Element, Part 1
Authors: CM Doporto
ELEMENT
Part 1
By
CM Doporto
AMAZON KINDLE EDITION
PUBLISHED BY:
CM Doporto
Element
Copyright © 2012 by CM Doporto
Thank you for downloading this book. This book remains the
copyrighted property of the author and may not be reproduced, scanned, or
distributed in any printed or electronic form for any commercial or
non-commercial use without permission from the author. If you enjoyed this book,
then please encourage your friends to download their own copy.
Published by: CM Doporto
Cover art by: Amygdala Design
Edited by: Melinda Fulton
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and
incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used
fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business
establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does
not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or
third-party websites or their content. Any trademarks mentioned herein are not
authorized by the trademark owners and do not in any way mean the work is
sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners. Any trademarks used are
specifically in a descriptive capacity.
Thank you for your support.
For my husband,
thank you for sharing your dream with me and helping me make
my dream come true.
You are the love of my life.
Acknowledgements
First, I would like to thank our Heavenly Father for giving
me the opportunity to do what I love, write. You have proven to me over and
over that everything is possible through you.
There are so many people that have helped me along this
journey and I would be remiss in not mentioning them. My dear friend, Amy,
thank you for reading the very first few chapters and encouraging me to
continue. Looking back at that first draft, I don’t know what you liked, but
I’m happy I took your advice. To my sister, Melissa, thank you so much for
reading the first draft, all 140,000 words, and offering your recommendations.
I think you should put that talent to good use. Melinda Fulton, my editor, for
all your coaching and advice. I appreciate you holding my basket and reassuring
me that I was on the right track!
To my author friends, CL Pardington and Chrissy Peebles, I
appreciate your guidance on self-publishing. I’m glad I decided to be an Indie
author! To all my beta readers, Amber, Amy, Jaime, Jennifer, Johnny, Missy,
Sam, Sheri, and especially my husband, Louis, thank you for taking the time to
read through the story and provide me valuable feedback. Jenny, Susa, and Kim,
my critique partners, I appreciate the advice and honest opinions. Everyone’s
feedback and recommendations have helped make Element a stronger story.
I have to give a big shout out to my street team, CM’s
Heroes and Heroines. You guys rock and I’m indebted to you! Lastly, I would
like to thank all the bloggers and book reviewers for taking the time to read
my story and provide an honest review. You all help get the word out about
great books and play a huge role with influencing readers to buy them. If I
missed anyone at all, I’m sorry, but know that I appreciate your help.
Chapter 2: Undeniable Feelings
Chapter 5: Unexplainable Changes
“Ladies and gentlemen we are approaching a storm and it’s
going to be a little rough until we clear it.” The captain announced. “Please
stay seated and turn off all electrical devices immediately. Thank you.”
Natalie looked out the small oval window. Raindrops smeared
across it, dancing their way to the side. Lightning flashed and she shuddered.
She hated flying when there was a storm. For a moment, she wished she would
have taken the later flight, but she wanted to get back early since classes
resumed tomorrow. She reminded herself that she had a great Spring Break in
Chicago with her family and ending it with her cousin’s fairytale wedding made
it all worth it.
A sudden jolt called her attention back to the situation at
hand. The plane shook and rattled as it flew on the edge of thick, dark clouds.
Within seconds, darkness consumed the plane and the day turned into night. Out
in the blackness of the sky she saw powerful flashes of light stretching out
like tentacles waiting for the plane to enter. She pulled the blanket closer to
her, clutching it up against her chest, somehow hoping it would calm the
drumming of her heart.
“What the —” she blurted out when the plane hit another
patch of rough turbulence. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
A horrible rumble echoed through the plane as it wavered
from side to side. Gasps and sighs along with people begging and pleading to
God were heard throughout the plane. She swallowed hard, feeling the vitamins
she took ten minutes ago ease their way up. Without warning, the plane dropped
several feet. Her heart hit the bottom of her stomach. An alarm sounded and
emergency instructions echoed through the overhead speakers. Gasping for air, she
grabbed the arm rests and her body stiffened. Her eyes stayed fixed on the
flashing red and white lights above her head.
Please God, don’t let me die!
Please.
“Natalie… Natalie, wake up. You’re having another
nightmare.” Her college roommate, Lise, shook her several times before she
finally awoke.
“What?” She sprung up in her bed. Sweat trickled down the
sides of her forehead and she breathed heavily.
“You’re okay. It was just a nightmare.” Lise turned on a
bedside lamp and then sat down next to her.
It took her a few seconds to realize that she had been
dreaming. She wiped the sweat away and the pounding of her heart turned into a
slow thud. She flopped back onto the bed and took a few deep breaths. “I don’t
know why I keep having these darn nightmares.”
“I do.” Lise replied.
Natalie looked at her. “You do?”
“Uh, yeah… because you said you nearly died on that plane. You’re
probably experiencing post stress or something like that.”
Natalie swallowed hard. She couldn’t be experiencing
post-traumatic stress because only soldiers suffer from things like that,
right? “No, I don’t think so. I mean, it was horrible and scary but…”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Lise’s green eyes softened.
“What is there to talk about?” Natalie sat up. She hadn’t
told anyone the full details about what she experienced on the plane, including
her parents. She wasn’t about to tell Lise either.
“Sometimes it’s good to talk about horrible events. It can
help you get over them.” Lise played with the edge of her t-shirt, rolling it
up.
“Thanks, but I’ll be fine.” She glanced over at the clock on
the window ledge. “I guess we should start getting dressed.”
Lise turned and looked at the clock. “Crap, I don’t want to
be late.”
Natalie threw back the covers. “Neither do I. First
impressions are everything.”
***
Lise kicked Natalie’s foot under the table. “That guy keeps
looking over here. He is way too cute.”
Natalie adjusted her glasses and did a quick glance over to
where the guy sat. “I think I know him.”
She leaned in closer to Natalie. “You do? From where?”
“I went to high school with him.” Natalie shot another quick
glance to make sure.
“You did. How lucky can you be? Did you ever go out with
him?” Lise whispered.
Natalie put her hand in front of her mouth, to muffle her
words. “No. He had a girlfriend. I don't even think he knows who I am.”
“Well, the guy sitting next to him is cute too.” Lise played
with her hair, twirling it around her finger while glancing up occasionally at them.
She nudged Lise’s arm. “Quit staring. They know we're talking
about them.”
Lise huffed and rolled her eyes, eventually turning her attention
back to the front of the room. Ms. Thompson, the human resource representative
for Kronberg Laboratories, spoke in a low monotone voice. After two hours of
literally reading Power Point slides, she had half the room yawning, including
Natalie.
The door opened and a middle aged man with salt and pepper
hair sauntered into the conference room. Everyone sat up straight. It was as
though he demanded everyone’s undivided attention without speaking a word.
“Mr. Hayle. I, uhhh, didn’t realize you were stopping by.” Ms.
Thompson quickly perked up when she saw the sleek suited man. “Everyone, this is
Mr. Russ Hayle, CEO & President of Hayle Industries and Kronberg
Laboratories.”
The room erupted into a welcoming cheer. Natalie clapped her
hands and stood up, like everyone else but something about him rubbed her the
wrong way. Maybe it was the way he flaunted his arrogance like a proud king
over his country. Prior to applying for the internship, she had done her
research on this business tycoon. Although he impressed her with the empire he
had built, Dr. Albin Kronberg, the scientist behind the natural supplement line,
had her full attention. She couldn’t wait to meet him. Especially since she
had been testing out some of his products and would be interning in his lab.
“Thank you. Thank you.” He held up one hand in the air, in a
dictatorial manner. The clapping came to an abrupt stop. “I know everyone is getting
great information from Ms. Thompson but I wanted to take the time and welcome
each of you. This is the largest summer internship group we have hired since
opening our doors.” He surveyed the room, meeting the eyes of several students.
“We are expecting wonderful results from each of you in this program. While
this is only a summer program, many of you will be offered an opportunity to
continue working here while you pursue your college education. The rest of you
may not. It all depends on your performance and I expect the best from each and
every person whether you are an intern or an executive.”
Mr. Hayle continued with his elaborate and somewhat parental
speech. She listened carefully, like a good student should. Even though he was
an excellent speaker, he lacked in his ability to be personable and it made her
feel distant rather than welcomed. Regardless, this internship was an opportunity
of a lifetime. She would learn everything she could while working there.
“As a way to welcome each of you, I am inviting you to the
VIP grand opening of The Regal on Sixth Street tonight.” He pulled out a stack
of cards and handed them to Ms. Thompson. “I hope to see everyone there. Good
luck to each of you.” He gave a quick wave and walked out the door.
“OMG. He is uber cool. I can’t believe I’m actually
interning here.” Lise wiggled in her seat, smiling.
“Me either.” Natalie watched Mr. Hayle walk out of the room.
“That should wrap up orientation. Does anyone have any
questions?” Ms. Thompson asked, taking her reading glasses off. “No? I guess
we are done. If you need anything, my contact information is listed in your
folder. I’ll stay around for a while if you have any questions. The passes for
the VIP party are here in front.” She laid the cards down on the table in
front of her.
Before Natalie could even get out of her seat, Lise had
already made her way to the front of the room collecting a few passes. Natalie
placed her folder in her backpack and zipped it up and waited for Lise.
“I know where we’re going tonight.” Lise held up the passes
in front of her.
Natalie shook her head and put her purse on her shoulder. “Hmmmm,
I don't know.”
“Oh, come on. Don't be a party pooper. ” Lise put her hands
on her hips and pouted her lower lip.
“Excuse me.”
Natalie and Lise both turned their heads in the direction of
the deep, raspy voice. Standing in front of them were the two guys from across
the room. Both of them wore button down shirts and slacks that clung to their
well-defined bodies. They looked like they had just finished a photo shoot for
an ad in a magazine.
“Yes?” Lise smiled, her cheeks turning a slight rosy color.
Natalie tried to speak, but her voice caught low in her
throat. Her heart raced and she swore it pumped so loud that everyone could
hear it.
Say something. Anything.