Chase Calloway (Redemption Series Book 2) by Sandi Lynn
“Oh. So, you’re a lesbian?”
“No. I’m not a lesbian.” I smiled. “Let’s just say that I moved here to reinvent myself and to start my life over. I’m not going to let any man distract me from that. I already made that mistake once and it will be a cold day in hell before I let it happen again.”
The corners of his mouth curved up in a cunning smile.
“I get the impression you’re a very independent and strong woman. Good for you. May I ask why you’re working for a temp agency?”
“I just moved here three days ago from Indiana. It was a kind of a spur of the moment move, and the agency called me quickly, so I had to take it for now.”
“Well, you have a good head on your shoulders, and I’m lucky the agency sent you over to Calloway Tech.”
“Thank you, Mr. Calloway.”
“You’re welcome, Kinsley. Can you please call the florist and send my fiancée, Penelope, a dozen red roses? We had a little argument this morning.” He smirked.
“Of course. I’ll do it now.” I smiled as I left his office.
Chapter Eight
Kinsley
The work day finally ended, and I hopped into my car, typed the address to the apartment into my phone, and found my way to Santa Monica. As soon as I pulled into a parking space in front of the white buildings, an older woman, whom I presumed was Mrs. Graham, was standing on the sidewalk waiting for me.
“You must be Kinsley.” She smiled as she extended her hand.
“And you must be Mrs. Graham.” I smiled back as I lightly shook it.
“Follow me, dear, and I’ll show you the apartment.”
I was a little surprised when I arrived because I was under the impression it was a traditional apartment building. But it wasn’t. There were two house-styled buildings that stood next to one another, each building with black wrought iron stairs going up to the second level, and each apartment having their own private entrance. I followed her up the stairs to apartment 2A, where she unlocked the door and invited me to step inside. The living room was quite large with walls that were painted a light gray. Inside the space sat a dark gray sectional with a round glass coffee table in front of it, a matching glass end table on one side, and an entertainment center with a 55-inch television that sat on top. The kitchen was on the smaller side with white cabinets, black granite counter tops, and a small round table that sat four.
“So, Kinsley, where are you living now?” Mrs. Graham asked as we toured the bedroom.
“A motel.”
“Oh, dear.” She looked at me in confusion.
“I just moved to Los Angeles on Friday. It was an unexpected kind of move. I came out here to start my life over.”
“Are you running from someone or something?” she asked.
“Sort of. This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I would have been here a couple of years ago, but then I met my ex-boyfriend Henry.”
“Ah. So, you pushed it all aside for him.” She smiled.
“Pretty much. I went over to his apartment Friday morning to surprise him for his birthday and I found him in bed with my best friend, Krista.”
“Oh, dear. I’m so sorry.” She placed her hand on my arm.
I had no clue why I told Mrs. Graham something so personal. Maybe it was because she reminded me of Mrs. Buckley and she was very easy to talk to.
“Thank you, but that was the push I needed to finally leave Indiana and move here. I’ve been saving every dime I’ve made since I was sixteen years old for this.”
“Are you looking for work?”
“I have a job. Today was my first day. I’m a temp for Dean Calloway at Calloway Tech. I’ll be working there for at least eight weeks. But I’m still looking for something permanent.”
“So what do you think about the apartment?” she asked.
“I love it. I think it’s absolutely perfect. How much for the rent?”
“What is your budget?” she asked.
“I really can only afford a thousand dollars a month until I start making more money.”
“What a coincidence.” She smiled. “That’s exactly what the rent is. But you are responsible for all utilities except water.”
“Are you serious? There’s no way this apartment is a thousand dollars a month.”
“It is for you, dear, and if you want it, it’s yours.”
“Mrs. Graham. I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much.”
“I’m very selective about whom I rent my apartments to. I’ve already turned down four people for this place because I felt they weren’t the right fit. But you, you’re the right fit. My husband passed away a couple of years ago and left me set for the rest of my life. So, I’m not worried about the money. You need a nice place to live and I have one available.” She smiled.
“Thank you.” I reached over and gave her a hug.
“You’re welcome. You can move in tomorrow or even tonight. I’ll just need you to sign the lease and the keys are yours. The kitchen is fully stocked with dishes, glasses, silverware, bakeware, and pots and pans. There are some cleaning products under the cabinet, but not many. The bathroom is fully stocked with towels and washcloths, and there are two sets of extra sheets in the linen closet. All you have to do is bring in your clothes.” She smiled.
After signing the lease, I drove to the motel, gathered all my things, and checked out. I wasn’t spending another night there when I had a beautiful apartment waiting for me. I dragged my suitcase up the steps, into my apartment, and straight to my room, where I began to hang my clothes in the closet. When I was finished, I walked over to the window and stared out at the ocean view from across the street. A sense of peace filled me. My new life had officially started. I had a car, a job, and a home.
I lay in the bubble-filled tub, taking in the relaxing scent of lavender as I unwound from the long day. For some reason, I was thinking about Chase Calloway, so I grabbed my phone and decided to google him.
“L.A.’s sexiest and most eligible bachelor?” I laughed. Of course he was.
I scrolled through the pictures of him at parties and bars surrounded by several women. Women who looked like prostitutes and strippers. Was I surprised? Not at all. Even though today was my first day, I saw the way women looked at him like a dog salivating at a piece of meat. Chase Calloway was simply nothing but a manwhore; a manwhore whom I would keep my distance from.
Chapter Nine
Chase
The doorbell rang, and when I answered it, Lexi was standing there with her head cocked at me.
“Okay, Chase. What is so important that I had to run over here?” she asked as she stepped inside.
“I need to talk to you about something. Can I get you a glass of wine?”
“Sure,” she spoke as she set down her purse. “Why couldn’t you talk to me about it at the office? Traffic was a bitch getting here.”
“I couldn’t run the risk of someone overhearing us.”
I handed her the glass of wine, grabbed my scotch from the table, and had her follow me out to the patio.
“This sounds serious. Are you in trouble?” she asked with concern.
“No. This is about Kinsley.”
“Your dad’s temp?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“What about her?”
“She seems to not be affected by me.” I arched my brow.
Lexi let out a rip-roaring laugh.
“You mean she’s not falling to her knees to suck your dick like every other woman in the world?”
“That was uncalled for, Lexi. But yes, something like that. I asked her to go to dinner with me tonight so I could welcome her to Calloway Tech and she declined.”
Lexi placed her hand over her heart and widened her eyes.
“Oh my God. Someone actually said no to the great Chase Calloway?”
“I know, right? She said she had plans.”
“So what? Maybe she did.”
“Lexi.” I cocked my head. ??
“Maybe she’s a lesbian.” She shrugged.
“That is what I need you to find out.” I pointed at her.
“What?” She laughed.
“I need you to befriend her and find out if she’s into men or women or both.” My brow arched. “If she’s bisexual, then I’d still have a chance.”
“So, let me get this straight. You want me to become friends with her just so you can find out if she’s a lesbian?”
“Yes. As my secretary/personal assistant/sister-like friend, I’ve just assigned you a new task.”
“Come on, Chase. I’m not going to deceive the smart girl.” She smirked. “But I could get to know her as a friend. She seems really nice.”
“Excellent. I knew I could count on you.” I refilled her glass.
“Did you ever stop to consider that maybe she’s just not into you?”
“Impossible.” My brows furrowed.
She sighed as she rolled her eyes.
****
The next morning, as I was sitting at my desk, there was a light knock on the door.
“Come in.”
When I looked up, I saw Kinsley walk into my office with a file folder in her hand.
“Good morning, Kinsley.” I smiled with a hint of excitement.
“Good morning, Chase. Your father asked me to drop this file off to you.”
“He did now?” My grin widened as I got up from my chair and took the file from her hand. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she spoke with an odd look on her face.
“How was your evening?” I asked.
“It was really good. And yours?”
“Not bad. Not at all. So, how about dinner tonight?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Plans again?” I narrowed my eye at her.
“No.” She shook her head. “Just looking forward to a quiet evening alone.”
“Oh. I see. Okay, then. Thanks for the file.” I held it up.
“You’re welcome.” She smiled and walked out of my office.
I stood there wondering what the hell was going on. She had to be a lesbian. There could be no other explanation as to why she would turn down dinner with me, twice.
“Lexi,” I shouted. “Get in here.”
“What’s wrong?” She came running into my office.
“Have you found anything out yet about Kinsley Davis?”
She glanced at the watch that was sitting on her wrist.
“Really, Chase?” She cocked her head at me. “It’s only nine thirty. She’s been here thirty minutes. I haven’t had a chance yet.”
“Well, chop chop! What are you waiting for? She just turned me down for dinner again.”
“I’ll go now and ask her if she would like to have lunch together today,” she spoke in a calm voice.
“Good idea. As soon as you get back, I want the full report.”
She rolled her eyes and walked out of my office.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me! This is important!” I shouted before she could close the door.
Chapter Ten
Kinsley
“You’re welcome, Mr. Calloway.” I smiled as I shut his door.
I had just taken a seat at my desk when a woman walked over to me.
“Hi. I’m Lexi.” She smiled. “Welcome to Calloway Tech.”
“Thank you. I’m Kinsley.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get over here yesterday to introduce myself. It was a crazy busy day,” she spoke.
“Oh, that’s okay. Please don’t give it a second thought.”
“Would you like to have lunch together today? There’s this great Chinese restaurant just around the corner from here. That is, if you like Chinese food.”
“I do, and yes, lunch would be great.”
“Perfect. I usually take my lunch at noon. Will that work for you?”
“Noon is good.”
“It was nice to meet you, Kinsley.” She smiled.
“You too, Lexi.”
She seemed really nice, and she was pretty. Five foot four, slender figure, medium-length brown hair with bold blonde highlights, and dark brown eyes. She looked to be about the same age as me or maybe a couple of years older.
Noon rolled around, and I informed Mr. Calloway that I was heading to lunch. When I went back to my desk to grab my purse, Lexi was standing there.
“Ready?” She smiled.
“I am, and I’m starving.”
“Me too. Come on.”
When we approached the elevator and the doors opened, Chase walked out with a wide grin across his face.
“Well hello, beautiful ladies. Off to lunch?”
I gave him a small smile while Lexi answered him.
“Yes. We’ll be back in an hour.”
“No need to rush,” he spoke. “Take your time and enjoy your food.”
We stepped inside the elevator, and as soon as the doors closed, I spoke, “Is he your boss?”
“Unfortunately.” Lexi rolled her eyes and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Actually, he’s really good to work for, sometimes.” She smirked. “I’ve known Chase since I was a kid. His dad and my parents were good friends back when we lived in New York. We stayed in touch all the time when he and his father moved to California, and I would spend the summers here. After I graduated high school, I moved here to attend college, met my fiancé Ben, dropped out of college, and then Chase offered me a job as his secretary/personal assistant.”
By time she was finished with her story, we reached the restaurant and took a seat in a booth with high backs.
“Have the two of you ever dated?” I ask and had no clue why.
Lexi laughed. “No. He’s like a brother to me.”
“You mentioned his dad was friends with your parents. What about his mom?”
“His mom is a whole story on its own. She wasn’t around.”
“Oh.”
“So tell me, why a temp agency? Are you in between jobs or careers?” Lexi asked.
“I just moved here last Friday, and I needed a job ASAP. The agency called, and I took it. It’s only temporary until I figure out what I want to do.”
“You just moved to California?” she asked. “From where?”
“Berkshire, Indiana.”
“I never heard of it.”
“I’m not surprised.” I smiled. “It’s a small town; boring, no excitement whatsoever.”
“Do you have family or friends here in California?”
“Nope. I don’t know a single person, except for the few people I just met.”
“Wow. So you moved here without a plan or a job or anything?”
“Yep. Just me and my suitcase. It was kind of a very sudden move. Like less than a twelve-hour move. I came here to start my life over.”
“Let me guess, some douchebag boyfriend broke your heart?”
“Yeah. He was one of the reasons.”
We ate our food and Lexi paid the bill.
“How much was mine?” I asked as I pulled out my wallet.
“Put your money away. This lunch is on Chase.” She smiled.
When we reached the office, I thanked her again for lunch and went back to my desk. I’d just made a new friend in California.
****
Chase
“Here,” Lexi spoke as she threw a receipt at me.
“What’s this?” I picked it up.
“That’s what you owe me for lunch.”
“Why am I paying for your lunch?”
“Because you wanted me to find out information about Kinsley and I did. The least you could do is pay for it.”
I sighed as I pulled my wallet from my pocket and handed her some cash.
“Well?” My brow arched.
Lexi shut the door to my office and took a seat.
“She just moved here from Berkshire, Indiana on Friday.”
“I knew she wasn’t from California!” I pointed at her.
“The only thing she said was she moved here to start her life over. I asked her if a douchebag boyfriend broke her heart and she said he was one of the reasons.”
“Hmm. So, she’s not a lesbian. Damn it! Did she ask about me?” I grinned.
“No.”
“Not at all?” I cocked my head in irritation.
“The only thing she asked was if you were my boss.”
“That’s it? Nothing else?”
“No, Chase. Nothing else. I’m sorry, but I don’t think she’s interested in you. Especially if she just got her heart broken by some douchebag in Berkshire, Indiana.”
“Well, I’m just going to have to fix that for her.”
“How? You’re the master, the god who breaks women’s hearts every day. She’s a nice girl and I like her. In fact, I think we could be really good friends. So, I won’t let you break her heart.”
I narrowed my eyes as I stared at her from behind my desk.
“I wouldn’t.”
Laughter escaped her. “It’s all you know how to do! Leave her alone and move on to the next victim. Oh wait. She did ask if we had ever dated.”
“Why would she ask that?”
“Cause I told her I’ve known you since we were kids.”
“Well, if she asked that, then some interest in me must lie somewhere inside her. Why would she care if she wasn’t attracted?” I smiled. “You didn’t tell her about all the women I date, did you?” My eye narrowed.
“No, and I don’t have to. All she has to do is google your name and thousands of images of you and different women pop up. She’d be able to tell right away what a manwhore you are.” She smirked.
“That is not true!”
“Sure it is.” She laughed. “Google yourself. Are we done here? I have work to do.”
“Yes, we’re done.” I shooed her out of my office.
Picking up my phone, I googled my name and clicked on images.
“Oh shit,” I spoke to myself.
Chapter Eleven
Kinsley
The work day was almost over, and I couldn’t wait to get home. But first, I had to stop at the grocery store and do some shopping. I was cleaning up my desk when Chase walked over and handed me a flyer.