Forbidden Desire

Chapter 2

Nicholas' POV

As Katherine leaves the office, I find myself both amused and captivated by her presence. She has a certain charm that's hard to ignore. Her eyes remind me of Sofia's—those piercing green-brown eyes that used to captivate me. Sofia's memory is bittersweet, a constant reminder of what I once had and lost. But now, here's Katherine, the daughter of my most important investor, walking into my life.

"Sir Pendleton?" My secretary's voice breaks through my thoughts. "You have a meeting in 15 minutes."

Damn, I totally forgot about that meeting.

"Sir, do you wish to postpone it?" she asks.

"No, tell them I'll be there in a couple of minutes," I respond, and she leaves.

I head to the bathroom before the meeting. Staring at my reflection, I see more gray hairs and the subtle marks of aging. I can't help but think about how I haven't settled down or started a family. My mind drifts back to the time I was married. Everything fell apart when a drunk driver hit my pregnant wife. She was in a coma for two months before she passed away. Since then, I've been unable to commit to another relationship. I've had numerous one-night stands and failed relationships, but they only serve to fill the void of loneliness inside me.

I splash water on my face, fix my tie, and head to the meeting, trying to push thoughts of Katherine out of my mind.

Katherine's POV

The drive home is a blur, my thoughts still occupied with my meeting with Nicholas Pendleton. The man's presence is daunting, and I can't shake the feeling of his eyes analyzing me. Once I arrive at my apartment, I realize that I need to calm down and clear my mind. I decide to take a long shower, hoping the hot water will wash away my nerves.

Stepping into my modern, minimalistic bathroom, I let the steam envelop me as the water cascades down. As I stand there, I think about my father's words. He had always been a man of caution and wisdom, and his warnings about Nicholas echoed in my mind. But there was something else—a curiosity, a spark that had ignited the moment Nicholas turned around. I hadn't expected him to be so... magnetic.

After my shower, I slip into comfortable clothes and make myself a cup of chamomile tea. I settle on the couch with my laptop, determined to do some research on Nicholas Pendleton. If I'm going to be working closely with him, I need to know more about the man behind the reputation.

Nicholas Pendleton. At 43, he is far from the elderly, temperamental man my father had described. His confidence and charisma are palpable, making it clear why he's such an important partner in the architectural business. But why did my father warn me about him? What does he know that I don't?

My phone buzzes, interrupting my thoughts. It's a message from my father.

"How did it go with Pendleton?" he asks.

I hesitate for a moment before typing back, "It went well. He was not what I expected."

Almost immediately, he replies, "Good. Be careful, Katherine. He's not always what he seems."

I sigh, putting my phone down. My father's cryptic warnings are not helping my anxiety.

I decide to call immediately my best friend, Madeline. We've been best friends since middle school, and she's the only one who truly understands me. I grab my phone and call her.

"What's up, hotness," she says, her cheerful spirit always lifting mine.

"Can you come to my apartment? I need to talk to you about something," I tell her.