All That Glitters

Contemporary Chick Lit. Romance

Published at Smashwords.com and Copyright 2014 CJ Hawk

This book contains material that is intended for adults.

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and strictly fictional. All persons, places or incidences are creative endeavors of the author and by no means are any viewpoints in this book a perspective of the author's lifestyle or opinions. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people without the author's permission. Cover and small amounts of text may be used for editorial reviews.

All that glitters is not gold

Walking past the line from thrift store shoes to Jimmy Choos was an easy line to walk over, until Lexi May is flat broke and dependent on everyone around her. Nothing like a sexy neighbor to help her get over her heartache until he expects her to woman-up and make the most of her life. Will she weep in her two hundred pairs of shoes while dancing around her room in her evening designer gowns, or will she take the first step in her kick ass boots to make a life for herself that she can be proud of building on her own. Money might make it easier but broken heart woos will spur her on. Come cheer for the brokenhearted as she turns all her glitter into gold.

Table Of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Epilogue

Other Available Books

Book and Author Information

Prologue

Everybody has a time in their lives when they pout their lips, stomp their feet, let out some vulgar words from their mouth as their eyes pinch tight and anyone in their vicinity knows one thing is for sure - they are throwing a hissy fit.

My time came at THE worst possible time in my life. I settled into a way of life that pampered my every physical need. I felt as if everything I touched turned to glitter, yet something was missing in my soul, and I knew this time would come. Had I prepared for it, I would have not had to walk the journey that I dreaded. Knowing one's fate could turn bad at any moment and that preparation is the key to survival, I did not plan for what happened to me out of contentment mixed with fear. I internalized that if I did, then I knew it would happen, and if I didn’t, perhaps my faith in myself would be tested… but not until I tested everyone who loved me first.

Some men marry not once, but twice, and more than often, the second time, they look for their holy grail, a younger woman. Some of those women just felt swept away with the romantic gestures often followed up with expensive gifts and abundance of luxury, attracted by the idea of marrying for wealth and not love. Some do; smart ones don’t, but this is where I stepped into the picture seven years ago. I was the beautiful young naïve woman who thought an older rich man’s love would last forever. Unfortunately, I was actually his third wife, and I signed a prenuptial agreement that only a chump would agree to. I was that fool.

My rich husband had resolved, by himself, unbeknownst to me, that his third wife, me, was last year's model, and decided to tell me I was traded in while I was out shopping on the most expensive street of retail shops downtown. The moment he chose to tell me, karma must have reared its ugly head at me as I stood in front of the very sales lady that I had grossly insulted, just ten minutes earlier.

With delusional fantasies that this is all a game playing joke on my husband’s part, that he was just testing my faith and resolve to win him back, I squared my shoulders and began to flail around as if this was all a mistake on everyone else’s part. As I got nowhere, I realized that the one thing he wanted from me, I was not going to do, so my whimsical bubbles began to pop, one little bubble at a time. I found myself in a large pile of evening ball gowns, surrounding by all my best friends, Kate Spade, Vera Wang, Jimmy Choo and the like. None of which could supply me with the tissues I needed to wipe away my tears.

I was not acting like a strong woman, but a pampered princess, when a handsome hero enters my unintentional new life. In that moment, I decided that a man is the last thing I need. Perhaps, I jumped too quickly to conclusions when the fairy godmothers were giving me a handsome hero for the good things I had done in life. I was out to destroy my life intentionally until I decided it was time to stand on my own two feet. Besides, why would I possibly need a strong muscular man who was great with his hands, kind with his words, and only looking after my best interest? His soft brown hair, unruly enough I wanted to run my fingers through it. His sparkling blue eyes that tease me with invites. Broad shoulders, narrowed defined waist, tight round ass, and a smile so wicked I could fall to my knees with one upward curve. Why would I need a man like that?

I know what you are thinking; Lexi May, don’t be a fool twice!

Let me take you a few steps backwards into my life before telling you my story. I had always been the pretty princess in the family, gotten my way with men and things were often handed to me with white gloves on a silver tray from the male side of the world, while my older sister Kate was the brains and worked extremely hard to work her way up to the top. Not that she was not pretty, it was that her mind was set on intelligent prospects instead of how to flirt to seduce a man or what shoes go with what dress. She recently had her career success broadcasted across social media as the next major up-and-coming female business executive for a very prestigious company. Neither of us was raised rich nor privileged, in fact, we were raised by a poor single mother who nurtured both of our gifts, mine being social with an accent on fashion and parties, while Kate is extremely smart with a sense for business.

While my older sister Kate was running up the corporate ladder at a sprinter's pace, I took my average brain and pretty looks and sought greener pastures that were already mowed; older men who married once and now just wanted to feel younger. I was no fool as to why Clyde had picked me as his young bride at twenty-two and failing college. I knew I did not have a much better chance than working minimum wage plus good tips based on cleavage the rest of my life, therefore Clyde looked pretty dang good with my money goggles on.

Seven years later at the turn of almost thirty, I was starting to show signs that dollars did not make a happy marriage, and neither did a controlling husband with quirky sexual habits. I began, outwardly, to show some signs of an unhappy marriage by lashing out criticism at the worse possible moments, causing my husband to limit my credit card spending and virtually invest all of his free time with his new mistress. I was not blind, nor a fool in this marriage, just fiscally irresponsible and unable to grasp at the truth before me, oblivion surrounded me in glittery gold. However, the relief I got from therapy shopping allowed me the distance I craved from the very man I once saw as my knight in shining armor.

As I was pampered all day with chef prepared healthy meals, spa procedures and my only job was to look glamorous on my husband's arm while socializing at a constant stream of entertaining events, it was a hard life. No really, it was. I had to make sure I adorned myself in the most expensive dress there that no other woman might be wearing. I had to walk around in high heels all day when Clyde was around. I had hair extensions that gave me migraines. I had a maid who would only talk to me in Russian, and I am pretty sure she said nasty things to me with a smile like I am her best friend. My Puerto Rican hot-bodied gardener flaunted his muscular body, while flirting with me on the one day out of the week that he came to work on our landscaping, which caused me to spend all day fantasizing that there was no Clyde, and I was extremely sexually satisfied. As of late that was not something Clyde was interested in doing... satisfying me sexually, unlike the days when we first met, and he romanced me like a rich man in a classic novel.

Well, I was about to be in for an extreme dose of reality. Not only was I being dumped as the third wife, I was reminded that my prenuptial was to leave me with barely enough to live on, at least at the standards I had become accustomed to.

When I turned to my sister Kate for help, I got very little sympathy mixed with a stern reminder that I am almost thirty and my life has plenty of time to start anew.

While I scramble like a bratty toddler to find a reasonable priced place to live, a job that pays more than minimum wage, my sister Kate gets a career altering shock that leaves her unemployed. All due to my soon to be ex-husband’s evil plan to rock both of our worlds loose from the reality of success we thought we were living. As I walk around pouting in my Jimmy Choos, my ex-husband is plotting evil plans against me and anyone I love.

As long as I could remember, the two of us had always been there for each other. Well, to be exact, I helped her with looking fashionable and flirty while she always bailed me out in the smarts department when I would let her. She always reminded me there was more to just someone’s looks and tried to get me to find my way in life that would make me happy. We were now being put to the true test of sisterhood. We were about to embark on being unemployed roommates.

Things were trudging along quite well until the day we had to move our belongings into one place together and one particular man, our sexy new neighbor, riled me up into a heated conversation while moving into our rental on a hundred degree day.

I suppose any normal woman when presented with a very sexy man might decide to act upon the opportunity. Not I. I was sure that I could finesse my way back into Clyde’s life and go right back to the life I had been living. This was extremely hard while my sexy neighbor would wink or smile like he could show me a thing or two about hot sultry sex, which had me worked up into a heated mess. Our casual conversations that always turned heated, first sexually until I felt frustrated, kept any sensual experiences at bay. That is, until I found myself in a predicament where I needed his help and not more than once.

While Kate is trying to keep us both focused on being employed, I keep finding ways to rouse up the neighbor for a distraction.

What happens when life throws you a curve ball, and you are pretty sure your options are not as glittery glamorous as you think? Putting on a princess tiara, waving a magic wand would be my first choice; however, I am in for one long foot stamping hissy fit, while wearing all of my glittery gold, if you know what I mean.

Chapter One

Lexi May! This better be an emergency because I am about to go into a merger with a team of coworkers in five minutes. I heard Kate exclaim with exasperation in her voice as she used my middle name only on occasions when she is agitated with me. She had come to know that my emergencies usually consist of a broken nail or worse, death of my hairdresser, which actually happened not too long ago right before a big event. It was disastrous to say the least.

I tried to wipe the free flow of tears from my honey brown eyes as I stood at the sales counter made of sleek frosted glass inside the very expensive boutique where my credit card was declined as my husband texted me that my life as I knew it was over.

Over a text!

As I stood there with a declined credit card, a nasty looking sales woman glorifying in this fact because I had just been extremely rude to her ten minutes ago, I was trying to find a way to speak up into the phone to explain to my sister Kate, not only what happened, but to ask for her credit card number, so I could walk out with my purchase. Running my fingers through my long blonde hair with a flirtatious forgive me smile to the sales clerks was not helping me any.

He finally did it. I puffed out in staccato toned words in a hushed tone while holding my phone away from everyone and covering my mouth with my hand.

Did what? She sounded exasperated and then I heard her talking to someone in the background about needing ten copies and please make sure the food is already delivered to the boardroom. Listen Lexi, I don't know who did what this time, but I really can't talk right now and having you text me a 911 to say what, you broke a nail and the sky is falling is frustrating to say the least. Fix the nail Lexi. I gotta go. Then for the first time in ages, Kate hung up on me.

My eyes popped open wide in unison with my mouth, while I looked at my cell phone like it had just sprouted an alien out of it. I mentally grumbled out the words to WTF as my eyes began to pinch tight and my mouth closed into a flat lined pursed smile. I gathered my strength to turn and face the fact that my life was like a crystal ball that just got dropped onto a marble floor and was shattering.

I looked at the two sales ladies waiting to see if I had a way to pay for the purchases I wanted, and then I caught my reflection in the mirror behind them. I looked horrid. Not even my makeup looked fresh. There, around my eyes, appeared to be fresh stress wrinkles that were not there when I was in the dressing room after trying on twenty dresses. My recently styled hair with a fresh blowout, looked frizzy. My honey brown, normally sparkly, eyes had a dark shadow to them. My natural blonde number 101 color looked like I took dry shampoo and dulled it of its luster and shine. As I ran my fingers through my hair out of nervousness, one of my extensions came loose. What on earth was happening here? How was I ever going to deal with this? Was he really leaving me for her, that woman I knew he had been seeing? She was only three years younger to my twenty-nine years of age, so what was it that she had going on that I did not? Deep down, I knew that answer and did not want to logically deal with it.

The two sales ladies cleared their throats in unison and then the taller very skinny brunette spoke up in a concise and clear demeaning tone. I must ask you to leave if you have no way to pay for these purchases.

Just as I tried to squawk out a word in an audible sense, the designer eveningwear boutique's doorbell chimed that a registered guest wanted in through the front locked door. I turned to see who was standing at the glass doors when a spark of hope ignited my soul. There on the street side of the doors was my good friend and my husband’s boss’s wife, Monique. I quickly formulated a plan to make up some story about the credit card as they let Monique in through the doors as if she was the princess of England.

I turned and rushed towards her acting as if it was a perfectly normal day of shopping. Monique darling. How wonderful to see you here today? Kiss-kiss. I dabbed a small smooch on each cheek as we barely touched each other. This was a normal greeting for us. We always acted as if we were best friends and knew everything about each other, but I knew, deep down, that once Clyde and I were over, so was Monique's relationship with me. I was hoping that she knew nothing had transpired yet.

Ten minutes later, without much fuss, Monique in her recently blown out long brown extensions, manicured nails and evening gown purchase she had already reserved, was paying for my purchase as well. She made extreme light of these funny things happening with credit cards, while the sales ladies looked on in disbelief that a casual friend would just drop a thousand dollars without so much as you owe me big girl remark.

We walked out practically hand in hand, carrying our packages and laughing. As soon as the boutique doors closed behind us, Monique turned to me and her game face was gone. Listen Lexi. It's already spread like wild fire. Those ladies in there probably already knew that Clyde was doing this before you got the text today. She put up a hand to me in a stop motion as I was about to say something. Please don't ask me how I know, but I can say this. That woman, Clyde's new arm candy, will be sitting in your registered spot at the Children's Fundraiser tonight, and I will have to make small talk and forget about what just happened here today. I have to think if it was me, you would do the same. She puffed out quickly and then looked around nervously as if she did not want to be seen with me.

I blinked back tears rapidly. I swallowed hard and whispered to her. Absolutely, I would do the same. I just have not quite got the jest of what just happened.

Monique turned her head in a cocked fashion and gave me a ‘you have got to be kidding me look’. Please tell me that you are not that naive. You have been saving your spending allowance like a good little girl so that you are not left penniless. You did, didn't you?

I did not.

As I frowned, Monique quickly added as she was glancing around frantically behind me. Well, thank goodness you have a prenup. Just stick to the rules, and you will be fine. You will be back in your Valentinos, standing tall with another rich shmuck in no time. She let out a huge puff of air and looked me straight in the eyes. Sorry. That was crass. You are better off without the jerk. Just be careful.

I gave a wry smile and then looked around for my driver. He was gone. I was on Fifth and Broadway, holding several expensive packages in my hands, and I had no driver, no place to go and an 'only your friend when you are rich' friend who was starting to walk away. I'll call you Lexi. Truly, I will, but I have this thing. Then she was gone. The chauffeured black town car that was waiting for her had a door open. As soon as she sat inside, it could not have closed fast enough behind her.

This thing. Those last two words hung in the air around me like a noose over my neck. Everyone knew that women like us always had these things to do, to see, to attend. Was I not a friend enough for her to take a moment and give me a shoulder to cry on? I looked down at my feet as I noticed a large sticky substance had found its way to the bottom of my recent purchased Sarah Jessica Parker heels. I took a step to the side and found a cement base of a light post to scrap my shoe inconspicuously until it seemed to have come off. This little matter I just incurred was the least of my issues; however, it gummed me up precisely the same because I loved those shoes.

Like a bird that flies smack into a clear glass window, I felt the pain of sudden intensity. What the heck just happened to me? I had no money saved up or set aside, because I always felt the money pit was bottomless. No driver, since I had not driven myself since the day I married Clyde. No car, for that very same reason. I had a prenuptial that stated I got a small monthly payment of alimony for a short period, of like two years, as long as I did nothing to break the six hundred commandments that Kate had read through for me on the prenup. Oh boy! Kate was going to tell me she was right about this for the next fifty years of our life or longer unless her smart brain goes berserk in old age, which it probably will not.

I stood there for at least five minutes in the hot summer sun out on the sidewalk thinking to myself, what is next? At first, I felt the vibration in my palm of my hand, but it did not register that my phone was ringing on silent. It was the second set of vibrations that alerted me to the fact that someone was calling me. I looked at the caller id and there was my husband's, well soon to be ex-husband's, executive secretary. I felt shivers trickle through my spine out of fear of what was to come next. I hit the answer button on my iPhone and put it to my ear with hesitation to my voice. Uh... hello?

Lexi. The driver will pick you up in five minutes. He will take you to the house where you will need to pack what you can into the luggage I have laid out for you. You are registered at the Hilton for the next month until the divorce will be finalized. I have a set of instructions for you at the hotel in writing as to what will happen next. Please read through them carefully, or you will find yourself homeless and penniless. Better yet, have your sister Kate read them. Good bye.

I did not even get a chance to breathe, let alone speak back, but then again, that was Helga. A German born six foot steel tank that ran my husband’s, oops soon to be ex-husband's, business like a well-oiled machine. I suppose I should have figured nothing less would have happened, and it only made sense that I was still a puppet on a string until this was all over. Yet, I was still standing here looking at my silent phone wondering, why, and is there a chance I could get him back.

I found myself thinking hard about the last few months and how we had barely spoken since my outburst in front of his other employees at the dinner party. He was so embarrassed from my remarks. I disregarded it with the fact that I had been drinking just a wee bit too much that night. After that, I found a way to relieve my guilt over my drunken display with shopping. It was as if I was on a mission to see if I could max out his high credit limit.

Just as my black town car with darken windows stopped in the no parking zone in front of me; I got a text from Clyde. I put the phone in my purse and figured I might want to read it in private. The driver came around in his dark black suit, black drivers cap low, and opened the door for me. I handed him the packages of my recent purchases as if this was just an ordinary day of shopping. However, he always greeted me with a 'Hello Mrs. Nubbin. Good day of shopping?’ remark. Today, I got no greeting or a smile, just a soft close of the rear car door after I sat inside and the resounding echo of the trunk slamming shut with all my purchases.

The long drive home was daunting. I still had not wanted to look at the text from Clyde, but I did, just as we pulled up the driveway. Be a good girl. Follow the rules. Don't make a scene. Pack what you need, you can get the rest later once you find a place to live, and Lexi, this is for the best, nothing personal.

Nothing personal, frigga fracket. I could have thrown that phone through the safety glass window between the driver and me, but I did not. Instead, I felt horns growing out of my forehead, steam flowing from my nostrils, and black belt kick ass kind of feeling tingle through my body. I was going to trash his office, or something!

As soon as the car stopped and the engine was turned off, I knew that was not going to happen. Clyde knew my temper as I had been known to trash an item or two when I was pissed. There in front of our once together forever home, was two hired bodyguards, presumably to be next to me at all times. One was of Asian descent, and I was pretty sure he could karate chop my body into a tiny blue Tiffany box if he had to. The other guy was Puerto Rican looking, and if we were in a salsa dance club, I would want to cha-cha all over his lethal looking body. Neither one of them gave me a second glance nor a smile. I gulped hard and heard an internal slow puffing sound as if all my steam was leaving my body. I felt crushed.

In my dressing room, on the floor next to my recently purchased dark royal purple chenille couch, was my champagne colored twelve-piece travel luggage set. Behind me, was the Asian bodyguard, and in front of me was the Puerto Rican bodyguard; both with feet shoulder width apart, both with their arms crossed, and both with a look of deterrence if I did anything stupid. I felt crushed that Clyde actually thought I would do something crazy, and then I laughed aloud to myself with a long-winded chuckle. Of course I would have trashed something of Clyde's if these two goons were not standing here. Consequently, I guess it was the smartest way to do this. Just as I was opening all my suitcases to begin my packing ritual as if I was going on a normal three week vacation to the Bahamas, or some long ski vacation, my phone chirped with a text from Kate. 'What was the emergency?'

I sat down on the purple chenille couch, wishing I could pack it in my suitcase and wondering how to tell Kate the bad news. I finally took a deep breath and clicked a few keys. Clyde kicked me out. I'll be at the Hilton. It's over. His call.

Kate quickly texted back. His loss. C U 2nite! Then she put a smiley emoticon of a pink kitten head that would smile then stick its tongue out then smile again. I laughed to myself while sitting in my huge dressing room. It felt good. I had Kate on my side, and I was sure that Clyde was going to take care of me financially until I could win him back. I got up off the couch humming as I pushed my hands hard off my knees with my phone in one hand. As soon as I felt my shoulders go back as if I was confident about the next temporary phase in my life; I was feeling better. I was going to win Clyde back and remarry him without a prenuptial, and then find a way to make my mark in this world. I tossed my phone onto the couch, next to the biggest suitcase. I had some packing to do but first, I needed to look my best doing this. I excused myself to my master bathroom.

I approached the two neanderthals that were watching over me like guardians. Gentleman, I need to freshen up. If you must attend the bathroom with me, so be it, but it is my bathroom, and Clyde's is on the other side of the master bedroom. They did not move as they nodded their heads as if they understood.

Twenty minutes later, I looked like I could have walked the red carpet for leading actress in a kick ass motion picture. If I was going to the Hilton under hushed rumors of what was happening, I was going to look glamorous and well kept. My long blonde hair was styled in big soft curls. My honey brown eyes were played up with a dark and sultry eye makeup. I had on my new black designer jeans with my six hundred dollar black high heels that had a pewter engraved metal tip on the front. My black sheer top showed only the slight presence of