Uppercut's Ghost

Uppercut’s GhostWheel Mongers MCBook 5 By: Jean Marie Copyright © 2023 Jean Marie All rights reserved The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25More Books From The Wheel Mongers MC Romance SeriesOther Series From Jean MarieAbout Jean Marie Chapter 1 The drive of shame. That’s what I called it. That’s what it felt like. I was forced to pack up my belongings and my deflated ego, with no choice but to go back to my hometown of Winona, Colorado. At least, no choice that I could see. Winona. We used to call it One-ona because it only had one of everything. Not like Seattle, the city of my hopes and dreams. Not like the life I envisioned that I had to abandon completely, though it was more like it abandoned me. I was toxic; in part from the strain of moving so quickly. Partly due to feeling battered from having gotten unceremoniously fired. But mostly because I was mired in fear of the smirks and the chatter when I got back home. That was the one thing that Winona had plenty of: gossip. “Oh, you’re back,” someone would say with an expression that looked like a smile, but it really was gloating. “Yeah, I’m back,” I would reply, with what might be mistaken for a bright, perky face but was really the look of alarm. Yes, I was back, indefinitely, with my tail tucked behind my legs. I had so arrogantly left the small mountain town as a fledgling adult, rubbing it in the faces of anyone who would tolerate me, that I was newly graduated from school, newly hired by a hot firm. Not in Winona but in Seattle, a place I had longed to go ever since I watched a movie with a happy ending. But as it turned out, there was no happy ending, at least not for me. Driving alone gave me the wonderful opportunity to replay the moment that set my return in motion – my termination – over and over again, whether I wanted it to or not. It was on a loop with a life of its own. I just couldn’t figure it out. Everything had been going picture perfect. Maybe even movie perfect when Tim Hawkins, my flashy boss, and owner of Hawkins Engineer & Design, invited me to his office. With him was Pam, the CFO. “Good morning, Jen. Have a seat” he said with a massive smile. Pam beamed. I felt good news was in my immediate future. The meeting was catered, with mini cupcakes and chocolate croissants. I was guessing a promotion? “So, Hawkins Engineer & Design is moving in a bright new direction,” he began. “Wow,” I said, excited, along with Pam and Tim. “And we’re not taking you with us,” he finished. I tilted my head. Had I heard that right? “What?” I blinked. He looked at me like, what part of that wasn’t clear? “Jen, I’m sorry, but we have to let you go. Your services are no longer needed. That sort of thing,” he said, suddenly a smarmy individual in my eyes. “We’ve been acquired,” explained Pam, bubbling with their good fortune. “And it will be just Tim and I who will go with the sale. Everyone else is terminated.” “I have a relationship with the clients,” I protested. “Had,” Tim corrected. “Had. Approach them and we sue. Remember you signed a non compete.” I glanced at the pastries and the coffee. I didn’t know whether I wanted to gorge on the entire tray or never eat again. He pushed a check in front of me. “This is the buyout of your contract,” he said. “We’re obligated by law to offer this to you. It’s from the sale of the company.” “So, it’s a done deal,” I said. “It’s a done did deal,” said Tim, laughing with Pam at what he thought was a joke he had made. “Effective immediately. Please clear out your space, and please, Jennifer, no talking about this to others.” The check was sizable, and it did ease the pain, but I had no job, and using the money to stay in Seattle was impossible. Part of the contract that I signed when hired said no working for the competition for at least two years after termination or leaving the company. I couldn’t think of any other option except to come home to One-ona. Welcome to Winona. My headlights hit the sign and woke me out of my self-pity. I had made better time than I expected. I got a late-ish start leaving because I didn’t want to face the inevitable, but I also didn’t want to be driving in the God awful wee hours of the night. It would be scary, but I would wake my parents. I didn’t want to do that. Once I pulled off the highway to the Winona exit, it was a matter of minutes before I was in front of my childhood home. My parents would greet me with open arms, and that made me lucky indeed, despite my disappointment. Before I got out of the car, my mother rushed out the front door, squealing. I know this was great for her because though I visited, she missed me. “You’ll understand what I’m talking about when you have children,” she told me often. My dad plodded down the front lawn behind her. “Pop the trunk, Jen,” he said, going right to work as was his way. My mom nearly knocked me over with her tackling