Temptation's Despair

By David Andrew Tucker

Mark Taylor is at the top of his game living the American dream – wealth, a gorgeous wife – everything a successful man wants. With one slip in judgment, his world comes crashing down. His greatest challenges lay before him as he confronts his past, his present, and his future. Five different lives are unknowingly intertwined in the balance – while one grave mistake affects them all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Andrew Tucker
• Release date: Mar 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781732096608

David Andrew Tucker

David Tucker spent his youth in Phoenix, Arizona, combing every corner of the state’s wilderness on horseback and on foot in search of adventure. In time, the city grew too large, and David traded life in the arid southwest for a life in the mountains. When he wasn’t out exploring, he spent his time reading and writing. After working for years in the corporate world, as well as experiencing several entrepreneurial ventures, he decided to walk away from the regular grind to focus on his love for writing fiction. With a vivid imagination, he enjoys bringing his characters to life in relatable circumstances. David now resides in Kalispell, Montana with his wife, three children, three spoiled dogs, and their cat. He and his family continue to pursue their love of the outdoors and are now exploring the wilds of Montana.

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Temptation’s Despair

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2018 by David Andrew Tucker

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author and publisher.

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Printing, March 2018

Revised January 2019

1-6335063891

ISBN 978-1-7320966-0-8

David Andrew Tucker

[e-mail]

This is dedicated to my beautiful wife and best friend, Tara – thank you for your love, your support, and your enduring patience

To my children, Donovan, Brendan, and Ashley – I love you and I’m proud of you all

Thank you to Angela Townsend for your encouragement and friendship.

Chapter One

Dawn broke peacefully over the quiet suburbs just outside of Seattle. One by one in sequence, the streetlights lining the narrow two-lane road to the Taylor household flickered off. As the lazy sun made its ascent over the eastern mountains, songbirds chirped and fluttered between tall spruce trees bordering the winding roadway.

Rays of sunlight streamed through the master bedroom’s vertical blinds and illuminated countless particles of dust dancing in slow motion through the air. Mark groaned while the light poured onto his face. He flipped to his side and covered his eyes with his pillow in an attempt to hide from daybreak’s assault. His movement roused Sarah, causing her soft snores to cease. She pulled the silk sheets away from her body and reached out to him, caressing his back with teasing strokes. Mark hesitated. The gentle touch of her soft fingertips against his bare skin tickled, sending a shiver up his spine. Reluctantly, he swung his legs over the side of their bed. He sat upright and raked his hands through the short, dark strands of his hair. His thirty-ninth birthday had come and gone, and streaks of gray blended with black, revealing his youth faded with each passing day.

Stay with me just a little longer, baby. Please? Sarah whispered. She stretched out to pull him back to her. He relented to her touch, and fell back, resting his head on her legs. Reaching for her hand, he grasped it and gave it a loving squeeze. They lingered in silence for a few moments.

Mark pulled his hand away and sat up. I’ve got to get going. My flight leaves in three hours. He kicked his legs over the side of the bed and stretched. With any luck, Kellner will like the pricing on their software package and sign a contract right away. Then, I’ll only have to fly back to Phoenix a few times a month to help with the integration. Phoenix, and a sales pitch to John Kellner and the corporate executives from Kellner Industries awaited. The cyber security software he and Dan Wilson had designed and finally released was in high demand. The new, top-of-the-line protocol was far superior to any software the industry’s competition offered. Since the software’s debut, Mark and Sarah’s wealth grew beyond their wildest expectations. All of his hard work had finally paid off, and their financial struggles seemed to be over. Mark’s four years at Washington State earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering had been time well spent.

Sarah moaned. I wish Dan could go instead, but I know how important this meeting is for you. She rolled to her side. Her long, blond hair fell around her as she brushed the glistening locks from her face and wiped the sleep from her eyes. She stared at the ceiling, watching the fan’s blades whirl methodically above their king size bed.

"Dan has a meeting in Denver. Besides, he and I discussed it, and we agree that Kellner and I seemed to hit it off when we met them after the conference in Silicon Valley. This deal is way too big for anybody but me to handle. There’s a lot of cash on the line. I should be the one to make the pitch. I need to be the one to wrap this up."

Sarah continued her staring contest with the fan. "She’s going to be there, isn’t she?" And there it was – the real reason she moped around since he announced the trip to Phoenix. Her apprehension wasn’t a surprise. Sarah did a terrible job of hiding her feelings, even though she did her best to mask them.

Mark shook his head in exasperation. Aw, c’mon Sarah, we’re not going to go through this again, are we? I thought you were over your little jealousy bit. He strolled into the bathroom and began brushing his teeth.

So, you’re not excited to see her again? she quizzed.

Wiping streams of foaming toothpaste from the corners of his mouth, he tossed his toothbrush on the counter and stepped back into the bedroom. Oh, God yes. I can’t wait to rip her clothes off in front of old man Kellner and do her right there on the conference table.

Sarah giggled and threw her pillow across the room at him. You’re horrible!

Mark snatched the pillow from the floor and walked back to the bed. He lobbed it on the mattress and sat on its edge beside her. We’ve already been over this. You have nothing to worry about.

Sarah placed her hand on his arm, stroking it tenderly. Her eyes stayed fixed on her fingertips while they moved back and forth through the hairs on his forearm, parting the strands with her well-manicured nails. Sheepishly, she gazed up at him. You don’t think she’s hot – or sexy?

A smirk crossed his face. He answered without contemplation. He answered honestly. "Yes, Sarah. I do think she’s pretty. I’m not going to lie to you. But, I love you. He bent down and planted a tender kiss on her forehead. Besides, you’re much, much sexier than Stacy Kellner. He swept the hair from her forehead and caressed the side of her face with his thumb while she cuddled the palm of his hand. This trip is about business and only business." He studied her expression for a moment. Her light-green eyes gave away her true feelings. His attempt to reassure her seemed less than successful.

Someone might want to remind the spoiled little brat then. She made it pretty clear that she’s lusting after you, Sarah sighed in jealous contempt. You didn’t exactly reject her when she was hitting on you at dinner, even though I was sitting right there next to you.

Mark clenched his teeth. "It was just a game, Sarah. Nothing was going to come from it. She’s just a tease, plain and simple. She was teasing you just as much as me. Now I need to get ready. Are you okay?"

* * *

I’m okay, Sarah replied unconvincingly. Mark walked back into the bathroom, and the shower burst to life after he disappeared from view. But she wasn’t okay. Not with any of it. She rolled to her back and tucked her hand under the fluffy pillow beneath her head. Closing her eyes, she allowed her thoughts to drift to when she and Mark first met.

None of it had been easy. They were high school sweethearts. Mark left no doubt that he was smitten with her from the moment they met for the first time in the school’s main hallway. She stood at her locker, wrestling to get it open. It was a fight to the finish. She wiggled the latch and slapped the metal door with her hands in frustration, unable to convince the locker door to open. She was the new girl. The one everyone gawked at. Different without a doubt, long, blonde bangs covered most of her face, concealing her thick, brown-rimmed glasses. She was hiding, too shy to show her light-green eyes to those around her.

Mark stood at his locker just a few rows away. He stuffed a textbook into his backpack and tugged at the zipper, closing the main compartment on the tattered bag. A pack of popular girls walked by, mocking Sarah with their jeering chatter in hushed tones as they strode past. He shoved a book into his locker and slammed the metal door shut. Without hesitating, he rushed to her aid. He approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder. With a muffled shriek, she jumped back.

Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. Do you need a hand? Mark asked.

She clutched her books tight against her breast. Um, yeah – thanks.

Mark smacked the top of the locker with the bottom of his fist and lifted the latch. With a quick pop, the door opened. There you go.

As he spun to walk away, she blurted, Thanks! It wasn’t the time to be the shy, vulnerable girl the world had always known her to be. She grew bolder and brushed the hair from her face. My name is Sarah. Sarah Fisher. She thrust her hand at him. Oh, jeez…now he’s going to think you’re such a dork. Mark reached out and took her hand. As their eyes met, her heart fluttered. I swear, I’m going to melt… The warmth and friendliness gleaming in the depth of his dark brown eyes made her tremble.

I’m Mark Taylor. You’re new here?

She nodded. Yep – just transferred.

Mark’s eyes shifted to the stack of books she held close to her chest. He tilted his head and seemed to recognize the titles on the bindings. I see from your books that you’re a freshman. I took all those classes last year. If you need someone to show you around, just let me know.

She shuffled her feet on the discolored linoleum floor tiles and dug the tips of her toes into the foam souls of her pink sneakers. I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.

Okay then. Meet me here when lunch starts?

The period bell buzzed across the school’s PA system signaling the next class was about to begin.

Okay, she replied with a bashful smile.

From that point on, they were inseparable. Best friends. Sweethearts. Mark graduated with honors – a year before she did. But their romance blossomed over those early years. His boldness helped ease her fears and feelings of insignificance – it wasn’t her fault that her biological parents abandoned her just before her fifth birthday. But to a delicate soul such as hers, being ripped away from her younger brother and the safety of their home, only to be placed in a foster home with total strangers, flipped her world upside down. Even though Roger and Sharon Fisher showered her with nothing but love and attention after adopting her, her ability to trust anyone had been shattered.

Over the years, Sarah made several attempts to locate her younger brother. It seemed as though he had vanished somewhere beyond her reach after he too had been adopted – by a family on the East Coast. As time passed, her memories of him faded with the realization that he would merely be a haunting remnant of her past. Eventually, she gave up hope of ever reconnecting with him. Although she conceived her life had moved beyond the trauma of her childhood, the events were ingrained into her psyche, molding her into the introverted woman she had become.

And as Mark strolled through the bathroom doorway back into the bedroom, the sound of him opening dresser drawers while he hurriedly packed his suitcase in preparation for his trip shook her from the recollection. Peering at him as he zipped up the hard-sided bag, she huffed and said, Try to behave in Phoenix.

His face beamed with confidence. Of course I will. He stepped over to the side of the bed and planted a tender kiss on her soft lips. I’m out of here. I’ll talk to you soon.

Chapter Two

Mark’s mission was successful. John Kellner and his staff departed the resort’s lavish conference room, leaving Mark alone to bask in his glory. He leaned his elbows on the glass surface of the long, oval table and held the sales contract in both hands, scanning it over and over. It’s time to celebrate. A triumphant smirk stretched across his face. Meeting with Kellner and his executives at the same resort where he stayed was nothing short of convenient. Adrenaline pulsed through his veins, overpowering the weariness which plagued his tired body. The agreement with Kellner Industries meant several million dollars more revenue in sales for the quarter. It was time for a few drinks, but first, a quick text to Sarah to share the good news. He pulled his cell phone from his coat pocket and swiped his thumb across the screen.

The door to the conference room swung open. Mark glanced up. Stacy Kellner stood in the doorway, posing seductively. Hello again, great presentation! she chirped. Walking with a seductive gait, she sauntered over and pulled the chair next to him away from the table. With a quick hop, she plopped down onto the conference table at the empty setting. The intoxicating fragrance of her spiced vanilla perfume filled his nostrils with each breath.

Thank you. I’m glad that we’ll be able to fulfill your company’s requirements. We’re excited for the opportunity to do business with Kellner Industries. Mark strained to keep the conversation on strictly a professional level. His gaze traveled from the tips of her designer black pumps, up the sheer, black nylons covering her long, toned legs, to her breasts, seemingly ready to burst forth from the tight, silk blouse barely containing them. Until that moment, the depth of his attraction to her hadn’t revealed itself. Sure, he had fleeting harmless notions about her from time to time since their initial business dinner. But he assumed that it was simply due to a young and beautiful woman showing interest in him. The thought of cheating on Sarah never crossed his mind, even when opportunities for indiscretions presented themselves in the past. His contemplation as to why it seemed different this time yielded no conclusions. A sense of danger coursed through his body and the unchaste circumstances only intensified his excitement.

You don’t have to be so formal, Mark. We’re going to be working together, so we might as well get to know each other better. You know, we should celebrate. She ran her fingers through the thick curls of her long blonde locks and cocked her head back, shaking her hair from side-to-side.

Stacy Kellner wanted him. Her intentions were clear by her lack of effort to conceal them, and she didn’t give the impression of being the type of girl who would take no for an answer. Beginning with their first meeting at the Silicon Valley Software Conference, her flirtatious behavior hinted at her desires beyond a straightforward business relationship. Was it because he was tall, dark, and handsome? Was she attracted to him because of his well-trimmed haircut or the short stubble of his three-day beard? Maybe it was his athletic, muscular body. Those were traits that he supposed the young woman fantasized about.

Mark slipped his cell phone back into his pocket and fidgeted in his seat. A shiver ran up his spine. The presentation with the Kellner executives dominated his attention to the point that Stacy Kellner and her seductive ways had been an afterthought. Now that the meeting was over, the sudden and blatant display of her attraction snapped him back to the moment, catching him off guard. What do you have in mind? he blurted out. It was fine. Nothing was going to happen. He wouldn’t let it, regardless of his attraction to Stacy. He loved Sarah. Besides, Sarah knew his sales pitches often required him to flirt with potential clients. It was expected. Even though Sarah admitted her jealousy, as long as the balances in their bank accounts continued to swell, that’s all she cared about. Sarah was too self-conscious. Mark didn’t doubt there were occasions when other men tempted her. The fact that she never considered her own indiscretions when she badgered him about Stacy revealed her possessiveness. His justification was complete. The Kellner account was huge. If he had to do some extra dallying with a billionaire client’s daughter, it was just part of the game.

Stacy leaned close to his ear and whispered, How about a few drinks? I’ve been in the club here and it’s righteous.

Yeah, okay. That sounds like fun. I could use a drink about now.

Stacy slid off the conference table and straightened the wrinkles from her short, black skirt. Oh, not yet – I need to freshen up a bit first, she replied with an inviting simper. I’ll meet you in the lounge upstairs at… say… eight o’clock?

Mark peeked at his watch. It was nearly five already. All right, eight o’clock it is. Stacy strolled to the conference room exit, swaying her hips enticingly from side-to-side while she sauntered away. Mark stared at the door as it clicked shut behind her. What a day. First, closing a huge deal, and then followed by a gorgeous younger woman hitting on him. And Stacy Kellner was by every definition gorgeous. Time to get my head back in the game. Without hesitation, he shuffled the various papers strewn about the table in front of him into one big messy pile and stuffed them into his attaché case.

* * *

His room was a short walk through the posh lobby followed by a quick elevator ride up to the seventh floor. The door slammed behind him when he entered his suite. He kicked off his expensive black Italian loafers and dug his toes into the soft strands of the plush carpet. Ah, it feels good to relax a bit. He had been hyped up all day in the hopes of closing the deal, and the room’s well-stocked minibar beckoned with an assortment of exotic liquors. He wasted no time in selecting an expensive brand of bourbon. He lifted the lid from the ice bucket sitting on the marble bar top and snatched some ice with the stainless steel tongs half-buried inside. The cubes clinked in the glass as he dropped in a few to chill his drink. He poured the bottle carefully to the welcoming sound of crackling ice with the booze swishing near the rim. Taking a quick sip, he licked his lips and swallowed. Mmm… that hits the spot. With the drink in hand, he walked to the suite’s large window framing his view of the city below. He pulled the ornate curtains aside and stared at the bustle outside. The freeway lay only a few blocks away and heavy traffic clogged the thoroughfare. Rush hour was in full swing, and he chuckled at the endless tide of cars, semi-trucks, and buses moving at a slow crawl, the vehicles making progress to their destinations only inches at a time before stopping again.

Taking one last swig of his drink, he relished the bittersweet taste for a moment before swallowing. The plush king size bed soothed his tired muscles as he laid back on the luxurious padding, setting the empty glass on a nightstand next to him. Just a few minutes of shut-eye. He closed his eyes then sank into the comfort of the soft mattress, acquiescing to the awaiting nap.

Startled, he awoke abruptly to the bleating of his cell phone’s alarm. He reluctantly opened his eyes. It was almost eight, and fading sunlight poured through the long beige curtains. He sat up and kicked his legs over the side of the bed, wearily remembering the eight o’clock meeting with Stacy. He trudged into the bathroom. With a few refreshing splashes of cold water from the sink, he felt revitalized. He pressed his face into a hand towel, allowing the soft fibers to soak the wetness from his skin. Dropping the linen to the vanity’s marble countertop, he gazed into the mirror. Dark brown eyes stared back at him and searched his soul — thoughts of where he had been, where he was, and where he was going raced through his mind.

He collected his cell phone from the nightstand and started to head to the lounge. The lights flickered off for a split second as a loud rumble shook the building and a flash of light pulsed from the window. He walked over and opened the curtains. Menacing clouds obscured the sun while a storm unleashed its fury upon the city. Raindrops splashed forcefully against the window and streaked down the glass in long trails while lightning bolts flashed from the heavens to the cityscape below the darkening sky. He surveyed the tempest’s rage then walked to the door and headed to his rendezvous.

He advanced with confidence. He looked forward to seeing Stacy, and although he didn’t understand his feelings, he just knew that at that moment he wanted her and nothing else mattered. His anticipation grew as he envisioned slipping his fingers under her bra strap and sliding it over her bare shoulder. Racy images filled his mind, and he forced himself to ignore where those impulses could take him.

* * *

Mark entered the lounge and scanned his surroundings. Subdued lighting emanated from elaborate crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling high above. Intimate alcoves lay throughout the room strategically positioned for privacy. Tall sections of lattice constructed of dark mahogany formed each private nook and encompassed a round table at the center. Light classical music infused with a restrained melody played by electric guitars reverberated off