Chaos & Consequences: Identity Crisis

By ToiSwan White

Welcoming the weekend with excitement, local Nashville writer Penelope Merchant decides to throw caution to the wind for a weekend getaway to Vegas…her only issue; friends and family who seem to only want to sabotage her serenity…one phone call, laced with vindictiveness and jealousy; pushes her further away from everyone and over the edge of her reality.

Awakening in a secluded cabin; with its picturesque view; seems to be the perfect environment for her escape, only now she doesn’t remember who she is, or where she came from. Fighting against the elements of his environment and his own complicated life, her host stops at nothing to get her back home…

Fearful of the life and the secrets that drove her away, Penelope wrestles with the necessity of returning home and her desire to live a carefree life of fantasy…if only she could have it both ways.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796066920

ToiSwan White

I loved creative writing in elementary school and began writing short stories after my freshman year of high school as a form of escapism. The more I wrote, the more obsessed I became with storytelling Then I read One, Two Buckle my Shoe by Agatha Christie novel, my mind was blown...she is the only writer that I have read that actually frightened me...I remembered closing the book as if to read no more, scared to turn the page, but the page was still there...so I continued on. Danielle Steele, Patricia Cornwell and Donald Goines are my other favorite writers. I also enjoy reading James Patterson. My favorite word is soliloquy. I simply enjoy weaving a story together out of absolutely nothing. I also love to knit, dance and above anything else in this world; laugh. I believe that everyone has a story to tell, everyone and everything has a back story. I wanted to write this project because I love soap operas...Chaos & Consequences is the soap opera of my life.

Book preview

CHAOS &

CONSEQUENCES

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IDENTITY

CRISIS

ToiSwan White

Copyright © 2019 by ToiSwan White.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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.

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.

Rev. date: 10/31/2023

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

804527

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter One

She believed she could, so therefore she did…

CHAPTER 1

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"W hew, we need to walk this buzz off." Penelope Merchant stumbled out of Coyote Ugly of Nashville, Tennessee; right arm linked to her best friend’s. Surprisingly, they’d managed to make it up the stairs from the bar and onto the sidewalk of Second Avenue without falling, especially her strolling in her gold Donna Karan platform sandals.

We sure do, I’m still hungry…ooh a hotdog stand, I want one! Patrice Buchanan pointed diagonally across the always busy downtown street, grabbing on to Penelope’s wrist at the same time.

Tonight, had been a silly night for the both of them, something Patrice needed after her crazy week, and as always Penelope had come to her aid.

What? Penelope asked, How can you still be hungry? Where’s he at girl? Ooh, he’s a sexy hotdog man too, she said with her hand over her brow, pretending to block bright light from her eyes. I bet I get his dog before you.

That’s because you’re a freak…let’s get it, Patrice laughed and strutted between other Nashvillians and tourists as they crossed the intersection at Commerce and Second Ave. Never a dull moment in downtown Nashville, and Thursday night provided that boosts you needed to get ready for the weekend.

The weekends provided Penelope opportunity to schmooze with only the most exciting tourists, the smartest college students, wealthy conventioneers or anyone out to have a good time…gathering stimulation for her work.

Lost in her own thoughts, she felt her body came to life hearing her friend yell at a cab driver. Screw you...Oh yeah? Whatever…here it is…bring it on fool!

Why are you yelling at him? Penelope asked, laughing through drunken steps continuing to cross the street. Horns honked as drivers hollered at them for phone numbers and for the two of them to get out of the middle of the road.

Fuck you! Patrice snapped then quickly changed her tune, I’m so hungry. After maneuvering through the slow-moving traffic, they’d finally arrived at the hotdog stand.

Hello ladies, what can I get for you? The attendant asked them both, but stared directly into Penelope’s brown, almond-shaped eyes.

Penelope blushed, licked her lips for sex appeal and almost gagged, still tasting a slight bit of her last Tequila Sunrise. She didn’t hunger for any hotdogs, but his thick, brown lips were something else. Oh…I’m good, Penelope shook her head, losing herself briefly in his dark eyes, swinging on the ‘U’ from his heavy baritone voice.

You don’t want anything? Patrice asked, practically yelling.

Honey, would you please calm down, Penelope turned to her friend, laughing. No, I ate too much already tonight. Their night started with dinner Sambuca’s in The Gulch, then dancing at B.B. Kings; where they drank Strong Island Ice Teas and ate fries before ending up throwing back longnecks at Coyote Ugly.

I’m sorry girl, I’m drunk as hell and dude pissed me off. Patrice laughed trying to pull herself together.

Excuse me ladies but I need to close in a few, the baritone voice spoke again underneath the low-cut afro, each strand of hair evenly lined up with the next.

Okay…okay, are they done? Patrice asked.

Yes, they are, he smiled hoping to not hide his annoyance.

What’s your name? Penelope asked, forced to yell; picking the perfect time to speak over more people honking horns, attempting to beat the light at the three-way intersection behind where she stood.

When he turned his back to them, Penelope imagined its nakedness underneath the white polo he wore. She wanted to sneak her hands up the back of it to touch his dark smoothness.

My name is Sterling, he answered, his eyes now staring down at her full lips as she licked them again, noticing his attraction to them

Sterling…like the silver? Patrice blurted out, totally oblivious to her rudeness.

Be quiet. Penelope nudged her friend, trying to be serious. Are you a student, or is this your fulltime gig? She asked hoping she wasn’t too forward with her questioning.

Before he could answer, Patrice belted out like a radio announcer, Sterling Silver…where’s the gold? she asked sarcastically, hands on her hips; laughing at herself before going into her own kick style routine of the old 80’s dance show; Solid Gold.

Solid Gold! she sang out, loud and boisterous into the midnight air, managing two high kicks up and down the sidewalk before Penelope reached over and snatched her left arm back towards the stand.

Would you stop it, Patrice? Penelope snapped, while still laughing at her hilarious friend, you are so silly, you’re gonna kick yourself out into the street, what do you want to eat?

A hotdog and some barbeque chips, Patrice perked up suddenly, happy she’d irritated the hotdog man.

Sorry about my friend, we’re a little under the influence. Have you done any acting? Penelope asked, reforming her question.

No ma’am Miss Lady, he answered Penelope, looking over at the now fidgeting Patrice. Do you want anything on this dog? he reluctantly asked, figuring the less she spoke, the faster they would leave, and he could close.

Yep, she responded, pausing to smack her lips. Some ketchup, mustard, onions, and relish…you know what, make it plain chips instead, Patrice answered watching his gloved hands over her food.

Sterling, I may have a business proposition for you. Call me when you have time to talk, Penelope handed him a metallic blue business card, reflecting off the streetlights above as he turned it over to see the back of it.

Yeah that’s cool, Miss Penelope Merchant…nice meetin’ you for real Ma, he flipped the card through his fingers and placed it in the back pocket of his dark, baggy jeans. Drunk or not, he thought; she was sexy as hell.

Patrice paid for her hotdog, the two friends linked arms again as if on cue and walked up Commerce to Fifth Avenue; heading to Penelope’s condo. I know exactly what kind of business prop you got for Mr. Hotdog Man, Patrice whispered to her friend, you gon’ prop his ass up right between yo’ legs. The women walked on, erupting into even more laughter when Penelope agreed with her friend wholeheartedly.

CHAPTER 2

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‘D o you, Mortimer Lincoln Hughes, take Dakota Cheyenne as your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold through sickness and health, ‘til death do you part… forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?’

Damn I got a headache, he said speaking to himself.

I have some Advil if you need some.

Morty lifted his head from his depressing thoughts to the sensual voice of one the firm’s clerks, Miss Lena Perkins. Yes Lena, that’ll be great. Impatiently tapping his desk with the ballpoint ink pen he held, he watched his beautiful new clerk exit his office. ‘That ass looks so scrumptious,’ he thought to himself with no shame at all. He visually picked her petite body apart from the white linen shirtdress she wore, down to the denim, ankle-strapped pumps which accentuated her shapely calves. He envisioned her legs over his shoulders.

Lena only took a short time to return with two pills and a bottle of water. With merlot colored, manicured nails, she handed them to her boss. Mr. Hughes, you look especially stressed today, perhaps you should go home early? She suggested, more so because she had things to do away from the office.

Lena, please call me Morty and I would go home for a week if I could, but it’s the end of the month, we have to make sure these books are closed without error, he answered, knowing his clients expected perfection, in sickness and health.

Morty worked for one of Nashville’s top corporate accounting firms and took his job seriously as well as the level of success he’d ascertained over the years. Whenever his marriage crossed his mind though, a headache appeared. Even as he popped the two pills into his mouth, he couldn’t take his eyes off Lena. Cute with a side-swept ponytail resting over her right shoulder, he sat with excitement at the thought of putting something in his mouth from her hands.

I guess you’re right, can we get something to eat? Lena asked, starving and unsure if her boss had planned on taking a lunch.

Morty glanced down at the Black Dial Oyster steel Rolex wristwatch he wore that day, It is lunchtime isn’t it? he asked, standing up from his desk before she could respond.

You’re about to leave your cell phone, Mr. Hughes, Lena stated playfully, she pointed towards his desk, but eyes transfixed themselves on something entirely different.

Morty followed the direction of her fingers. You know what Lena; I’m leaving it, I actually want to enjoy my lunch for a change. How about that new Cantonese place over on Fourth Avenue? We can walk, it’s a beautiful day, Morty knew he took a risk by leaving his phone at work; his wife called daily, but today he needed a break from her lunchtime call.

Taking full advantage of how close all the excellent restaurants were to him, he enjoyed working downtown, got his daily exercise in by walking to them instead of driving. Downtown, like Nashville as a whole; provided simple regular folk going about their day, enjoying the southern hospitality from a growing city tucked inside of a small town.

Okay, but wait up Speedy Gonzales, Lena hurried to catch up with him before he’d left. Employed with him for only three weeks now, she knew she would lose him in the elevator. With your tight ass, she added under her breath while clenching her fists.

What was that? Morty asked after she stepped into the hallway behind him, he tried to wear a mask of seriousness on his face. He’d heard her, but he wanted to see if she would fess up.

Oh, I said Cantonese is fine, she said with a giggle.

"Yeah okay,