Smoke and Flames

Chapter One

KARA STOOD THERE, WAITING FOR someone to walk in. She opened only a couple of minutes ago but a feeling of excitement washed over her and made her head spin.

The small bell went off and she immediately looked up, the merry sound dancing through the cozy bakery. Her breath caught in her throat, the man in front of her was roped with muscles and his visible skin was covered in scars.

Thinking nothing of it, Kara gave a genuine smile. "What can I get for you sir?" his voice was gruff and cold but her welcoming smile never faltered. "I'll take a breakfast sandwich and a black coffee."

Her rehearsed line tumbled out of her soft pink lips animatedly. "For here or to go?" she already knew the answer before he could even speak. "To go."

Taking a breakfast sandwich from the display she wrapped it and slid it into a paper bag. Shuffling to the back she quickly fixed his coffee, careful not to trip over her own feet.

She immediately set the coffee onto the counter and smiled. "That'll be four-ninety nine." His huge hand slid across the counter, handing her a five. Smiling she opened the register and put the five in before taking out a penny. "Your chan-" when she looked up the man was gone.

SHE GOT THIRTEEN MORE customers after him. Overall she thought that today was a productive day, she chatted with her customers and made corny jokes that had them laughing.

A small tired sigh came huffing out her mouth. She was tired, rushing around to make coffee as well as clean off tables. Running a bakery was hard work, even if it was the first day.

She cleaned down everything before locking up, her eyes drooping. She needed employees and fast, she couldn't run this by herself, that was unhealthy and very bad for business.

It wasn't a very far walk home but she still felt unsafe on the streets of New York, the lights shined and cars whizzed by her, frantic to get to work or get home.

She walked quickly, heels clicking against the pavement. She let a sigh of relief when she saw her apartment complex up ahead. She pulled out her keys and made her way up the steps, unlocking the front door. The warm air blasting against her cold cheeks.

She was finally home, and the need to kick off her shoes and get in the bath was hard to pass up. She dragged herself up the stairs and to her apartment, unlocking the door and walking inside. Home sweet home.

"I HAVEN'T SEEN HER BEFORE TODAY BOSS." The man said, looking towards Nicolai with a blank stare. The black haired man gave a small hum of agreement. His emerald eyes glancing at the picture of the woman.

She had curves, he could tell even when she was wearing baggy clothes. Her skin looked flawless, and her brown chocolaty eyes shined with excitement.

"Name?" the man snapped, looking at one of his most trusted men. "Kara Channing, she's twenty and just moved from California."

Another hum left his enticing red lips but his mouth stayed closed. Clearing his throat he looked up at the heavily muscled man. "You're dismissed Michael."

NEEDLESS TO SAY, KARA WAS tired. She gave a small yawn as she waited patiently for new customers. Most people sat at the black and white tiled tables talking amongst each other or just reading the newspaper.

When the bell gave that merry ring, it seemed the world stopped. The outside world was a blur and the laughs stopped automatically. The man that stood before her was the definition of Handsome.

His black hair messy upon his head, his breathtaking green eyes seemed cold and yet there was a certain warmth to them. Kara had never taken any interest in a man, she didn't need a distraction.

She couldn't lie, this man had her cheeks red and her breast achy. His red lips were curved into a smirk that seemed to fit him entirely, she gnawed on her bottom lip before sending him a smile.

"What can I get for you sir?" his eyes trailed over her body and the need to cover her self seared her. Finally those beautiful green eyes met hers, "Black coffee."

All eyes were on the two, Kara gave a nod and turned. Her KUREIG immediately producing a cup of hot coffee, she hurried back to him trying to keep in a yawn. "For here or to go?"

His eyes searched hers, looking at the bags under her eyes. Her chest that was heaving, her pink lips that were moist with her saliva, her messy bun.

"To go." Nodding she grabbed a sharpie and wrote a number on it. "That'll be two - ninety nine." She said smiling at him, it wasn't like the rest. He saw how she smiled at the men who flirted with her, she wasn't interested but the smile she sent him was personal, intimate, only for him.

He handed her a five, her small hand took it and she opened the cash register and put the five in. He left before she could give him the change.

Her eye brows furrowed and she angrily stuffed the money in her pocket. She left her work station and rushed after him, "Wait! You left your change!"

He turned to face her, she was still in her shop, her head sticking out from the door. "Keep it." She wanted to protest but he got into a slick black limo and was gone before she could say anything.

She walked back inside and took the rest of the orders before she started to clean off tables. She gave a small smile to the elderly in front of her. "Do you perhaps know the man who was in here?"

He nodded and cleared his throat, his rasped voice slicing through the air. "Nicolai Velrov, him and his family own fifty percent of the businesses here in New York."

She had never heard of him before, giving him her thanks she walked towards another table. A small sigh leaving her lips.

VELROV INDUSTRIES

THE MAN EXITED HIS LIMO, CAMERAS FLASHING as he made his way into his company. The voices of the reporters echoing in is ears, the coffee in his hands had turned cold and he set it on one of his employees desk.

"I want it in five minutes." He walked towards the elevator leaving the new employee to immediately get up and quickly reheat the coffee.

Entering the elevator he clicked his level, looking at his watch he realized just how late he was for his meeting. He was so caught up with Kara he had forgotten about his business meeting with his brother.

He opened the door and stepped in. "You're late."