Mel: Breaking All the Rules

By Jaleesa Ashly Washington

Mel Barr has it all—and then some. She is a beautiful, confident, and successful woman who was raised in what appeared to be a solid Christian home, graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University, and founded a Fortune 500 company.

Today Mel is all about diamonds, designers, fancy cars, and random rolls in the hay. While trying to dodge bullets related to her dysfunctional family and the secrets they harbor, Mel decides she doesn’t have time for a serious relationship, especially with a man without money. But everything is about to change when fate leads her to a handsome valet at her loft. Although Rob is fine as wine with the body of a god, he is far from her dream man. Does Rob have the magic potion to sweep Mel off her feet and make her forget about his bank account or will it take Gucci, Prada, and Michael Kors to dig her out of the ditch life has thrown her in?

In this contemporary romance, a successful entrepreneur must attempt to put her past behind her when she meets a gorgeous man who causes her to question everything she has ever wanted.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Jun 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781480876729

Jaleesa Ashly Washington

Jaleesa Ashly Washington is a liver transplant recipient who has always had a passion for writing. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Lancaster Bible College. When Jaleesa is not writing, she enjoys binge watching comedies and cooking for those she loves.

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Copyright © 2019 Jaleesa Ashly Washington.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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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.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

ISBN: 978-1-4808-7673-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-7672-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019903988

Archway Publishing rev. date: 6/14/2019

Contents

Chapter 1     Just To Be Ok

Chapter 2     The Morning After

Chapter 3     Blindsided

Chapter 4     Truth is…

Chapter 5     Release

Chapter 6     What I Want

Chapter 7     Refreshing

Chapter 8     Moment of Truth

Chapter 9     Surprise

Chapter 10   Didn’t See This Coming

Chapter 11   The Waiting Game

Chapter 12   Enough is Enough

Chapter 13   Pretty Unicorns

Chapter 14   Guilty Until Proven Innocent

Chapter 15   Best Friends Forever

Chapter 16   This Changes Everything

Chapter 1

Just To Be Ok

A fter climbing up four flights of stairs in my downtown high-rise condominium, I knew that there was a glass of Inglenook Cabernet with my name on it. The elevator would have probably been more sensible but I was low on my step count today so why not? I was relieved that the day was finally over. Working almost twelve hours, all I wanted to feel was either the soft silk sheets on my mattress or the warm bubbled water in the bottom of my tub. I walked into my warm and cozy home, slipped off my six-inch Christian Louboutin pumps and tip toed right over to the wine cellar. To say I am a connoisseur of the finer things in life is an understatement. I live for it. Walking into a two by six wine room was the highlight of my evenings. I realized that the moment I had the option to choose between hundreds of wines from all over the world was also the moment that I had arrived. I poured myself a glass of wine and laid across my custom $10,000 Michael Amini Sofa and was finally able to exhale. As Mozart gently played in the background I just thought about what else I wanted out of life. I considered the stamps that needed to be added to my already loaded passport. The world was at my disposal. I was and am a single woman with no baggage but my Louis Vuitton & Michael Kors collection.

RING RING RING. Hello I answered as if I had just woken up from a nap, knowing damn well I just walked in the door. It was my girl Noel. She was calling to see what time I was meeting the girls at Lingbells (a local four-star restaurant). The thought of my feet slipping into another pair of shoes was dreading. Here I come girl, I almost forgot. I could never give the illusion that what I did for a living was draining or taxing. I’m a boss and as far as I am concerned, one that never grows tired. I quickly slip out of my Giorgio Armani suit and threw on an old dress I had got from Nordstrom’s years ago. Something quick that didn’t require stockings or spanks. Slid my achy feet into a comfortable $600 pair of Gucci loafers, touched up my make-up and headed back down four flights of stairs.

It was absolutely beautiful outside. It was a warm summer evening. The sunset was stunning. The clouds illuminated the sky with a mix of gold, yellow and rose-colour. You could see the pale glow of the moon trying to penetrate the skyline. As I waited for Rob, my valet guy, to pull up my vehicle, I was trying to find some excuse as to why I couldn’t go. Ms. Barr we were just about to detail your car for you but we can wait until tomorrow. Said Rob as he opened my door. awh shucks!! Thanks Rob. Yes tomorrow would be great. I replied. Not a problem at all Ms. Barr, we will see you when you get back. Have a safe drive.

Rob was a very handsome fellow. He was of a caramel complexion with big beautiful green eyes. It was evident by the stockiness of his arms that he worked out on a regular. Ok, Rob was FINE AS WINE. However, he was just a valet guy. I be damned if I settled for a joker who makes minimum wage while I bring home a seven-figure salary. But every now and then I would catch him liking his lips and that alone makes me re-evaluate the situation. Could I ever love a basic guy? Could I ever love someone like him is the question? Hell No! Who was I fooling! And what is the catch with Rob? How many children does He have? What type of relationship does he have with his mother? Cause you know what they say. Honestly though, there is not one day that I don’t explore the option of what if’s after seeing him. At the end of the day I know that He could never afford me.

I finally got to Lingbells and the girls were already seated. Tia, the supermodel. Anesa, the underdog that can never manage to keep a job. Val, the stay at home mom. My girl Noel, the relator. And then there was me the business owner of a almost multimillion dollar company. We all come from different aspects of life and oddly enough we actually get along. I know the stereotype is that when a group of females get together, there is nothing but drama. But with us that has never been the case. For the most part we spend our time talking about ourselves, not in comparison but just to vent. Most of the information we share is superficial and not important but it works for us. We have been friends for over 20 years. I guess that you could say that we grew up together. We all had our ways but we adjusted to them. Outside of the group text that we had, we only dealt with each other face to face on a quarterly basis. I really didn’t have the time or interest to form the bond that others wanted. We laughed and talked for hours. We actually closed the place down. Ending our time together with the usual we should do this more often, this was great. I always nod in agreeance hoping that it never actually happens.

Rob was waiting at the valet when I arrived back home. At this point his tie was off, his top three buttons were undone and he looked more delicious than he did four hours ago. He came over to open my door and extended his hand to help me out. Which I needed! I had more glasses of wine than I remembered and took four shots of Remy Martin for the team. I extended my hand and did what I promised I would never do to any man when I’m tipsy, I made eye contact. That normally ended in me jumping a guy’s bones and sending his ass out the door first thing in the morning. I wasn’t the type a chick that became emotionally attached to any man. I wasn’t one to cuddle and boo love after a night cap.

Are you ok Ms. Barr? he asked. He still smelled so good. How in the hell can you still smell this good after working all damn day? Yes, I’m fine. Just had a little too much fun tonight I guess. I replied. I got you. And that’s when it happened. I looked him directly in his eyes and it was as if he saw through to my soul. Let me take you up. he said as he signaled for another valet attendant to come and get my car. He helped me out of the car, put my purse on my arm and slowly slipped his hand pass the curve of my lower back. At that moment, I gasped for air. Not because of the libations in my system but because it felt so damn good and I didn’t want it to. We got into the elevator and said nothing. Was he just doing his job? Or was his intention to do me? Either way, I didn’t give a damn. He put the key in the lock, opened my front door, and gently laid me across my three- piece sectional sofa. Are you ok? he whispered. I nodded yes because anything other than that would have got me pregnant. He walked down the hall of my condo to my powder room. He was gone for about three minutes. Thought for sure he was just freshening up. Then I vaguely heard him looking for a glass in the kitchen. He came back with a small red and white pill and a glass of water. You are going to need this. Take it. It’s Tylenol. I got it out of your medicine cabinet. Sit up for me. He secured my back with one had and held the glass of water in the other hand. That’s it! he said. In my mind im thinking No the hell it isn’t. He gently laid me back down, walked away and left out my front door." What? Yes!! He left!! I didn’t have the strength or the equilibrium to follow him.

I have to be honest; this was not my first rodeo. As single woman with no children, you have that liberty to bring home whoever you chose to. There