Seduction in Numbers

By Richard K. Byrne

Richard K. Byrnes first novel, Seduction In Numbers, chronicles events that he has observed in his personal life and those that he believes lie ahead for mankind. The novel reveals the lust, sexual adventures, crime, and self-indulgence of real individuals he has known in his business life. Not even a natural disaster that sets the world back one hundred years slows down their erotic desires with a growing number of lovers. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? This writer knows!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481715683

Richard K. Byrne

Richard K. Byrne has done many things in his life that others only dream about. He has flown at mach 2.1 over twice the speed of sound, sailed around Cape Horn, explored Antarctica, gambled in Monte Carlo, ascended mountains, and stood at the base of an active volcano. In business he raised billions of dollars on Wall Street, served as CEO of three major American companies, testified before Congress, and advised two presidents. He has written hundreds of editorials and management books, and has a blog. Everything he has ever accomplished has been done with passion and always with his most trusted advisor and adored wife, Gail, by his side.

Book preview

Seduction In Numbers

BOOK ONE

RICHARD K. BYRNE

Critiqued by

Gail P. Byrne

US%26UKLogoB%26Wnew.ai

AuthorHouse™ LLC

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2013 by Richard K. Byrne. 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 08/01/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-1566-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-1567-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-1568-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013902657

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.

CONTENTS

Dedications And Recognitions

Prologue   Angst

Part One

Chapter 1   The Early Years

Chapter 2   The First Time

Chapter 3   On To College

Chapter 4   The Charade Begins

Chapter 5   The Honeymoon

Chapter 6   Big Decisions

Chapter 7   Special Desserts

Part Two

Chapter 8   The Next Generation

Chapter 9   A Shocking Discovery

Chapter 10   A Close Encounter

Chapter 11   Developing The Plan

Chapter 12   Raising The Ante

Chapter 13   Out To Sea

Chapter 14   Good-Bye Florida

Chapter 15   The Investigation

Part Three

Chapter 16   A New Life Begins

Chapter 17   Preparing For The Worst

Chapter 18   Music Of The Night

Chapter 19   Enter Marco

Chapter 20   A Real Scare

Chapter 21   Truths Come Out

Chapter 22   Pantry Party

Part Four

Chapter 23   Disaster Strikes

Chapter 24   The Damage

Chapter 25   Jazmine

Chapter 26   The Birth Of Angels

Chapter 27   True Confessions

Chapter 28   The Doctor Is In

Chapter 29   An Important Discovery

Chapter 30   Oh, Baby

Chapter 31   A Fight To The Death

The Life Of Gail Patricia Anne Pidzewick Byrne

DEDICATIONS

AND RECOGNITIONS

This book is dedicated to our friends whose actual life experiences are the basis for the plot.

This book is also dedicated to Clint Eastwood, Jacqueline Bisset, Jack Nicholson, and Sharon Stone whose images and great talents were inspirational in defining the book’s characters in the writer’s mind.

Finally I dedicate this book to you the reader. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

We give special thanks to AuthorHouse Supervisor Rudy Thomas for excellent assistance. We also want to thank Frank Murillo, Jan Howarth and James Raven for their endless assistance in bringing this book into publication.

About the Cover

by Gabyrial

Hotter than Hades Hell,

He gives into the sensation,

Knowing what’s ahead for him

With breathless anticipation.

Touching her, caressing her,

Can’t wait a minute longer.

Lust fills his hungry body,

And he is feeling so much stronger.

Inside he is begging to himself

That this night will go on forever.

His heart beats erratically fast.

Can he complete this endeavor?

~~~

Yes I can feel his senses

Erotically devouring me.

Is it only just my body?

Or does he want all three?

The circle of glances

Goes from one to the other.

Do you want just my sister?

Do you really want no other?

Lust so intensely hot

Will it satisfy you.

Or do you want to try

Someone completely new?

Sublime intensity mounts

As they send signals for more.

It’s time to start the game.

Will someone lock the door?

PROLOGUE

Angst

It was November 3, 2014, and twelve people were huddled in a safe room in the center of their Costa Rican compound. The moment everyone had feared for years was finally upon them as each waited to learn the consequences of the largest coronal mass emission (CME) ever to strike the earth. It was a time for reflection on how they had lived their lives and to wonder how those lives might change in just another forty-eight hours.

Sisters Jane and Alice were bonded together by an event that had occurred early in their lives, as were their husbands, Jim and Andy. The guilt, gratitude, and their father’s genes had shaped their lives into an erotic yet loving relationship that was rare if not unique even for the age of free sex and self-gratification. The two women were full of self-indulgence, and each lusted after and slept with the other’s husband. The men savored their wives’ love for sex and were living in their own fantasy world of erotic pleasure that other men could only dream about.

The children who were the product of these two marriages, Apollo and Aphrodite, learned early in life from their parents’ arrangement. They enjoyed intimate and erotic relationships that would be envied by all lovers.

Also in the safe room were the staff and special friends of the family. Each had his or her own reason to fear what could be impending disaster for all.

The CME’s impact on the world would be devastating, and their lives would be changed forever. But no one could have ever imagined what incredible experiences lay waiting for them in the future.

PART ONE

CHAPTER 1

The Early Years

Alice and Jane Adams lived with their parents in a small Cape Cod-style home on Joshua’s Way in Chatham, Massachusetts. The home was really nothing more than a cottage with a combination living room and kitchen, two bedrooms, and a single bath. The sisters loved sharing one bedroom together. It gave them the chance to swap secrets and comfort each other when things happened that troubled them. Sharing one bathroom was becoming a bigger problem each day as they grew older. There was no lock on the door, and, now that they were at that middle-school age, the girls wanted much more privacy, especially from their parents.

Someday I am going to have a huge bathroom that I can lock myself into for as long as I want to stay there, Alice said.

That sounds like the best idea I’ve heard yet, Jane agreed. And I want a huge bedroom too and a closet all of my own.

I wouldn’t want my own bedroom now though for anything. Being with you keeps me from getting afraid at night.

Hey, you’re older! You’re supposed to be protecting me, remember? Jane giggled.

I love it when you giggle like that, said Alice. You always do it when you are happy, and that makes me happy too.

I can’t imagine being here without you. I hope we can live together forever, Jane said.

Someday our husbands may think that’s a bad idea. Alice laughed.

Maybe, maybe not. Who knows? Jane answered.

Alice didn’t comment; she didn’t want to ruin Jane’s wonderful innocence.

The girls’ mother, Catherine, and father, John, were married in 1960 when she was thirty and he was thirty-four. John had served in World War II, and after coming home he had sold cars, dabbled in real estate, and finally begun his own insurance business. He was tall and still handsome for his age, but his face was beginning to become ruddy and wrinkled from his drinking. It’s not the drinking! he would insist. It’s the salt air and Cape winds that are the cause.

Catherine, who was now in her late forties, had the beauty of a much younger woman. She was a little over five feet tall, weighed only a hundred pounds, and her figure was the envy of every other woman in town. She had received a registered nursing degree from Newton Wellesley Hospital and worked for Dr. Hubbard, a local internist.

It was Saturday May 6, 1978, and the Red Sox had just beaten the White Sox on a two-run, tenth-inning homer by Dwight Evens, and the girls’ dad was about to head to his favorite watering spot to celebrate and have a few as he put it. Catherine was furious and warned him that he’d better not come home drunk and smelling of perfume as he so often did. John was known around town to be a philanderer and did little to hide his infidelity, which humiliated Catherine. Catherine, who used to be sociable, had become tight lipped and withdrawn around town to avoid being embarrassed by the mean and nasty comments—especially those made by those who attended the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church on Highland Avenue where she never missed a mass.

John and Catherine argued most of the time, and the young girls couldn’t understand why their father wanted to be with so many other women in town. No other fathers were like that, so they often wondered what was wrong with him.

I wish Mom would just leave Dad and get it over with, Alice said. Mom is such a good wife. She keeps an immaculate house, is a great cook, and has a wonderful figure. She could have any other man in town if she wanted to, but instead she puts up with Dad’s shit day after day and week after week. I know if I were her, I’d go for our new gym coach, Mr. Higgins. He’s her age and as handsome as Apollo. All the female teachers chase him around like bitches in heat. I love Dad, but he just isn’t the right man for Mom and never has been.

I don’t think it’s all Dad’s fault that they don’t get along, said Jane. So many times he has tried to be nice and has kissed her on the neck and patted her ass in front of us. I know he is really turned off when she says to him that he makes her feel like a Kennedy woman. What does she mean when she says that?

She means that dad wants to have his children by her but would rather screw someone else for pleasure—like Marilyn Monroe, Alice answered.

But Mom looks like Marilyn Monroe, and people tell me I look like her too, Jane said.

I know; it really tees me off when I hear boys say how pretty you are and then call me stretch because I’m so tall for my age. I definitely take after Dad’s side of the family, Alice said sadly.

But you have such beautiful black hair, and mine is just a dirty blonde. It won’t be long before the boys are taller than you, and I hear they like girls who are tall and thin like magazine models. I will always just look like a little girl no matter how old I get, Jane assured her.

You’ll be the cheerleader who gets thrown into the air. I’ll be stuck with catching you or being at the bottom of the pyramid. Alice laughed. Better be good to me, or I might just let you fall and break your neck. You could be hurt real bad you know. You’re delicate and frail, and I’m so big and strong I’ll never get hurt.

Anyway, getting back to what we were talking about, Jane continued, I still think it is more Mom’s fault than Dad’s that they don’t get along. I think if I were Dad I would have a girlfriend too just to feel wanted.

Maybe so, but I know I would be mad as hell if my husband cheated on me, and I wouldn’t give him any love or affection either. I don’t know which comes first—Mom’s coldness or Dad’s cheating—but either way it is what it is, Alice said.

It’s a good thing we have each other, Jane said lovingly.

I agree, Alice added. I am not ever going to let a man ruin my life like that.

Me either, Jane agreed.

Their mother, having overheard their conversation, was very concerned and felt that this was the time to have the talk with them that she had dreaded having to have for many years.

Alice and Jane were about to leave for the short walk downtown to enjoy their traditional Saturday ice cream cone.

Girls, before you leave, I want to have a serious talk with you, she said. Come sit with me in the living room.

Uh-oh, we’re in trouble now, Alice whispered to her sister. We should have waited until we left to talk about them.

Girls, I don’t want you to be too harsh on your father; there are many things you just don’t know about him. I know I beat up on him pretty bad sometimes, but that’s because I do love him in spite of his need to be with other women. Actually, I’m worried about his health and emotions more than anything else, Catherine said.

How can you be so understanding? Alice asked. You get laughed at all over town, and I even see kids looking at me and whispering and giggling as I walk by. I just know it is because of Dad. I even think he’s been with some of their mothers.

It probably is because of the way your Dad carouses, but believe it or not, I have my reasons for putting up with his behavior, Catherine said.

If that’s the case, then you really should share what you know with us, Jane said.

There was a very long pause before Catherine spoke again. You must promise me that you will never tell anyone else what I am about to share with you. If your dad found out he would be so upset! God only knows what he might do. For reasons I don’t understand, he made me promise never to let anyone else know what bothers him so much. I think I understand why he is constantly searching for recognition, even if it comes from women who don’t give a damn about him.

Both Alice and Jane gave their mother their solemn promise.

Your father was only eighteen when he joined the army during World War Two. Battles were raging in Europe and the South Pacific. On June 6, 1945, when he was only nineteen years old, he was part of a huge invasion by Americans and many other troops at a place called Normandy in France. Your dad was part of the company that attacked on Omaha Beach. It was a terrible experience for everyone who came ashore. Thousand were killed in just a few days. Each and every man knew that his chance of survival was slim to none, but they all attacked to restore freedom in Europe and assure there would never be an attack on American soil.

There were high cliffs to climb and barbed wire everywhere on Omaha Beach, Alice said. Our troops were sitting ducks. We just learned about it in school. My teacher said that the brave men even now won’t talk about what happened. They are so scarred emotionally they just can’t. Are those memories why he drinks so much?

That’s part of the reason, but there is more, Catherine went on. Your dad was the only one of his platoon to survive. He saw his fellow soldiers ripped apart by machine gun bullets or blown apart from enemy explosives. He has never gotten over the guilt he feels because he is alive and they are not.

Oh, Mom, I feel awful about the things I’ve been saying about him, Alice said.

That’s not all, their mom went on. Your dad was married to another woman who was an army nurse. In February of the following year she was killed during the battle of Iwo Jima in the South Pacific.

Oh my god, Mommy, what was her name?

Her name was Alice Jane Shaw. Catherine wept.

Mommy, Shaw is your maiden name, Jane said.

Yes, my love, she was my sister. So you see I have to look out for your dad because she and I were so close, like the two of you, and I believe she would have wanted me to take care of him no matter what.

Alice and Jane sat in stunned silence until they too began to sob uncontrollably. They held and kissed their mother for a very long time.

So did you marry dad because you felt sorry for him? Alice asked.

Is that why he is the way he is? Does he think you don’t love him but only married him because of what happened?

He probably does think that at least once in a while, but nothing could be further from the truth, Catherine went on. I have loved your father since I was your age and was really hurt when he married your Aunt Alice. I was torn between jealousy of her and my love for your dad, and now I am the one who feels so guilty about the way I felt. If only I could have been happy for her, but I wasn’t. I pray that the two of you will always be truthful with each other and love each other no matter what happens to you in life, be it good or bad.

Does Dad know how you loved him from the very beginning? Jane asked.

I have tried to talk with him about the past, but he freezes up and gets very angry, Catherine said. The scars are too deep. Always remember that your dad carries an enormous burden of sadness and guilt, and my own feelings seem so petty compared to his. I will always love him and will stand by him no matter what he does. She sighed. Yes, I can be mean and vengeful at times, and I hate myself for being that way. I ask myself why I can be so hard on him knowing his reason for drinking so much and needing other women. I am weak, girls, and my jealousy just gets the best of me. Never let jealousy ruin your lives as it has mine. Always try very hard to understand each other and your husbands too some day. I hope knowing about your dad and me will make you think better of the two of us and that the lessons you have just learned will make you realize how important it is to share everything you have and love with each other.

The girls were stunned and hugged and kissed their mom with tears rolling down their faces.

I promise you it will, Mommy, Jane said.

Me too, Alice added.

Okay, enough of this. Go get that ice cream you wanted before the evening fog sets in, Catherine said, and she stood up and walked toward the door to her bedroom.

Jane and Alice left solemnly and walked slowly into town. The fog had already begun to set in as they neared the ice cream shop when they stopped to look into the window of their favorite clothing store.

Suddenly there was a strange crashing sound behind them. A car had collided with a pickup truck and was now heading straight for them! Alice grabbed Jane and threw her violently out of the way before it smashed into her, driving her body through the plate glass window and into the store. Jane crawled over the shattered glass while screaming at the top of her lungs. Alice lay motionless on the floor, her body grotesquely distorted from broken bones. Blood was pulsing out of her left arm. The flying glass had severed an artery, and Jane knew something had to be done immediately or her sister would bleed to death within minutes.

Jane grabbed a bikini bra that had been in the store window. She used it together with a tennis ball and the handle of a tennis racket, which had also been part of the window display, to improvise a tourniquet around Alice’s upper arm.

Alice lay unconscious as Jane wept and called her name over and over. After what seemed like an eternity to Jane, the ambulance arrived and the paramedics began to carefully place Alice on a stretcher.

No time to try to prevent further injury, one said. She’s lost so much blood that she’s already in shock and her blood pressure is dropping like a stone. Her pulse is faint and irregular let’s get her to the ER ASAP.

At the hospital, Doctor Hubbard worked feverishly to try to increase her blood pressure with no success. We can’t begin to do any anything about her injuries until her pressure starts to increase. It’s only eighty over forty; she must be given blood immediately, he said.

It was then that Catherine burst into the ER and overheard the doctor’s conclusions.

Dr. Hubbard looked at her. We don’t have any AB negative on hand, and it’ll take too long to get it here. Are you AB negative? Dr. Hubbard asked.

No but John is, Catherine answered.

Where is he? Hubbard asked further.

I don’t know, but he’ll be drunk by now, and he can’t give blood because of the medications he is on, she answered.

Dr. Hubbard frowned and told Catherine that Alice was now in the hands of God and that he could do nothing more for her without causing her immediate death.

Mommy, I have AB negative too! Jane screamed. Let me give my blood to her!

You’re only thirteen years old! You’re too young, her mother cried.

I will not forgive you ever if you don’t let them take my blood and give it to Alice. Jane sobbed pathetically. Please, Mommy, please! She saved my life.

Catherine looked at Dr. Hubbard for his response.

We could try giving her some of Jane’s blood, but it couldn’t be very much. Without it, though, I don’t think she’ll survive more than a few more minutes, he said.

Catherine nodded her approval though the tears streaming down her face.

Dr. Hubbard looked at Jane. Okay, hop up here on the table and we’ll draw your blood and inject it directly into Alice, he said.

Slowly Alice’s blood pressure began to rise.

This is a good sign, Dr. Hubbard said. I was so afraid her spleen was damaged and bleeding internally. But if it was, the transfusions wouldn’t be able to keep up with the blood loss. We have some hope now. Soon we’ll be able to assess what injuries she has and decide what we can do about them. When she’s stable, we’ll have her air lifted to Children’s in Boston. They perform miracles there.

Alice remained in a coma for seven days. When she awoke her first words were, Is Jane okay?

Yes! the nurse answered. She saved your life by her quick thinking, and then she gave you her blood!

Now she is forever a part of me, and we can never be separated no matter what, Alice whispered with a peaceful smile. Where am I? she asked next.

You are at Children’s Hospital in Boston, the nurse answered. They flew you here by helicopter seven days ago.

Seven days ago! That’s a long time. Where are my mom and Jane?

Either your mom or Jane has been here in your room since you arrived here. They took turns sitting beside you and holding your hand. They just left for the cafeteria before you regained consciousness. We’ve sent a message to them to return as soon as possible.

Oh good. But first tell me how I look. Is my hair combed?

Spoken like a real woman! The nurse smiled at her. Your beautiful brown hair looks great. You’re going to make a lucky man very happy some day.

When Catherine and Jane came back into the room there were tears of relief and happiness.

Thank you for saving my life, Alice said to Jane.

You saved mine first, said Jane, beginning to weep. I will always put you first before anyone else from now on, just like Mommy said we should.

We are one forever, Alice said with a smile. I will share everything with you no matter what it is.

Everything? Jane laughed. What if I want your boobs?

Well, almost everything, Alice answered.

Okay, girls, enough of that kind of talk, Catherine said. Your dad sends his love.

Is he okay? Alice asked.

You are always worried about how everyone else is. I haven’t seen him in a week, but I can tell you this, Mr. Higgins told me he hasn’t been sober since your accident.

Alice had suffered many broken bones and spent months in physical therapy learning to walk and perform other normal functions again. She finally returned home in November 1978 where she continued to improve steadily. She had, however, lost a year of school.

That’s great! Now we can be classmates, Alice said when she learned she would not be promoted to the eighth grade.

Yeah and we’ll be taking the same college courses together. We can help each other. I hate math and you’re good at it, Jane said.

And you’re good at understanding history and I suck at it, Alice responded.

Their first year together in the same classes worked out even better than they thought it would. They really did work hard to help each other and were both now getting excellent grades