew to completion. To her, the preparation leading up to trial was tedious and marked by waves of boredom and frustration. She had a warrior's spirit and loved the art of battle. The courtroom was her playing field. The feelings of exhilaration during execution and victory on its court were indescribable. At thirty and a junior partner in a prestigious law firm, she was on her way to financial independence. From where she stood, her eyes fell upon the kitchen and family rooms of her three thousand square foot home. It was physical reminder of her love for the law and accomplishments.

Ysabella moved gracefully through the water towards the edge of the pool. She grasped for the towel to wipe away the trickles caressing her soft face. Her physical assets were stunning. Her buttermilk complexion, oblong face, and loose hanging curls made people question her ethnicity. The five-foot-six-inch beauty had an exotic look that left men in awe and women envious. To most, her existence represented perfection. Or did it?

Ysabella Marie Taylor was ambitious, confident, fierce and competitive by nature. Her greatest opponent was herself. Her accomplishments proved her tenacity. But at this point in her life, she realized her ambition had stifled her. It didn't protect her from the one thing she was now, or the haunting feelings. Her drive did not take away the reality that she was alone, or the loneliness that crept upon and laid with her night after night.

Lack of personal human interaction propelled her into routines. She'd head straight home, submerge herself in the warmth of her pool; grab a quick shower, dinner and then bed. Before cuddling between the sheet and thick blankets on her king sized bed, she’d check in with her mother, Eli. The television provided her only companionship. Her routine differed only when she prepared her closing arguments for a case. On those nights she found herself in the downstairs office, pacing back and forth. Relentless in her efforts, she argued her points, all of them. She left no room for doubt or questions unanswered. Her stance had to be infallible and convincing to the alpha. There was one on every jury, that one person who could sway the rest. Tonight was not one of those nights. It was quiet. She would cuddle between the sheets and hope for a good night's rest. Tomorrow she’d face another day filled with new challenges.

The morning presented her with more routine. Awake with the rise of the sun, a two- mile run, shower, and a cup of freshly brewed coffee at the kitchen table. The flat screen television positioned above the archway of the kitchen was often on the morning news. With the daily newspaper in hand, she scanned the headlines of the day.

Now an update on a story we broke yesterday at WLOQ.... it was Trey Manning, the local news reporter. He was a looker, but his tantalizing voice attracted her most. The minor who accused nineteen-year-old Aiden Brown of sexual assault identified her assailant. However, in an unexpected twist, the parents of the nineteen-year-old man have declared police have arrested the wrong man, despite the identification and video evidence. Even further complicating the case is that Aiden Charles Brown has a twin brother.

Ysabella reached for the remote to increase the volume. The reporter had caught her attention. Huh, interesting.

Aiden Charles Brown is not the one they are looking for, it was the voice of Lydia Brown, the mother of the accused. Poised and flawless in attire Lydia stood confidently before the hungry crowd of reporters. "I love my son and will stand by him throughout this trying time. I will not allow these accusations to tarnish him. We will exonerate him."

What about your other son? An unknown reporter shouted from within the horde.

Mrs. Brown offered no response. She simply turned and walked.

The scene cuts back to Trey. Authorities say charges are likely to be filed against the accused as early as later today. The Browns are an affluent family in the Martin County area. We will continue to report updates as this case develops.

Ysabella reached for the remote and turned off the television. She sprinted up the stairs and headed to the walk-in closet. Choosing work attire was the most daunting task of her day. She inhaled deeply before opening the double doors of her closet. A tomboy her entire life, she had no interest in learning the ins and outs of fashion until she’d overheard a conversation about her between two women.

So I guess you won that bet, said one woman.

Ysabella has a pattern, the other woman replied. Today the blue suit, tomorrow the black and the blouses, always white, the woman continued, prompting them both to laugh.

Ysabella is a hard worker with a promising career ahead of her, but those who don’t know her may think she plays it safe; does what’s convenient. As unfair as it might be, some do judge you by what you wear. That could hurt her, it was Lydia, a senior partner. The other woman was her paralegal assistant.

As the women attempted to exit the stalls, Ysabella, made a hasty, but quiet exit. Feeling a wave of sadness and disappointment move through her, she pressed her back against a cold wall. Is that the image I am portraying?

She walked towards her office, passing the huge space occupied by Linda Patrone on the way. It was five times the size of hers. She paused long enough to scan the space, its contents and the plaques on the wall. One day, this would be hers and no obstacle would prevent her from seeing her goals through to fruition. None.

Chapter Two

She found purpose in everything she did. In her life, Ysabella felt every moment presented an opportunity. Even her commute proved valuable. She lived in the quiet suburb of Somerset, New Jersey and commuted daily to her job in the midst of fast-paced Manhattan. It was a lengthy, yet scenic commute, which allowed her to unwind from her challenging days. Her walk from Penn Station to Midtown although short, taught her the dos and faux pas of fashion.

Today, as she stepped off the train at Penn Station wearing six-inch heels, Ysabella turned heads. She wore a pencil skirt that rested an inch below her knees and hugged her round, firm derriere, flattering to her perfect hourglass figure. A pastel pink peplum blouse accentuated her chest and waist. Her black studded earrings and a necklace that fell between her breasts complemented her outfit. Ysabella's strut was long and graceful as she weaved her way through the crowd on the way to her office in Midtown. While Ysabella examined others, they were busy admiring her.

Good morning Miss Taylor, said Charles.

Good morning Charles. How is that beautiful family of yours? Charles was the security guard in the office building that housed William, Brian, Patrone and Associates.

Oh! They are doing well. Little Kate said her first word yesterday, Charles’ eyes lit with pride as he spoke of his baby girl.

Wow! Already? Ysabella’s disbelief was marked on her face. Boy, time flies, doesn’t it?

"We may stand still, Miss Taylor, but time