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The Final Eight
The Final Eight
The Final Eight
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The Final Eight

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Carter Oakheart has been so caught up in succeeding in her careers of business and writing that she forgets the important things in her life. The man that adores her Luke Westbrook and her daughter Payton Oakheart constantly fight for her attention, but they never win it. That is until she learns her fate that in just eight short hours she will die. She has to decide what is important to her and how she will repair the mistakes she has made over the years. Will she be able to accomplish everything in such a short time? Prepare to indulge yourself in this story filled with the full emotional spectrum.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherBookBaby
Release dateAug 26, 2013
ISBN9781483507057
The Final Eight

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    The Final Eight - Rhonda Kennedy

    ISBN: 9781483507057

    Dedication

    I was unable to dedicate this book to just one person because I have so many wonderful people in my life who have loved me through the tough times, stood by me when the storm got rough and held my hand through every nightmare. With that said, I want to dedicate this book to all of my loved ones that I recognized in this book. You all know who you are by character. This book is a tribute to your love and support on this journey of mine. I love you all and from the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. You are all my heroes!

    Acknowledgments

    I want to say a special thank you to my amazing cover designer Kathy McDonald with KMS Design. She did an outstanding job making this story come to life on the cover. I want to thank Dee Ann and Carla from Imagination Marketing Solutions. Without you two believing in me and introducing me to the people I needed I would of never made it this far. Thank you to my editor David for helping me make this story perfect for my readers. Thank you Jenny La Sala for believing in me so much that you helped me get my first professional review. A big thank you to Clark from Palmetto Review for the amazing review he gave me and for expediting the order. Thank you to everyone who has spread the word about the book. Thank you to all of my family and friends who believed in me and supported me when I needed you the most. I love you all so much. And finally, thank you to my sweet Katie Lady for being the most amazing and loving daughter. You are such an inspirational little girl and I love you with all my heart.

    "The Final Eight is a gift. It tells a tale that all of us need to hear. It is a joy to experience. I believe it brings us closer to heaven.

    Thank you Miss Kennedy. I hope you are living the song of wonder that lies between these covers. And I hope I will be able to as well."

    ~ Palmetto Review ~

    Prologue...

    As I looked him in the face, I realized destiny chose me for some reason, a reason I did not understand. Although I didn’t seem to be anything special, apparently I was because he called me The Chosen One.

    Destiny chose me to face the reality of my life’s choices. It forced upon me the pain inflicted from the consequences of all the wrongs I deemed right.

    Now I had no choice but to race against time in a final attempt to repair the destruction I’d inflicted upon the ones I love most, before I never had another chance.

    My heart hammered in my chest like a freight train on the loose. My mind raced at full speed ahead. My lungs ached as the desperation expelled from them and leaped up my throat; a scream and a cry attempting escape, but failing miserably.

    My heart swelled and wept a heartbreaking melody, suffering in utter agony at the thought that I might fail. I couldn’t fail this one though because to fail would be to fail them and that I could do no more.

    The Race...

    BEEP..BEEP..BEEP..I slap desperately at my alarm clock until I find the button so it will shut up. I sit up and groan because four in the morning always comes too soon. I am so sick of this cycle. Start early, end late, and there’s never enough time in the day. Ugh! I need a vacation! I whine.

    I never did like mornings. Most of the people I know think that I am crazy for waking at such ungodly hours when it isn’t required of me. I, on the other hand, have come to believe that sleeping in is a waste of valuable time. I figure I will get plenty of sleep when I die, so sleeping in was never an option for me. I don’t really care what they think of me. I found success and they didn’t. I think to myself, proud though a little annoyed.

    I shouldn’t even be complaining. I have a really great life compared to most people in similar situations. Although I got pregnant at 17 with my beautiful daughter Payton, I was still driven to succeed, and with hard work and determination I managed to find it. Not only had I released a book and quickly became a New York Times best-selling author – I was a legend in the company I worked for. Carter Oakheart, the youngest senior manager ever in the company at only 28 years of age. I had started at the bottom and quickly worked my way up the ladder. Of course I encountered a lot of difficulties, but I refused to give up, working hard and relentlessly every single day and eventually it paid off.

    I look around my room groggily and admire all the nice things I have. My bed is a massive king size that feels like you are sleeping on a cloud it is so soft, and it is surrounded by a beautiful off-white mosquito netting. The netting is so poofy and perfectly placed that it, too, is cloud-like. The sheets are Egyptian cotton ,which makes the bed feel even more like the heavens found their place on earth. The comforter is oversized and colored in beautiful earth tones. I have so many pillows, but I like it that way when I sleep alone (which was the usual) because it is something to snuggle up to. And pillows don’t snore, I think with a smile. My bed is a little taste of sleeping in heaven. The pictures that hang on the walls are all elegant pieces and set off the rest of the room nicely.

    The rest of my home is much the same. I prefer the gentle earth tones of green, tans and browns with a touch of elegance and class. The house sits two stories high and is a Mediterranean style home on three acres of well-manicured land surrounded by an eight foot high privacy wall. The neighbors aren’t too close, but not too far away either. The neighbors get along well and it is pretty quiet. It’s everything I ever dreamed of having. I make good money, give my daughter everything I never had and I hold the title of one of the youngest successful business women and writer in America according to the New York Times. What more could a woman ask for? This is the life. Somehow luck is always on my side, or I am just that good. Everything I do seems to turn out extremely well.

    Payton can’t complain either. Although she rarely sees me, she has everything a child could want. Doesn’t she? She is getting the best education. Any activity she wants to try, she gets to try. All the toys she could possibly want, along with electronics stock her bedroom. She has a massive room that she got to design herself. I didn’t allow her to pick a character theme though out of fear she would tire of it after a few months, so she settled on everything girly the designer had to offer. She picked all her favorite colors which consist of mostly different types of pinks and then animals of course. She is the biggest animal lover I know. Her closet is overstocked with all the current fashion trends. She has it made. Even her friends envy her, but Payton never seems satisfied. Though she is such a grateful little girl too. I never understood this, but I never really understood children or had the patients to try to, so I usually just let it go, assuming she, like me, always wants more.

    Finally forcing myself, I roll out of bed and head for the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. I put the little pod in the coffee maker and tap my fingers on the granite counter top as I think about my schedule for the day. I look through my calendar on my phone quickly to make sure I haven’t forgotten any appointments.

    It always amazes me how much I can cram into my day. That is what got me success though, isn’t it? Hard work was always my best feature. I was never afraid to tackle new projects and in the end the results always pleased the boss. This brought me much satisfaction and always pushed me to reach higher and work harder. Reach for the stars someone once said to me when I graduated, and I laughed because I planned to reach much higher than that. The stars were simply a point of view. Sometimes I felt unstoppable. One day I will make it to the top and I will make sure to look down and wave at all the idiots who didn’t believe I could do it! I think to myself smugly, proud of my accomplishments at such a young age. My big headed moment is interrupted by the coffee pot letting me know it is done brewing.

    Finally! Coffee! I sip at it on the way to the shower. Some days I feel like I can’t make it without my caffeine fix, but I also love the flavor. There’s simply nothing better than a good cup of java to satisfy the soul or calm the bear in the morning. I giggle at the thought. I was definitely the bear before the first cup, but I guess I was satisfied that that’s all I was addicted to besides success of course. It doesn’t seem so bad to me compared to what others deal with.

    I walk into the bathroom and turn on the shower to heat up the water before I jump in. Stepping into cold water and tiles could make me go from zero to grouchy in less than half a second. When I turn to walk to my vanity, to my surprise a handsome man is sitting there staring at me with his beautiful emerald eyes. I sigh. Luke...If you keep abusing that key I gave you I’m going to have to take it away and by the way you scared the heck out of me. What if I spilt my coffee all over myself? I complain like a whining child. He simply smiles his sexiest smile and laughs, unfazed by my threat and complaints. He knows me too well. I wouldn’t take his key away. He is the only person I allow this much access to me and my home on a personal level. I trust him more than I have ever trusted anyone in my life.

    No good morning kiss or anything? How disappointing. Where’s the love? He says it dramatically with a big sigh as he holds out his arms like he’s waiting to be consoled with a hug. Not here. Love doesn’t grow in stone you know? I say as I point to where my heart is. I always felt heartless in a way. If there was such a thing, I was the woman with the heart of stone. When it came to love, I wasn’t interested. All of the love I had seen growing up always failed and ended painfully. Who would want that? That’s like going skydiving when you know the parachute isn’t going to open; suicidal. No thanks. Luke knew how I felt, but for whatever reason he never gave up on me.

    He pulls me into his strong arms and puts his ear to my chest. Nope. That’s not stone silly. I hear the heart beat. You can’t fool me. He says it with a smile and then tries to kiss me, but I swat at him playfully, so he buries his face in my neck and pretends he is growling before peppering it with kisses. Come on. Stop it. I have nasty morning breath with a layer of coffee to flavor it up. I giggle. Mmmm...My favorite flavor. He says as he dips in for a kiss on the lips. Alright alright. Enough. I need to get a shower. I can’t be late today. What are you doing here anyway? I ask him as I step into the massive shower. I was so used to him hanging out in the bathroom as I showered, indulging in any time he could to be with me, that it didn’t faze me that he stayed right where he was.

    Well, I haven’t seen you in a few days and I couldn’t sleep, so I came over knowing you would be getting ready anyway. He shrugged his shoulders as if it were no big deal. It had been five days to be exact. The last time we were together he asked me to marry him and I refused.

    He continues, You have the same schedule day in and day out my love. I would hate for someone to hire a hit against you. He laughs. They would know exactly where to find you. I think we should change it up. You could spend the day in my arms or we could do something more exciting.He laughs at his joke and then sighs. And Carter, you are never late. Quit using excuses to wiggle your way out of my arms. When are you going to get used to the fact that I really do love you?

    This always annoyed me. He just won’t leave it alone. I turn around to look at him, glare at him, really. The shower is a huge open tile shower, so there is nothing to block my view of him. I instantly become distracted from my anger as I admired how handsome he truly is. He has beautiful eyes that could make you melt the second you look into them. If he smiles at you I guarantee you don’t have a prayer. His natural tan complexion sets off his dark hair and green eyes perfectly. He is every bit beautiful. If I ever cared to love a man I could see it being him. I think for a second about what he just said and wonder what falling in love with him would be like. Then, like the electricity coming back to life from an outage, my inner security system roars to life stronger than ever and I lock the thoughts away.

    As the water sprays down on me, I say to him, a little frustrated, You know how I feel. Love isn’t real. You think it is love now, but in just a few years you will get bored and realize it was just lust all along. If you don’t like it, why do you stick around? I know what his answer would be because it is always the same and I immediately regret putting myself in the position. "Because contrary to your belief, love does exist and I do love you Carter! After five years I still somehow love you more each day. Are you blind? Because you have to be to not notice the way I feel about you. I know you are scared Carter, but I will never tire of you. You are what makes my world go round. Without you and Payton, life would be total darkness. It wouldn’t even be worth living in. I love you more than my own life. I just wish you would trust me." I don’t answer him. I just turn back around to face the shower head and continue washing my body.

    I can feel him staring at me. It wasn’t ever in the perverted way though. His eyes were always enchanted when he looked at me like he was a blind man seeing for the first time. I never understood it. I thought for sure over time that would change, but it never did. Maybe he does love me. I just don’t have time to think about that because my mission to succeed is too important to get distracted now, so I push the thought away quickly. I can’t make it to the top if I’m busy playing housewife. Failure and poverty await the weak to give in to the trivial things of life and I refuse to. Plus it would likely just end in divorce like the rest of the marriages I’d been around, so there is no need to waste my valuable time.

    Of course he couldn’t stand it when we fought and the thought of me being mad at him was worse than shoving

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