At First Sight

By R.A. Krauszer

Her brother has raised Londyn since her parents died several years ago. Luca has always been protective of her, but when he has to become the father figure in her life, that protectiveness grows to new heights.

 

When Londyn finds herself in a dangerous situation, she wishes for nothing more than to be saved by her brother. What she doesn't see coming is his best friend.

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.A. Krauszer
• Release date: Sep 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223040484

R.A. Krauszer

Mom to children and furbabies. Wife to an awesome, supportive husband. Crafter, beader, almost all the things. I have always wanted to publish a book...I have done that....now I have the bug and want to do it more. So many ideas, so little time. Love to meet new people. Love to learn new things. Love to create. I am an open book....pun intended...you have questions, please ask :)

Book preview

1

Londyn slowly climbed out of her car, nervous beyond belief. Today was the first day of her new job at the bank. She slowly walked into the quiet lobby. Her shoes clacked on the marble floor near the entrance. The sound was muffled once she reached the carpet covering the floor.

Good morning, ma’am. How are you this morning? asked the cheery guard. He was a rotund man with a rosy face with black-rimmed glasses. Bright smile as well. He reminded her of Santa Claus without the red suit and beard.

Good morning. Sorry, I am a little nervous. Today is my first day, and I am unsure where to go, she told him shyly.

No reason to be nervous, young lady. Just head through that door to the manager’s office, said the older gentleman. She noticed his smile never faltered, even as he spoke with her, which eased her nervousness slightly. She would work out splendidly if everyone here were as friendly as him.

Thank you very much, Londyn told him as she walked toward the manager’s office.

Londyn knocked quietly on the office door.

Come in, said a gruff voice.

Londyn took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she walked through the door. Behind a vast, dark, glossy desk was an older gentleman. He seemed to be the complete opposite of the guard out front. He had a frown on his face, looked like he hadn’t shaved in the last day and a half, and had a coffee stain on his crooked tie. He looked like he had been repeatedly running his hands through his salt-and-pepper hair, which was messy and unkempt.

My name is Londyn Thomas. Today is my first day, and I was unsure exactly where I was going, she told him shyly, unsure if his frown was due to her interruption or if he always looked that way.

That’s simple; you will spend the first part of the day in the office next door filling out paperwork. Then, when you finish the paperwork, you will start taking care of the clients, he told her somewhat sternly, sounding exasperated at her question. He must be stressed to be this unprofessional, she thought.

Thank you very much, she told him, even though he didn’t seem as helpful as he could have been. There was a knock on the office door as she started to exit. She opened the door since she was about to leave anyway. She came face to chest with what felt like a brick wall on legs. Taking a step back, she looked into the eyes of a rough-looking man. A chill ran through her body, and not in a good way. She immediately wanted to be as far away from him as possible. The feeling didn’t leave her the entire time he stared at her. It was as if he was trying to stare into her soul.

Excuse me, Londyn said as she hurried around the guy and out of the office. She felt as if she couldn’t get away from him quickly enough. Without knocking, she slipped into the office next door to the managers to get the paperwork started. The sooner she started, the sooner she would be finished and on to the work. She always liked getting to know people, and this job would help her to fulfill that particular interest.

Hi, my name is Londyn Thomas. I need to finish the new hire paperwork, she explained to the lady behind the desk. The lady looked in her mid-thirties, the beginning of little crow’s feet around her dull hazel eyes. If anything, she looked bored and unhappy with her job.

No problem. Have a seat, and I will get it ready for you, she told Londyn, grabbing a massive stack of paperwork. She seemed to be somewhere in the middle of the two men: not happy-go-lucky like the guard but not as grumpy as the man next door.

Londyn sat down at the small table, staring at the stack of paperwork she had been given in disbelief. It had to be at least an inch thick. That didn’t include the paperwork she had completed online during the application process. When she was told that she needed to finish the new hire paperwork, she thought it might be a small packet, but this was insane. This was going to take her all day. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she grabbed the first paper off the stack and began filling it out. She was determined to finish this paperwork in an efficient and timely manner.

A few hours later, four and a half, to be exact, Londyn had finally completed all the required paperwork. She had taken her photo for her badge and was ready to go into the central part of the bank and start doing her job.

Londyn sat down at what was going to be her station. She had her computer and a corkboard to place photos and decorate how she wanted to. She loved the fact that she could personalize her space. The bank was relatively quiet, so Londyn could watch people chat briefly with her new co-workers. She watched as the guy she had seen in the manager’s office as she was leaving re-entered the bank for the third time. This time, he had another guy with him. They were heading back toward the manager’s office again. She couldn’t help the chill that ran through her seeing that guy again. He gave her the creeps.

The rest of the day went by quietly. Londyn enjoyed her job and looked forward to seeing how the rest of the week worked out. She had caught on relatively quickly to the banking system, so she didn’t need much help, and her co-workers seemed to be helpful and polite.

Have a good day, Miss Thomas, the sweet security guard told her as she left the bank.

You too, she told him as she left the bank.

She strolled to her car, lost in her thoughts of what she needed to do before her day ended. As she got to her car, she saw the guy from earlier in the day leaning against it.

Can I help you? she asked him as she approached.

I just wanted to say hello. You left the office so quickly this morning that I didn’t have a chance to introduce myself, he told her.

Now you have. Do you feel better? she asked him sassily. Luca had always told her that her sass would get her in trouble, but sometimes, it popped out without thought. She hoped that this wasn’t going to be one of those times. It wasn’t like anyone was around to help her if this man decided to do something to her because she had sassed him. He looked the type, after all.

He cocked his eyebrow, looking down at her in shock. A grin spread across his face slowly. That grin looked sinister and sexy at the same time; she couldn’t figure out how that was possible because his overall demeanor scared the hell out of her. She knew he was a bad guy without him even doing anything to prove it. He just gave off this evil persona.

You are a sassy little thing, aren’t you? he told her, more than asked. He was very cocky as well. He seemed to like her sass, but she knew it wouldn’t be good to continue to sass him. Eventually, he would get tired of it and do something.

Londyn rolled her eyes at him, Will you please excuse me? I have plans that you are making me late for.

He stepped to the side and opened the driver’s side door for her. Londyn silently stared at him, not sure what he was up to. She slid into the car and closed the door, locking it quickly. She slowly backed out of the parking spot after putting on her seatbelt, ensuring the creepy guy had moved away from her car. She rolled her eyes and pulled out of the parking lot when he winked at her.

It was the end of Londyn’s first week, and she had enjoyed her job. Thankfully, she hadn’t had to talk to or see that guy again. She didn’t like him at all. Just thinking about him gave her the chills.

Good morning, she told the security guard as she