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Jessica: I had expected Liza O’Connor to send extreme bad boy Trent Lancaster to visit. But according to the news, Trent is dead. He either jumped off the GW Bridge or was thrown. The FBI is investigating his fiancée and her father in the matter.
It appears Trent’s Last Will & Testament they filed may be a forgery. Trent’s lawyer is adamant it is. He says Trent suspected they meant to kill him before the wedding, intending to grab his fortune with a forged will.
So two days before his death, he gave everything away.
His very impressive butler Mars (who I cloned when he came to visit) received the Long Island estate and $10 billion dollars so he could turn it into a place of healing for war vets.
His driver who was actually his half-brother received half his money: $21 billion.
And the author Jon Javits received his penthouse along with trust funds to pay for the ongoing costs & his and Trent’s son’s education.
The rest of the money went to a hundred different charities.
RIP-TRENT
To be honest, with this shocking news, I’ve no idea who is coming to visit today.
Captain Mars enters: Excuse me, but we have a Scorpion of Prey approaching.
I took the liberty to eavesdrop on their conversation to determine if they were friend or foe.
Jessica: And?
Captain Mars: Voice identification says it’s Trent Lancaster and his driver, Sam.
Jessica: But according to the news, Lancaster is dead.
Captain Mars: Most perplexing, I will admit. Is it possible you cloned the man during a prior visit?
Jessica: Are you insane?
Captain Mars: No, I do not believe I am. But I will leave you to your guest arriving in 20 seconds.
Jessica: No stay.
Captain Mars: I’d rather not.
Jessica: Why?
Captain Mars: Original Mars accompanies them. I do not believe either of us would enjoy a reunion. I have far surpassed his limited opportunities and would not wish to make him jealous.
Jessica: He’s not a butler anymore. He’s a billionaire running the finest care center for vets in the country.
A loud ding sounded and Mars, Sam, and Trevor materialize.
Sam: That is so freaking cool!
Trevor: Really? I’m feeling a bit ill. And my face itches.
Sam: Okay, this is freaking me out. Why do you have a Mars?
Mars: I gave Jessica permission to clone me.
Sam: Why?
Mars: It seemed like a better life than that of a butler.
Sam: Then why didn’t you just quit and become a space captain?
Both Mars answer in unison: A soldier never abandons his duties.
Jessica: So where is Trent?
Mars: He’s dead.
Jessica: Not according to Captain Mars.
The two men stare at one another.
Captain Mars: I stand corrected. The audio analyzer must have malfunctioned. However, Mr. Campbell seems to have incurred an allergic reaction to materialization. I will return him to his ship at once.
*Trevor dematerializes*
Mars: I should return as well to ensure he’s fine.
Sam: He’s my friend. I’ll go back.
Captain Mars: Sending you both back.
Jessica: What just happened?
Captain Mars: A near disaster. Plastic Surgery and Materialization do not mix. The molecules of Trevor’s face were attempting to reconfigure themselves into their natural order.
Jessica: Hold on. Are you saying that guy was Trent?
Captain Mars: Physically yes. However, his psychological footprint is markedly different. He is truly a changed man. And I didn’t want him changing back on my watch.
Jessica: And thus ends the strangest non-interview I’ve ever had. Liza, Liza, Liza.
Climbing Out of Hell
A Long Road to Love book 4
Romantic Comedy
Billionaire Trent Lancaster has destroyed his relationship with the only woman who ever loved him. Now we discover the full truth of what happened.
He actually had reasons for his behaviors.
Still, there is no going back. Trent has lost Carrie forever, but he would rather die than marry Coco, so he does just that. Trent gives away most of his possessions, fakes his death, and starts over with a new face and a better attitude in a small town in Iowa where his half-brother Sam is sheriff.
Losing his true love has fundamentally broken Trent to his core. His only chance for happiness is to become the better man Carrie had always seen inside him.
True change is not easy. Can Trent grow up and become a man we can love?
Trent stood before the five-story apartment building. Taking a deep breath, he entered.
And climbed stairs
And more stairs.
God in Heaven, why doesn’t this building have an elevator? The workout could kill a person.
Out of breath and exhausted, he knocked on Jon’s door.
No answer.
He tried again.
Still no answer.
He pressed his ear to the wood and could hear rapid clicking inside. Certain Jon resided within, Trent pounded on the door.
Five seconds into his pounding, Jon yanked open the door and glared at him in fury. “What the hell do you want?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“Not interested,” he snapped and tried to shut the door, but Trent slid his foot forward so it got crushed instead. He flinched from the pain, but resisted cursing. “Jon, we need to talk. I need to explain.”
“Save it. No explanation can justify your actions.”
“You’re right. What I did was beyond forgiveness. But I need to help you get beyond the damage I caused.”
“How? According to my sources, my boys are getting the shit kicked out of them at school when they object to the ‘who’s your daddy’ and ‘how much is your momma’ jokes, and Patty blames them for the whole mess.”
“Which is why I have to make amends. Let me in so we can think about how we might save your kids.”
After a long, angry glare, he stepped back and let Trent enter. “Let’s get this over with so I can get back to writing.” Jon stormed through an archway into a narrow galley. Trent followed and discovered what had to be the world’s tiniest kitchen. Upon a ding of the microwave, Jon extracted a mug, took a sip, and glared at him.
Trent took in a deep breath and began. “First, I want to apologize for ruining your life and your sons’ lives while attempting to save mine.
“Apology unaccepted. You can leave now.”
“No. I don’t expect you to forgive me. I destroyed your life. You were my best friend who wanted to help me, and I screwed up everything.” Trent’s vision blurred. He walked to a small, dirty window and stared out, not wanting to cry in front of Jon. “If I could redo the last three months, I would.”
Jon huffed. “No. You’d do the same thing again because it’s all about you and what you want.”
Trent wanted to argue that it had been about his desire to protect Carrie, but he stopped. He could have let her go. He’d chosen to destroy everyone else’s life in a final attempt to keep her. So it had been all about him.
“You’re right. I should have declared defeat at once and sent Carrie packing, but I couldn’t. She was the first person who ever loved me.”
“So you destroyed my innocent boys’ lives and lost her anyway.”
He turned and faced his former friend. “If I could undo what I did, I would, but all I can do is try to lessen the damage from this point forward.”
“How do you plan to do that?”
“I spoke to Patty today.”
Jon’s face flushed crimson. “You’re still seeing my wife?”
“No, she hates me more than you do. I called to get your address. She blamed me for your boys being bullied and tormented at school.”
“Yeah, the article in Gossep didn’t play well in the burbs.”
“I think they’d be better off here in the city. They need you, Jon. You’re a fabulous father.”
Jon slammed his cup into the kitchen sink, causing it to shatter. “You should have thought about that before you destroyed my marriage.”
“You’re right. I caused this. Nothing I can do will change what happened, but you deserve compensation. I want to sell you the penthouse for one dollar. You can bring Patty and the kids back and let them stay there, sell it…whatever you want.”
He snorted. “I couldn’t afford the first month’s maintenance fees on the place.”
“I’ll set up three trust funds. One for the boys’ educational needs, a second for maintenance fees and servants for the penthouse, and a third to cover the gift taxes the government will require when I set up the other two things. I’ll have my accountant and lawyers work the details so I don’t screw it up. I want to make this as right as I can. What I did was unforgivable and I know I’ve lost your friendship forever. But you will always be the best friend I ever had.”
Jon stared at him in silence.
“I’ll let you get back to your writing now.” Trent let himself out. He’d hoped for a better response, some indication Jon intended to accept the gift, but he would follow through all the same.
Available From:
Released May 1, 2014
Book Four of the series: A Long Road to Love
Climbing out of Hell
Other books in the A Long Road to Love series
Book One - Worst Week Ever
“Love this book and couldn’t stop laughing from beginning to end.” 5 stars – Alves – Amazon
Book Two - Oh Stupid Heart
“Be warned though, this book is completely different from The Worst Week Ever. Yes, there is still humor, dry wit, situations that you would think…NOT AGAIN but this one humanizes Trent more.” 5 stars – Brian’s Mom – Amazon
Book Three - Coming to Reason
Once again, Ms. O’Connor has written a brilliant book about the complexities of relationships, good and bad. Again, to me, the book is the best break up book EVER and it left my heart singing in the end. Best.Book.Ever…
Other Books by Liza O’Connor
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