A Heart's SONG

By Cristy L. Paterno

A Heart's Song is a romantic thriller, telling a love story between two people from different worlds.

APRIL BISHOP, a young, thirty-year-old New York woman was raised in Charlotte but soon finds her way to New York. In New York, she leads a beau

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cristy L. Paterno
• Release date: Sep 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781735890814

Book preview

A_Heart's_Song_Cover.jpg

ISBN 978-1-7358908-0-7 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-7358908-1-4 (eBook)

Copyright © 2019 by Cristy L. Paterno

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Synopsis

A Heart's Song is a romantic thriller, telling a love story between two people from different worlds.

APRIL BISHOP, a young, thirty-year-old New York woman was raised in Charlotte but soon finds her way to New York. In New York, she leads a beautiful life with a handsome and rich boyfriend and a top position at one of the leading fashion houses. Life takes a dramatic turn when on her thirtieth birthday, her boyfriend goes all out to surprise her. Sadly, the surprise is not what April was hoping for. This signals the end of the relationship, leaving a distraught April. Things go from bad to worse when she loses her job due to the malicious scheming of a colleague.

Depressed and on the brink of losing it all, she goes back to Charlotte, only to find her mother dying of cancer. It is at this point April meets the man who would be the love of her life.

CHARLIE MACBROWN, a country song crooner with a celebrity status lives for only one thing; his music. He has not been lucky with love and so resigns himself to a loveless life. Charlie has had a fair share of pain and happiness. From rumors of him being gay to his romance with drugs, he has been at the lowest and the highest point of his life. In a bid to quell the rumors about his sexuality, he goes into an agreement with a woman who would become a thorn in his flesh and a blockage to his true happiness. By a twist of fate, he meets the daughter of one of his ardent fans and realizes she is the perfect woman; the type he wrote about in his songs.

But on one side is the agreement Charlie signs to stop the rumors and on the other side is April’s fears from her past relationship. The only thing the lovers believe in is their love for each other. Would love be enough, even in the face of danger?

Will love conquer at the end of the day, or would it be drowned by all the turbulence?

Chapter One

APRIL BISHOP flung the bed covers and sashayed to the floor-to-ceiling glass door, which opened to the balcony overlooking the city. This view of New York City was the reason her apartment was not being inhabited. She moved most of her things into her boyfriend’s friend on the second anniversary of their relationship, a year ago. This was so she could wake up to this view every morning. However, viewing the city was not the only thing she and Christian used the balcony for.

Don’t I just love this view? she thought with a satisfied smile on her oblong face. She looked down on the city which was already waking up to the hustle and bustle it was known for. Coffee vendors were wheeling their cart down the street, and people with briefcases rushing to catch the train. She smiled widely as she watched and breathed in the cool breeze of spring.

Oops, she exclaimed, as she felt strong arms wrap around her small waist and a nose stuck in her wavy auburn hair. The arms turned her around to face a full-bearded brown face. Another smile crept up April’s face, as she counted herself lucky for having a boyfriend such as Christian. Sometimes, she felt like he was too good for her, with a body like a Greek god, an elite family, a successful career in oil and gas, and of course, love for her.

Christian darling… April leaned in for a quick kiss, but Christian was not having a quick kiss. He held her down and deepened the kiss.

I can’t believe we never christened the balcony… He let his voice trail while giving April a suggestive look.

I hope it is not what I am thinking, April said and tried to escape his hold, but Christian caught her again and pulled her to his broad bare chest.

It is exactly what you are thinking, honeybunch.

In one sweep, Christian carried her in his arms, with her satiny nightgown riding up to expose full, creamy thighs. He suspended her on the wall and pushed her nightgown up. With one hand on her full, taut breast, he thrust into her.

Good morning, my love, he said into her neck as he ravished her.

I love you, Christian, April purred like a satisfied cat, just as she was taken to the zenith of passion and brought back down to earth. Now, this is how I want to start every day.

Those last words were a clue she hoped Christian would grasp. With thirty fast approaching, all she wanted was to bear Christian’s surname. She had never loved any man as she loved him and she could not imagine not having him in her life always. Sadly, Christian never talked about marriage. He always talked about the future with her in it, like the time he thought they should start a clothing label together. You would bring your experience in the fashion world and I would bring my business acumen. We would be a bang in the world of fashion, he had said. But not once, had he mentioned getting married to her. Scared of being the insecure woman, she had never brought up the subject.

With Christian’s seed drooling down her thighs, she rushed into the house, to go prepare for another day at the fashion label. This was her routine every morning, which revolved around the two things that mattered most to her; her career as a fashion designer and her boyfriend of three years.

As April walked into the state-of-the-art building of Coveteur, a luxury clothing brand, she felt like she had all she needed in this life, except Christian’s engagement ring. With her auburn hair dancing around her shoulders, she strutted into the lobby wearing a white mink sweater that was just a little below her navel, over a pair of peach-colored culottes. Her feet were encased in a pair of nude brogues, which complimented her nude satchel. Her outfit and carriage screamed ‘fashionista’. Everyone stopped to greet her as she passed, even the janitor. April was not someone that could be easily overlooked.

Good morning ma’am. The meeting with the new clients will start in about twenty minutes, the company’s secretary informed her as she stepped in through her office door.

Not until I have checked on production, because fashion week is at the door. April dropped her satchel, got her collection packet, and off she went to the production wing of the building.

Everyone who knew April knew that she was the brain behind the brand going to the top of the list, among other fashion brands. Her creations were ingenious and she was the first designer that led the way to green fashion. She had gotten a promotion twice, from the bottom of the rung, now she was at the top as the creative director.

While April was overseeing the production of their new collection, her phone rang. She quickly received the call when she saw it was her best friend, Lauren.

Hey, baby girl. It is work hours, why are you calling? April asked with laughter in her voice.

Is there something else you know, aside work? Your birthday is in three days, what are you doing about preparation? Lauren asked in her tiny voice, which belied her voluptuous body.

There is, Christian and more work, April said and burst into laughter, which her friend joined in. Seriously honey, I don’t know how I am going to cope. The New York fashion week is in two weeks and all hands must be on deck.

April sounded breathless as she ticked off the things that needed to be done.

We have about ten celebrities we are clothing this season, with new, bespoke collections. There is also the launch of our fall collection.

You are such a workaholic, but it is the big 3-0. You won’t be thirty a second time. You got to make this loud girl.

I… April started, but Lauren cut her off.

I know you are about to say there is nothing special about turning thirty. But this time, I think it is going to be remarkable for you.

Why do you think so? April’s interest was piqued because she heard the conspiratory tone in Lauren’s voice and knew she had something to share.

Christian called me and asked me where your favorite place was. I think he is going to propose. He has also given me the mandate to plan your birthday party, Lauren said with glee.

Are you for real? April stopped herself from squealing.

Ha! she screamed anyway, startling the tailors on the production floor. Oh my God, tell me more.

I do not want to spill the beans, but just know that it is a destination birthday party. You are so damn lucky to have Christian.

He is also lucky to have me! April retorted and they burst out laughing.

What do you say we meet after work? Shop for your birthday outfit and then have dinner at The Grill.

Great idea, Lauren. I will get out early today. Thank you, baby girl. I love you and all you do for me.

I love you right back. Now, go make some carpet-worthy designs, Lauren said, blew some kisses, and then hung up.

When she ended the call with her best friend, she was practically bouncing as she walked. Finally, she was going to marry the man she loved for the past three years. Everyone looked at her and wondered what was up to her ass. April was known to be strict when it came to her work environment. Only Christian could make her smile like a teenager, even at the board meeting.

For a long time, April waited for Christian to pop the question. On her last birthday, she had found a velvet box in his wardrobe and expected a ring when they went for dinner. However, the box only contained expensive, new jewelry. She was so disappointed, but she covered it up with a smile. Christian had mistaken her shimmering eyes as being filled with emotion. She read every book on getting her man to give her a ring, from Steve Harvey’s to every other relationship book author she could find. But nothing worked, except Christian being more committed to their relationship. He introduced her to his family and even registered her at the family country club. She went to every family vacation with them and was known by all, as the woman in Christian’s life. His sisters loved her, even his parents adored her. But Christian refused to put a ring on it or even talk about a ring.

Now, I will be more than his woman. I will be his wife. Her smile grew wider as she waved at everyone and anyone.

There was no doubt in anyone’s mind, that April was a contented woman.

*

When she was sure the tailors could carry on without her, she took her satchel and strut out the doors of Coveteur. She had decided to wear one of Coveteurs’s pieces for her thirtieth birthday. She was doing this for Christian because it was through his influence she came to Coveteur. Before they met, she was working with a local label that was run into the ground by the know-it-all owner. Jobless and just in a new relationship, she had combed all of New York for another job, because she wanted to be her own woman and not depend on her rich boyfriend. After many unfruitful efforts due to New York’s snobbish circles,