My Temptation (The Forbidden #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Bella

I look through my wardrobe for the hundredth time this week, still unsure if the outfit I’ve picked for this morning, my first day of work, is the right one. It’s not like I haven’t been to the company before; in fact, you could say I grew up there.

Today will be my first day working for my father’s company, G.R Productions, well — my father and his best friend, Reed’s, company. However, knowing everyone there isn’t making the slightest bit of difference to my nerves, my hands are shaking and butterflies are swirling around my stomach.

I lift the navy slacks up again, holding them against the champagne colored silk blouse I’m wearing. They’re straight leg, fitted in all the best places which make my legs look a lot longer than they are. I’m debating whether to go back to the drawing board when my father calls up to me.

“Bella, are you ready yet, darling? We need to leave soon.”

Yep, that’s me.

The girl who still lives with her parents. To be fair, I have just graduated from college and I am only twenty-one, however, when a girl graduates and starts a new job, she doesn’t exactly plan to be still living at home.

Tell that to my parents, though.

I am the baby of the family, the second child they had wanted to have years before but hadn’t been able to.

I am coddled, smothered and not allowed an ounce of freedom.

I went to a college locally so that my parents could have me home with them, and heaven forbid I ever dream of working anywhere other than G.R Productions — I honestly think it would break my father’s heart.

My older brother works there too, however, I’m pretty sure he was given a choice in the matter. I, however, was not.

“Bella, come on. I don’t want to be late,” my father’s exasperated voice calls up the stairs.

Well, I guess this outfit will have to do.

“Coming,” I call back down to him, pulling the pants on and quickly grabbing my nude heels as I leave my room and make my way downstairs.

“You look beautiful, darling,” he says as he ushers me out the door and to his Range Rover. We pull out of the drive and head towards the Pacific Coast Highway, into L.A.

“Are you ready for your first day?”

“Yeah, Dad, I’ll be fine. A little nervous, but it’s not like I don’t already know everyone there.”

“Don’t worry about it, you’ll be great, darling, and Reed will take good care of you.”

And there-in lies the reason for my nerves.

Reed Burke.

My father’s best friend, business partner and the man I’ve had a crush on for as long as I can remember.

My new boss.

Reed

Today can kiss my ass, and it’s not even nine a.m.

I’ve had clients complaining, Directors walking off set and to top it off, I’ve got Bella starting today.

I have absolutely nothing against Bella; she’s always been a sweet girl, a little on the quiet side, but a good person, and if she’s anything like her brother she’ll be an asset to the company, but today I could do without having to hold her hand and show her the ropes.

It’s going to take a while to get her up to speed with everything before she’s actually of any use, and right now, I could do without it.

“Reed,” my assistant’s voice comes through the speaker phone on my desk. “Bella is here.”

Shit, already?

“Send her in, Tania, and can you grab me a coffee? Whatever Bella wants too, please.” I’m going to need all the caffeine I can get today.

My office door opens and I hear quiet footsteps approach my desk. I hit send on the email I was typing and look up.

What. The. Fuck?

This is not Bella, absolutely not.

Bella is a child.

Bella is young.

Bella is my best friend’s fucking kid.

This absolutely stunning woman cannot be George’s daughter.

I can’t stop staring, she’s absolutely gorgeous.

Bella has always been a pretty girl, but that’s just it — she was a girl. Not this dark-haired, green-eyed goddess with perfect tits and a tight ass.

When the fuck did she grow-up?

I could probably count on one hand the times I’ve interacted with Bella. Spending time with family isn’t the friendship George and I have, but I wasn’t expecting this. I wasn’t expecting her.

“Hi Reed, it’s been a while. How are you?”

Well, shit.

You know you’re screwed when a woman’s voice makes you hard. I had a semi the minute I laid eyes on her, but it’s a full on hard-on now she’s opened her mouth and those husky words left her cherry red lips.

I clear my throat, hoping my voice doesn’t come out as gravely as it feels. “I’m good, Bella, you… ermm, you look great. How have you been?” She smiles at me, her perfect white teeth flashing. Is there anything about this girl that will turn me off? Does she snore?

Fuck, no, don’t think about her in your bed.

“I’m good thanks, Reed. You look good too. Do you mind if I take a seat?” She gestures to the chair in front of my desk.

“Fuck, of course. Sorry, I seem to have forgotten my manners.”

A gentle knock at the door is followed by Tania walking in with two coffees.

“Here you go. Reed, your espresso and Bella, dear, your cappuccino.” We both say our thanks and she leaves us, part of me wishes she had stayed. I’m feeling incredibly awkward around my best friend’s daughter, a feeling I am not at all familiar with.

I rack my brain, trying to figure out when I last saw her. It was before she started college, maybe three, four years ago? No wonder she looks so different.

She takes a sip of her coffee and her eyes meet mine over the rim of the cup. Her throat swallows the hot liquid and my eyes follow every movement.

“What is it you’d like me to do, Reed?”

Everything. Fucking, everything.

Fuck, I’m screwed.

Pulling my mind out of the gutter, I think over what I had planned for us today.

“I’ve got a meeting at nine-thirty a.m. with the external communications team. For now, I think if you just shadow me, take notes of any questions you may have and we can catch up at the end of each meeting.”

It’s going to take a while for us to find a rhythm we’re both comfortable with.

Bella is essentially coming on board to be my number two; the plan is for her to eventually take over my job when I retire, and Beau, her brother, will take over from George.

George will be retiring before me, what with him being a decade older than me, and Beau being that much older than Bella too.

“What will happen when you go to San Francisco? Do you still split your time between there and here?”

“You will be coming with me most of the time.” This just keeps getting worse — how am I meant to travel with her? None of this was an issue before she walked into my office, but now, every moment with her is going to test my restraint.

“Okay, I thought that would be the case but I wanted to check. My family has an apartment there they use for that office, so it won’t be an issue at all.”

“Yes, it’s the apartment next to mine.” Her eyes fly to mine, her pupils widening, I can see her pulse beating at the base of her throat.

If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was attracted to me. But that would be insane, right? It would also be a recipe for disaster, because if I get even a hint of her being as attracted to me as I am her? My control will be non-existent.

You cannot fuck your best friend’s daughter, Reed.