Do they deserve each other?
Although a member of the League of Worldly Wise Innocents, Elena Morales doesn't believe she deserves to marry a wealthy man. She just wants a job using her language skills. When she interviews with the mysterious St. Denis Capital, she doesn't realize the dark secrets its handsome yet dark-tempered owner, Edward St. Denis, is hiding.
Nor does he understand how much lust Elena's curvy figure will arouse in him.
His firm finances startup companies in the field of biotechnology and stem cell research. He wants to get even wealthier by delivering anti-aging technology to the Baby Boomers.
And to rehabilitate the already injured.
He needs Elena to translate scientific articles written in Mandarin Chinese.
And to spy for him in Beijing, China.
And smooth the way for his company in Western Nicaragua, among the luxury beach resorts and retirees wishing to spend their final years in an inexpensive tropical paradise.
Elena grows to love Edward, but he seems to prefer Wendy, the beautiful woman who is white, skinny, and glamorous.
Until Edward takes Elena into Wendy's dungeon, and she discovers the shocking sexual need Wendy fulfills for him.
But even that does not prepare Elena for the guilty secret Edward keeps hidden in his family mansion.
And she does not begin to understand her generously endowed body, coupled with her friendly and kind personality, attracts men such as Edward St. Denis far more than she realizes.
Genre: FICTION / Romance / Contemporary
The most Angloish Anglo woman Elena knew. Maybe she should introduce Veronica to Edward. Except for their ages, they matched perfectly.
Veronica ordered a small Coke, then sat down with Elena. "Oh my God it's hot," she said. "I drank three bottles of Evian through the match, and still feel dehydrated enough to spit out sand."
Elena made a meaningless noise.
Veronica stared, took a sip through her straw, put the soda down, and placed one hand on Elena's. "You didn't make much sense on the phone, Elena. What's wrong?"
Elena tried to explain to Veronica, but the images and heart-freezing feelings from the night before expanded in her belly and lungs and rushed to her eyes. She put her head down on her arms on the table, and cried. Blubbering. Chest shaking. Unable to talk.
The little kids stared at her, amazed by an adult shedding tears.
"My dear, pull yourself together," Veronica said, and held Elena, letting her cry onto Veronica's shoulder.
Although Elena dwarfed the blonde Anglo, could have crushed her, she felt oddly comforted. She hadn't felt so bad since the days right after Ana's death.
With a lot of sobbing and sniffling into tissues, bit by bit Elena told Veronica the whole story, lowering her voice so nearby children wouldn't hear the details.
"So, quit."
Elena, half calmed down, said. "But I don't want to."
