The Life of Veronica Moore (A Billionaire's Secret)

Chapter 11

"Chad, what are you doing here?" I asked shocked. 

"You're smart, Tate," he says indicating towards the business lingo I had used to get an A on the paper. 

He is laying lazily on my bed as if I had invited him over and I don't like it. I walked up to him and quickly snatch the paper out of his hands. 

"Can I help you?" 

I nervously chuckle sitting on the end of the bed removing my running takkies. Chad is now sitting up on the bed next to me and asks with a boyishly charming smile. 

"Can I take you somewhere today?" 

What does he mean? Is this him asking me out on a date?! 

"Where?" I ask as casually as I could but I know instantly that I've failed.

"Let me surprise you."

----

I have to admit I like the position I am in. 

Here I am sitting next to Chad in his vintage pick-up truck. The whole scenario feels like a RomCom movie as I take glances at him and he equally takes ones back at me. Neither one of us has said a word since we got in the car. 

"Relax Ronnie," Chad said breaking the silence, "I think you're going to like it." 

After silently driving another 40 minutes Chad pulls into a parking lot and its completely empty. There are no other cars parked in the lot and the entrance to the steps leading to a riverbed is closed. Chad grabs a basket from the back I hadn't noticed before and proceeded to walk towards the locked fence. 

"It's locked Chad." 

I point out the obvious at the fence with a lock connected to a chain. 

Chad is sending me the same charming grin that convinced me into this in the first place. He points to a hole in the fence that I hadn't seen on our way in. Giving out his hand to help me through the hole I ignore it. I rather proceed through the hole leading the way and can see a smirk replace his smile at the side of my eye. As I walk down the steps the trees start fanning out and an open spot on the grass near the river is exposed. 

Wow, this place is beautiful. 

There are little white butterflies dancing in the grass and a constant soothing sound of the flowing river as the water gently rushes its way through the rocks of the riverbed. Chad is now standing next to me. 

"Its beautiful isn't it." 

I look at him and see a genuine joy in his eyes. 

"I like to come out here to think," he states now turning to look at me. 

"Wow Chad, this is beautiful. How do you know about this place?" 

"I used to come here as a kid with my mom to have picnics and she would read to me. That lock and chain you saw earlier, I put that up myself. Through the years people stopped coming. People judge at face value. They see the lock and assume it's closed and move on." 

I could sense that his comment was about more than just the lock and chain. 

"It sounds like you have life all figured out," I said with a grin. 

"Come, let's sit down," he points behind us where he has laid out a picnic blanket. "You hungry?" 

He said as we sat down and he pulls out a packet of crisps, chocolate bar, and two bottles of water. It wasn't 5-star cooking but it was perfect. 

"You said your mom used to read to you, what do you read together?" I asked genuinely intrigued to find out more about his childhood and who the real Chad Baker really is. 

"Classics mostly. It is important to understand someone's mind to understand their actions."