Perfection is

Just an Illusion

Rebecca Barber

Perfection is Just an Illusion

Copyright © 2015 by Rebecca Barber.

All rights reserved.

First Print Edition: October 2015

Limitless Publishing, LLC

Kailua, HI 96734

www.limitlesspublishing.com

Formatting: Limitless Publishing

ISBN-13: 978-1-68058-300-7

ISBN-10: 1-68058-300-X

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

Dedication

For the boy who gave me hope.

Who grew into the man who saved my life.

You’ll never know it, but thank you.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 1

Anna

They sat across from each other. He was beautiful. He was amazing. His tight black shirt accentuated every contour of his body. Every muscle was tight and defined. His mahogany coloured cargo pants and brown shoes only emphasised his immaculate taste. He had almost overwhelming deep brown eyes outlined by long, thick, black lashes. His messy blond hair fell across his face. He was the perfect combination of sensuality and masculinity.

“More wine?” he asked politely in his deep husky voice, which had held her captive the entire evening.

She nodded with a smile and raised her glass. His huge hands lifted the bottle of Chardonnay and filled her glass carefully before refilling his own. At that exact moment she looked at him and saw clearly how much of the perfect gentleman he really was. She saw what a truly beautiful person he was, both inside and out.

Between them the table lay perfectly set. The red and white linen tablecloth was lined with a row of roses and candles along the window. The sterling silver cutlery had been polished to an almost unbelievable shine. The booth they were sitting in looked out over the river. The huge old willow trees lined the banks, their leaves bending down touching the water. Coloured lights reflected off the water as the moon glistened overhead.

She wore her heavy black overcoat, even at the table after quietly declaring she was cold. All you could see of her outfit was her thick black leggings that ran up her legs under her coat and her four inch high heel black shoes. Her hair was allowed to flow freely, framing her face. It was a mass of long brown spirals that ran halfway down her back. Her deep ocean blue eyes were fixed on his. He had her completely mesmerised. She had been completely bewitched by him.

They had arrived and with the help of a very chatty and witty young hostess, had by-passed the line and been whisked away into a very private and romantic booth in the top corner of the crowded restaurant.

Now they sat chatting about anything and everything. They seemed so content just to be in each other’s company. Only the waitress taking their order interrupted them. It was not a Michelin star restaurant by any means, but it was comfortable and understated. And for them, it was perfect. After placing their order and after he had signed an autograph for the starry-eyed waitress she disappeared back into the kitchen.

“Is that your phone?” he asked as the ringing disturbed their conversation.

Shrugging apologetically, Anna pulled it from her hand bag and clicked mute. “Sorry,” she mumbled.

“Don’t be. You can answer it if you want.” He smiled genuinely.

“You sure?”

He flashed his panty-dropping smile and nodded softly.

Sighing reluctantly, she picked up her phone. “Hello?” she answered politely, flashing him a sympathetic smile.

“Hey Anna! It’s Bronwyn.”

“Oh.” Instantly Anna became intrigued as to why after all this time she was ringing. She tried to remain friendly, but it wasn’t easy. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Well, I heard you’re back in town and we’re all at the club having a drink. Why don’t you join us?” Bronwyn recited stiffly. It sounded as though she was reading directly from a prepared statement.

Instantly Anna became wary. These were the people who had treated her like she was nothing the last time they had seen her. They always treated her as though she was expendable. They made Anna feel like she was worthless and could easily be replaced or made redundant. It was a feeling and a memory Anna had put behind her long ago. Until now. Now they were inviting her back into their lives. But for how long? How long would it be before they discarded her like yesterday’s newspaper? But Anna knew now things had changed. She had changed. Once they saw her they would never do or say anything to jeopardise her friendship again. She had something too important in her life now. Something they could benefit from. And he was sitting right across from her.

“Hang on a second,” Anna covered her phone and quickly explained. All her high school friends were downstairs having a drink and they had just invited her to join them.

Quickly James flashed her a seductive smile and whispered mischievously, “Tell them you’ll be there. I will be a surprise!”

Anna turned her attention back to the phone. “Sure, yeah. We’ll be there in about half an hour. I have got to run though, so I’ll see you soon.” Anna smiled sadly at James, who had become intrigued by the people who knew his fiancée as a teenager.

“Okay. See you soon,” Bronwyn hung up.

Anna had lost her appetite and began to push her food around on her plate. Suddenly eating was the last thing on her mind.

“What’s wrong?” James’s voice was full of genuine concern. Anna knew when James sounded concerned, he really was.

“What was I thinking? I can’t let them see me looking like this! And then I show up with you! When I was in high school with these people, I was just the fat girl who spent all of her time trying to fit in, but I couldn’t,” Anna spluttered as agitation consumed her. Her mood changed dramatically. Before the phone call she had been carefree and content just to be in James’s company but now she was looking back on the past and remembering who and what she had once been. It was like the light in her eyes had been extinguished with a single phone call.

“They’re going to be absolutely amazed by you, Anna. You’re intelligent and beautiful and you have so much more confidence in yourself now than you did when I first met you. Don’t worry about them. They aren’t in your life now, I am. What they say and think doesn’t matter. Only what I say and think does. And I say screw them. You’re not in high school any more. You’re all grown up and you’re happy and it shows. Anna, you have a warmth and radiance that projects off you onto everyone around you. They’ll see that. And you know what? Even if they don’t, it’s their loss. And just think, if they say something mean, I promise I’ll sort them out for you.” James laughed, lacing his fingers through Anna’s.

He really was remarkable. The warmth from his fingers and his beautiful words made her feel better and somehow even put the smile back on her face. They finished their meal, collected their things, and headed downstairs. She was nervous not only by what they would think about her, but what was even more terrifying was the thought of what they would say about James. None of them knew. Actually no one in the country knew with the exception of their parents that they’d even been dating. And now they were engaged. In a normal relationship it wouldn’t matter. They would be shouting their joy from the rooftops, but James and Anna’s relationship was anything but normal.