Jessica

By Linda Ladig

Jessica lived a normal quiet life until she found herself lying in the desert. Coyotes were singing their nightly song as she lay close to death. Questions ran through her mind of why was she lying here in the desert with a gun shot in her side when she hears a low growl approaching.
Sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy a woman scorned getting payback.
Her name is Jessica.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781300670070

Book preview

Jessica

JESSICA

By Linda K Ladig

Jessica lived a normal quiet life until she found herself lying in the desert. Coyotes were singing their nightly song as she lay close to death. Questions ran through her mind of why was she lying here in the desert with a gun shot in her side when she hears a low growl approaching.

Sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy a woman scorned getting payback.

Her name is

‘Jessica’

Preview

The scream silenced the coyotes.

The sun had barely gone below the horizon when the pack spoke to each other with their deep throated howls to the slowly rising moon. This concert was played every summer night, but this night it was broken by the woman’s own animal scream across the valley. She lay in the desert sand looking to the darkening sky for answers, for memories, for something.

Copyright 2013 by Linda K Ladig

Jessica is a work of fiction.

Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, locales, business establishments is completely coincidental and not intended by the author.

Cover design by: Ladig Photography

Cover Photography by: Ladig Photography

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned in printed or electronic form without permission from the author except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

ISBN 978-1-300-67077-0

www.ladigpubs.com

CHAPTER ONE

The scream silenced the coyotes.

The sun had barely gone below the horizon when the pack spoke to each other with their deep throated howls to the slowly rising moon. This concert was played every summer night, but this night it was broken by the woman’s own animal scream across the valley. She lay in the desert sand looking to the darkening sky for answers, for memories, for something.

What the hell was she doing out here, and the pain, why was she feeling such pain. She let out another scream that echoed through the valley praying for a reply, even from the coyotes, meant she was not alone. A dangerous reply yes, but she was so afraid of being alone she still welcomed it. The scream had brought a sharp pain shooting through her body, telling her it was close to its end. She could end this life with pain or be quiet and let it come over her. The peace tempted her but her will told her not to give up, go out with the scream and pain, let her voice be heard even if only by the desert that she knew surrounded her.

CHAPTER TWO

Feeling the winter breeze crossing her face Jessica smiles entering the climate controlled plaza of the office building. With a quick smile to the receptionist, who waves and smiles back, she walks with all confidence to the elevators, behind and to the right of the lobby. In the elevator she pushes the eighth floor button, relaxing and listening to the soft feel of the music playing through the speakers she counts the floors as they blinked over the door. Keeping her smile, she thought of the plans her and Marcus had made for the coming weekend. A small laugh escapes her lips as she thinks of the surprise she has for Marcus. The thought even gave her a small quiver, it was going to be a non-forgettable weekend for both of them. Not only was his fantasy going to be met but so was hers. She laughed out loud shaking her head thinking, why did men think they were the only ones with fantasies, if they only knew.

Setting her self back to business and the seriousness of the meeting she was elevating to, her smile vanished. When the elevator doors open, Jessica was all business, with her briefcase held closely to her hip she walks to the entrance of Benson & Lieberman.

The meeting had gone well and Jessica’s boss, Charles Benson, had given her the rest of the day off. Even though it was only two extra hours, being a Friday it was worth it.

Grinning in the elevator to her apartment she thought of what she could do with the two extra hours. The little extra things she could add to this special evening with Marcus. With the added bonus of how well the meeting went today, all the research she had done over the past year for this merger had all fell into place. A few bumps here and there and the occasional yelling from her boss had all paid off with a smooth merger of the two companies. Certainly her boss would make it a payoff for her, a sweet bonus would be nice or a step up the ladder in title with an increase in pay. Jessica lost her smile thinking realistically the extra two hours was probably all she would get aside from the pat on her back as she left the meeting early. Her boss stated as he escorted her out of the conference room. ‘take the rest of the day off Jessica we’ll finish up the details’ then the pat on the back with ‘enjoy’.

Putting her key into her apartment door Jessica made a mental check point to talk with Marcus about the possibility of her changing jobs. Her skills were in demand, even in the state of the economy, a good researcher in the corporate world were always in demand. Opening her door she sighs as the relaxing feel of being home over took her.

CHAPTER THREE

Soaking in the tub Jessica kept pushing away the extraordinary fantasies she was having for the evening. This was her and Marcus’ special date night. They had missed so many over the months with both being so busy they had plotted and planned for this night. As a treat they were to play out their special fantasy for the evening. Something neither had ever done nor told the other about. Stepping out of the tub Jessica dried her self and shook out her curly hair. She wore it long and fought to keep it tamed but tonight she wanted it wild and free.

Walking through to the kitchen she unloads the refrigerator with all the exotic fruits, creams, meats and munchies. Arranging everything on the kitchen island she found the candle holders and candles placing them in the center of all the food.

Pleased with the arrangement she heads for the bedroom. She had spent weeks during her lunch hours searching through lingerie shops for just what she wanted. Now standing in front of the mirror dressed in the attire, her confidence starts to wane. The more she looks the more flaws she found and embarrassment started to take over. Turning away from the mirror she tells her self.

Fantasy, this is suppose to be fantasy night, damn it I will do it!

With a big grin she turns back to the mirror leaning toward it saying.

This is going to be fun.

Having finished touching up her makeup, Jessica looks at the clock, figuring the timing was right, lights all the candles placed throughout the apartment. With the final touch of sprinkling rose petals on the bed she returns to the living room. Pleased with only candles for light she turns on the cd player with what she thought of as romantic music. Opening the bottle of wine she pours one of the two glasses and goes to the chaise facing the entry door. Arranging her self into a sexy pose she contents her self sipping the wine, listening to the music, waiting for Marcus to come home.

CHAPTER FOUR

Hearing the sound of the key in the entry door Jessica does a quick look around the apartment, satisfied, she leans into the chaise. With the glass of wine in her hand she poses in what she hopes says seduce me now. Suppressing a laugh, she actually thought ‘fuck me now’ was the pose she wanted.

Jessica smiles at the door as it opens, she knew she was blushing uncontrollably but her smile grew seeing Marcus opening the door. Titling her head back to expose her neck Jessica closes her eyes hoping to hear or feel Marcus’s reaction before embarrassment over took her. Having never played the seductress her fantasy was to be the alluring seductress that no man could resist. She wanted Marcus to see her that way, the seductress he couldn’t resist.

Hearing the door close but no movement Jessica slowly opens her eyes expecting, hoping, to see Marcus with passion in his eyes.

Instead, Marcus was standing by the closed door with a big grin on his face and one arm around a tall blonde standing next to him. Shocked Jessica just stares at Marcus her mind was so scrambled she couldn’t speak. Marcus still grinning broke the silence.

Damn, you look good Jess…this here is Christy.

Giving Christy a squeeze he smilingly continues.

I get your fantasy...and….IIII like…Christy here is my fantasy…..you know, you, me and Christy here....

With a bigger grin he squeezes Christy tighter and continues.

Every man’s fantasy!

CHAPTER FIVE

It had been six months sense Marcus’s surprise with Christy. Having forgotten her wardrobe Jessica had chased Marcus and his friend back out the door. She could still see his confused look as the elevator doors closed saving them from her wrath. Taking her heels off she had strolled back to her apartment with her head held high as she told neighbors she passed she was sorry for the inappropriate show.

The hurt was slow in healing, the following week Marcus had managed to move all his possessions from their apartment and seemed to be coping well. His easy acceptance of the break up and what sounded only like courtesy sorry’s as he moved out, kept the wound fresh in Jessica’s heart. What woke her up was the merger she had masterfully worked on, the reward was the two hours off and the pat on the back. Being assigned another merger just as hard if not harder, she gave her notice, broke her lease and moved 600 miles to the southwest. When ever the thought or feeling that she may have been too rash in taking these steps she would recall her former boss’s reaction.

She had glared at Charles when he had told her of her next assignment, his confused look turned into shock when she laughingly told him he could shove his ‘assignment up his assignment ass’. Stating flatly to him that she was not joking, she was done and out of there he followed her to the elevator stuttering she couldn’t leave, there was work to be done. Charles Benson was the founding owner of Benson & Lieberman, always the more cool and professional businessman of the two, his reaction still puzzled her.

Summer was coming and she loved it. In her heart she knew all the confusion, the cost, the stress and starting over was worth it to be rid of Marcus and her former stingy boss. The desert heat and warmth hugged her. Most people dreaded the coming of summer, but they were not native, they were transplants, complaining always of the dreary boring desert and always about the heat. She would laugh to her self wondering ‘why come here just to bitch about it’. She had been born and raised in the northwest, rain and overcast most of every year. Discovering the desert she found her self waking up with a smile every day welcoming the sun and all its warmth. She had tried other climates, people had talked about the four seasons, she had tried but she always yearned back to the desert. She wanted and knew she needed the suns warmth. Not a born native but a native in love with this unforgiving country.

CHAPTER SIX

Opening her eyes Jessica focused her eyes on the full Moon above her. Her mind flicked to the memory of laying in the back yard with her brother counting stars. Shifting slightly to her right the calm left her as pain floated up her body, reaching her mouth she screams knowing she was laying some where in the desert to die. The scream brought more pain and panic. Taking slow gentle breaths Jessica brought the panic and pain down to a semi controllable state. The conflict that moving would bring pain and not moving would certainly bring death, Jessica willed her self not to move telling her self ‘just for now don’t move’. Thankful her mind was clear Jessica spoke out loud to break the silence around her.

Ok girl, you can’t help your self if you don’t figure out your situation….ok…be quiet, just listen.

Laying still Jessica strains to hear any sounds, several minutes pass when she breaks the silence again.

"Shit…no traffic, no voices, nothing…ok I am way out in the fucking desert somewhere. WHY..no, no figure that out later. Ok, how bad am I hurt,.hell I know that one, a lot! Ok, ok, where am I hurt?"