No More Doubt

About the Author

First-time author, Ailia Civic, now lives in the midwest, in America’s Heartland, and has traveled extensively throughout the world.

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Synopsis of Novel: Two men are obsessed with the same woman. Each wants to control her. One is filled with love, devotion, and the overwhelming desire to win her for life, both mentally and physically. The other, driven by a compelling fantasy to watch her suffer, wants to destroy her in every way, mentally and physically. One man struggles with his obsession; the other man never questions his intent. The novel dwells on how a background of experiences creates a mental obsession that is likely to compel, guide, and shape how men might view life, and react, as a result of his past experiences. This is a tale of how intentions can become obsessive and race on parallel paths toward an unexpected conclusion. The author predicts the page-turning events that unfold in NO MORE DOUBT are guaranteed to draw in and engage readers in such a way as will excite imaginations with the potential to beneficially affect virtually all types of man/woman relationships, and, it’s more than likely that many readers of NO MORE DOUBT will read it more than once, and many readers will refer it to friends. Don’t miss out…you will never regret being among the first to read and to refer this remarkable new and exciting novel. Take time to read the following three chapters that have been chose by the author to acquaint you with three main characters.

CHAPTER 35

…walked out from behind her station…

When Allie arrived for her early afternoon appointment at the Nolan Adams & Son’s office building in Thousand Oaks, she had parked in a visitor space in front of the office building as she’d been directed at the security gate. She announced her name to a receptionist in the lobby, and said, “I’m Allie Rafer. I have an appointment with Mr. Adams.” The lady had glanced at a pad and replied, “Hmmm, it doesn’t appear to be listed here. Just when exactly did you set the appointment?”

Allie said, “The appointment was made this morning through Susan Fuller. Please check with her. It was for 2:00 o’clock.” Good Lord, she thought, am I even going to get to see him at all.  What if he had been called away! Where had her self-confidence gone? Stop this right now, she admonished herself.

The lady called Susan, spoke briefly, and responded, “Okay, I’ll bring her right up.” To Allie, she’d said, “I’ll take you to Susan; this way, please.” The receptionist walked out from behind her station, and Allie followed her as they progressed through the building.

Allie was subjected to the usual stares, raised eyebrows, flashing smiles and comments by men when they passed through a huge room where seventy some men worked at drawing boards, desks, and around long work tables. She thought about the harassment problem prevalent in so many offices, smiling as she recalled hearing that, to most men, harass was two words!

Allie entered the executive office suite, thinking anxiously about being there on what, for her and also for her design staff, was the opportunity of a lifetime. It hit her like a lead weight had been dropped on her chest as she considered, again, how great it would be to get this job. She wanted to design this building more than she had ever wanted anything in her life, and she knew, intuitively, that designing it could be the springboard to spectacular success for her firm. In spite of her doubts about achieving success, she vowed that all she could do was to try her very best to make a winning impression.

The receptionist introduced her to Susan, who said, “Please have a seat. Mr. Adams is on the phone, it will be a few minutes.” Allie hoped those few minutes weren’t coming out of the few minutes he had promised her! What kept going through her mind was how little time he had said he could allow her, because she knew that if she had time to convince him of the quality of design she could deliver, she’d at least have better odds of competing with other firms trying to win the contract. She knew he had interviewed other firms, because that’s what Joe had mentioned when he had first told her about the job. Allie got Dodge reports, so normally she would have known about the job much earlier, but, as a general contractor, himself, Mr. Adams would not be putting his own office complex out to bid.

As she’d waited, she thought how proud she would be if she could land this contract, and how much this job could mean to the future of CDA. When she had told her design staff earlier that morning about her appointment, not wanting to be embarrassed by failure, and knowing she’d have only a few minutes to talk with him, she had told her staff it would no doubt be an exercise in futility. As she waited, Allie still had no idea how to put forth her best effort with so little time! She knew she would need to convey confidence, and she quickly analyzed why she had allowed her thinking to become so negative, so hopeless. How could she let herself accept defeat so easily? It suddenly occurred to her, because she had used a particular presentation that had always worked for her, the idea came to her that she assumed it was the only way she could effectively promote her services. She realized she would have to do something different, but how could she convince this owner her firm was right for the job, when he was giving her so little time? She would need to speed through the highlights of the presentation, and hope she could create some degree of interest. But, no! Wait! If she did that, she’d only appear anxious and needy…even out of control. What to do? Desperately, Allie cast about in her mind for an answer to her dilemma.

Control! That was it; she had to maintain total control! It was the only way she had a fighting chance, so she began to consider how best to establish control. Before she had time to think, Susan spoke to her. She was not ready yet, but there was no more time!

“Let me check,” Susan said. “Mr. Adams is off the phone.” After a moment, she said, after speaking to him, “He’ll see you now; please come this way,” and Allie followed her.

Susan said, “Mr. Adams, this is Miss Rafer.” He stood up behind his desk, saying, “Good afternoon, Ms. Rafer,” and to Susan, “hold my calls.” With an abrupt gesture, Mr. Adams indicated three chairs in front of his desk, with a wave of his hand, and said to her, “Have a seat,” then he sat down at his desk, gazed at her and waited. Allie took a seat in one of the guest chairs facing a huge desk covered with documents, bids, plans, and messages, plus correspondence and specifications.

Before leaving, Susan asked them, “Could I get either of you coffee, or perhaps a cold drink?” They both declined. Allie thought, fleetingly, I won’t waste a precious minute drinking!

CHAPTER 36

…expecting he would immediately take control…

Carrying her black leather portfolio, with CDA embossed in gold in three-inch high letters along the top edge, Allie had entered his office at two o’clock sharp, intending to make the most of the few minutes he had promised her. For some reason, she felt he had already decided her firm wasn’t up to the task. He was a highly-successful, terribly busy, man who surely made urgently important decisions every day of the week, and, with so much on his mind, she didn’t expect him to show very much interest in anything she had to say. With that in mind, and nothing to lose, she spontaneously made the decision just to ‘go for broke!’

After evaluating her for a couple seconds, Allie noticed he was about to speak. Expecting he would immediately take control of the interview, or begin to ask questions, she took a deep breath and, before he could utter one word, she said, “Mr. Adams, I know you are a busy man, so let me save you some time. I assure you, I’m here for one reason and one reason only…I want to design, furnish, and develop the space for your new office building. I know I’m a topnotch designer and I have the education and experience to back it up!

“In my profession, I often hear your company name, and I know about projects you have underway now, or have already done. I’ve seen how often Nolan Adams & Son appears as contractor or bidder under consideration on Dodge Reports, and I know most of the bids that do get awarded to your company. I’m also aware of the excellent reputation of your firm and I admire the quality work that you do. I’d love to work on any project with which you’re associated, but I want to design the interiors of your corporate office building…the new one Joe told me about, and I’m here to convince you that CDA is best qualified to do it.

“You can rest assured, I’d resolve to do my best work and I’d certainly use every ounce of my creative expertise, knowledge, and experience to produce results that will make you even prouder to put your name on the building. I want you to know I love what I do, and I’ve always worked in the most committed, conscientious way I know how. I attempt never to neglect details because, in design it’s meticulous attention to details that results in the difference between what is just a space to work in and a working environment that becomes a wise investment for owners. What you want is an environment that inspires employees to do their most productive work, which adds to the productivity and profitability of a business like yours.

“Your function is a major part of the creative field of design, Mr. Adams. After all, you build the projects people like me design, and your new building should reflect your importance in that creative process. You might think this job is too big for my staff to handle, but I will hire the people I need. I don’t know how much time you have already wasted interviewing other design firms, but you can stop looking right now because you’ll never find one that will do a better job for you than CDA. I have my portfolio here, and I’d like to show you some of our completed designs.” She stopped talking, sat back in her chair, and, without saying another word, waited for his response.

Allie had said all of that without a catch in her throat caused by such audacity, and she had said it with conviction, knowing her words had been expressed with the confidence of her years of study and hard work to back them up. As Allie waited, she rather surreptitiously studied the man. Leaning back and crossing his arms, he gazed at her and appeared to be considering her comments. While she waited patiently, Allie’s mind began to wander and, especially, to observe him as he sat quietly, gazing at her and pondering his response! The first thought that crossed her mind was how handsome and confident he appeared to be.

 CHAPTER 40

…going to pay…he’d make sure of it.

As he followed her, staying as far back as possible, yet still able to see her lights, he brooded about how she had ruined his life. He had waited so long for life to improve, and when she came along everything was finally going to work in his favor. He could clearly envision his happiness ahead, and he’d at last be able to lead a normal life. Finally, after years of loneliness, he’d have somebody special, who would really love and care about him, but instead, because of her selfish indifference to his future, all of his dreams had been totally crushed. All his life he had been misunderstood.  He’d felt unwanted; everyone he’d ever loved just wanted him out of the way…out of sight, in fact, out of their lives.  All he had ever really wanted was somebody to love him, just to want him around.

Finally, he had been sure it was set to happen. Things were going to work out just the way he had always dreamed they would. Then, she’d sabotaged his happiness. She’d killed his one sure chance to have everything he had ever wanted. Well, she was going to pay…he was going to make sure of it. While he obsessed about the revenge he so desperately craved, he fondled his aching penis.He was so tired of driving. It seemed as though he had driven for days, and he hadn’t had anything to eat since leaving Vegas, but he was so close, now. What he was planning to do would be worth the wait, once he got his hands on her. Considering his alternatives, he wished there was a way to know how far she planned to go tonight. Already, she was more than seventy miles from her office. Where was she headed? Hell, he knew now where she worked, so he did not have to do this tonight. Getting something to eat, then finding a cheap motel for a good night of sleep was becoming more and more appealing. He knew he needed rest, but he didn’t want to wait any longer. If the damned van just had a radio in it, it could at least help him stay awake! In this fog, it seemed he was cut off from everything, but he’d decided to tough it out, stay awake, follow her, and carry out his plans. He rolled down the window. Maybe cold air would wake him. Wouldn’t it be ironic, he thought, if I went to sleep, ran off the road, had a bad accident, and got killed! Well, maybe that would be best…he felt half dead anyway. Just this once, couldn’t something work in his favor?

Read this exciting novel. Don’t miss out on lessons in this story that have the potential to improve your own love life.

Please contact the author to convey your comments, after reading NO MORE DOUBT:  ailiacivic@yahoo.com