Love From The Ashes

Love From The Ashes Copyright © 2023 Lisa Catherine Partee Kindle Edition All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Print Edition ISBN: 979-8-9867042-3-4 Ebook Edition ISBN: 979-8-9867042-2-7 Written by Lisa Catherine Partee Edited by Clio Editing Services Cover Design by BZN Studio Designs Formatting by BB eBooks To my husband, Carlos, my two daughters, Vanessa and Erica, and my grandchildren, Phillip, Sierra, and Cheyenne. Thank you for your continuous support and encouragement. This project was more fun than the last one, and I look forward to many more. And a special thank-you to my amazing beta readers, who helped keep me and the story on track. Thank you, Vanessa, Christopher, Ashley, and JulieAnn. TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Chapter 1: The Interview Chapter 2: The First Day Chapter 3: Reid Morgan Chapter 4: Moving Forward Chapter 5: That’s What Friends Are For Chapter 6: The Trio Is Born Chapter 7: The Hangover Chapter 8: To Trust Or Lie Chapter 9: The Club Chapter 10: A False Perception Chapter 11: A Night Together Chapter 12: The Forbidden Word Chapter 13: A Viper’s Threat Chapter 14: The Reckoning Chapter 15: The Annual Gala Chapter 16: The Rotten Apple Chapter 17: A Weekend In New York Chapter 18: A Knockout Wedding Reception Chapter 19: The Reveal Chapter 20: An Intruder Chapter 21: The Man In The Brown Jacket Chapter 22: Unexpected Guests Chapter 23: Gone Chapter 24: The Search Chapter 25: A Welcome Lead Chapter 26: Back Home Epilogue Other Titles Thank You CHAPTER 1 The Interview I brushed a wisp of hair from my cheek as I dashed down the sidewalk, my toes painfully pinched in my thrift store pair of high heels. I misstepped while dodging past a group of people blocking my path, a briefcase nailing me in the knee, and I fought to move forward. Of all days to screw up, today was not the day to take the wrong bus in Boston. But I had, and I was paying for it—my interview with the software development company was in ten minutes. “Thank…God,” I muttered between gasping breaths, spotting the multistoried office building on the opposite corner. Relieved, I darted into the intersection, noticing a car on my left as soon as my foot left the curb. I abruptly halted, my feet stopping on the asphalt while my upper body and arms shot forward. Pain spread through my hand as it hit the front quarter panel of a black Mercedes sedan. The driver slammed on his brakes, and a second later, a man in a dark business suit scrambled from the back seat. He rushed toward me, a mixture of irritation and concern darkening his face. Taller than average, he loomed over me while I stood there waiting for his comments, unsure whether I’d scared him or ticked him off. “That was stupidly reckless. You’re lucky you didn’t cause an accident. The light in your direction was red. Didn’t you bother to look, or were you trying to get yourself killed?” The man glared down at me, his jaw rigid and his gray-blue eyes glimmering with annoyance. I pinched the bridge of my nose and shook my head. He’d undoubtedly kicked any concern he might have had for me to the curb as soon as he’d seen I didn’t appear hurt. The man was a jerk. And one I didn’t have time to deal with right now. “Look. It wasn’t intentional, and if I were trying to kill myself, I’d be lying underneath your car. And thanks for your concern. I appreciate it.” I flipped a wayward strand of mahogany hair over my shoulder and marched across the street, my stoplight green and the walk sign lit. Entering the tiled lobby with its cream-and-white wallpaper, I glanced at my watch. That was it. I was officially late for my interview. After reading the signs on the wall behind the stone-topped reception counter, I hurried into the elevator lobby on my right, which serviced the second through tenth floors. I stood there, waiting, while I tried not to cry. Couldn’t one tiny moment of my life be a plus instead of a minus? Reaching the second floor, I cautiously exited the elevator. Finding the corridor empty, I leaned against the wall and took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. As ready as I was going to be for my interrogation, I opened the door to the human resources department and approached the reception desk. Although it was a tremendous effort, I managed a sweet smile. “Good morning. I’m Sofie Fletcher. I have an interview with Mr. Kingsley.” “I’m sorry. Mr. Kingsley is in an unscheduled management meeting. I expect him back anytime now. Please take a seat, and I’ll call you when he’s available. We have a watercooler in the corner if you’d like something to drink.” The gray-haired woman in the bright pink sweater with pearl buttons motioned toward the adjacent wall before answering the phone. I hung my head as I walked across the lobby. All my panic and worry had been for nothing. Mr. Kingsley wasn’t even here. After adjusting my dark gray skirt, I sat in one of the upholstered guest chairs against the wall. My outfit was a size too big, and the skirt had shifted with all my running, the back zipper becoming off-center. I couldn’t complain. These clothes were the best Ms. Walker could find at the last minute. She had sprung the interview on me late yesterday after Mr. Kingsley had informed her that the candidate she’d sent from the women’s shelter that morning was unsuitable for the position. He’d requested Ms. Walker send