MY FORBIDDEN BILLIONAIRE LOVER

The first time I heard his name again, it was a whisper. “Peter Noah.” I froze in my f*****g chair with my hands still on the keyboard. The busy office dimmed into nothing but the sound of his name. I picked up the little picture inside my notebook. It was a picture of my late dad. I looked around to find who had called his name. I found my editor, Grant, leaning over Melissa's desk, gesturing towards the laptop. Melissa was grinning as she spoke, “A tech gala? Nah, that's so out of my league. I think you should send Grace. She lives for this kind of bloody mess.” Grant’s eyes flicked to me, “What do you, Laurent?” He paused waiting for me to register what he had just said, “Want to go dancing with billionaires and still be doing what you love most?” “What is that?” I asked “A gala…” I swallowed, “whose Gala?” He smirked, “The famous billionaire, Peter Noah. The golden boy of our time and the CEO of Peers Gadget.” Melissa chuckled “All this praise for one person?” I think my heart skipped a beat but I forced a casual shrug, “When?” “Tomorrow night. So, wear your most expensive dress, blend in but don't get caught snooping. You are not invincible, Laurent. We need a story, not a f*****g lawsuit.” “I know that….” I said, my chest burning with anxiety. “I would bring you back something worth being on the f*****g front page.” Melissa snorted, “If you are lucky, maybe you can get to ‘the Peter Noah’ and he could buy you a drink and agree to an exclusive with you…” I shot her a look, “Yeah, if I'm lucky and maybe he would slip up and give up details of his so-called private life.” Grant and Melissa burst into laughter, while I rolled my eyes and walked back to my seat. I guess tonight is the night I meet the demon. ************************************* It was finally the next night, the Waldorf gleamed like a palace, chandeliers dripping gold light across crystal tables. Every guest looked polished, powerful, and dangerous. I tugged at the hem of my emerald gown, my chin held up high as I pretended that I belonged while my heart was beating so fast. Every corner screamed Peter Noah. His empire funded this whole event and everywhere you look, you could catch a glimpse of him. I walked further in and that’s when I saw him. He was tall, sleek, and looked so….so untouchable. His grey eyes scanned through the crowd like a f*****g predator. He had a suit that was like it had been sewn on his skin. Fuck, he was gorgeous. I stopped by the champagne tower, my guts tugging me to turn back and run but my feet refused to move. I needed these answers. Just then his gaze locked onto to mine and I swear, it was like I forgot how to breathe. He began to move, his steps cutting through the crowd. It was smooth, slow, and deliberate, like he already knew why I was here. “Miss Laurent..” he said when he finally got to me. His voice was low and sharp. “You have been on my radar.” I forced a smile to my lips, “Mr. Noah, I can imagine why.” We stayed silent for a while. Then the song changed to classical music. He turned to me, his hands stretched out, “Come, dance with me, and maybe you could finally find the ‘why’” I wanted to spit on his face, slap him, and walk out but instead, I placed my hands on his and I let him lead me to the dance floor. “Seems like you know who I am…” I began the conversation as we started the dance. He gave me a smirk, “I guess..” “You do your research I guess…” “So do you..” he murmured, pulling me closer. “You have been doing some kind of digging in the dirt like a dog. I would advise you to be careful, Grace, you might find something sharp.” I looked into his eyes, “I don't think I am afraid of a little cut.” His lips tilted, “Your father wasn't either but look where that got him.” My nails dug into his shoulders at the mention of my dad, “Say it…..” Peter's eyes glittered, “No, because if I do, you are not getting out of here alive.” I could feel the anger in my veins, “What do you know about my father?” “Everything,” he said simply, like it was not a big deal. I opened my mouth to demand more but before I could speak the light went off. We all stood, looking confused. “Don’t move…” Peter said, he held me tightly. “What the hell is going on?” I asked but I got no answer. Then a gunshot blasted through the hall and screams followed. The hall was thrown into chaos. I stumbled against Peter’s chest as people shoved past us. Glass broke, heels running on the marble floor, people crying and screaming but Peter stood. The hall smelt like smoke. “Get the lights back on…” Peter commanded, he spoke to someone. In the next minutes, the light surged back on. I gasped. People screamed and others were recording. There was a body on the floor. Peter ran his hands through his hair “s**t…” I looked closer, and it was a Canadian ambassador. I brought my phone as I began to live-stream the event. As I reported, I was shaking. People were crying, whispering, and recording. The next minute, the hall was filled with the police. I looked around, Peter stood perfectly still, his expression was unreadable but I noticed the subtle twitch of his jaw. His eyes flicked towards the balcony. He looked like he knew what was going on. I walked close to him before I could get close. A server brush passed him, shoving something into his pocket and vanishing. I quickened my steps towards him, “What was that?” Peter pulled it out. It was a sheet of paper. His eyes flicked over the words and for a moment, his eyes turned ice cold. “The Widow is watching.” He muttered under his breath.