Drive and Determination

Drive and Determination

by Kara Louise

© 2006 by Kara Louise
Cover Image by Kara Louise

ISBN 978-1-4303-1792-0

Published by Heartworks/Lulu Publication
Printed in the United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication my be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means -- for example, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording -- without the prior written permission of the publisher. An exception would be in brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kara Louise
Drive and Determination

A Note from the author -

Many thanks to all those who helped and encouraged me with this story.
Thanks to Sharni, Terie, Linnea Eileen, Denise, Debbie, and Mary Anne,
who each contributed in their own unique way as I attempted to put this story in writing.
Thanks also to those who made such positive comments as they read the story and those who encouraged me to publish it.

I also wish to thank Jane Austen
.When she wrote her novel,
Pride and Prejudice,
little did she know how deeply it would touch people two centuries later.
While this is a modern story and a great deal
unlike
her story, she is behind the inspiration for the characters and some of the plot development.
Thank you, Miss Austen!

I hope you enjoy
Drive and Determination.

Prologue

               
Elyssa Barnett stepped into the white steepled church and looked around her. It was of moderate size and had a warm, inviting atmosphere. Light diffused through the stained glass window at the back, casting its glow among the pews, the altar, and the couple that was standing up at the front.
            It was dusk, and the rehearsal had just begun for her sister’s wedding. Janet was about to marry the man of her dreams, Chad Blakely. Elyssa smiled as she thought back to the excitement in Janet’s voice when she called and told her she had met the most wonderful man. Elyssa had been skeptical at first and wondered of the viability of a relationship with someone her sister had merely met on an airplane and who lived half way across the country. Janet lived in Los Angeles and Chad lived in Chicago.
            Elyssa was pleasantly surprised that they made their long distance relationship work. Chad and Janet had dated by way of phone, email, snail mail, and an occasional plane flight. After three months, Janet made the critical decision to move to Chicago to be close to him. She was easily able to secure a transfer within her company and moved immediately. It seemed to Elyssa to take them forever to announce their engagement, but they finally did. That was four months ago and tomorrow was the wedding.
            As long as Elyssa could remember, Janet had been considered by everyone she met to be undeniably beautiful. Yet Janet was not one to be affected by it and was oftentimes oblivious to the attention she drew. She was also the kindest person Elyssa knew. Being her best friend, it had been difficult when Janet moved away. Despite their separation, Elyssa would never have wanted to deny her sister the happiness she found, and she shared her sister’s joy.
            The wedding was to be small, but elegant. Elyssa was Janet’s maid of honor and their younger sister, Lynette, and one of Janet’s friends were her bridesmaids.
            Everyone who had a part in the wedding had assembled to run through all the elements of the ceremony. Janet was not one to be distraught if someone made a small mistake, but the wedding coordinator, Dani Cooper, went over every precise movement, cue, and position to ensure that the wedding would be perfect. Elyssa wondered if she required perfection for her own sake or for the sake of the bride.
            Dani was quite put out, therefore, that the best man had not made a point to attend the rehearsal. He had informed Chad that he would not be able to join the others until some time during the rehearsal dinner.
            Elyssa had never met the man, William Denton, and only knew that he and Chad had long been good friends. He was the president of a family owned coffee company, Pemberleo Coffee, where Chad was a sales manager. Although the two men rarely saw each other outside the office, Janet told Elyssa that Chad held him in the highest esteem and often relied on his wise advice. Elyssa wondered just how much this man valued his friendship with Chad if he could not even make the time to attend the wedding rehearsal. Apparently, Chad’s sister, Carolyn, had permanently elevated him up on a lofty pedestal as well as herself, as she was the only woman he had dated in the past several months.
            Dani asked the whole wedding party to come up front and get into their positions. As Elyssa watched her sister closely from her vantage point standing at her side, she could see how obviously in love she and Chad were. Elyssa was suddenly gripped with a fleeting pain in her heart with the realization that her father would have been very delighted with his first son-in-law. Unfortunately, he had not lived long enough to see this day.
            Their father died unexpectedly two years earlier from a heart attack. His sudden, premature death devastated Elyssa with grief for well over a year. She and her father had always shared a special bond. She had been his favorite daughter and she greatly admired him.
            She blamed his death wholly on his boss, who had demanding expectations and continually pushed his employees beyond what was reasonable. She resented the fact that her father’s health was exacerbated because of the hours he spent at work and the undue pressure he was put under there.
            Elyssa was convinced that her father’s boss was a man who preferred work over his family. Her father, therefore, was expected to work a great deal of overtime and in the end, was able to spend little time with his own family. She knew that the hours took their toll on him, but was reassured often of his love for her. He made vain promises that the overtime would soon cease once this project or that project was completed, but it never was to be, and suddenly he was gone.
            Elyssa’s way of dealing with his death and her anger toward this all consuming life style around her was to move as far away from the big city as possible. She moved north of Los Angeles and found a small college that offered a degree in interior design, something in which she had a great interest.
            She was now 21 and looking to finish in another year. She lived about 20 minutes from the college, outside of town in a rented house that overlooked some of the most beautiful sights in the Santa Ynez Valley. Moving here had given her a new perspective on what she wanted out of life, strengthened her conviction about what she didn’t want, and filled her with an abundant sense of contentment.
            At the rehearsal dinner, Elyssa sat beside Janet at one of two tables reserved for the wedding party, while her mother and younger sister were seated at the other. The chair next to Chad was noticeably vacant, as that was to be for his best man. Next to it sat Chad’s sister, Carolyn. The meal was finally served and while everyone ate, Elyssa talked with Chad, teased Janet, and visited with the others around her.
            While enjoying her meal and the conversation of others, Elyssa did not notice a gentleman walk quietly into the private room. She did hear a squeal of delight and turned towards Carolyn, watching as she stood up and walked over to the newcomer. Elyssa narrowed her eyes as Carolyn possessively put her hands through the gentleman’s arm and brought him over to the empty seat between her and her brother. He quickly took his seat without offering up any sort of apology for his tardiness.
            Elyssa cast a critical glance at the man, William Denton, who had been one of the top 50 most eligible bachelors for two years running in a well known publication. She had to admit he was handsome and she was well acquainted with his significant affluence. She knew, however, from what she had read about him and heard about him personally from Janet, he was most likely a man consumed by his work. No doubt he expected nothing short of total dedication from his employees, often at the expense of their families. She felt an all too familiar sense of indignation as she recalled the man who behaved similarly and destroyed her father’s life.
            As Elyssa quickly assessed him, she readily noticed his immaculately tailored imported suit and the way he carried himself with an air of distinction and importance. She thought it curious however, that he avoided any and all unnecessary eye contact with others in the room. Elyssa immediately recognized the look of someone who felt his time could be utilized more proficiently somewhere other than a wedding rehearsal dinner.
            Introductions were made at their table and she greeted him with a bitter taste in her mouth as she watched Carolyn draw him more closely to herself as if warning Elyssa to keep her distance. Elyssa almost laughed to think that Carolyn most likely did not trust him to make any lady’s acquaintance.
            As the meal ended, several toasts were offered up and just when Elyssa thought that everything had been said, William Denton stood up and walked over to the microphone, which had been set up in the center front.
            Holding up his glass, he turned toward the couple. “My good friend Chad is about to venture on a journey that, I do hope and pray, becomes one of great joy for him and his wife.”
            Several cheers rang out and Elyssa watched him as he took in a deep breath. “I have never met a better man than Chad, and as for his bride, even though I know you only slightly, Janet, I am convinced you are going to make him very happy.” Several more cheers were heard, but as Elyssa watched him, his smile seemed forced, as if he was not truly happy about his friend’s marriage.
            “I do bring you more than my blessing and kind words, though; particularly to you, Chad. I must add that this will undoubtedly affect you as well, Janet.” He lifted his glass and eyed Chad with a piercing stare. Everyone listened intently as he continued his speech. “Chad, I have a wedding gift for you, although I must admit that I would be offering this to you even if you were not getting married.” He paused a moment before announcing, “Chad, I am happy to say that tonight I am giving you a promotion!”
            Gasps went up and Elyssa saw Carolyn look with great satisfaction toward her brother.
            “Chad,” he continued, “I am giving you the position of vice president of sales of Pemberleo Coffee in Guatemala.”
            Elyssa heard the words he said, but barely heard her own anguished cry out, “No!”
            She glared at the man standing up front who only turned slightly in her direction to see this young lady, who had been sitting across from him, and who had the gall to utter that dissenting outburst. Several people in the room gave Chad a rousing “Congratulations!”
            Under the table, Janet took Elyssa’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze while looking at Chad, giving him an approving smile.
            Elyssa tightened her other hand into a fist.
How dare he barge in like this and make this kind of announcement! Who does he think he is that he can control their lives like this and order them out of the country?
            Elyssa took in a deep breath, fighting off the tears. Somehow, she knew that if they were to move to Guatemala, life would never again be the same for her and Janet.
            She clenched her teeth as she watched him walk back to the table, accepting the round of thanks from Chad and Janet. Her eyes bore into him and she was quite certain he did not meet her glare because he knew the degree of her anger. She listened in astonishment as people came up and offered their congratulations to the couple. She watched in fury as he leaned back in his chair and finally glanced over at her with a triumphant gleam in his eyes.
            Later, as people began to leave, Elyssa lingered around waiting for Janet. She suddenly felt someone’s presence behind her and turned, finding herself staring into the chest of William Denton. She let out an exasperated sigh and slowly looked up.
            “I take it you were not happy with my announcement about Chad’s promotion.” His eyes met hers and pinned her with a pointed look.
            “Janet is my sister and my closest friend. She is about to be married and you are sending them off to Guatemala? How can you do this? They will have enough adjustments as it is without having to move to a completely different culture with a different language.”
            “I am sorry you feel that way, Miss Barnett.”
            “It’s Elyssa.”
            “Elyssa. But an opportunity like this doesn’t come up often. Chad is the best man for the job, he speaks the language fluently, and he knew there would always be the possibility that he would go there. I must differ from your assertion that it will be difficult. I like to think of it as an adventure the two of them can enjoy together that will only lead to bigger and better things. Besides, I understand your sister can speak the language well enough to get along.”
            “Well you don’t know my sister! She is very close to her family; at least to me! This is highly unfair of you!”
            He was unsure whether he was more angered by her insolence or affected by the magnetizing pull of her eyes. “Certainly you are aware, Elyssa, that she has lived half way across the country from you for some time now. The distance to Guatemala is miniscule when you consider flying there,” he challenged her with a haughty glare.
            In provoked anger, Elyssa’s hands gripped together tightly. “If you will excuse me, Janet and I have plans tonight. And I plan to enjoy this evening, even though you did your very best to ruin it for me, Mr. Denton!” Tears pooled in Elyssa’s eyes and she was grateful her sister was occupied saying goodnight to her guests so she could sneak off to the ladies’ room and deal with her emotions that were so blatantly displayed across her face.
            “It’s Will,” he said softly as he watched her march away.

*~*~*

            The next day, Elyssa was in no better frame of mind as her anger at William Denton had not dissipated. Janet had given her sister reassurances that as long as Chad was happy, she was happy, and that she was actually looking forward to it. Although she told her that it was something that they both had been somewhat expecting, Elyssa could not look with any pleasure upon it.
            As everyone was readying themselves for the wedding, there were several times that Elyssa found herself having to redo her face because of tears spilling over and eye makeup running. She wished she could honestly say they were tears of joy, but a much stronger, more unpleasant feeling had intruded; all because of one man’s announcement.
            As the time for the ceremony was finally upon them and they were lining up outside the chapel doors, Elyssa turned and looked at her sister. She saw how beautiful Janet looked and all she could do was smile. “You are at least five times more beautiful than any bride I have ever seen, Janet.” Elyssa leaned over and kissed her. “I am so very happy for you!”
            “Thank you, Elyssa.” Janet looked back at her with a radiant smile. “And I have never seen you more beautiful! Did I not do well in selecting the deep teal for the bridesmaid dresses? I did it for you, you know!”
            “For me?”
            “I have always thought it to be the best color on you, bringing out the blue in your green eyes.”
            “This is
your
wedding, Janet. You were not to make
me
look good!”
            “I just thought if there were any irresistible, single men here today, they would not be able to take their eyes off of you! I only wish you could be as happy as I am.”
            “Janet, I never believed you to be so scheming! You know that I am perfectly content living where I do… and
alone
!”
            “And I am happy, too, Elyssa. Truly, I am.”
            Janet and her bridesmaids waited in the hallway outside the chapel. Each young lady had pulled her hair up, allowing one single strand to curl down either side of their face. Janet’s gown was a simple white dress with a number of pearl beads sewn throughout. Their uncle, Edward Garner, had the honor and privilege of stepping in for their late father and bringing Janet down the aisle on his arm.
            The music soon started and the bridesmaids individually began taking slow steps up the aisle. As Elyssa stepped out, the first person she saw standing up front was William Denton, who stood tall and rigid next to Chad. A wave of anger clouded her face until she turned her eyes to Chad, who was simply beaming, waiting anxiously for the first glimpse of his bride.
            She came down to the front, found her position, and then turned as the bridal march began. She saw Janet begin her promenade up the aisle and at that moment she heard Chad whisper, “She
is
an angel!”  Elyssa smiled joyfully as she proudly watched her sister come toward them.
            The ceremony was simple but meaningful. As the couple was declared to be Mr. and Mrs. Chad Blakely, the ecstatic groom leaned over and kissed his wife in a clearly passionate kiss. Elyssa surmised that he most likely had just unintentionally embarrassed sweet, innocent Janet in front of all these people.
            With a contented smile upon her face as she was contemplating this, she looked past the embracing couple and caught William Denton’s eyes upon her. She felt a warm flush permeate throughout her and she quickly looked away, forcing her attention back to the couple as they turned and began to walk back down the aisle together. She was so caught up in watching the newlyweds and masking her response to having Will’s eyes upon her, that she missed her cue to step toward the center and take his arm, as they were to walk out next.
            A clearing of his throat accomplished its goal in securing her attention and she was dismayed to see that he had already stepped toward the center and was waiting for her. She suddenly felt foolish, chiding herself for forgetting those simple instructions Dani had given them yesterday. An unreasonable anger against Will rose in her chest due to the fact that he knew what he was supposed to do when he hadn’t even attended the rehearsal.
            She looked to him and recognized the condescending look in his eyes and for a brief moment considered bailing, but forced herself to smile derisively, walk toward him, and place her hand around his extended arm. Under his breath, he whispered, “Everyone’s eyes are you now, Elyssa, so swallow your pride, restrain your anger toward me, and keep smiling.”
            Her hand inadvertently tightened around his arm at the same moment his arm tensed, allowing her fingers to feel the well muscled arm that was cloaked underneath. They had to stand together, arms linked, until the bride and groom were almost completely down the aisle before they began their exit.
            Elyssa had never before felt so trapped as they slowly made their way down the aisle. She looked out at the smiling faces as everyone’s eyes were now upon them and it was all she could do to smile in return. While she wanted to rush out, William kept a very firm grip on her arm and kept a very slow stride. When they finally reached the end of the aisle and stepped out into the hall, Elyssa quickly let go of his arm and turned to her right, wishing to distance herself from him as speedily as possible.