Chase Calloway (Redemption Series Book 2) by Sandi Lynn
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Me, settle down? Right. Never happening, Dad.”
“This party life of yours can’t go on forever.”
“Why not?”
“Because, son, it’s not the way to live.”
“But marrying and divorcing four times is?” I arched my brow at him. “And now you’re marrying bridezilla for the fifth time? You do know she’s only after your money, right?”
“I made her sign a prenuptial agreement and it’s ironclad. If she was only in it for the money, she wouldn’t have signed it and called off the wedding. But she didn’t. She was more than happy to sign it. You never gave her a chance, Chase. You hated her right off the bat, and I don’t understand why. I love her.”
“Just like you loved Mom?” I arched my brow.
“I loved your mother.” He pointed his finger at me. “And I’m not discussing this anymore. Get your fucking life together and act like a Calloway or there will be consequences.”
“Consequences?” I cocked my head. “If it weren’t for me, Calloway Tech wouldn’t be where it’s at today; a company worth twenty-billion-dollars. Don’t you forget that!” I spoke through gritted teeth as I got up from my seat and flew out the door back to my office.
Chapter Seventeen
Kinsley
I could hear parts of the heated argument between Chase and his father. I was still angry with him for what he said to me last night, and the instant change I saw in him was unreal. It was like he was a totally different person. If I didn’t need this damn job so bad, I would quit so I didn’t have to see him again. The night of the party, I felt something. I didn’t want to, and I tried to ignore it, but I couldn’t. Then when I woke up and he was there, in my apartment, I felt it again. He hurt me with his words, especially calling me a coward. He hadn’t a clue, and the more I thought about it, the angrier I became.
It was the end of the work day and everyone had left. I stayed behind to finish typing up a proposal Mr. Calloway gave me at the last minute. When I was finished, I set it on his desk, grabbed my purse, and headed to the parking garage for my car. Once I climbed inside and turned the key, the car wouldn’t start.
“Oh, come on. Don’t do this to me,” I spoke in frustration.
I popped the hood, got out of the car, and looked underneath it.
“What are you doing?” Chase asked as he pulled up.
“My car won’t start.”
He shut off his car, got out, and stood next to me.
“What exactly are you looking for?” he asked.
“I think it’s the starter that’s bad. I’m just checking for any loose connections.”
“And you know a thing or two about cars?”
“Yes. A little bit. Don’t you?” I glanced over at him.
“No. I know nothing about them.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked.
“Nothing. Just go. I’m going to have to call a tow truck,” I spoke with irritation as I pulled my phone from my purse.
“I know a guy. Let me make a call, and then I’ll drive you home.”
“I can call an Uber.”
“You’re not calling an Uber.” He sighed.
“I’m sure you have plans tonight.” I stared at the hickey on his neck. “Maybe round two from last night.”
“Don’t worry about my plans. I’m not leaving you here alone.”
He walked away and made a call. A few moments later, he walked over to me.
“Carl is on his way. He’ll be here in about twenty minutes and tow it to his shop, which isn’t too far from here.”
“Thanks.” I looked down.
“Why are you here this late anyway?” he asked.
“Your dad gave me a proposal at the last minute and it needed to be typed up for his meeting tomorrow morning.”
“Sounds like him.” He rolled his eyes.
We both leaned up against my car, me looking down at the ground and him standing there with his hands tucked into the pockets of his dress pants. It was awkward to say the least, yet somehow, I felt the strong need to tell him about Henry.
“Me and Henry were together for a little over a year. It was his birthday and I wanted to surprise him. So, I took the day off work, stopped at his favorite bakery in the morning, went to his apartment, and found him in bed with my best friend, Krista. They claimed they only slept together twice, but I knew it was more than that.”
“I’m sorry,” Chase softly spoke. “That must have been quite a shock.”
“I left his apartment, went home, packed what I could, and hopped on a plane here. I only stayed in Indiana because of him. A year of my life wasted when I could have already been here and established.”
The tow truck pulled up and I told Carl that it was most likely the starter. He looked at me with a smile and spoke, “A girl who knows about cars. I like that.” He hooked my car up and drove away.
“Climb in,” Chase spoke as he opened the passenger door for me.
“Thanks.”
He sped out of the parking garage and I held on for dear life. But watching him drive his sports car was quite a turn on. Something I needed to get out of my head.
“This isn’t the way to my apartment,” I spoke.
“I know. We’re making a stop first.” He glanced over at me.
“Where?”
“You’ll see.” He smirked.
He pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant called Water Grill Downtown.
“Why are we here?” I asked.
“I’m starving and I’m sure you are too. So, before I take you home, we’re going to eat.”
He got out of the car and opened my door.
“You don’t have to open the door for me,” I spoke with irritation as I climbed out. The last thing I wanted to do was have dinner with him.
“I am a gentleman.”
“No you’re not.” I rolled my eyes as I walked ahead of him.
“How dare you,” he spoke.
Once we entered the restaurant that had a two-hour wait, we were seated immediately because L.A.’s sexiest and most eligible bachelor had arrived.
“Impressed?” He smirked.
“Not really.” I picked up my menu.
I heard the sharp intake of his breath as I held the menu up to my face.
“Chase Calloway.” A pretty blonde-haired waitress smiled.
“Kara, darling. How are you?”
“I’m good. It’s been a while.” She winked.
I sat there with a narrowed eye as I watched the nauseating interaction between the two of them.
“It has. Maybe we should catch up over a drink sometime.” Chase grinned.
“I’d love that. Call me.” She stood there swooning over him as she bit down on her bottom lip.
“Excuse me,” I spoke. “I totally hate to interrupt this special moment between the two of you, but can we order?”
“Oh sure.” She turned to me, holding her notepad in her hand. “What can I get you, sweetie?”
“I’ll have the sea scallops and the butternut squash,” I replied.
“And for you, handsome?” She turned to Chase.
“I’ll have the Chilean sea bass and mashed potatoes. Also bring us a bottle of Prosecco.”
“You got it.” She grinned as she took our menus and walked away.
I was blown away by his behavior with other women when he was with a woman. Not only was it rude but insulting as well.
“Why did you tell me about your ex earlier?” he asked.
“I don’t know. You wanted to know why I left California in such a hurry.”
“Was he the only reason? Because I find it a little strange that you’d just skip town and move to a place where you don’t know anyone at all or have a place to live or a job over a guy. I kind of find that being a little unstable.”
“He was the only reason why I stayed. And aren’t you the pot calling the kettle
Kara, our waitress, brought the bottle of Prosecco and poured some into each of our glasses.
“Thank you, darling.” Chase winked, and I wanted to vomit. “What do you mean by that?” he asked as he narrowed his eye at me.
“You’ve slept with just about every woman in Los Angeles and god knows where else. Talk about being unstable.”
“No, sweetheart. That’s not being unstable. I happen to enjoy sex with beautiful women. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s called life. Maybe you should try it sometime.”
“You’re right, Chase. It’s not about being unstable. It’s about being insecure.” I cocked my head.
He let out a chuckle. “Me,” he pointed to himself, “insecure? You’re delusional, darling. I’m the most secure person there is.”
“Keep telling yourself that. Because deep down, you use sex as a coping mechanism.”
“Okay. First of all, we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you. I asked you the question, remember? Plus, you don’t know a damn thing about me to be making judgments like that.” He threw back his drink.
“And you don’t know a damn thing about me either,” I growled.
Chapter Eighteen
Chase
This woman was fucking unbearable. How dare she say those things to me. I helped her with her car, treated her to a nice dinner, and that was how she behaved? This was totally unacceptable.
“Enjoy your dinner.” Kara smiled as she set our plates down in front of us.
“I’ll try,” I spoke as I glared at Kinsley.
I never had to deal with a woman this difficult before, and no woman had ever talked to me the way she had. She might have been beautiful, but she was stubborn, intense, and a smart mouth. I guessed that was how small town girls were raised, and I didn’t like it one bit.
We ate our dinner in silence, neither one of us saying a word. She owed me an apology and I wanted it.
“You owe me an apology,” I spoke.
“Excuse me? I owe you an apology?” She pointed to herself. “No, jerk! You owe me an apology.”
I was taken aback by her calling me a jerk.
“I don’t owe you shit. I was nice enough to help you out with your car and treat you to this nice dinner and that’s how you treat me?”
She let out a roaring laugh. A laugh so loud that the people at the table next to us looked over.
“In two days, you have called me a coward, disrespectful, and unstable!”
“Oh no he didn’t,” the lady at the table next to us looked at Kinsley and spoke.
“Oh, but he did.” She slowly nodded her head.
“Shame on you!” The lady waved her finger at me. “If you were my son, you’d get a good whooping.”
“Well then, thank god I’m not,” I mumbled. “Okay. Everyone needs to calm down. Kinsley, I’m sorry for calling you those things.”
“No you’re not.” She pursed her lips.
I sighed. “Can we please just finish our dinner so I can take you home?”
“Fine,” she spoke.
Suddenly, I looked up and saw my father and Penelope following the hostess to a table. Shit. If he saw me with Kinsley, he wasn’t going to be happy. I gulped as he saw me and walked over to our table.
“Chase, Kinsley,” he spoke with a disapproving tone and then turned to me with a glaring eye.
“Hi, Mr. Calloway.” Kinsley smiled.
“Hey, Dad.”
“So the two of you are having dinner together?” he asked with suspicion.
“When I was leaving the office, I saw Kinsley in the parking garage and her car wouldn’t start. So, I called a tow truck and offered to drive her home and we stopped here to get something to eat on the way.”
“I see. Kinsley, this is my fiancée Penelope. Penelope, this is my temporary secretary, Kinsley Davis.”
“Nice to meet you.” She smiled as she extended her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you too,” Kinsley spoke as she placed her hand in Penelope’s.
“Well, then, we’ll let you two finish your dinner. I’ll see you both tomorrow morning.”
“See ya, Dad.”
We finished our dinner and I waved Kara over for the check.
“Don’t forget about that drink, Chase.” She winked.
“I won’t, darling.”
Kinsley reached into her purse, grabbed some cash, and threw it on the table.
“What’s that for?” I asked.
“My half of dinner.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m paying,” I spoke as I picked up the cash and tried to hand it back to her.
“I didn’t ask you to take me to dinner. Plus, I don’t want you holding it over my head.” Her brow arched.
“Kinsley, come on. Please.” I cocked my head with a small smile.
“Fine.” She grabbed the cash from my hands and got up from her seat.
“Don’t I even get a thank you?” I held out my hands.
She ignored me and walked out the door. As soon as I dropped her off at her apartment and she walked away without as so much as a goodbye, I went home and poured myself a drink. Kinsley Davis was an insufferable woman and she drove me insane. I’d never felt this kind of contempt before with any woman and it bothered me. Why was I letting her get under my skin?
The next morning, I woke up in a bad mood. I didn’t sleep well, and I tossed and turned all night.
“Good morning, Chase.” Lexi smiled brightly.
I glanced at her and walked into my office, throwing my briefcase on the couch. Suddenly, I heard the door shut.
“Okay, what’s going on? Who has your panties in a twist?” Lexi asked as she handed me a cup of coffee.
“Nothing is going on, and no one, as you so eloquently put it, has my panties in a twist.”
“I call bullshit. I’ve known you forever, Chase.”
Suddenly, the door opened, and Steven walked in.
“Not now, Steven,” I spoke as I took a seat in my chair.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“Someone has Chase’s panties in a bunch and he won’t tell me who or what happened to put him in such a foul mood this morning.”
“Oh. Is that so? Do tell.” He smiled as he took a seat across from my desk.
I sighed as I leaned back in my chair and looked up at the ceiling.
“It’s Kinsley.”
“Now what happened?” Lexi asked in a monotone voice.
“When I was leaving last night, I saw her in the parking garage and her car wouldn’t start. I called a tow truck and on the way home, we stopped and grabbed some dinner.”
“Let me guess.” Steven grinned. “She refused to have sex with you.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “No. Sex wasn’t even on the table. She told me about her catching her ex and her best friend in bed and that’s why she moved here so suddenly. I asked her if that was the only reason because it seemed a little unstable.”
“Oh, Chase. You didn’t.”
“You called her unstable?” Steven asked.
“She told me that the only reason I have sex with so many women is because I’m insecure.”
Lexi snorted, and I shot her a dirty look.
“When I debated with her about it, she told me I use sex as a coping mechanism.”
Lexi snorted again, and I pointed my finger at her.
“Then I told her she owed me an apology and she voiced rather loudly that I owed her one, and she refused to apologize.”
“The two of you need to have sex and get it over with,” Steven spoke.
“I’ve never seen you like this before,” Lexi said. “Kinsley is a strong and independent woman. You’re not used to that. All the women you sleep with are airheads.”
“That is not true,” I spoke.
“Yeah, bro. It is,” Steven agreed. “You don’t let women get to you at all, so us having this conversation tells me that you’re afraid of her.”
<
“Because you don’t know what to do with her,” Lexi replied. “You’re not used to this kind of challenge. You snap your fingers and women drop to their knees for you. But with Kinsley, you snap your fingers and she runs the other way.”
“She does not, Lexi. Maybe she doesn’t know what to do with me. After all, she’s from a small town with probably no experience at all. Maybe that’s why her boyfriend cheated on her.”
“That’s low, Chase. Even for you.” Lexi’s brows furrowed.
“Yeah. Perhaps it was. I need to get to work and so do the both of you.” I pointed at them.
Chapter Nineteen
Kinsley
Instead of running my usual three miles a day, I ran six. I was up all night, tossing and turning because of that insufferable man named Chase Calloway. I was running from the thoughts in my head about him. Sure, he was sexy, gorgeous, and hot, but he was an asshole who thought he could talk to women any way he wanted to. Maybe he could get away with it with the brainless, low self-esteemed women he fucked on a daily basis, but not with me. Why was it that when I decided to stay away from him, we kept crossing paths?
I was sitting at my desk when Mr. Calloway walked past.
“Good morning, Kinsley. Can I see you in my office for a second?”
“Sure, Mr. Calloway.”
I got up from my seat and followed him into his office.
“How was your dinner last night?” he asked.
“It was fine.”
“And Chase made sure you got home safely?”
“Yes.” I gave him an odd look.
“And everything’s okay?”
“Yes, Mr. Calloway.”
“Okay then. You may go.” He nodded.
I got up from my seat with confusion, and as I headed towards the door, something inside me snapped.
“No!” I abruptly turned around and faced him. “Things are not okay. Your son is an insufferable man. He’s rude, arrogant, thinks he knows everything, and he’s cocky.”
“I won’t disagree.” He smirked. “I take it you and Chase aren’t getting along?”
“Getting along? I can’t even stand to be in the same room with him.”