Chapter One
The soft clatter of keys echoed through the quiet room as my fingers moved across the laptop keyboard. My red hair was piled high in a messy bun, strands escaping to tickle the side of my face. The faint hum of the heater provided a cozy backdrop to the early morning quiet, and the scent of fresh coffee lingered in the air. This was my happy place, my office. Well, if you could call the small second bedroom of my apartment an “office.” A cluttered desk, a sagging bookshelf filled with romance novels, and a pinboard overflowing with sticky notes and plot ideas completed the look. I leaned back in my chair and stretched, my oversized sweatshirt sliding up my arms. The final paragraph of chapter sixteen stared back at me on the screen, still glowing with the passion and tension I’d spent the last two hours crafting.
Forbidden romance.
It was my bread and butter, the genre that made me want to stay up until ungodly hours pouring words onto the page. Smut, drama, stolen moments of passion, it was intoxicating. Ironically, I had never experienced anything even close to the intensity I wrote about. My relationships had been… normal. Predictable. Boring, even.
Maybe that’s why I never really believed in love. The grand gestures and gut-wrenching sacrifices I penned felt more real to me than any date I’d ever been on. I saved my work and skimmed through the last few chapters. The tension between my characters was building nicely, and the steamy scenes felt electric. Satisfied, I closed the laptop and set it aside.
I had an appointment with Michael, my editor, later in the afternoon to go over the new chapters. He’d been with me since my first book, and our collaboration had always been easy. He wasn’t just an editor; he was my sounding board and my friend. With a sigh, I pushed myself out of my chair, grabbed my coffee mug, and headed to the bathroom for a shower.
By the time I walked into the publishing office, the city’s midday bustle was in full swing. I adjusted the strap of my laptop bag over my shoulder and smoothed my blazer over my black jeans. It was a professional yet comfortable look, the kind of outfit that said, “I’m serious about my work, but I won’t sacrifice comfort.”
The elevator dinged, and I stepped out onto Michael’s floor, the familiar hum of office chatter surrounding me. “Hey, Luna,” Michael greeted as I walked into his office. His warm smile made me relax instantly. “Hi, Michael,” I said, settling into the chair across from his desk. “Ready to dive into some forbidden passion?” He chuckled, adjusting his glasses. “Always.”
We spent the next hour going over the chapters. Michael praised the pacing, offered some notes on character development, and even fanned himself dramatically during one particularly steamy scene. “You outdid yourself with this one,” he said, leaning back in his chair. I laughed. “I aim to please.”
The conversation eventually drifted into personal territory, as it often did. “Any luck with the dating apps?” he asked, a teasing edge in his voice. I groaned. “Two dates, both disasters. One guy talked about his ex the entire time, and the other chewed with his mouth open.” Michael winced. “Yikes. Maybe forbidden romance is your thing because real-life romance is failing you.” “Maybe,” I said, shaking my head. “I think I’ll stick to fictional men for now.”
Before Michael could respond, the door to his office swung open. I turned, startled, as a tall man stepped inside. His presence was commanding, his black hair perfectly styled, and a scruffy yet clean beard framed his sharp jawline. Dark eyes swept the room, landing on me with an intensity that made my breath hitch. Michael shot to his feet, quickly adjusting his suit jacket. “Mr. Blackwell.”
Mr. Blackwell?
Michael cleared his throat. “Luna, this is Ethan Blackwell, the CEO of the company.”
The CEO? My pulse quickened. What was the CEO doing here?
I stood, smoothing down my blazer and offering my hand. “Luna Parker. It’s nice to meet you.” Ethan’s grip was firm, his expression unreadable. “I’ve been hearing a lot about you,” he said, his voice smooth but authoritative. “Your books have been generating quite the buzz.” “That’s good to hear,” I said, forcing a smile despite the confusion swirling in my chest.“I’d like to speak with you in my office,” he continued, glancing at Michael. “Once you’re finished here.” “Oh,” I said, caught off guard. “Of course.”
He nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he turned and left the room.
Michael and I stared after him, the air in the office suddenly feeling heavier. “Well, that was… unexpected,” Michael said, sinking back into his chair. “You think I’m in trouble?” I asked, only half-joking. Michael shook his head. “If anything, it’s a good thing. Getting noticed by him is huge.” I wasn’t so sure. Something about Ethan Blackwell felt… intense.
After a few minutes of stalling, I finally grabbed my bag and stood. “I guess I’ll find out what he wants.” “Good luck,” Michael said, giving me an encouraging smile.
I offered him a weak smile in return before making my way to the elevator. The ride to the top floor felt endless. When the doors finally opened, I stepped into a sleek, modern reception area. “I’m here to see Mr. Blackwell,” I told the receptionist. She gave me a polite smile. “You can go right in.”
I hesitated for a moment, then squared my shoulders and walked toward the office door, my heart pounding in my chest. What does he want with me? As I pushed the door open, I had no idea that stepping into Ethan Blackwell’s office would change everything.
