The Secret Liaison Read online

  The Secret Liaison

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

  © 2014 Jessie Marie Norfolk, VA

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the author. With exception to reviewers, magazine articles, newspaper, and radio host who have permission who may quote brief passages for public display.

  Cover Design by Mario Patterson

  Connect with him at www.mariodesigns4u.com

  Dedication

  To everyone who believes love conquers all.

  The Secret Liaison

  By Jessie Marie

  The Brent’s

  Lavish parties were a custom in high society. They were a time for women to show off their new gowns and men of power to make deals all under the umbrella of Champaign flutes and crystal chandeliers. Waiters in Tuxedos smoothly worked the room ensuring that all of the guests had drinks. The eighteen piece big band delighted the crowd with sounds from the Jazz Age. It was a celebration; the occasion was a fundraiser for Justin Brent’s bid in the Senate race. People were falling over themselves to be a part of the Brent Political Dynasty. Justin’s father was Congressman Joshua Brent and his grandfather, rest his soul, was the beloved Speaker of The House Jordan Brent. You might say that patriotism ran deep in the Brent family. The historic John Marshall Ballroom was filled to capacity with a who’s who in the political world and a roster of superstars clamoring to pay $50,000 a plate to be a part of history. It was said when a Brent decides to run for office American flags everywhere fly a little higher; they were loved by all.

  Justin was not the only Brent making headlines. His twin brother Austin decided that he would be better suited to run the family business; Brent Electrical. The latest Brent Electrical patent is the technology behind the electrical Car.

  The company has always been on the cutting edge and five steps above the competition. With Austin running the company revenue was through the roof with $16.999 billion; earning Brent Electric a top spot on the Fortune 500. Last year profits were over thirteen million and counting. Between politics and business the Brent’s were golden.

  Justin and Austin were 29 years old. They looked more like models than a politician and a CEO, standing 6’3 with a strong solid 200lb frame. Most women say their best features are their grey eyes and curly blond hair. They clearly took their looks from their mother, Julia Brent. She was the real back bone of the Brent Family. A statuesque blond with Hollywood glamour, there wasn’t a camera alive that didn’t love Julia and when they were young Julia never missed an opportunity to have the Brent twins in the limelight. She believed they single handedly captured the heart of America; and in turn votes for their father’s Congress run. The twins excelled in academics attending all the finest prep schools. They both were top of their class at Princeton, Austin graduating summa cum laude and Justin right behind him magna cum laude in business.

  The original plan was for the twins to take over the family business from their aging uncle Barnacle Brent. He had been grooming them both since they were teenagers.

  Their father, Congressman Brent, was a CEO in name only; he left all business decisions to his brother. Barnacle was unable to have any children of his own so his nephews were his legacy for the company that his father built. He was initially hurt by Justin’s decision to leave the company and follow behind his father and enter politics, but the reality was that politics was also a Brent family legacy. The day that Austin took over as CEO of Brent Electric was the proudest day of Barnacle’s life.

  The fundraiser was in high gear and Justin and Austin were working the room like the seasoned pros that they were when a woman approached them from the rear. Austin noticed her first “Hello Madeline, and how is your evening” he said loud enough to catch his brothers attention. Madeline Rowe was a powerful woman who assumed everything belonged to her; including Justin Brent. Raising her glass to the brothers with a twinkle in her eye Madeline looked at Justin as she answered Austin’s question “Why Austin I am splendid this evening and I just love the accommodations at The Jefferson, don’t you?” She never caught the confused look on Austin’s face. But Justin did and laughed slightly because he knew exactly what Madeline was doing. She was making a halfhearted attempt to tell him where she would be staying in hopes that he would show up and rekindle a fire that had long ago extinguished.

  Instead of embarrassing her further Justin said “Of course Maddy, The Jefferson is one of the finest places around. Um will you excuse us please.” He nudged Austin who was still behind the eight ball and told him that they needed to go check on that thing. The twins left Madeline to contemplate if Justin using his play name for her was a sign of affection.

  The night was turning out to be a success. By the amount of people in the room a ton of money had been raised for the election cause. Austin was standing on the podium looking noticeably awkward. As he tapped the microphone the music slowly lowered causing everyone to give him their attention as he began to speak. “I want to first thank all of you for coming out to support my twin brother in his bid for the senate. I never had any doubt that he would do wonderful things.” There was applause and Justin could be seen in the crowd waving and smiling like a Cheshire cat as Austin continued. “I have an announcement of my own to make tonight.” He clears his throat. “It’s a surprise to everyone, but we wanted to share our news this way.” Austin began looking around the stage and gave a nod in the direction of the left corner. She sashayed towards Austin glowing like a sparkling star. Cheers could be heard in the crowd as she made her way over to Austin and kissed him. Camera flashes were flickering as if the young couple were movie stars.

  Austin peeled his eyes away long enough to say “I know most of you already know this beautiful woman standing here with me, but let me re-introduce you to her. I want you all to say hello to Jessica Dublin-Brent, my wife.” A collective gasp and claps were growing in the room. The sound of the applause sounded like the rhythm section of the finest jazz band. Austin made eye contact with both his father and Justin, he couldn’t tell rather they were happy with his news or pissed but he continued to speak, going for broke.

  “Jessica and I are not only a union in marriage but we would also like to announce the merger of Brent Electric and Dublin Engineering.” With that the couple kissed again and then walked away from the podium as reporters clamored to speak to them and take their picture. When they made it from the stage Justin and Joshua Brent were standing there. The look on their faces was indifferent; they have been involved in the public long enough not to give away how they were feeling to a photographer. Austin held Jessica’s hand as she stepped from the podium still smiling for photos. The band began to play an upbeat tune that caught people’s attention and some began to move towards the dance floor while others went back to discussing what the recent Brent news meant. Austin was in a starring match with his brother and father that was becoming more uncomfortable by the moment until Jessica stepped in and said “why don’t we go into the other room and talk. There is no need to continue to stare at each other out here in public.”

  Joshua was trying to keep his cool when he said “And why not Missy? You and my son decided to do this out here in the public.” He was waving his hands around at the crowd of spectators visibly pissed that Jessica would have the nerve to address him. Justin stepped up and said “You know what, she is right. Let’s go into the back offices and talk, but I don’t want to be gone too long.”

  The family retreated to the back offices of the b
allroom. If steam could be seen it surely would be seen coming from Joshua Brent. He despised the Dublin family and everything they stood for and both boys damn well knew it. He felt that Austin had deliberately spit in his face after everything that he did for him. The slamming door alerted everyone just how pissed the elder Brent was but his words left no doubt “After all I have done for you, you pull this. You marry this tart and parade her around at the biggest night of your brother’s life.” Joshua was yelling so loud that spittle was flying from his mouth but that didn’t stop him from continuing “And not only do you marry this tramp but you link her to my father’s business. A business that my dad built with his blood sweat and tears. What the fuck is wrong with you boy?” Suddenly there was a loud bang on the table that caused everyone to turn around.

  What they saw might frighten the average man, but not a Brent, the words she spoke however reminded them all of the power of a woman “Now sir, and I say that trying to hold on to the last little bit of respect that I have left for you, You have called me a tart and a tramp and you don’t even know the first thing about me. So I can only assume that you are a sexist pig. And that’s fine, you can be that but let me assure you that as a wife I am more than Austin deserves and a business partner I am the best that he will ever have. Now you put that in your pipe and smoke it.” Staring at three mystified looks Jessica walked out of the door to rejoin the party.

  Jessica Dublin-Brent was the most powerful woman in the world of engineering. She learned the business from the time she was a teenager working at Dublin Engineering every summer. She was an only child, never having the brother that her father so desperately wanted. But Jessica was very eager to learn and the result was her graduating at the top of her class with a degree in Engineering from Cornell University. Jessica was smart, beautiful, and the sole heir to one of the largest engineering firms in the country. The attraction to Austin had been there for as long as she could remember, but when she mentioned it to her father he was dead set against her getting involved with anyone with the last name Brent. She could never get a straight answer from him and now she never would because he died three years ago.

  Shortly after that she ran into Austin at a conference and they began seeing each other quietly both agreeing that keeping their family out of their personal life would give them a chance to get to know each other without undue outside influence. As she walked back to the party Jessica was secretly glad they made that decision. It has had its positives and now here comes the negatives.

  Austin was sitting on the corner of the desk ready to go to war with his brother and father over his wife. The atmosphere was thick but they had been here before and made it through.

  “So is someone going to say something because I have to get back to my fundraiser?” said an impatient Justin. In his mind what’s done is done. At the end of the day Brent’s support Brent’s in what they do. So he was ready to stand for his brother in his marriage and business decisions. Neither he nor his father were ready to run the family business although they were both CEO’s on paper they didn’t have the voting power to stop Austin from running the company how he saw fit. In essence they both just collected checks and did little to no work. The elder Brent was still visibly upset but just shook his head at his eldest by two minutes son and said “I hope you know what you are doing.” The look of disgust on his face was evident as he walked out of the room slamming the door. Austin stood and extended his hand to his brother saying “I sure hope I didn’t ruin your party Jus.” Justin started to laugh at his twin “You could never ruin anything.

  If your announcement of the merger is good for business then it’s good for the family. And you can marry whoever the hell you want to forget what dad is talking about.” That’s all that Austin needed to hear as the brothers embraced and headed back to the party in better spirits.

  Austin watched his wife from across the room, she was marvelous in her curve hugging black Versace gown. He admired how she captured the room with her splendor standing 5’9 and packing a powerful 160 pounds of beauty into her dress; she was radiant. Jessica was three years older than him but you couldn’t tell it by her beauty, enthusiasm for life and her sexual appetite. He knew he made the right decision when it came to Jessica. Walking over and rescuing his wife from an investor from Nafta Pharmaceutical he could see the relief on her face “I must have had the ‘I need rescuing’ look on my face dear.” The scent of her perfume was driving him absolutely wild, he tried to place it; it wasn’t too strong but there was a hint of peach and apple. She was causing him to lose concentration without making any effort. “You had the ‘I want to go home and make powerful love to my husband look’ on your face and who am I to disappoint?” Austin whispered in her ear which caused her to blush from ear to ear while she answered “That is exactly what I was thinking. Let’s go.”

  The couple attempted to leave the ballroom without being spotted but Justin saw them and called out to them from the group that he was entertaining “Austin and Jessica I would like you to meet Monica. Monica this is my brother Austin and his very lovely wife Jessica.” Greetings were made all around as Justin said “Monica is thinking about becoming my personal aide, what do you think Austin.” The smile coming from Monica could have radiated the entire ballroom. Austin wasn’t slow on this uptake so he played along with his twin. “Well brother that depends on what Monica’s qualifications are.”

  Shaking his head as if in deep thought Justin said just as he caught a glimpse at Jessica’s disapproval “I tell you what twin I am going to give her an interview and I will let you know if she got the job.” Justin patted Austin on the back and said “You guys have a good night and congratulations again.” Austin and Jessica made their way out ballroom and waited for their driver to pull up as Austin began to chuckle “That brother of mine is something else. He has always been the ladies man. I can only imagine what type of interview he is going to give that girl.” Jessica saw absolutely nothing funny but decided to keep it to herself as they got into the black stretch limo and relaxed for the ride back to their Bethesda Maryland home.

  A Forgotten Time

  Two days after the fundraiser Joshua Brent sat in his study in the Beverly Hills section of Alexandria Virginia in a somber mood. Looking out the window he admired his neighborhood for the peaceful life that it afforded him and his wife. However the tranquil feel of the neighborhood could not squash the utter disgust he felt at his son marrying that Dublin girl. The Brent’s feud with the Dublin’s is over thirty years old and did not die with Dirk Dublin. Joshua turned in his chair and stared at a painting of his wife the hung over the fireplace. The painting was life like. It was his wife in all of her glorious splendor. Julia was smiling back at him from the picture almost mockingly in her beautiful cream Vera Wang gown that flowed like a wedding dress. Joshua remembered the day the famous painter came to their home to create the masterpiece like it was yesterday. He remembered marveling at his wife’s beauty and feeling like the luckiest man alive to have her in his corner. Not only was she beautiful but she was a political asset to his family having come from a large Virginian political family. Joshua stared at the painting and remembered what started the bad blood between the Brent’s and the Dublin’s.

  The winter of 1980 was a brutal one in the Virginia countryside. The Brent family was hunkered down trying to ride it out like everyone else. Joshua was Senator Brent back then and his father Jordan was ‘Speaker of The House’, second in line for Presidential succession.

  Joshua remembered the amount of pressure that he felt being the son of the great Jordan Brent. He strived extra hard to follow in his father’s footsteps, unlike his brother Barnacle who chose to work in the family business rather than follow his father into politics. He snuggled with Julia on the fluffy rug and realized he was thankful for all of his blessings. It wasn’t until he felt something wet hit his arm that he realized that Julia was crying. His heart instantly ached, he pulled away and asked “why are you crying dear?�
� nothing hurt him more than to see her sad. The look on her face was one of pure anguish, she tried to speak but it only made her break down into tears. Julia leaned into Joshua’s shoulder and cried herself to sleep and he held her all night wondering what could be bothering his wife.

  The next morning bright and early Joshua reached for his wife and she was not in bed. He was immediately concerned after her behavior last night. The sunlight was peeking through the curtains but he could see that the snow was still falling hard. Shaking his head at the weather he grabbed his robe and put on his slippers. A mixture of crying and coughing could be heard coming from the direction of his bathroom. Rushing in that direction he found his wife hugging the toilet with her head almost at the bottom of it. He immediately ran water in the sink and wet a towel for her “here you go love. What’s wrong with you? Do you want me to call Dr. Rich?”

  When Julia came up for air her eyes were blood shot red as if she had never stopped crying from the night before. Her normally tamed blond hair was disheveled and she was shaking her head furiously “no Jo I don’t want a doctor. I don’t know what I want anymore.” That last statement was perplexing to Joshua; he knelt next to his wife and wiped her face with the cool rag. His patience and sweet demeanor seemed to have a negative effect on his wife and she became uncharacteristically abusive screaming “leave. Just leave me alone Jo. Let me think. Let me breath please!” Joshua had never seen his wife like this and he was scared for her, but he did as she asked and gave her room to breathe.

  Joshua tried to get some work done, but politics were the last thing on his mind. He was worried sick about his wife along with having cabin fever caused by the weather. He sat in his study behind his vintage oak desk. This desk had been passed down through generations of Brent men and was one of his most prized possessions. It made him feel connected to the past and hopeful for the future. He hoped to one day pass it down to his own son. Joshua ran his hand across the desk and thought about all of the decisions that were made around the desk not only by his father, but his grandfather. The door to his study opened suddenly and in walked Julia. She looked refreshed; her hair was done and she was dressed as if she was going to a luncheon in her smart hounds tooth skirt and red top. The sign that things were still not right with her were the redness of her grey eyes.