The View

by UNTAMED

Genres: African American Urban

Synopsis

Karli has always led a sheltered life, and she has no complaints. To her, life is perfect: the perfect career, the perfect friends, the perfect husband.
After a joyous dinner party turns disastrous, Karli’s perfect world is turned inside out. As she struggles to hold onto the life she holds dear, in comes the perfect stranger, Hudson Lewis. His charm and breathtaking view of life takes Karli by storm and awakens a dormant beast that unknowingly lies within. No holds barred, Karli embraces her new lease on life with a vengeance, but when a melting pot of lies and deceit is exposed, everyone’s life will forever be changed as it brings everything to light in plain view.

Release date: July 30, 2019

Publisher: Urban Books

Print pages: 288

Sample

“Come on. Come on. Pick up!” Karli urged quietly yet frantically as she held her cell phone to her ear.

“What’s up, girl?” said Catrina, her best friend, when she answered.

“Ahhh!” Karli screamed as she sat inside her Jaguar F-Type R.

Catrina laughed heartily. “I take it that means you got the promotion.”

“Girl, yes! I’m so freakin’ excited. It’s so awesome!” Karli fanned herself, trying to regain her composure.

“I hope you’re not in your office, screaming like that, though. Your bosses and coworkers will think you’ve gone mad, Miss Senior Executive Marketing Director!”

Laughing at her friend, Karli quipped, “Absolutely not. I pretended that I was taking an early lunch so I could come to my car, scream, and call you. Besides, no one knows yet. They will make the official announcement at the upcoming gala.”

“Well, I am absolutely ecstatic for you, and I will definitely be in attendance. Have you told Michael yet? And you know Mama Pat and Papa Chris are going to want to know immediately.”

“No, I’ve only called you, but that’s because I want to surprise them. I’m thinking we can plan a family dinner to surprise them with the good news.”

“You know I’m down with it, and I know the perfect place. Jean-Georges on Central Park West.”

Karli smiled. “You were reading my mind, sis! Yes, please set it up for this Saturday night for us. I will make sure everyone is in place.”

“You got it, hon.” Catrina paused. “Hey, since you’re taking an early lunch, anyway, meet me for lunch and we’ll have some celebratory drinks on me.”

Karli pressed the button to start her car. “On you? Shoot. I’m already pulling out of my spot. I’ll be there in a bit.”

Catrina howled. “I figured that would make you leave early. Just don’t tell Deacon Sanders I had his wife out drinking. You ain’t getting me in trouble.”

Karli rolled her eyes. “We drink socially sometimes.”

“Yeah, okay. You just hurry up so we can plan this surprise dinner for this weekend. And congratulations again, sis. No one deserves this more than you.”

Karli smiled brightly while saying her temporary good-bye to her friend. Inside, she beamed. She’d been working for McCallan and Associates, the largest marketing firm in the Northeast, ever since grad school. She had interned there during her senior year and then had landed a junior executive position straight out of undergrad. For four years, she had toiled and proved herself time and time again, all the while climbing the ranks. Now not only was she the firm’s youngest senior executive ever, but she was the youngest female and the first black woman to achieve that rank. Yes, she was doing the damn thing.

All the effort it had taken to do well in private school, graduate from high school at sixteen, to double major as an undergrad, and then to finish grad school at only twenty-three years of age was surely paying off. Add to that her wonderful husband, Michael, who owned his own sports entertainment law firm; her beautiful lifetime best friend, Catrina, who was an elite model talent scout in New York; and her awesome parents, Chris and Patricia Fitzgerald, and she had everything she ever could’ve dreamed of and more. Yes, she was riding high, and she didn’t ever want to come down.

Michael sat at his desk, overlooking the hustle and bustle of the Financial District in New York, and reviewed the final contract for a high-profile client that played for the Buffalo Bills. He loved his job, and even though he had three partners and a team of lawyers on staff, he still took personal care of his elite clientele. To this day, it was the reason he felt he was so successful in the business.

As soon as he closed the file, his cell lit up. After glancing at the number, he lit up as well. It was his wife, Karli. After four years of marriage, he still loved her every bit as much as he had the day he took her hand in marriage.

He couldn’t imagine what his life would be like without her. Most young men had their vices, some more detrimental than others, and for him, it had been women. Unlike his father, he hadn’t seen the benefit of settling down with just one woman when there were so many flavors to choose from. His dad always used to tell him that no matter what he accomplished, until he could truly love and be loved by the right woman, he’d never truly feel complete. He had shunned love and had used sex as his temporary shield, until those empty days began to get the best of him. Then he’d changed his focus, changed his ways, and changed his beliefs, and then along came his Karli. Now he was complete.

“And to what do I owe this pleasure of speaking with the most beautiful woman in the world?”

“Baby, you are so sweet. I hope you stay this way when I’m flabby and wrinkled.” She laughed.

“Baby, I’ll be this way with you for all eternity.”

He was sure she was blushing on the phone, as she always did. His mind floated back to their morning round of lovemaking, and he began getting aroused. He shook himself. He had to stop before he got too worked up. Both of them had high-powered careers, and he knew she wouldn’t be able to meet him for a quick round. Besides, Karli wasn’t into that. She was very image cautious, and the last thing she would want was to smell like sex among her colleagues.

“I love it when you say that,” she cooed, snapping him back to reality. “Before I get too caught up in flirting, the reason for my call is to check your schedule for this Saturday. I wanted to be sure you’re free and clear of any business.”

He leaned forward, opened both his work and personal calendars on his computer, and quickly scanned them. “Looks like I’m good, baby. So what’s going on Saturday?”

“Well, we have reservations at seven p.m. at Jean-Georges, and I wanted to be sure we could keep them.”

“Jean-Georges? What’s the occasion?” he asked, puzzled and hoping he hadn’t forgotten something special. “Or are you just trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me?”

She giggled. “I’d love to do that, but it’s actually a surprise. Sorry, though, it’s not a romantic surprise. Catrina will be there and, hopefully, my parents. I only wish your parents could be there too.”

“Wow. The whole crew. This must be one hell of a surprise,” he said excitedly. “Do I need to try to see if my parents can fly in from Chicago?”

“No, we can tell them over the phone. There will be plenty of time to fly out and see them face-to-face when we take vacation. Let them continue enjoying their retirement.”

Michael’s wheels began turning. Normally, he was the one surprising her with trips and gifts. He wondered what the excitement could be about.

“No, I’m not telling you anything until Saturday,” she announced, interrupting his thoughts.

“You know me. A man can wish, right?”

“Wish all you want, Mr. Sanders. It won’t come true until Saturday, after seven p.m. I know I have to be specific with you.”

“I’m a lawyer, so you better,” he joked.

She laughed. “Bye, nut. I have to go. I’ll see you tonight. If you beat me home, please reheat dinner.”

“Anything else, Queen Sanders?”

“Ha-ha. funny! I love you, baby.”

“I love you more, baby. See you tonight,” he said, and then he hung up.

I wonder what in the world this surprise is about, he thought. Thank God it was Wednesday. At least that meant he had only two painstaking days to suffer through not knowing.

“Everything all right, man?” asked Bryson, his friend and partner, snapping him out of his thoughts. He stood in the doorway.

“Huh? Oh yeah. Come in. I was lost in my thoughts, man.”

Bryson entered the office and sat down in the plush chair on the other side of Michael’s desk. “I see. I called your name twice, and you didn’t hear me. You sure you’re good?”

Michael smiled. “Oh yeah, man. Karli has a surprise for the family, and she wants us all to meet up at Jean-Georges for the big reveal. I’m just wondering what it could be about.”

“Hmm, interesting. Do you think—”

Michael’s cell lit up again before Bryson could finish. “It’s my mother-in-law . . . What were you going to say, Bryson?” he said as he was picking up his phone.

“Maybe she’s—”

“Is she pregnant, Michael Brian Sanders?” his mother-in-law asked at the very same time that the words came out of Bryson’s mouth.

“Huh?” Michael asked her and Bryson at the same time.

“Don’t you ‘huh’ me, Michael. If she’s pregnant and you two are making me wait until Saturday, I swear to God—”

“Whoa! Wait a minute, Mom. I don’t know anything, either. Karli just called me a few minutes ago, saying she had a surprise and wanted to reveal it during dinner at Jean-Georges.” He paused for a moment and got excited. The smile on his face was a mile wide. “Do you really think that’s it, Mom? Do you think my baby is having my baby?”

“God, I hope so!” she yelled happily. “I’ve been trying to get you to knock her up since you married her!”

“From your lips to God’s ears!” he said ecstatically, thinking this had to be it. “Mom, look, we can’t let on that we know, but when Saturday evening gets here, I might just get escorted out of Jean-Georges for an exuberant celebration!”

Mama Pat laughed hysterically. “Honey, that makes two of us!”

“Look, Mom, I have to go. Let’s be cool, though. We don’t want to upset the mommy to be.”

“Aw, I won’t. Oh goodness, Michael, I’m so happy. You and my daughter are going to make such great parents. I can’t wait to be a glam-ma!”

Michael shook his head. “Thank you, Mom, and stop watching reality TV. Love you.”

After he hung up, he looked at Bryson, and Bryson shook his head. “Damn! My boy is about to be a pops!”

“I’m so excited, man. I hope it’s a boy, but I don’t care. I’m going to love my seed unconditionally! Man, I can’t believe my baby is having my baby!”

Bryson tucked the files he was holding under his arm. “Well, this can wait until tomorrow. You’re way too amped to focus on this. How about we get out of here and grab a beer to celebrate?”

Michael shook his head. “I must decline. I need to go gift shopping for Saturday, and besides, Karli would have my head if she knew I was out drinking. You know the good deacon can’t do all that.”

“We drink socially all the time.”

“Yeah, after work or on trips. Every now and again, Karli and I have a drink at a restaurant or relax with a glass of merlot at home. I can’t be coming home, smelling like a brewery. Besides, she’s carrying my seed, and it might upset her stomach.”

Bryson laughed. “Man, you are already overboard. You do know Karli is grown, right, Michael? You have a habit of being overly protective of her. She’s a strong woman, far from fragile.”

Michael shrugged as he stood, and then he grabbed his suit jacket and put it on. “Karli may be a strong businesswoman, but I know the inner Karli. And protecting her will always be my job. I promised her that on our wedding night.”

Bryson held his hands up. “You know your wife. Who am I to second-guess it? So where are you going?”

“To Tiffany or Jared or somewhere, to get her a gift to commemorate being a new mommy and to look at gifts for our baby.”

Bryson nodded. “This child will be just as spoiled as his mother,” he joked. “Fine. Go. I’ll make sure everything is taken care of for today.”

“Thanks, man.” Michael patted his shoulder. “Next week, beers on me!”

Still seated, Bryson pointed at him. “And I’ma hold you to that!”

Michael was so happy, he nearly ran out of his office. He’d wanted to have kids since they first married, and he couldn’t wait to welcome Baby Sanders into their family. Six years ago, he hadn’t thought he ever wanted to be married. It was funny how life could change so drastically, especially when the right woman came along.

Karli stood in her cotton yoga pants and tank top, stirring her famous spaghetti sauce. She wasn’t the queen of cooking, like her grandma used to be, but she’d learned to dazzle a little bit before her granny passed. Her parents had had her so focused on school that they’d forgotten key elements of life, like cooking. Italian food was her specialty. Thank God that for the most part, her athletic husband was a clean-eating fanatic, so she hadn’t had to tell him that she wasn’t a Southern cuisine type of chick. It made her life so much easier to make simple meals, like grilled chicken Caesar salad or baked salmon, instead of making a disaster of fried chicken and macaroni and cheese.

Michael’s biggest culinary indulgence was sweets. He was a cake, pie, and cookie-eating man. She hated sweets and she wasn’t a baker, so she used that as an excuse for not indulging his sweet tooth. To him, she was a whiz in the kitchen. Even though she knew better, this worked in her favor, because he was content with the meals she prepared.

“Damn! I forgot to get more merlot,” she huffed, inspecting the wine cooler. She grabbed a bottle of pinot gris. “At least Michael will drink this.”

She set their plates on the dinner table, then poured his wine and grabbed a bottle of Voss water out of the refrigerator for herself. As soon as she was finished, she heard the door opening and went to greet her husband.

“Hey, you,” she cooed as Michael placed his briefcase on the floor and his keys in the key dish.

He reached for her, brought her to him, and engaged her in a deep kiss. “Hmm, hello to you too. It smells delicious. What did you make?”

“My famous spaghetti. Go get washed up. I just set the table for dinner, and it will be served by the time you return.”

Michael winked at her and patted her behind before barreling upstairs. He returned in less than five minutes in a white T-shirt, sweatpants, and Adidas slides.

“Looks and smells good,” Michael said, rubbing his hands together as he sat down at the table.

“Not as good as you,” she replied, flirting. She leaned over to kiss him.

Michael closed his eyes and inhaled her sweet scent. Biting his lip, he murmured, “You better stop before I have to skip this meal.”

Karli giggled and moved to the side to toss the salad. Michael stared lovingly at his wife. My God, she is an effortless beauty, he thought. Her messy bob and the way those yoga pants clung to that never-ending mountain of lusciousness were calling out to his loins. He sipped his wine and tried to keep his excitement at bay. He noticed that she had chosen water for herself instead of wine, and smiled to himself.

Karli tasted a bit of the salad. “Hmm, this is good.”

She licked the vinaigrette from her lips as she served the salad, and out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Michael’s lustful stare. Lawd, this man of mine is so fine, she thought.

As she looked over at his chiseled chest in that T-shirt, she spotted his slight erection and decided dinner could wait. She was high on life, and everything in her world was finally perfect. The excitement of her impending announcement, mixed with Michael’s good looks and erection, turned her on completely. She didn’t know if it was the fact that she felt completely accomplished or what, but a different type of friskiness had overcome her, and she needed her man. She was down for celebrating in every way possible. Looking over at him once more, she decided that, oh yes, dinner could definitely wait.

She turned and stepped over to his chair. Shocking him, she straddled his lap and kissed him passionately.

“Wh-what?” Michael asked huskily.

“Let’s make love right here. Right now.” She captured his lips again. “I need to feel you inside me,” she whispered sexily, surprised at the words that slipped out of her own mouth. She began kissing him all over his neck and ears and felt him growing underneath her.

“Mmm, Karli,” he moaned. She was literally making him lose control. “Baby, wait.”

With lust-filled eyes, she removed her tank top. “Wait for what?” she asked, then moved back to his neck.

Michael composed himself long enough to get the words out. “We really need to eat.”

She looked at him with confusion. “We can eat anytime.” She turned and pushed his plate back. “In fact, I have something much better than this spaghetti that you can eat.” She paused and looked at him longingly. “Let me . . . let me feed you.” The words came out weakly, as she’d never been the risqué type.

Nevertheless, tonight was the night for new beginnings, and for her, that also meant new adventures. Why not? They were young and married, free to do any and everything they pleased; and at the forefront of her mind was pleasing her husband, while also satisfying her own primal urges.

That caught Michael off guard. This pregnancy was doing something to his wife. She’d never been frisky like this. As much as he wanted it—hell, liked it—he knew she was eating for two, and he didn’t want her to miss meals.

“Whoa! Wait, baby. Let’s just eat, and then I can take you upstairs, draw you a warm bath, and make sweet, sweet love to you,” he said between kisses on her neck.

Karli was baffled. She didn’t want any spaghetti or a damn warm bath. To be frank, what she wanted was her husband’s face between her legs, followed by some out-of-this-world, backbreaking sex. She was riding the wave of her emotional high to the fullest and was hoping that, since he was obviously ready, they could get it in until they were too exhausted to move.

“Michael,” she said coyly, snaking her hands around his neck.

“Karli, come on, baby. Let’s eat.” He patted her rear end, signaling for her to get up.

She shook her head. “Okay,” she said as she slowly stood. Then she walked over to her seat and plopped in it.

Michael said a quick prayer and dove right in. “Man, this salad and the spaghetti are awesome, baby.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, slightly upset, as she drank her water from the wineglass.

“You’re not eating,” Michael said, looking up at her. Karli sighed and sat up before picking up her fork and digging into her salad. Michael smiled. “Good. So how was your day?”

Karli gave him the one-word response “Good,” and then he went on about his day and his clients, not even noticing that she was pissed. Who turns down sex for food? she thought as he droned on.

Once they finished dinner, he began clearing their dishes. “You barely ate anything.”

“No appetite, I guess.” She shrugged.

Worry lines creased Michael’s forehead.

“It’s nothing, Michael. I’m fine. I just wasn’t that hungry.”

He nodded. “Okay, baby. I’ll grab the rest of the dishes and load the dishwasher. You head upstairs and get ready for your bath.”

“Sure, baby.” She rolled her eyes behind his back and dashed upstairs.

Sometimes, he aggravated her with his babying routine. She knew he meant well, but he didn’t know how to turn it off at times and recognize she was a grown woman. She loved it and hated it at the same time. Ever since they’d met, he’d treated her. . .