Prologue

The S.O. Publishing Industry, New York. Six Months Ago.

~~~

“If someone had told me my dream of working here would actually come true, I would have laughed in their face,” Grace muttered.

She wiped at her eyes quickly.

“How I wish Mom and Dad were here to see this.”

A tear slipped down her cheek.

“Seriously, Grace, not now.” She shook her head. “Stop thinking about the past. You need to move forward.”

Still, something felt strange.

The boss had asked her to stay behind after work.

Now it was already 8 p.m., and apart from Noah Creed, she was the only person left on the floor.

As if that wasn't enough, he had just sent for her.

“Jeez, I hope I'm not about to lose my job,” she muttered nervously. “What does he want?”

Taking a deep breath, she stood up from her desk and made her way to the president's office.

She stopped in front of the heavy gold-colored door. His name was written boldly across it.

Noah Creed.

The moment she saw it, her stomach tightened.

Then the voice that always managed to shake her spoke from inside.

“You don't need to stand there, Grace. Come in.”

Oh God.

That voice.

Taking one deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

“Good evening, sir,” she said calmly.

Well, as calmly as she could.

“You sent for me?”

“Yes,” Noah replied, glancing at the gold watch on his wrist. “It's almost eight-thirty. I was wondering why you're still here.”

Grace stared at him.

What?

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Her eyes widened.

“Oh shit. I mean... sir...”

“No, Grace,” Noah interrupted with a wave of his hand. “I'm not fucking kidding you.”

His expression remained serious.

“I just didn't think you'd actually listen to me. You never do, despite the fact that I'm your boss.”

“Huh?” Grace looked down at her hands awkwardly.

Seriously, Grace. Just die already.

“But do you know the funniest thing?” Noah asked.

Grace looked up.

At some point, he had moved from behind his desk. Now he was standing right in front of her.

When did that happen?

Before she could think about it, he reached up and brushed his thumb lightly along the edge of her ear.

A shiver ran through her body.

Boy.

Who knew she was sensitive there?

His hand moved beneath her chin, gently forcing her to look up at him.

“I am going to have you here, Grace,” he said quietly.

“And it won't be a joke.”

Grace froze.

What? What did he just say?

Before her brain could catch up, Noah lowered his head and kissed her.

Her eyes widened.

The moment his lips touched hers, every thought disappeared.

She gasped, and Noah took advantage of it immediately.

His tongue slipped into her mouth.

Oh my God.

He was actually kissing her. French kissing her. Because it was her first time, Grace completely forgot how breathing worked.

A second later, she choked.

Noah pulled back immediately. “Are you alright?”

He looked genuinely concerned.

“Are you trying to kill me?” Grace asked, coughing. “What was that?”

“A kiss?”

“You mean a death sentence?”

Noah blinked. “What are you talking about?”

Then he placed a hand on her shoulder.

“It's not like it's your first kiss.”

The moment those words left his mouth, Grace went completely still.

The room fell silent.

Noah frowned.

There was no way. No way that had been her first kiss.

But judging from the look on her face...

Yeah.

It definitely was.

Relationships between staff members were forbidden in every company he owned.

Anyone caught dating a coworker got fired.

That rule had existed long before he became president.

And plenty of people had lost their jobs because of it.

Yet ever since Grace Bush walked into O.S. Publishing, she had turned his world upside down.

His thoughts were a mess. His patience was gone. His body reacted every time she was around.

And the worst part?

She kept stealing glances at him. Thinking he never noticed… but he noticed every single one.

At first, he only wanted to satisfy this annoying attraction and move on.

Nothing serious or complicated.

But now?

Now he wasn't so sure.

Because if that had really been her first kiss...

Then there were chances, she had never been with a man before.

Great.

Just great.

And Noah hated virgins.

Not because there was anything wrong with them.

His past experiences had simply taught him they tended to become attached.

And attachment was the last thing he wanted.

So why couldn't he stop himself?

Why couldn't he tell her to leave?

Why couldn't he let this go?

Like a man possessed, Noah leaned forward and kissed her again.

This time, slower.

Deeper.

More careful than before.

The moment their lips met again, everything else seemed to disappear.

Grace's heart hammered wildly against her chest.

Her knees felt weak. All she could focus on was him. The feel of his lips.

The warmth of his body.

The way he held her as though he never wanted to let go.

Every time he pulled back for air, Noah found himself looking at her again.

Almost as if he needed proof that she was real.

Grace felt heat spread through her body. It was impossible to think straight.

His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.

And before she realized it, her fingers had slipped beneath his shirt.

His skin was warm beneath her touch. The kiss deepened.

Soon they were pressed against his desk, completely lost in each other.

For Noah, it felt like he was experiencing something entirely new.

Something he had never felt before.

Grace. What are you doing to me?

Finally, Grace gathered the little strength she had left and pushed him away.

Breathing hard, she stepped back.

“Sorry, sir.” Her voice came out shaky. “But I don't think we should do this.”

Noah stared at her.

Confused.

“What are you talking about?”

“You want me just as much as I want you.”

And that was exactly the problem.

Because he wasn't wrong.

She did want him. More than she should. But there were too many things at stake.

Her job. Her future.

Everything she had worked for. “I can't,” she whispered.

Then she turned and ran. Noah watched her leave.

“We can't?” he murmured.

A slow smile appeared on his face. He had seen the desire in her eyes.

And for someone with no experience, she was surprisingly bold.

He still didn't understand this strange feeling she brought out in him.

But one thing was certain. He already missed her.

“Sorry, Grace,” he said to the empty office. “You can't escape me for long.”

He chuckled softly.

“I'm Noah Creed.”

“When I want something, I get it.”

“No matter how long it takes.”

Grace didn't stop running until she reached the ground floor. The moment she saw the security guards, she forced herself to slow down.

She couldn't let anyone suspect anything.

“What just happened?”

She pressed a hand against her chest. Her whole body was still shaking.

“OMG, Grace, you are crazy.”

“How could you give in so easily?”

Even in her wildest dreams, she never imagined her first kiss would happen in an office.

With a rich, powerful, completely impossible man.

Noah Creed. Of all people.

She would have argued with anyone who told her this could happen.

Yet here she was.

Completely flustered.

And still able to feel his lips on hers.

“How the hell did this happen?”