Escape To Paris

By Lynn Bentley

Escape To Paris is a deeply conflicted story of ambition and betrayal. Lynn Bentley’s latest novel, captures a remarkable period of time and a love triangle between unforgettable people through the eyes of the lady at the center of the turmoil!

Washington DC 1960’s: Sherri Beauregard is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Mark Wilcox and her life changes forever. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair escape to Paris. They rapidly become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group—the fabled “Paris Celebrates”—that includes Bridgette Bardot, Josephine Baker, Coco Chanel, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, Picasso and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
Though deeply in love, they are ill prepared for the hard-drinking, drug infested and fast-living life of 60’s Paris, which hardly values traditional notions of family and monogamy. Surrounded by beautiful women and competing egos, Mark develops detailed programs to launch his startup tech firm that could lead to fame and riches. Sherri becomes captivated by her career as a CIA operative who gets entangled with the Soviet author she recruited to portray the sinister intentions of Soviet leaders. Her efforts to spread an anti-communist propaganda campaign further erodes the fabric of their relationship. Events during their whirl-wind life in Paris overwhelm all the richness and intensity of his life with Sherri. Readers get the opportunity to visit hot spots in the city and surrounding countries with this flawed couple. His quest for success connects him with Sherri’s first love, Victor Landsdown.

Sherri and Victor reconnect and attempt to save her sense of self as the demands of life with Mark grow costly. Readers see her roles as wife, friend, and muse become more challenging and unsavory. In Bentley’s earlier novels A Bold Experiment and Stranger Within, the story was told as viewed by Victor and now readers will gain Sherri’s perspective. Despite their extraordinary bond, Sherri and Mark eventually find themselves facing the ultimate crisis of their marriage—deception and addiction that will lead to the unraveling of everything they’ve fought so hard to obtain.
The descent into a heartbreaking portrayal of love and torn loyalty, makes Escape To Paris all the more poignant. Sadly, Mark and Victor discover that, in the end, they would rather have done almost anything other than falling in love with Sherri. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Mar 2, 2020

Lynn Bentley

Lynn Bentley is President of Organization Transitions, a consulting firm specializing in executive search and talent management solutions for Fortune 500 clients such as Autonation, Citigroup, DHL, ECI, Federal Express, Knobull.com, Microsoft, Motorola, Oce, Siemens, and Verizon. In addition to over 20 years of consulting success, he previously held executive positions with Daimler Benz, Exxon, Gillette, and Pfizer.

Book preview

Paris

Chapter 1

My flight lifted off the runway and shook violently as the plane reached the height of the Logan airport terminal. The take-off was always worse for me than landing. Once the seat belt sign clicked off, it felt good to lean back in my first class seat. First order of business was eating the olives in my martini. When the no smoking light flashed off, I lit a Newport cigarette and drew in deeply. It was freeing to look out at the sea of lights spread out below. It was September 1980 and my life had been tied to Boston for five years. My divorce from Mark could become final soon and our daughter was with my parents in Atlanta. A large gulp from my drink gave me an instantaneous wave of warm relief. It was time for me to spread my wings to sore like an eagle!

An original taste of freedom was my trip to visit Muriel Monroe at her family’s summer home on Cape Cod. We both attended The Davis Academy, an elite private school in Atlanta. The flight out of Atlanta was uneventful other than the opportunity to view the Atlantic coast from fifty thousand feet. Our landing in Hyannis provided a breathtaking view of the Cape Cod Canal, bridges entering the Cape and the sparkling ocean. Their house sat up at the top of a hill in South Chatham overlooking an inlet that flowed from the Atlantic Ocean.

The highlight of the visit was the opportunity to dig clams during low tide on the inlet sand bar. Her dad would put the clams in water with cornmeal which they would eat and discharge to self-clean. The clam meat was used to make a hearty pot of New England clam chowder that we ate along with baked stuffed lobster and salad for dinner.

A close second was body surfing at Nauset Beach in Orleans where the massive waves could carry us for a hundred yards or more. We both would quickly tan to a golden brown while my blond hair got lighter and her black hair turned jet black. Next door lived two boys, a couple years older than us, who we would sneak out with many nights. They had cigarettes and beer and we would party with them until early morning. It was my introduction to heavy petting but we stopped their attempts grope for more.

Thankfully, Muriel again realized that I needed an escape from my insane existence so rented a cabana in Costa Rica. It was a perfect time for another visit reminiscent of our glorious youthful summers together on the Cape. She had become a successful, self-reliant model who stood out because of her strikingly beautiful face, closely trimmed black hair and shapely figure. Her claim that she coveted my perfectly shaped blond hair, button nose and knock out legs, seemed far-fetched. Our bond mainly existed because we had remained on the same wave link since childhood. When we went out together, we always attracted a bevy of handsome, rich guys. Freedom can be delicious and escape was sublime!

Life had been easier during my early life as a youthful Atlanta socialite. Those years were filled with endless parties, many days sunning at our country club pool and occasional studying for dry tests. I met Mark Wilcox at a country club dance and we dated periodically through high school. We drifted apart during my years attending the University of GA where most of my social life revolved around my sorority.

Not like the last year of hell! Getting tangled again with Victor, Mark’s boss and my former love interest was insane. The possibility that my actions could have been a catalyst to his murder would probably haunt me forever. Thankfully, I could get out of town after his funeral. It made me sad that Tim was stuck making all the arrangements without help from anyone. He was sucked into many of Victor’s self-centered schemes and now he was stuck in the role Victor created to the bitter end.

Soon after he was transferred from Vietnam, Vic first entered my life. The country had survived the deaths of family members and massive protests against the war. Our social fabric had been stretched to near its breaking point when he swept me off my feet and the desire to escape the real world consumed me! I was totally blindsided when Mark reappeared and asked me to marry him. Our marriage set off a chain of events which led to our grand escape to Paris!

What was most amazing about Paris was the joy felt when we returned after leaving that glorious city! We were married in Atlanta and immediately left for a year-long honeymoon in Paris. When I reached my eighth month of pregnancy, we remained in Paris for the birth of our daughter. Soon after her birth, everything seemed similar but our feelings of joy were more intense!

Susan Train from French Vogue helped us find a flat near Les Grands Magasins. It had two bedrooms, large great room, elegant bathroom and large eat in kitchen. She said, Welcome to our beautiful city Sherri! Can you and Mark join us for dinner this evening? All my dreams about finding a new life in Paris were set to come true.

My plane landed at San Jose International Airport at 7 pm and the Peace Lodge transport driver was waiting for me at the off ramp. In an hour, Muriel and I were sipping margaritas at our cabana pool. She said, Later, we can head over to the cool club that has an amazing rock band and a ton of dreamy guys looking for a crazy time. They’re rich, fun and most are real gentlemen. Tomorrow we can hike with a mixed group to view La Paz Waterfall and skinny dip in natural and totally clear side pools. A couple of the guys from the band usually join the group to serenade us during our after-swim picnic.

What a wonderful hideaway; just what the doctor ordered. Over the next couple of days, a few guys provided the first decent sex I had experienced in years! Muriel always knew just what I needed. She would also disappear periodically and return with a satisfied look on her face. The food was out of this world with a chef who had mastered many ways to serve Caribbean sea food which we washed down with many bottles of white wine. My tan returned quickly which included my breasts. The old feelings felt in Paris, seeped into every ounce of my being. Feeding my base desires, brought me back to life!

What astounded me most, were the flash backs of Mark showing up in DC. Muriel threw a party when she heard he was visiting and invited me for obvious reasons. Her party had just begun when Muriel’s brother walked in with Mark. He was tall, muscular and walked with a confident air. He had a wide smile, piercing eyes and wore pressed chinos with a blue button down shirt. He had arrived in the capital to raise funds for an entrepreneurial venture he hoped to launch.

Mark mingled with several of the people he knew while he kept tabs on me with periodic glances. He looked a little lost because I didn’t acknowledge he was there. He had always been a little pathetic during our previous on again, off again relationship. When we were connected, we did get passionate at times and always had fun on dates. That evening, the intensity of his feelings for me were more obvious than our earlier times together. He had always been cute so possibly absence does make the heart grow fonder?

He finally maneuvered close to me to say, It’s been ages since I’ve had a chance to be with you. How have you been?

My life in DC has been great. What brought you here? You know it was your fault we drifted apart!

That’s why I jumped at the opportunity to see you to explain what was behind my behavior, was his weak response. Could I take you to dinner tomorrow? That way we could relax and talk about old times. I plan to be in town for a few weeks and would love to see you as often as possible."

Let’s get together and kick around our fun past and see where it leads; tonight, have a drink and mingle. We invited a bunch of party animals that are smart, fun and enjoy a good time. Excuse me; I need to check on the ice and beer supply, I responded hurriedly.

He seemed shaken by my cool response but what does he expect from me? He drops into my life after many years and I’m supposed to fawn over his presence? Meanwhile, I’ve got to keep this party going. Later that night, after all the revealers left, my thoughts turned back to my previous relationship with Mark. In my mind the question was, Do I really want to hop on that roller coaster again? He was untrustworthy and could be a real jerk! He was a dreamy guy and we did have fun. Yet, my relationship with Vic Landsdown was heating up and we were having a blast. With nothing resolved in my mind, I drifted off to sleep.

Mark called me at work the next day to set up our dinner date for later that week. We laughed and kidded around which seemed like old times. He picked me up that evening in a Mercedes sports car and drove us to the Old Ebbitt Grill. He showed some of their antiques as we walked and pointed out some of the best known politicians that had congregated at the bar. One of biggest seemed half in the bag which got a reaction from Mark. That’s one of the most famous drunks, Teddy Kennedy. He blames it on the murder of his brother JFK and the fear that Bobby could be next. He is also known for throwing the wildest parties in the city. Have you been to any? A word of warning; don’t get in a car that he’s driving because he is known for giving wild rides when he is three-sheets-to-the-wind.

The motto, stay clear of drunks has always been my guide. I hope you aren’t one those kettles calling the pot black. You put away your share of beer in your high school days!

I have become a more sophisticated drinker these days, he replied sheepishly. Let’s have great dinner and talk about our good times together.

Thank you for inviting me. We had so much fun; especially at our country club.

We talked, laughed and even became somewhat melancholy at times. Thinking back now, it was an event that changed the whole course of my life. My demeanor was transformed from rootlessness and uncertainty to openness for adventure. That night’s glimmer grew into a joyful explosion into life! For a few years, he became mature, productive and creative. He carved out his identity and displayed a full range of talents.

My fascination with Mark’s ability to captivate a room full of people and cleaver business sense grew through our early years together. When the two of us were alone, he showed an honest deference toward me to demonstrate that he was a true southern gentleman.

He often told me that I was a captivating woman—down to earth, smart, witty, alluring and strong willed. Our good nature and decency were a clear representation of our southern roots. Yet, we both were able to hide our deep seated distrust of most people and a dark side. Most importantly, we both longed to feel that we could be truly