The Erin Kennedy Project

By Aimat Dawn

Most people find themselves in a career that leads them to a crossroad, but what if you decided to take the road that had no end?

The Erin Kennedy Project is an action-thriller about five fictional characters who are dear friends and are at the peak of their careers, but somehow, the women find themselves bored with life at the same time until their reality is faced with each other’s dreams…

Their dreams will include sacrificing the people they love, living secret lives, and often changing their protocol to save their families.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662459313

Book preview

Chapter One

Thirty months later

Did you ever think the judge would decide on today? attorney one asks.

Are you kidding me? It wasn’t the judge that kept this trial lagging for months. It was Erin Kennedy’s lawyers. Speaking of lawyers, did you catch the reaction on the judge’s face when they added Erin Kennedy served more than twenty years in the military? attorney two says.

Yeah, I would never forget that mischievous smile. What time is it? attorney one asks.

It’s a quarter past the hour. We should clean off this table and make our way back into the courtroom to hear the verdict.

You’re not going to throw that sandwich away, not if you’re interested in roast beef, attorney one says. Pass it here. I shall have it for dinner later with some plain potato chips.

Why you keep staring at your watch like that? attorney two asks.

Come on, hurry, let’s go!

No, wait, I have an idea!

There’s no time for a new idea. We have approximately ten minutes to make it down this long hallway among these dead poster-size presidents, attorney one says. Look at this text.

When did you get a new cell phone? attorney two whispers.

Never mind that, read this text quickly.

Erin Kennedy was absent without leave in 2010.

Keep going, attorney one says.

After the bank brought allegations toward her for duplicating serial numbers from military explosive devices and selling the counterfeit explosive overseas, attorney two reads. But why would she send fake explosives overseas? attorney two asks.

This will make sense later what year was Erin Kennedy born, attorney one says.

She was born August 19, 1948. Her father was an American of Indian descent, and her mother is from an indigenous tribe called Tama.

Where is that located? attorney one asks.

In Colombia.

Attorney one politely asks her colleague to continue reading the text. It goes on to say, by the time Erin turned eighteen, her mother filed for a divorce and after the divorce was final. Erin was forced to make a vital decision rather to stay in Colombia with her elderly mother or persevere in the footsteps of her father and join the military. So how did she end up in America? attorney two asks.

Apparently, Erin lost her job in Colombia, and joined the military here in America.

I hope you brought lunch this is going to be another a long day, attorney two asks.

All rise!

Why is it so dark in this courtroom?

Hush, attorney one says.

But she’s not the original judge.

Quiet in the courtroom. It has been brought to my knowledge that this trial was granted an extension based on new evidence, the judge asks.

Yes, Your Honor!

And you are?

I am one of the prosecuting attorneys that brought in the new evidence.

Three women versus four men, the judge says as she flips through the documents. Well, can one of the seven of you share exactly what the new evidence consists of? Three of the defense lawyers are still standing, holding folders with their heads down. You all may be seated, the judge says. I will preside with one of the prosecuting attorneys, if they are ready.

Yes, Your Honor, we are ready. May I approach the bench? prosecuting attorney one asks.

Not now, please just announce the case.

If I could have everyone’s attention toward the projector, prosecuting attorney one asks. The courtroom becomes dimmed, leaving only the floor lights alongside each isle to remain lit. In this first slide, you are viewing false bank account numbers, followed by military documents, labeled with incorrect serial numbers. Someone cellphone starts ringing.

The judge peeps up past her Coke-bottle frames and speaks. No cellphones in this courtroom after today.

I apologize, ma’am. I forgot to put my phone on silence, prosecuting attorney one says. As I was explaining, the explosive devices in this slide were stolen, by Erin Kennedy!

Objection, defense attorney one jumps from his seat and shouts.

Overruled, the judge announced, and please remain seated during any questions or comments. Continue, the judge says.

I have nothing further, prosecuting attorney one says.

The judge speaks, The defense attorneys may now cross-examine or call your first witness to the stand.

The defense team would like to resume from the last trial, defense attorney four says.

The judge explains to the defense team this would be their last chance to address the new evidence or he would conclude the trail. Two out of the four defense attorneys rise to their feet as the lights in the courtroom remains off.

The defense attorney one speaks with a crackling in his voice and states, We have no new witnesses and no further questions, Your Honor.

Well, after a two-year trial, several courtrooms, last-minute appearances, no further witnesses, and a lack of cross examinations on both sides, I, the judge, finds Erin Kennedy guilty of misappropriation of military equipment and technology. I also penalize you to complete two more years in field artillery with no administration association. After the end of your employment probationary period, your rank will decrease, and you will no longer support the Purple Heart of your late father. Erin is held up by two of her four attorneys. You also have one week to close eight out of twelve of your bank accounts. Erin kicks off her mink Giuseppes. If there are no further questions or comments, this case is closed, with no pending investigations.

Your Honor, may we approach the bench? the defense team asks.

Just two of you, the judge says.

Judge we have collaborated with the treasury of the military, and they have agreed to settle with the security service federal banks and take only 45 percent of each bank account, only if this is honored by your signature no other cases in conjunction with this trial can be heard in future lawsuit concerning the bank accounts listed.

The judge promptly signs the twelve bank statements. Erin is whispering back and forth with her accountant and one of her attorneys. The end of each contract states that Erin Kennedy would have access to her money within fourteen days from today’s date with no exception, if the documents are signed and stamped by a military judge only.

Chapter Two

Two weeks later

Erin agrees with her attorney’s decision and has her accountant withdraw the monies from each military bank account. In the meantime, Erin has made national news, and unfortunately the chief of Colombia has announced they prohibit Erin Kennedy from entering the country, based on missing military explosives. However, the ban was denied because Erin Kennedy would no longer be serving in the military after her two years’ probation and the allegations that the chief of Colombia filed against her holds no jurisdiction in America.

However, the chief of Colombia did not stop there his interpretations of child slavery was sent to the federal Court of America, and his research shared that Erin enabled younger girls to manufacture themselves by manipulating wealthy men into taking care of them. Nevertheless, the federal judge of America has allotted the federal courts of Colombia more time to paradigm their case with providing evidence that Erin is also guilty of child slavery. The pending lawsuit of Colombia has persuaded Erin to come up with another community service that makes sense in her head but would change the lives of young struggling women and their families forever.

As Erin is seated in a two-bedroom house with mismatched furnishing and distorted tile along the floors of each room, she begins to daydream about a millionaire moment. Erin’s idea follows her outside her lonely home with each thought falling on the yellow dry grass right before her eyes and the overgrown shrubbery that landscapes only along the left side of her house. Erin would research several parishes for the next two years. After a careful evaluation of some of the most influenced areas in Colombia, she suddenly discovers there is a perfect imbalance in the multicultural areas, and this is how she discovers the Erin Kennedy Project.

She will further her research by listing each person into their own categories, based on their working positions. Once she finds out which job offers them no promotion at all but expects the women to work long unethical hours, she will use data and facts to help the women understand why they should be employed by her instead. Erin will continue to explain how she can help the women overcome work shifts that causes their families to suffer from infidelity, which highly involves divorce or children being born out of wedlock. Also, her strategy for helping women overcome poverty is not going to be difficult because most of her success has been designed around her military career, with a collage of military rank that leads her into her father’s prestigious accolades, which includes his Purple Heart.

According to data, success is meaningless to the urban minorities of this area because they lack education and have no trust in the government system. Trust is the very thing Erin is going to incorporate in her project to gain the women’s respect. For the next two years Erin is going to use the affirmation from a book she read How to Balance a Scaled Friendship, written by Valerie Ann Armstrong. The series also includes detailed information on how to make friends with the unfortunate people who think like the rich. At the end of the study, Erin will have knowledge on how to make her money work for her instead of working for money (let’s just say, that she is willing to invest in relationships that are loyal to her project.) The goal of the Erin Kennedy Project is to recruit many women as possible and encourage them to learn international business systems and propose what they have learned in grant writing.

Chapter Three

Thirty-six months later (journal writing)

I am the great Erin Kennedy, and my first project is Alessandra Thistle. When I first meet Alessandra, she seems a bit flimsy, smart, and cautious at first sight. She is a young lady I can go anywhere with because she is open to change and making decisions in difficult moments. I am excited to help her receive her gift without compromising her talent. Shortly after working with Alessandra, she becomes pregnant with her first child by a married man. My first thought is, how did this girl allow this to happen under the age of eighteen, and my second thought is, I must hide this pregnancy from my nosy neighbors, especially Mrs. Yoyo Bowler. If she finds out about Alessandra’s pregnancy, it could cost me all sorts of trouble. My first issue will be how to stop feeling like a prisoner in my own home and find a way to satisfy Mrs. Bowler’s curiosity about what goes on beyond the doors of my home. Living next door to Mrs. Bowler has not been all that bad because she is a working-class citizen who seems to enjoy protecting and serving the civilians here on the island. On the flip side, when Mrs. Bowler is not dressed up; in that proud brown policewoman uniform, you can find her sitting in her bay window, swaying her short highlighted hair often behind her ears while holding a china teacup in her left hand as her wedding ring sparkles frequently off the sunlight. While sipping from her teacup, she repeatedly blinks her innocent wide-set dark-brown eyes toward my elite landscape while observing my three-story home, the shadow of her petite figure is caught as the wind blows and the clouds cover the sun. The only good thing about all of this is the tan her pale complexion will receive for being so nosey.

As I carefully wrap myself in a silk robe and tread the white marble floors that continue beyond my front entrance, I become aware of a black pickup truck with matching rims parked directly across from my ten feet iron gate that surrounds only seven acres of land. Once I reach the mailbox, I pause to catch my breath after deciding to open the mail at once. Although the yellow packages are familiar to me, I am enthused to receive them because they are the measurements of the business. The currency column is highlighted with over one point six million pesos in six months (my concern about Mrs. Bowler has become a thing of the past).

Saturday morning

The next day, I receive a phone call from my main concierge Amanda Gerstein, asking me to celebrate the company’s largest sale to date. Hiring Amanda is obviously one of the best assets for this company. The girl never misses a conference, social media tweet, or paying the company bills on time. She was the first to accumulate a million dollars in assets, as well as the first to circulate it, which makes her not only a great investor but a risk taker. Amanda is very disciplined but far from being the girl next door. Her personality shows up in her wardrobe, which is always flamboyant and topped off with a full set of diamonds or pearls. Her height is overwhelming at first until she greets you with her full smile. That compliments her tapered dreadlocks and flawless brown sugar complexion.

Amanda adds, Would you like for me to contact the elites or is that something you would like to conduct? I took her advice once again and agreed to invite a few CEOs over to celebrate the company’s largest revenue within such a small-time frame. Amanda makes a lot of sense why miss an opportunity to share my wealthy knowledge and show off this compound, including the twelve inches of hair I had trimmed off last week, while sipping wine and making deals with some of the sharpest investors this project has ever seen.

I never thought remodeling a home would be this entertaining, but I must admit none of this would have been possible without the support of Artie Paige, better known as my man and business manager. Artie was originally a client of the project, but after several failed attempts, we learned of his low sperm count. Nevertheless, I had a grim time receiving that he would never produce children because I never wanted children. It took longer than I thought for Artie to recover from his diagnoses of never becoming a father. He was showing up to bed late, overeating, skipping sex, lacking conversation, showing memory loss, and canceling business meetings, and we separated for about ten months before I remembered why I took him as my own. Artie is one sophisticated gentleman. His tall slender muscular body goes well with his bowlegs and dark facial features. His dimples are noticeable with no smile, and his full lips are perfectly traced within his mustache and beard. He looks through me with his solid black pupils that highlight his caramel red skin tone.

Chapter Four

One week later

As I am going over the invitation list, it dawns on me—that I forgot to invite Mrs. Bowler the noisy neighbor. What a perfect opportunity for me to see what her home looks like on the inside. Where has the time gone? I say. I must rush over invite Mrs. Bowler and return before my first guest arrives at seven thirty sharp. By the time I reach her front door and make it back, it will be a quarter after seven.

The walk was not at all that bad, but it did remind me of when I was a little girl, living on the same street as my best friend but at opposite corners. What a stale sight to see after the grassy land that divides the two compounds. Once inside of Mrs. Bowler’s home, her obsession of observing my home explained everything. The compound is very large, very empty, and very cold. Mrs. Bowler did more apologizing for the blank canvas within such large compound when all I was trying to do was pass her an invitation and rush back to my compound.

7:30 p.m.

Aimee Williams is the first guest to arrive wearing a long elegant silk white dress, with a matching silk purple coat, with white fur treading along the edge of her coat, as her soft red locks rest effortlessly on her shoulders, next to her dark hue. If this were a fashion show, Aimee would receive the best dress award and Beau Andrews would receive the worst dress award for showing up at a formal gathering, without shaving, wearing a blue logo T-shirt with a pair of ripped jeans that his belly hangs over and aged cowboy boots. Luckily for me, Beau’s outfit becomes irrelevant after one hour because my living quarters are about a fourth full.

Artie and I have plenty of guests to meet and greet without Beau remaining the center piece of attention. The guests seem to be enjoying themselves along with the seafood banquet tables, including full servings of salads and pastas. Artie interrupts the guests by tapping on a crystal glass with a gold-plated soup spoon. He announces for everyone to have a seat in the grand formal dining room, which is left at the end of the foyer—for wine, cheese, and conversation. During conversation Artie’s seven-layer salad is the most talked about entree. Many of the guests asked Artie to explain the layers he chose for the salad, along with other options that can be used.

Artie adds, Before I fail to mention, we are pleased to see the guest returning to the catered banquet tables for second and third helpings.

During my enjoyment, I could not help overhearing Beau speaking with one of my exclusive guests about his heart break. Maybe that explains his unformal outfit. I also can’t help but notice Monica Morris rolling her beady eyes all night at Beau every time he glances her way. Before I could put my empty glass down and walk over and ask Monica what was going on with Beau and her, I hear a loud shout: Someone please help me!

I can hardly see past the crowd that Aimee Williams is choking. I put my glass down at the bar, hop off the bar stole, and hurry toward the dining room, but by the time I make it through the crowd, Aimee is passed out on the floor next to the buffet tables. I notice the blood on her forehead and a broken piece of glass from the buffet table on the floor next to her. Two of my guests order Aimee to remain still on the floor until the ambulance arrives. Artie enters the dining room and politely asks everyone to back away from Aimee so she can have air to breathe. Artie then bends over and pulls Aimee hair back away from her face, and all the blood dripping from her forehead frightens me. Before I could fold my legs, I urinate all over the polished hardwood floor.

I rush toward the bathroom to clean myself in hopes that no one has seen me urine on myself. Amanda burst through the bathroom door and scares the curse words out of me. I look directly at Amanda without blinking and say, This isn’t a good time to be joking. Then I ask Amanda to grab me some fresh clothes from the near bedroom, and she adds, Would you like for me to bring your checkbook? With that, she walks out of the bathroom, laughing. Amanda hands me the outfit and rushes downstairs because the EMS had arrived. The sound of many voices echoing throughout the residence are no longer because nearly everyone has left.

Nonetheless, I make it downstairs and find only Artie cleaning off the buffet tables while Amanda is sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a glass of wine with her legs crossed. I turn and ask Amanda if she would like to stay over since we only have three more hours before daylight. Her response is No, thank you! I’ll see myself out and call you later.

Artie turns toward me with a pleasant look in his eyes and says, I have already taken care of everything concerning Aimee Williams and this situation. I begin to help him clean by mopping up my urine. After I return the mop bucket to the linen closet, Artie says, I need to speak with you about tonight. He then begins to share with me how everyone was complaining that the party was a drab, but the food made up for everything that has happened here tonight. Then he places his hands underneath my hands, pulls me toward him, and kisses my forehead while telling me how gorgeous I am. We continue talking and I ask him if he noticed how Beau was giving more attention to Blair and ignoring Monica the entire evening. Artie did not hesitate to share with me that Blair is Beau’s latest girlfriend, and she is half his age.

I had no idea Monica and Beau was finish. When did all of this happen? I ask.

Well, not too long ago, I heard Beau caught Monica with an older man at their home earlier this month. Artie continues to speak. "By the way, did you hear the rumor going on tonight about Marley and Aimee Williams calling it quits?"

Maybe that has something to do with why she was drinking so much, I say (just when I thought my man did not care he noticed everything). Look out the window, is that a blue sky I see? I say.

Artie looks at his wristwatch and says, It’s fifteen minutes to seven and turns toward Erin and says, Good morning, honey. I’ll race you upstairs. The two laugh and take off running toward the swivel Victorian staircase.

Chapter Five

Monday morning

Erin approaches work late, wearing oversized fashion shades and a designer sun hat with a long flowing soft yellow sundress that sweeps the floor as she walks. Once she enters the building, Erin could overhear several employees whispering as they stand in line waiting to clock-out for lunch. (Did you see that Mercedes Amanda drove to work this morning?) Erin makes it into her office without anyone noticing the disbelief on her face after overhearing her employees. She walks into her office hangs up her Gucci bag with matching purse and umbrella. Next, she changes her rain boots and slams her office door. Finally, she tosses a stack of papers toward the floor and takes a seat at her antique, one-of-a-kind work desk, and begins tasting tea from a cup that reads measured not influenced. Before Erin can enjoy another sip of green tea, her phone line starts flashing.

Good day, Erin Kennedy speaking.

Good morning, Miss Kennedy. I have Amanda Gerstein on line two, says the secretary.

Thank you, please put her through.

Erin wastes no time in addressing Amanda’s behavior. Did you call to inform me about your fancy toy car? Well, in case you missed it, people are already gossiping about the car. Amanda, what are you trying to do destroy my career?"

Erin, I need you to calm yourself down, and let me explain, says Amanda, the only reason I decided to drive my Mercedes Benz to work.

Erin affirms, I am calm, and I am listening.

Amanda speaks with anger in her voice, Why is it that you are the only one who gets to show off their satisfactions?

Amanda, darling, why do I find myself constantly reminding you that I am the founder, CEO, and manager of this company and everything that belongs to you. Therefore, if I address something is not wise, I have my reasons. Amanda, please do not make me bitter toward you. Once your work is finished up here, I would like for you to return the car. Yellow is a nice color choice but not a good business decision.

Thanks, may I be excused? asks Amanda.

Amanda, before you leave, did you finish the book cover?

Yes, that was the reason I phoned you. I would like to have your input on the book covers before I send them off today.

Amanda, why hasn’t your publisher contacted me?

I’m not sure why the publisher has not contacted you. I will reach out before mailing the book covers.

When was the last meeting? Erin asks.

The meeting was several days ago.

Amanda, I need for you to reach out to my publishing company one last time, and if you don’t hear back from someone by five today, pull the plug on my publishing company and go with one of your own. Amanda, if the books are something you do not want to be a part of any longer, I understand, and if meeting the final deadlines concerns you, I am okay with you hiring a ghostwriter, but just this time. Honestly, enough about hiring a ghostwriter. They are only going to add to the dialogue or subtract from it, and I do not want the recipes edited because I am afraid the entrées will turn out tasting different.

Erin passes a yellow envelope to Amanda. "Look over this. This company would like to advertise and feature your recipes in