Operation: Endeavor (When The Mission Ends) Read Online Free PDF Page B

in Penelope’s life. By that point in time, she’d learned to assert her own will against her parents, but standing up for herself took its toll on her mentally. She learned methods for relieving her stress…yoga and writing.
    It started as something seemingly innocent, but her writing started taking a darker turn when she started writing BDSM erotica. It had actually been Alix who led her to finding that avenue. A late night filled with girl talk, way too much wine, and more than a bit of curiosity led them to a website filled with artful erotic images that Penelope couldn’t let go of mentally. The stories followed shortly thereafter. Unbeknownst to Penelope, Alix submitted them for publication and they were bought.
    Her alter ego, Celeste DeMarco, was born. Penelope wrote the stories. Aunt Alix acted as the author to protect Penelope’s identity. Her parents had no idea that Penelope was actually Celeste DeMarco.
    Being older southern conservatives, her parents never would have understood or forgiven her for doing “that kind” of writing. Celeste DeMarco was a huge secret. They’d gone on that way for three years before it all came crashing down and Penelope’s parents found out about Celeste DeMarco. Alix never told Penelope’s secret, that she was actually the author of the books. Instead, she covered for Penelope. Alix claimed Celeste DeMarco as her alter-ego and it cost Alix her relationship with her sister, Penelope’s mother. Alix insisted it was no big loss because they’d never gotten along, but that didn’t keep Penelope from feeling horrible about the entire situation.
    Over the years, Penelope wanted to confess all to her mother, but Alix wouldn’t allow it. She swore she’d never speak to Penelope again if she did that. It was a risk Penelope couldn’t take. She needed her aunt in her life.
    The situation wasn’t all bad though. As she looked around Raider Readers, pride filled her. Her royalty checks from the novels paid the start-up costs of the bookstore. Another secret. As far as her parents knew, that was also Alix’s doing. In reality, instead of being her partner and backer for the store, Alix was simply an employee. The store was adjacent to the campus in a historical colonial-style house, which was rezoned as commercial property. She’d left the original, gorgeous bones of the house intact…the wood paneling, the different rooms, the decorative woodwork and moldings, the many fireplaces, and the sweeping staircase. A gorgeous old mahogany bar was converted to act as their front desk and check-out counter. The front counter was nestled into the curve of the staircase so it was the first thing you saw when you came into the store.
    It was here that Alix sat now, waiting for an answer.
    “Breakfast was fine. Strange, but fine.” She gave her Aunt a mischievous look. “She needed me to do a favor for her, so now I think I’m going to have my mom in my debt. That could be useful.”
    Alix smiled in agreement. “Without a doubt, but what in the world did she need you to do?”
    “The University has some bigwig coming in that they want to impress, but it sounds like he’s younger and hipper than your typical Anthropology dweeb.”
    Alix muttered, “Isn’t everyone?”
    Penelope giggled. “She wants me to serve as his escort to a party Saturday night.” Penelope eyed her aunt, waiting for her reaction.
    “Escort?” Alix’s eyes widened in shock. “I know I haven’t seen my sister in a few years, but I find it hard to believe that she’s changed that much.”
    “I know, right? That was exactly my reaction. But she swears she doesn’t want me for that .” Penelope rolled her eyes. “Honestly, after all these years of disapproving of my ‘wild ways,’ now my mom wants to use them to impress this guy. It sounds like he’s pretty unorthodox. If nothing else, it should be fun to see how my mom relates to a colleague who has more in common with me than her.”
    Penelope