Meet Chad

By Krystal. D. Hall

Chad had simple rules.
- Never turn up late for an appointment,
- Always keep affairs short and steamy,
- Never date an employee
Until he encountered Nemesis all dressed in dark colours and dangerously curvy.
A playboy with commitment issues, a gorgeous lady haunted by her past. Some rules are meant to be broken, while others are like lines that should never be crossed.
What happens when those lines gradually get blurred?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Krystal. D. Hall
• Release date: Mar 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005225957

Krystal. D. Hall

Krystal is a full time contemporary romance author ( a prettied-up name for a professional dreamer!). When she is not writing, she succumbs to wanderlust and explores this great vast, expanse of green and blue called the earth!

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Meet Chad

Krystal. D. Hall

Published by Krystal .D. Hall at Smashwords

Copyright © 2021 Krystal .D. Hall

All rights reserved

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter One

Alyssa waited impatiently behind the bespectacled man. She had only one thing on her mind, one thing she wanted perhaps more than anything else right now ….. coffee.

She glanced around the restaurant. It wasn’t the type of establishment she would normally patronize. It was too expensive for her price- sensitive budget.

She thought about that for a second and then shrugged, she really did not have any choice. This was the only place to get coffee in the vicinity.

This part of the town had several high-rise buildings occupied by blue chip companies and top-rated brands. All the restaurants in the area were in a steep competition to be the most exclusive or was it expensive now? Alyssa couldn’t tell.

She waited in line for her turn and decided to order a cup of coffee since that was the only thing she could afford.

The restaurant was exceptionally pricey, so expensive it was insane. She glanced around the lavishly furnished restaurant. It was tastefully furnished with bright colors that seemed to Alyssa like a token effort to brighten up the mood of its clientele.

Your orders, Ma’am the timid lady behind the counter said.

Alyssa felt sorry for the young girl. She looked like she was not exactly having a good day.

She ordered a cup of coffee. It was the most expensive coffee she’d ever bought.

Could you please...like…make it warm…not too hot…I’m in a bit of a hurry She didn’t have any extra time to spare waiting for the beverage to cool down.

She picked up her tray and glanced furtively around for an inconspicuous spot; somewhere she could sit quietly and have her morning coffee.

There was a table close to the exit. It was the last table on the row.

‘That will do’.

She headed for the table and collided with an object that was not supposed to be there – a human obstacle.

The small tray tumbled down.

Alyssa stood mesmerized as the brown liquid content spread slowly over an incredibly expensive, well-tailored navy-blue trousers.

Oh my goodness! She was mortified.

He stood motionless, calmly watching as the beverage ran slowly over the fabric of his trousers.

Alyssa glanced up at him. His face was expressionless.

She felt like a complete nitwit.…. a totally inept, clumsy nitwit.

I’m….. she started,

The manager of the establishment was at the table in a second. He was apologizing profusely.

I’m…so… sorry Alyssa stuttered as she watched the dark brown stain spread ruining a perfectly good morning.

Instinctively, she pressed pink handkerchief on the dark stain. She had brought the handkerchief along because she was nervous and it seemed like a sensible thing to do.

It took her a moment to realize how awkward it all was and she stopped abruptly.

I’m so, so, sorry She repeated.

He seemed incredibly stoic for someone who had a horrible brown stain of coffee spreading on his immaculate trousers.

Do you always walk around without focusing on where you’re going? He asked.

He had a deep baritone voice that she could have found sexy in other circumstances -but not this…

‘We bumped into each other and he’s trying to pin the blame on me?’

Well, you didn’t exactly keep your eyes on where you’re heading too she retorted angrily.

She knew she sounded rude, but she didn’t care. He was a very rude person and she probably would love to pour more coffee on his head if she had an extra cup.

Chad always takes his coffee at this table every day. Everyone knows this is his spot the manager explained. His explanation was irrelevant.

‘The manager of the restaurant is a complete oaf. That is some major sucking up to right there’.

She was livid, perhaps because she was hungry. She thought of a thousand and one things she could say to both of them but instead took in a deep breath and mentally counted one-to-five under her breath.

Pardon me she said.

The manager was asking if he could have someone get the trousers dry cleaned.

He seemed to be an important guest.

Alyssa sighed.

It occurred to her that her make-shift breakfast was gone…. her million-dollar coffee was an improbable mess on the floor.

A wave of sadness spread all over her.

It was an awful start to a very optimistic day.

Blackwood Incorporated was located a few minutes away from the restaurant but she decided to take a walk around the block to calm herself.

She stood in front of the building and heaved a sigh.

‘I am calm....I am calm…’

It was a high-rise building located in the heart of the city and all the floors were fully occupied by Blackwood Incorporated and its subsidiaries.

When she stepped into the elevator, she was frazzled.

The human resource manager gave her a disapproving look.

He was a middle-aged man with a touch of grey hairs at the temple. She liked the fact that he was professional and yet seemed to add a personal touch to the way he interacted with other employees.

I’m so sorry, Mark She apologized for the umpteenth time that day.

Her self-confidence was like a tattered rag around her as she managed to stand with her head held high.

Her stomach growled.

She could only hope Mark hadn’t heard that.

Please take a sit Ms Turner, Mr Blackwood would be joining us shortly. Mark replied.

She sat down gratefully on the chair and took a moment to study her environment.

The meeting room had a large oval table that covered half of the space. It was tastefully furnished with comfortable black chairs and paintings.

It was simple yet classy.

She felt like running her hand on the insignia of the company beautifully engraved in gold at the center of the sturdy mahogany table in front of her.

Although a family-owned business, Blackwood Incorporated had a brand image that would appeal to anyone who preferred to build a career and earn respect in the mining sector.

She wondered briefly why she had to meet with the CEO as part of the interview process. It wasn’t like she was applying for a top or even middle level position.

Her role would involve working with the branding team. Although it was an important role, Blackwood was not a medium-sized organization; it was a major conglomerate. Meeting the CEO as part of the interview process could only mean that the company was sensitive to public opinion about their brand.

She had looked forward to clinching a role in this type of organization since she was in high school, so this was a dream come true for her and she was not about to let anyone or anything spoil her day.

The clock ticked slowly away. Alyssa settled down comfortably and tried to gather her wits about her.

She knew how important it was to appear professional and confident. She thought about the possible questions the CEO might ask and what her response should be.

She noticed vaguely that Mark seemed a bit nervous. He was glancing at his wrist-watch every now and then; he looked extremely bothered.

Is everything ok, Mark? She asked.

He is running late and that is odd because he is never late for an appointment. He usually comes in at least ten minutes before any meeting Mark replied.

‘He seemed to be a creature of habit’ Alyssa thought.

She was glad he was late. It gave her ample time to regain her composure. Mark’s mobile phone rang.

He picked the call and after the initial pleasantries, listened for a few minutes and nodded his head vigorously, then the call came to an end.

Ms Turner, I’m afraid we have to proceed with the interview without Mr Blackwood. He is unavoidably delayed and would join us later. He asked someone from the Administrative Department and your direct supervisor, Geoffrey Clark to fill in for him.

She felt like standing on the table to do a brief dance and scream ‘hurray’ or maybe even kneel down right there beside the pricey looking table and raise her hands high up to the heavens in a gesture of thanksgiving at the relief but instead nodded her head solemnly.

She had met Geoffrey Clark once. He seemed like a decent fellow, a little slick but he had a vast wealth of knowledge and experience about branding and she looked forward to working with him.

The door opened and Geoffrey Clark walked in accompanied by a pretty lady who looked as if she had just stepped out of a fashion magazine.

Alyssa smiled politely and stood up as Mark introduced them.

Ms Turner, I’m sure you’ve met Geoffrey Clark Mark said.

Alyssa nodded as she extended her hands for a brief handshake.

This is Kathleen Friar from the Admin department, she would be filling in for Mr Blackwood who is regrettably absent.

Alyssa extended her hands to the lady, she immediately wished she wore something a bit more glamorous as she smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Kathleen.

The interview started almost immediately.

They wanted to know how she proposed to make an impact on the company.

She let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.

This was an area she was familiar with.

She smiled and launched into a detailed explanation of the skills she hoped to bring to the table and how she would be a great addition to the team.

The door opened a few minutes into their discussion, and someone stood there watching her.

It was the stranger she had bumped into at the restaurant. He had changed out of his stained trousers and was wearing white shirt and well-tailored black trousers. Everyone on the table stood up in unison.

Keep your seats gentlemen and ladies he said leaning against the door.

Good morning Mr Blackwood Mark said.

She knew her mouth was wide opened.

‘He was Mr Blackwood? The Mr Blackwood?

She wished she was anywhere else apart from right there at that moment.

Chapter Two

Chad walked into the meeting room adjoining his office. He was late for an interview for the first time in ages. He had met a very interesting young lady earlier that day. She had this incredibly long legs. It was the first thing he had noticed about her. She had bumped into him and spilled her coffee on his legs.

Well …..more like poured it really…. and then she instinctively started apologizing profusely.

She had stood there horrified, staring at him. She was close enough for him to catch a glimpse of those lovely breasts beneath the black blouse she wore; just a glimpse of the well-rounded mounds that left him longing for more.

Her hands dabbed away dangerously close to his crotch as she apologized profusely. He rose to the occasion.

It was even more fascinating that she seemed completely unaware of the effect she had on him, the sheer innocence of it was unnerving - and sexy too.

For a crazy moment the thought of having those lovely long legs wrapped around him while he made passionate love to her flashed through his mind.

Eugene, the manager came around to apologize on her behalf.

It wasn’t really a big deal he wanted to say but instead decided to tease her.

Do you always walk around without looking at where you are going? he had teased.

He had watched with great fascination at the range of emotions that played across her face.

Her face was incredibly expressive. It was disarming and….. refreshing.

She had replied angrily.

He wanted to laugh but had a feeling it would only make her angrier than she was already.

She was a fascinating creature - this young lady. She had walked out of the restaurant before he could ask her any further details about herself.

He should probably be thankful for that. She spelled trouble with a capital ‘T’.