Hard Impact: An Alpha Billionaire Romance Novel by Helen Grey Read Free Book Online

popular, I had no idea they were that popular.
    I wondered about the name. Hard impact. Had Blake Masters come up with that or had someone else when the company was formed? As far as I was concerned, the words implied hitting the ground at a high rate of speed, but that was just me. The carpeting in the hallway muffled my steps as I approached Suite 101, designated as the main office for the company. I didn’t knock, but paused before the door, my hand on the doorknob. I took a deep breath before I entered, trying to calm myself. This was new territory for me. I had no idea what to expect and couldn’t deny my shaky nerves.
    “I’m a reporter, I’m a reporter,” I mumbled under my breath. Doing that always gave me a bit of confidence. After all, the demeanor of most people, in my short experience as a reporter back home in North Dallas, gave me the impression that interviewees were often as nervous as the interviewer. The more confidence I exuded, the more willing interviewees appeared to answer my questions. Then again, I’d never interviewed someone like Blake Masters.
    I opened the door and stepped inside.
    “Good morning,” a pleasant, female voice greeted me as I closed the door softly behind me.
    I smiled at the young woman sitting behind a desk in a small foyer. The office space was small but nicely decorated. A door opposite the entryway led the way into the inner offices of the company. The small space was decorated much like a doctor’s office. A live plant in the corner, a couple of comfortable looking chairs, a small coffee table with an array of magazines. The receptionist sat behind a teak desk equipped with a flat screen computer, a wireless keyboard and mouse. A metal mesh basket sat on one end.
    “I have an appointment to see Blake Masters.”
    “You must be Misty Rankin from Sweet Success.” The woman smiled and gestured. “Please, have a seat and I’ll let Mr. Masters know that you’re here. He’s just finishing up with a board meeting.”
    I nodded and sat down in one of the upholstered chairs. I didn’t bother reaching for a magazine. I didn’t think I’d be here very long. This was just an introductory meeting. I figured I would be here ten, fifteen minutes tops to arrange a longer, first official interview with Masters. If I was lucky, he wouldn’t be available for a longer session until tomorrow, maybe even the day after. That would give me more time to dig into his past. Maybe even find someone local willing to talk to me about him.
    The receptionist hadn’t been gone two minutes when she returned. “Mr. Masters is ready to see you. I’m afraid you’ll have to hurry though. He’s preparing to leave for an inspection of one of his new acquisition properties.”
    “That’s fine, I only need a few minutes,” I assured her and stood to brush at my slacks. The strap of my satchel over one shoulder, I tried to appear confident and completely at ease as I followed the woman through the door into the inner sanctum, down a short hallway and then into a corner office.
    I took in the office in one quick glance. Windows on each side overlooked the Oakland Bay Bridge. Beautiful vista. I acknowledged that it couldn’t be a more beautiful day. Bright blue sky, not a cloud, no damp and wicked wind from off the coast for a change. The office was simply appointed.
    A leather sofa and coffee table to the left, a desk with a couple of leather chairs in front of it for guests in the middle, and a small bookcase, a couple of filing cabinets, and a small table with an espresso machine on the right. A small door in the corner of the office probably led to a private bathroom.
    The desk was large, also equipped with a flat screen computer, wireless keyboard and mouse, a stack of folders, and a blotter that held only an open day-planner kind of agenda. A nice leather office chair was turned to face the window. A male voice spoke from it. All I saw of Blake Masters was the top of his head over the