Falling For The Forbidden

CHAPTER 5

Olivia's POV

The sound of her heels clicking against the marble echoed through the lobby as Olivia approached the reception desk at Parker Industries. She adjusted her bag over her shoulder, keeping her expression neutral. Today wasn't the day for personal distractions—not with the case looming over her like a storm cloud. But as she gave her name to the receptionist, she could feel her pulse quicken, anticipation curling through her chest like a tightly wound spring.

She hadn't seen Ryan since that night. Since the kiss.

Part of her was relieved but another part of her missed him and wanted more of his kisses and maybe even more. It had been nearly a week, and though her thoughts of him hadn't subsided, the distance had given her room to breathe. To think. To figure out how she would face him without giving in and falling apart in his arms.

Her plan was simple: keep it simple, and professional, stick to business, and don't let her emotions interfere. But knowing Ryan, that was a lot easier said than done.

"Miss Shaw?" The receptionist's voice pulled her back to the present. "Mr. Parker will see you now."

She nodded and made her way to the elevator, her heart pounding as she pressed the button for the top floor. As the doors closed, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come.

"It's just a meeting", she reminded herself. You've done this a hundred times before. But this wasn't just any meeting. Not with Ryan. Not after everything.

When the elevator doors slid open, she stepped out into the sleek, modern hallway that led to his office. The familiar sight of floor-to-ceiling glass, polished wood, and crisp, clean lines greeted her, but it did nothing to calm her nerves. Ryan's office was at the end of the hall, and with every step she took, the tension mounted, tightening around her chest.

She knocked once on the door, her hand steady despite the storm inside her.

"Come in," came Ryan's deep voice from the other side.

Olivia pushed the door open and stepped inside, her eyes immediately finding him behind the large oak desk. He was focused on a set of documents, his brow furrowed in concentration, but when he looked up and saw her, the air in the room seemed to shift.

"Olivia," he said, standing as she entered. His eyes lingered on her for just a moment too long, the weight of their last encounter hanging heavy between them.

"Ryan," she replied, keeping her voice even, and professional.

He gestured toward the chair opposite his desk. "Please, sit."

She did, setting her bag on the floor beside her, hands clasped tightly in her lap. She could feel his gaze on her, but she kept her focus on the polished surface of his desk, not daring to look up. She had to keep this under control, for both their sakes.

"I reviewed the contract you sent over," he said, settling back into his chair. "The terms are straightforward, but there are a few clauses I'd like to discuss before we move forward."

Olivia nodded, pulling out her tablet. Business. Good. This, she could handle. "Which clauses specifically?"

Ryan leaned forward, sliding the contract toward her. "The non-compete. It's broader than I'd like, considering the potential for international expansion."

She glanced at the document, her mind switching gears. They talked business for the next several minutes, their exchange smooth, professional, and devoid of the tension that had crackled between them the last time they'd seen each other. For a while, Olivia felt a sense of relief. Maybe this could work. Maybe they could just pretend that night hadn't happened.

But then, as the conversation began to wind down, Ryan's gaze shifted, softening as it landed on her.

"I've missed you."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut, stealing the breath from her lungs. She looked up sharply, meeting his eyes, and the calm, businesslike facade they'd both been clinging to shattered in an instant.

"Ryan..." she began, but her voice faltered.

"I'm serious, Olivia," he said, his voice low, earnest. "I've missed you. These last few days—hell, the last few months—I've tried to ignore it, but I can't anymore."

Her heart was racing, her thoughts spinning. This was exactly what she had been afraid of. The one thing she'd been trying to avoid.

"We agreed to keep things professional," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "We said that night didn't change anything."

"I know what we said," he replied, his gaze unwavering. "But that doesn't change how I feel. And I think you feel it too."

Olivia looked away, her chest tightening with the weight of his words. She did feel it—had felt it for longer than she cared to admit. But that didn't make it right. It didn't make it any less dangerous.

"This isn't just about us, Ryan," she said softly. "We can't—"

"Why not?" he interrupted, leaning forward, his eyes searching hers. "Why can't we? We're not kids anymore, Olivia. We're adults. We can make our own decisions."

Her throat tightened. "It's not that simple."

"Isn't it?" Ryan's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, a frustration simmering just beneath the surface. "You're an attorney. I run a company. We're not bound by anyone else's rules but our own."

Olivia shook her head, standing abruptly. She couldn't do this. Not here. Not now.

"I should go," she said, reaching for her bag. "We've covered everything we need to."

"Olivia." His voice stopped her just as she reached the door. It was soft, almost pleading. "Please. Don't walk away from this. From us."

Her hand hovered over the doorknob, her heart aching with the weight of it all. She wanted to turn around. She wanted to say yes, to give in to what she knew was inevitable. But the stakes were too high. The risks are too great.

"I can't, Ryan," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I just... I can't."

And with that, she walked out, the door closing softly behind her.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur, but Olivia barely registered any of it. She threw herself into work, burying herself in legal briefs and case files, hoping to drown out the thoughts of Ryan that wouldn't leave her alone. But no matter how hard she tried; his words kept echoing in her mind.

"Don't walk away from us."

As if it were that simple.

Later that evening, after her last meeting, Olivia found herself back at the Parker estate, her mother's voice greeting her as soon as she walked through the door. She made small talk and listened to updates about some charity event her mother was planning, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Always elsewhere.

It wasn't until Olivia retreated to her room that she let out a long, shaky breath. The events of the day had left her feeling raw, and exposed, and no amount of distraction had been able to dull the ache that Ryan's presence had stirred in her.

As she sat on the edge of her bed, staring out at the darkened skyline, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. For a moment, she considered ignoring it. But something made her reach for it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw his name on the screen.

Ryan: **This isn't over. **

Her fingers hovered over the screen, her pulse quickening. She knew what he meant. Knew that no matter how many times she told herself this couldn't happen, no matter how hard she tried to walk away, Ryan wasn't going to let her go.

And the worst part?

She wasn't sure she wanted him to.

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