My Secret Ballentine - Paperback

Emerald green eyes, long wavy honey-blond hair and six-foot-tall without high heels, Marley's striking appearance has always garnered attention. Most of the time, not the kind she wanted. Growing up, she was often called a freak or a clown by her classmates. Towering over them, she learned to handle their remarks with humor. It seemed to frustrate them and at the same time it amused Marley.

When her parents suffer debilitating injuries, it causes significant financial burdens. When the opportunity to help her struggling parents out financially occurs, Marley decides to take it.

Her best friend helps her find a part time job. Little does Marley realize that it isn't quite the job she thought she was applying for.

A fake engagement and a month of marriage is all she has to agree to. He gets his inheritance and she gets paid. Simple, right? That decision becomes significantly more difficult when she finds herself falling in love.

With a maniac trying to prevent her from marrying Jeffrey, she fights to stay alive, trying to defy the odds and find happiness.

Excerpt from the book:

She was very tall for a woman, but even at six foot two with her heels on, she looked slightly upward into those dark blue eyes. "Office party? Sent me over? Paid for me? What are you talking about? I came here for a job interview!"

Jeffrey finally quit staring at her breasts and his eyes locked on to two large emerald-green orbs. "Wait a minute, aren't you Natalie?"

"No, I am not Natalie. I am Marley! And I came here to apply for a job as Jeffrey Ballantine's 'personal assistant'. Who the heck are you?"

"I am Jeffrey Ballantine, and I think I made a huge mistake."

"I'll say you did...wait... you are Mr. Ballantine?"

Jeffrey looked at his watch, "Yes, and you are hired if you agree to attend this party that we are late for."

"I...well..."

"Look I haven't any time to spare. This party is important to me, and I told my mother I was bringing my fiancée. Are you willing to go or not?"

"Fiancée! Well, I really need a permanent job, but not that permanent!" Marley told him as she tugged the front of her dress up slightly.

"It is just for a few days, well, maybe a week...maybe a few months...I don't know yet. But if you agree, I will hire you for the position as my 'personal assistant'. If that is what you prefer to call it."

"Well, I really need a job and I guess...."

"Good, now let's go," he said taking her hand as he rushed towards the elevator.