Sophia {Forbidden Love}

Chapter One: A New Start

It's been a month since we moved into our new place, in our new city. We decided to live downtown in the heart of the city since it was closet to both our jobs. We got lucky and had found a very nice and spacious two-bedroom apartment home with the most amazing very of the city and all its lights. The rent was a little steep, but we could afford it and it was worth it once we realized how much traffic we were avoiding by being only ten minutes from our work places.

Chris started working two days after we moved in and even though I wanted us to explore our new home and get settle in before both of us starting working, I knew getting straight to work was the best thing for Chris; he needed something to focus on.

Since we only had the one car, Chris took a taxi to work most days and left the car with me until we could make time to get a second one. While he was at work, for the first couple of days I worked hard to turn our new place into a home. I unpacked boxes and made sure every room was filled with all our things. Once that was done, I took to exploring the city on my own. I visited the shops in walking distance of our place, I introduced myself to a few of our neighbors and took the car out a few times and just drove around trying to get familiar with my new surroundings.

By the end of the first week I'd found a new favorite coffee shop and also a deli that had the best soups and sandwiches. I also had acquired a routine, waking up early and going for a quick workout down in our buildings fitness area, taking a quick walk to the coffee shop for a French vanilla cappuccino, getting home and taking a long shower, heading down to the deli for lunch and then back to our apartment to wait until Chris came home, which most nights were around seven in the evening.

It was the same thing for an entire month... and I grew tired of it quickly. I had too much time to myself in the day and I found myself dwelling more than not. A week before my job was to begin; I felt cabin fever settling in. Chris must have noticed as well because he surprised me the night before my first day of work by taking me out to a nice dinner.

I smiled the entire night; I was so happy. That night had been the first night since the miscarriage that Chris and I had done anything remotely romantic together, that didn't involve sex, that is. We finished the night off tangled between the sheets in bed and I'd thought after that night that everything between us would go back to the way they use to be, but I'd been wrong.

This morning when we woke up, I went to make breakfast. Once Chris was showered and dressed he found me in the kitchen, pulled me into him and gave me a soft kiss. My eyes closed as I breathed him in, wrapped my arms around his waist and whispered, "Mornings like this are perfect... Stella would have made them even more perfect."

Almost as if last night didn't happen, Chris yanked away from me and walked over to the counter to grab his briefcase. My smile fell immediately as the iciness between us shot down my spin.

Not wanting us to leave each other on a bad note I rushed to speak, "Chris, I'm sorry... I know you don't like to talk about her, but sometimes I just can't help myself... I need to talk about her, it makes me feel better."

Chris silently put his suit jacket on; back turned from me, "Chris..." I said again trying to get him to turn to face me, "Chris talk to me, please, tell me why you keep shutting me out," I asked, my voice wavering a little.

Chris didn't say anything for a few seconds, but finally he turned to face me, "It's not that I don't want to talk about her... it's that I can't, I can't do it... not yet."

Not knowing what else to say, I just nodded and looked away, "Okay..." I said quietly as I started cleaning up the uneaten breakfast I'd made from the table.

"I got to go... have a good first day, alright?" Chris said from behind me, I gave a slight nod, leaving my back turned away from him.

A few seconds later I heard the front door shut and the moment I did, the tears started to fall.

What a way to start my first day at my new job.

**** ~ ****

A long, hot shower and two hours later I was standing in the vast entry lobby of Oakwood Law Firm. I've been standing in the lobby for about five minutes, trying to get my nerves in check. It's been so long since I've actually had a job and I almost was tempted to turn around and rush right back out the large spinning doors behind me, but before I could bring myself to do so, I remembered why I was doing this, why I needed this job.

Squaring my shoulders, I walked through the modernly decorated area filled with smartly dressed men and woman. I stepped up to the reception desk with confidence and patiently waited for the young woman behind the desk to finish with her call, "Hi, can I help you," she asked right away once she saw me.

Smiling I nodded, "Yes, I'm Sophia Haze, I'm here for the legal assistant position."

The woman gave me a warm smile, "Welcome to the Oakwood Law family!" she said as she stood up from her chair, "I'm Nikki," she told me as she stretched out her hand to me, "Nice to meet you, Nikki," I greeted her as I shook her outstretched hand."

"So, you'll be heading up to the top floor. Mr. Oakwood should already be in his office, he's expecting you."

"Thank you," I said kindly before heading towards the stainless steel elevator doors.

"Oh," Nikki said quickly, making me turn to face her again, "Try not to stare... he's a married man," she said with a playful grin that had me more than a little confused.

I heard Nikki giggling quietly as I stepped into the car of the elevator and wondered what she meant by that as the car ascended to the top floor of the building.

When the elevator stopped and the doors opened up, I expected to see a bunch of busy individuals working and phones ringing and printers and fax machines running, but to my surprise there was none of that.

Stepping off the elevator I was greeted by a small entry hall that had two small sofas with a coffee table in the center of each of them to my right. On my left was a nice, but very vacant wooden desk with a chair behind it. The desk held a classic work lamp, phone and desktop computer. Behind the desk chair was two large bookshelves that were loaded with books and files.

Walking further into the space I could see a small hall that held a restroom and another room that I couldn't quite make out. In front of me stood a thick, tall door that had a gold plate, which read Owen Oakwood Law Office.

Taking one last deep breath, I went to knock on the door, but it opened before my fist could hit the wood. There in front of me stood the man who was to be my boss, Mr. Owen Oakwood, and God if his looks didn't shock me. I suddenly realized what Nikki meant when she said not to stare... But, I could tell that would be easier said then done. I mean, I was a married woman as well but I wasn't dead, the man was very attractive.

He had olive skin, dark hair and hazel eyes. Light stubble covered his jaw, chin and around his full mouth and it was very obvious he had a nice body seeing how he filled out his nicely tailored suit.

"Sophia Haze, is it?" He spoke, his voice coming out low and strong.

I startled at the sound of his voice as I suddenly realized I'd been openly staring at my new boss like an idiot, "Um, yes, I'm Sophia, Sophia Haze. I'm your new legal assistant," I said quickly with a smile as I reached out to shake his hand.

As he shook my hand he gave me a charming smile of his own, "I'm obviously Owen Oakwood, but you can just call me Owen, no need to be so formal around here," he said then paused for a few beats making me wonder if I'd missed a question he'd asked me.

But, then he was speaking again before I could question him, "How about you step into my office so we can get right to it. We have a lot of things to cover before my first meeting in an hour."

Nodding, I smiled excitedly, "Alight then, lead the way... Owen."

And just like that I'd started my first day at my new job and everything was going perfectly.