Title
Corruption in Capital City
Author
N.G. Avant
Genre
Women’s Fiction
Publisher
N.G. Avant Creations
Book Blurb
In the Shadows of Power: One Woman's Fight for Truth and Love
After a transformative experience in Outlandia, Calista Caldwell returns to her high-pressure job as the trusted political assistant to Councillor Ralph Mastronzo. While everyone around her is settling down and starting families, Cal remains single and career-driven, finding solace in the familiar chaos of politics.
But beneath the polished surface of power, darker secrets are lurking. When Cal stumbles upon a trail of suspicious activities linked to her boss, she faces an impossible dilemma. As she digs deeper into the web of deception, she uncovers unsettling truths and finds unexpected allies, including one friend who may mean more to her than she ever realized.
With her life on the line and everything she holds dear at risk, Cal must navigate a treacherous path where the line between right and wrong blurs into a murky gray. As an unlikely hero, will she have the courage to take on this powerful network? And will she live to tell about it?
Join Cal in this gripping coming-of-age tale that explores the power of friendship, the courage to stand up for what's right, and the unexpected paths to love.
Excerpt
They take turns telling dirty jokes and trading gossip. I feel like a fly on the wall of a men’s locker room. I push the stuffed chicken and bland vegetables around my plate. I’ve lost my appetite. After the dessert plates are taken away, Williams gets up from his chair and walks towards the bar. Moments later, he returns with a tray full of champagne.
“New Year’s calls for champagne!” Williams says.
“Hear, hear!” the chief of police responds, grabbing a glass from the tray. He’s been quite stoic throughout the night, but that last beer must have loosened him up a bit. All the other men grab a glass as well, leaving one glass of champagne on the tray.
“Cali, that one’s for you!” Williams says, tipping his champagne glass towards me with a wink. Through the conversation over dinner, it’s clear that Williams is an incredibly powerful cabinet minister with the foreign affairs portfolio. I’d better not offend him.
“Oh, thank you!” I respond with a smile and take the glass of champagne from the tray. My heart starts pounding in my chest.
“To a great year, fellas!” Williams exclaims, raising his glass for a toast.
“To a great year!” White responds, clinking his glass against Williams’s. Ralph follows, then the chief of police, then Wayne, and finally Calanbra, who adds a hearty “Cheers!” I lift my glass to join the toast but don’t clink. Everyone takes a sip. I bring the glass of champagne to my lips, but the smell makes me want to gag. I hold it together, pretend to take a sip, then put the glass down. I hear ringing in both of my ears, and my heart pounds faster and faster. My eyes start to water.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” I say. At least, I think I said it. They don’t seem to notice as I get up from my seat and walk towards the exit of the great hall.
My breathing becomes shallow. Oh my god, I can’t breathe. Where is the exit? I walk past the hall that leads to the bathrooms. There’s a flash, and suddenly I’m just outside the bathroom. Wayne is there, and he pushes me against the wall. I shake my head. I can’t breathe. Where is the exit? I try to get away; his tongue is in my mouth, tasting like whiskey, then he’s kissing my neck. Oh god, make him stop. I can’t breathe. Wayne’s mouth is back on mine, and he forces his tongue inside my mouth. I taste blood. The gray strap on my dress breaks. I come to a dead-end. Where am I? Where’s the exit? I see a door and try it, but it’s locked. I frantically twist the handle. The pounding won’t stop; my heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest. Am I having a heart attack? Oh my god, am I dying? I’m dying. Tears roll down my face. I walk backward, leaning against the wall before slumping to the ground. This is where I’m going to die. In an 1800s castle that’s been converted into a luxury hotel, all alone. I can’t breathe. My heart pounds in my chest and ears, and I feel every drop of blood pulsing in my body. I close my eyes. I’m suffocating. I can’t breathe. Each breath grows shorter. I keep sharply inhaling. Over and over and over again. MAKE IT STOP!
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Author Biography
Raised in a quaint lakeside town in southern Ontario, N.G. Avant moved to Ottawa, Ontario as a young adult to realize her childhood dream of residing in Canada’s capital, which was built on the traditional un-ceded, un-surrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin People. She has a post-secondary education in journalism and worked in municipal politics for more than five years, an experience that sparked the inspiration for her Capital City series.
Avant always felt like a misfit among misfits. Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, she didn’t realize she was neurodivergent until her 30s. Now, she embraces the many gifts it brings, including her quirky personality.
Avant is a proud intersectional feminist with English, Scottish, and Mexican heritage, she understands the importance of embracing diverse identities and experiences. She believes that we are all connected by our humanity and the human experience.
Avant, is a millennial single mother to three wonderful daughters, has a growth mindset, love of animals, a passion for trusting her intuition, and supporting the creation of a more equitable world where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. Avant seeks to highlight the experiences of marginalized communities through her writing. While some progress has been made, there is still more work to be done.
It’s time for change.
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