The Secret First Lady

By ROSE BUSH

Rachel Jones is a successful businesswoman who has it all. Her husband's infidelity pushes her to the edge and after reaching her breaking point; she's convinced to seek spiritual restoration. On her journey to mend her broken heart and establish a devout relationship with God, she becomes entangled with a new lover, more sin and is introduced to a world of homosexuality. Finally after experiencing the death of a child, the possibility of contracting AIDS, and another heartache, she decides to leave her comfort zone for a fresh start. How her journey ends is a mystery and the entire ride is filled with suspense.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 19, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456750541

ROSE BUSH

Rose Bush is a Toledo, OH native and a mother of two beautiful girls. After serving in the Iraq War, devoting 11 years to the military, and many years of working civil service, she migrated to the Atlanta, GA area to fulfill her dream as a writer. Look for more to come from this smiling author, to include the sequel of The Secret First Lady.

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© 2011, 2014 ROSE BUSH. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 04/12/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4567-5053-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-5055-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-5054-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011904818

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Photographer (Author’s Photo): Arthur Usherson

Cover Design: Charles C.J. Mack

*Table of Contents*

Prologue

Chapter One—*Temporary Insanity*

Chapter Two—* Straddling the Fence*

Chapter Three—*Just Dinner and a Movie*

Chapter Four—*Rumor Has It*

Chapter Five—*He’s and Ordinary Guy*

Chapter Six—*Premeditated*

Chapter Seven—*Not Committed*

Chapter Eight—*Threesome Love Affair*

Chapter Nine—*Morning Sickness*

Chapter Ten—* D-Day*

Chapter Eleven—* The Truth Shall Set You Free*

Chapter Twelve—*A Peaceful Truce*

I would like to thank God, who should always be the head of my life and even when I fall short he still blesses me and protects me.

This book is dedicated to:

My mother, who loves me in spite of me and has never let me down.

To my uncle David; thanks for believing in me and always encouraging me.

Raylynn and Rya, the most beautiful people in my life; you two bring me so much joy and motivation.

To my Grandma, my aunts, and siblings, you all have played a very unique role in my life.

To all of my friends, who believed in me on the days that I didn’t even believe in myself.

To the people who have let me down, I thank you for helping me to build a great character.

Last but certainly not least I want to thank ME.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for encouraging me to not only dream, but to also follow through.

I love you all.

Prologue

It’s almost comical all the places life will take you before you realize your purpose for living, if you ever truly recognize what that purpose may be. After all the pain, stress, and mental anguish, only then can one truly appreciate tranquility. Sometimes it takes for one to move outside of their comfort zone just to become motivated; or to recognize their self-worth and love the person that God designed them to be. After moving to metro Atlanta, Rachel Jones realized there was life after what felt like a spiritual death. Why not tell her story? The good, bad, and the ugly that made her the exceptional woman she came to be. What’s important is how we handle the truth. What a liberating experience it is to overcome the barriers that seemed impossible to conquer. Rachel Jones is more than a conqueror and so are you.

Chapter One

*Temporary Insanity*

Love; that four letter word can turn even the classiest chick insane. A Harvard education or fat bank account can’t even withstand the spell that love puts on you; material things cannot replace emotional necessities—well at least not in genuine situations. Rachel Jones was considered a five-star chick and had accomplished many things in her short-lived era. Although she was now a single mother of two, she had it going on mentally, physically, and financially. She was living a life that women twice her age only read about or imagined. She was an educated executive woman who didn’t boast about material things.

Her chocolate physique was well toned and it was obvious she worked out on a regular basis. Her smile could melt even the hardest ruffian. Her hair was so beautiful, bouncing with every step she took. Ms. Jones was fancy; however her favorite stores were Banana Republic and Bebe. She was so this and that to everyone one living outside of her world looking in, yet no one truly understood or struggle or the reason behind her hustle. She defined the saying, from nothing to something. This Nia Long look a-like had done it all and had it all done to her; still she refused to fall victim to her circumstance. By the time she had reached the age 25, her second child was 3 and Curtis, the father of her children, and ex-husband was showing no love or support. They had gotten married fresh out of high school, against her parents’ wishes; never did she expect for it to end in divorce.

Having just finished her MBA, she decided she would show him that neither she nor their children needed him to survive. Besides they were total opposites. She worked her butt off, while Curtis slung crack-cocaine in the streets and chained smoked marijuana. Knowing they weren’t meant to be, she continued to hold on for their children’s sake. She felt that children needed both parents; in fact she believed her life would have been a lot less fortunate in a single parent home. Financially life was great, but something was lacking.

Rachel drove down Walt Stephens Road as she recaptured her past life events prior to moving to Georgia. I still can’t believe I had to go through all of that, just to get here. Rachel thought about Curtis periodically and their life in Ohio. She wondered if they could ever be the dynamic duo again, but those thoughts would quickly be interrupted by painful memories and then she would laugh.

Rachel loved her children, nevertheless, she was often away from them promoting her business and developing more ways to create more revenue. She independently built and investment banking firm on a small loan and a big dream. She continued to drive as she thought about the final breaking point of their marriage. She had to depart from Ohio and go to China for 6 months. Her business trips were generally no more than a month here and there, but for a multi-million dollar deal, who wouldn’t take a six month hiatus? She remembered the day as if it just happened. After packing her bags and saying goodbye to her family, she gave her husband and ultimatum. Curtis, when I come back, I better not hear any talk about you being in the streets. I want you out of the game. Babe, you can be my business partner. You seemed to forget you are married to a millionaire.

It wasn’t that Curtis was envious of his wife; well maybe a little, but as a man he’d rather take his chances on the streets before he saw himself working for his wife. Rachel had her own empire and he wanted something he could call his own. Curtis was in and out of foster homes when he and Rachel first met and he sold drugs throughout high school. That’s all he knew. That’s all he wanted to know. Rachel looked past his street mentality and saw potential in him at an early age; at least she thought she could mold him into the man she wanted. What she failed to realize is that a person is going to be who they want to be unless they choose different.

After Rachel returned she discovered the unthinkable. Curtis had begun using his own product and he fathered two other children, by two different women. Both women were in their third trimester before Rachel even left the country.

She was devastated, nonetheless she hadn’t fallen out of love with her husband and she took her wedding vows serious. Not only did she want to preserve her marriage for social and political status; according to her mother and the good book, their marriage had been instituted and ordained by God. Only death was supposed to tear us apart. She did all she could to rehabilitate him as well as help him with his illegitimate kids who she secretly despised. Even though it wasn’t the children’s fault, she hated the idea of him having children with not one, but two different women. Every time his children stepped foot into their home, Rachel became literally sick. She wasn’t very religious, but everyday she prayed to God, asking him to remove those feelings from heart and the hateful thoughts from her mind.

She was a strong woman. Curtis Jones knew he had someone special because it takes a special person to understand and deal with all that he had imposed on her. Two years had passed, Curtis had been sober and Rachel was finally adjusting to her stepchildren. Just as things appeared to be getting back to normal, suddenly Rachel was struck with that feeling in her gut; that feeling of intuition that most women get when things seem to be right, but knowing something was definitely going on. Every now and then Rachel would check her husband’s voicemail without his knowledge. Somehow she was able to crack his code. It’s true what they say, when a person goes looking for something, they are sure to find it.

It was a beautiful afternoon in May. The Jones family had reservations at Mancy’s Steakhouse. Rachel decided to check her husband’s voicemail while he was out, before she got the children prepared for their family outing. Leah, one of the baby mommas was on the voicemail as usual, but this message was different. She was pregnant again with what would be Curtis’ fifth child; the third outside of their marriage. Apparently these two never stopped sleeping together. Rachel felt so betrayed after having his back through everything. Maybe she isn’t really pregnant. Perhaps she’s just yearning for some extra attention. Still, obviously he’s doing more than picking up and dropping off their son for her to even leave a message like this on his phone. Okay, think Rachel, think. Rachel decided to send the kids to her parents for the weekend, because only God knew what she planned on doing to him.

She went along with their dinner plans minus the children. She hadn’t worn