Kharma grew up in a small Pennsylvania Dutch town. Population was only a little over twelve hundred. Most people were related with one another or to those from the nearby town of similar population. For Kharma it was different, growing up in a mixed marriage, black mother and white father. Life wasn't always pleasant, but it hardened her and made her a stronger more determined person.
As a teenager, she spent her days dreaming of living in the big city and being on TV. She attended Penn State University and got her degree in communications and even took drama to round out her studies. When the day came, she interviewed for an internship with a local TV station.
After her interview was over, she was immediately offered the position. Her good looks, nice figure and personality helped, but she won the job based on merit. At least that's what she told herself. She would never fully comprehend how that job served as a springboard to her current position as the Fox 27 Morning Show hostess.
Her mornings started with a two in the morning alarm. She would get up, shower, get dressed and make the morning drive into the station where she prepped for the show. Then a quick meeting to go over the mornings topics before a final prep with the makeup crew. Her show started at six AM and ran for three hours.
After the show was over, they had a post production meeting and then she was off while the rest of the staff worked on the stories for the next mornings show. Kharma would occasionally have appointments set for interviews that she would tape and use in future shows, but most days she would round out her day with a brisk workout in the gym or a yoga session.
Today, she had a meeting with the CEO of a business who's reputation was suspect, which was exactly why she wanted to meet him. She had read articles about the man and his company. Their controversial scruples as a business, known for their takeovers of smaller family run businesses had garnered them a rather nasty reputation. One he insisted was unfair and undeserved. She was going to give him is opportunity to prove otherwise.
The camera's were ready to roll. The countdown began.
"On in five, four ,three, two..."
The producer pointed at Kharma when the camera was going live.
"Hello. Welcome to Good Karma. I'm Kharma Moore. Today we're here in the East End speaking with CEO and President of Rochette Holdings, Mr.. François Rochette.
"Mr.. Rochette, thanks for meeting with me."
"Please, my friends call me François."
"I see. What would you prefer?"
"Well, my given name is François."
"Well François, thanks for meeting with me."
"It's my pleasure, I'm sure."
Kharma wasn't ready for the man who was supposedly despised by many to be as polite as he was. His good looks didn't hurt either. Average height, maybe a little taller. Dark hair with just a hint of grey at the temples. She guessed him to be early forties, although the profile she had was very vague. No parents, no living relatives, reportedly reclusive, no listing of education. It was as if he didn't exist outside of Rochette Holdings, Inc.
Her eyes returned to her file, thin as it was, back to the physical specimen sitting opposite her. He had broad shoulders and muscular arms that couldn't be hidden by the Armani suit he wore. Dark gray with a royal blue shirt, white collar and suitable tie of similar color. His easy manor was confident yet relaxed. He was so relaxed, it was like he gave personal interviews all the time, or so she thought to herself.
Kharma returned back to her notes. It was her intention to grill him endlessly about his companies practices and policies. She had her notepad full of questions that she intended to ask. She was going to be tough and show the station owners how ready she was for a prime time slot. She planned on having the upper hand, yet somehow, his casual, yet polite manner kept her off balance.
"So François. The reports are that your company gobbles up small family business and dismantles them. Can you comment on your business practices?"
"Well Kharma, my company does acquire companies of all sizes. Family business, small corporations and even some larger ones. But each time we do, the first and most important thing is to see what impact it has on the community. There's no reason why a company such as ours can't incorporate another under our umbrella and still maintain it's facilities and employees. We offer better healthcare and retirement benefits than those we take over. Our conglomeration of companies is well diversified so that if one area is down, the others are able to remain profitable, which allows us to ride out the storm during turbulent times and keep the employees we have."
His longwinded answer made sense to her even though he seemed to be hiding something. She just couldn't put her finger on it. They would continue back and forth. Her asking a probing question and him having the perfect answer.
At the end of the interview, she paused, looked at the camera and said.
"Well, there you have it folks. Straight from the CEO himself."
She followed up with her usual signoff,
" I'm Kharma Moore wishing you Good Kharma."
"And we're out." said the producer.
"Great piece Kharma. Mr.. Rochette. You should be in politics." he scoffed, clearly not buying into the answers provided during the interview.
"Don't mind him. He doesn't trust anyone. I thought you represented yourself and Rochette Holdings well."
"Thank you Kharma. I have to admit, I was expecting the worst. My sources said you were tough. but I thought your questions were well thought out and got to the point."
François had other plans for Kharma. He knew he'd have to be careful with her, but his attraction to her was strong. Her long dark curly hair, dark complexion, full lips, big brown eyes and a figure that many starlets would kill for were speaking to his loins.
Never one to worry about sexual liaison's, his wealth attracted many women. He smiled as he thought about the measures he would have to take to bed this woman. Challenge accepted! he said to himself.
Kharma too was a little surprised by the interview. She had heard similar things about him and was prepared for the worst. As the interview ended, she took a moment to imagine what his life might be like. To be on the inside.
"Well thank you. I thought your answers were insightful." she said.
"Perhaps we will meet again sometime."
"I think I'd like that." Kharma replied.
She gathered her things and was escorted to the door by François' body guard.
"What'd you think?" He asked the hulking man.
"Good looking. Smart. Trouble." came the honest reply.
"Yes. That's what I thought too. Should be fun." François said, then turned to leave out through a hidden door.
