“Well then, I suggest you remember that reason and concentrate on your job before it’s taken away from you,” he said.
“With all due respect, Mr. Fears,” I said, “this job is not as coveted as you might think. Not everyone thinks their ideal job is to work for a stuck up, arrogant…”
I trailed off, realizing that verbally abusing my boss probably wasn’t in my best interests. I had let my anger get the better of me, which was very unlike me. I’ve never felt sobitchyandSpiteful. This man was bringing out the worst in me, and today was my first day at the job.
He looked at me, his expression unreadable. Then he rang the intercom and said, “Mrs. Payne, I would like to see you right now!”
Then he turned to me and snapped, “You are dismissed.”
Dismissed?What did he mean?Dismissed from the position?Or just for now?Why was he calling Mrs. Payne?Was he going to have her look for another secretary?How could I have messed it up?
I turned around and walked away, the tears stinging in my eyes.
“Miss Beck!” he snapped. “Collect the files from my desk first, and then leave! It’s your job to make sure they are properly placed!”
A ray of hope filled my heart. Maybe he wasn’t firing me after all. I turned around, my vision blurry from the tears that swam in my eyes.
“Excuse me,” I said softly, reaching down and collecting the files.
Of course, with my luck, could anything ever go right?My vision was blurry with tears, and I didn’t see the leg of the table. As I collected the files and turned around to move, my heel got caught, and I tripped, the files flying into the air and falling down around me. I waited for my head to hit the floor and for the horrible, throbbing pain to pierce through my brain, but it never came.
Instead, I found a strong, muscular arm around me, holding me up just a little distance from the floor. I looked up and saw him– James… No, this man was Gale Fears, holding me up with his arm wrapped around my back. He was looking at me with an intense expression on his face. An expression that I didn’t understand. As he continued to hold me, I became acutely aware of how handsome he was. His eyes shining in the light, his cleanly trimmed beard and sculpted face making him look so masculine and strong. I could smell his cologne, and my heart started to race. Memories began to flash through my mind. The way his firm, strong hands had felt on my skin as he caressed me. The way his hard, thick—
No!I couldn’t think of that. I was already flushed and blushing, turning pink as the memories invaded my mind. His lips were so close to mine, so temptingly close. If I leaned over even a little bit, I could kiss him.
Then the door burst open, and a booming voice filled the room.
“Gale, I must say that—” the voice echoed throughout.
I whipped my head around and saw an elderly man standing there with his mouth open. A young man, who seemed familiar for some reason, had followed him in.
The next second, my head hit the floor, and I found myself on the ground. I gasped as I realized that Gale had actually dropped me! Whatever feelings of desire had ravaged my heart instantly disappeared, and I was filled with hate once again.
“Dad,” Gale said, his voice hoarse.
I paled as I realized who the elderly man was. I instantly tried to get up, but my heel was still caught in the table leg, and I tumbled down again. The young man and Gale’s father ran towards me, helping me up as I apologized profusely for what had happened.
“I am sorry…” I stammered, running around and picking up all the files. “I am very sorry. I will just…”
The three men watched me as I quickly packed everything up, almost tripping up once more, and then marched out of the office as fast as I could. I closed the door behind me, instantly breathing a sigh of relief. I closed my eyes and collapsed against the door, clutching the files to my chest. Even now, my mind was filled with thoughts of his body against mine and how close he had been just now.How could I feel so attracted to this man?What was it about him that pulled me so?
“Uhmm…” The sound of a clearing throat made me open my eyes and look up. Mrs. Payne stood there, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at me.
I sighed.Well, double shit.
Chapter 3
Forbideen Temptation
Gale Fears
“Well, Gale, that was certainly interesting,” Dad said, coming to sit down on the chair across from mine.
Daniel was looking at me with interest as he poured a scotch for himself.
“It was nothing,” I said. “She tripped, and I saved her.”
It was unfortunate that they had walked in at that particular moment. The last thing I wanted Dad to think was that I was having an affair with my secretary. I sat down behind my desk, my mind still preoccupied with her. Her deep brown eyes seemed to have woven some sort of charm in my mind. It was all I could see every time I closed my eyes. I could still feel her slender waist within my arms and the curve of her body. The way her eyes had gazed into mine as her beautiful chest heaved. Her luscious lips tempting me to lean in and taste them. I still remembered every touch – every kiss and every graze from last night. It was all so vivid in my mind – I even remembered the way she had tasted. Even now, after she had left, my mind was ravaged by emotions and images that I wished would just disappear.
