Page 5 of Twice as Forbidden

As soon as he puts the car in park, I jump out and take a deep breath, hoping to calm myself, but the summer heat only makes it worse.

“Where are you going?”

“Away from you,” I say, walking through the parking lot.

“You’re going the wrong way. The office is right here.”

Shoot.

I turn around and, with no other choice, trail behind Noah into the towering high-rise. The sleek glass doors swallow us into the polished lobby, a stark reminder of the world we’re stepping into.

When I googled the company we’re going to be interning for, I discovered Noah’s father, Jackson Blake—founder and CEO of Blake Industries—runs one of the largest raw material distribution companies in the industry. I was just as impressed as I was intimidated.

Noah pushes through the large glass doors and waves at the receptionist. “Welcome home, Noah. Heard you’re with us for the next three months.”

“Sure am, Rachel. If you’re lucky, I’ll make time for you to treat me to lunch.” He winks at her, and her smile drops as she notices me.

“You must be Miss Price.” I nod, offering a tight smile. “You both can head back. Your father is waiting.”

“Thanks, Rach.” Noah walks off, not bothering to wait for me. I follow, stopping behind him as he sticks his head through the open door that leads into a large office. “He’s on a call. We can go in and wait.” Noah walks in and flops down on the leather couch. I move to take a seat next to him, but he stretches his legs across the space, making it clear there’s no room for me.Asshole. I give him a dismissive glare before taking the empty chair in front of Mr. Blake’s desk. His brows are furrowed, his pen tapping against the top of his large mahogany desk. I feel out of place. Sitting on the floor seems like a less uncomfortable option.

I look over my shoulder to see Noah, his head down, scrolling through his phone. When I turn back, I catch his father staring at me. A shiver runs down my spine, and goosebumps appear on my arms. His eyes drop, and I realize my skirt hiked up my thighs when I sat down. I adjust the hem and cross my legs, revealing a hint of inner thigh. The tapping stops. His hand freezes, clenching the pen as his gaze lingers on my thighs. I thought last night had been a mistake, had even wondered if he’d remember. But the way he drank me in when I stepped into the kitchen, that wink, now…

You’re playing with fire, Georgia.

I pull my skirt down, shaking my head. I must be losing it. Hitting on Noah’s father?Jesus, Georgia, get it together.I stand and excuse myself to the restroom. Once inside, I turn on the cold water and press my wrists beneath the stream, the chill shocking me back to the present. I reach for a paper towel and dry my hands before checking my reflection. My cheeks are flushed, my eyes a little too wide. I smooth down my hair, adjust my blouse, and square my shoulders, forcing a deep inhale.

“You’re fine. Get it together,” I murmur to myself, blinking away any lingering doubt. With one last steady breath, I straighten and step out, my mask firmly in place. Reaching the open door of the office, Noah and Mr. Blake are arguing, their voices low but tense, words clipped and angry. Noah’s jaw is tight, his hands curling into fists at his sides. Mr. Blake leans in slightly over him, his expression cold and unwavering. Their hushed tones don’t soften the intensity between them.

Mr. Blake must have noticed I’d returned. “Georgia, sit,” he says with a commanding tone.

“Yes, sir.” I sink into the couch next to Noah.

“As you know, this internship is designed to provide you with real-world experience, build your skills, and enhance your résumé for life after college,” Mr. Blake says, glancing between us. “Over the summer, you’ll rotate through different departments—logistics, sales, and procurement—so you can see how each part of the company operates. You won’t just be shadowing; you’ll be expected to contribute. This involves handling reports, attending meetings, and providing assistance as needed. Consider this a hands-on crash course in the business world. Show initiative, ask questions, and most importantly, prove you belong. I expect you to treat this as a real job—no fucking around.” His gaze locks on Noah. “It will be paid. Normally, we don’t do paid internships, but I’m making an exception. You’ll both start in the sales department. I’ve set up training courses for you to participate in. Tomorrow, I’ll have you both shadow cold calls. Pay attention, take notes, and learn how to pitch effectively. Soon enough, you’ll be making those calls on your own.”

“What exactly are we selling?” Perhaps I should have done a deeper dive before accepting the internship.

Mr. Blake shifts his attention to me, his expression unreadable. “Yourself,” he states simply. “Anyone can push a product, but it takes skill to close a deal. I need to see that you can handle this job. There’s a long list of students who would kill for this opportunity.”

My stomach tightens. “I want to be here. I need this job,” I say quickly, trying to hide the edge of desperation in my voice.

His gaze lingers on me for a beat before he gives a curt nod. “Good. Then prove it. Learn quickly, adapt even faster, and you’ll do just fine.

“When’s lunch?” Noah asks, and his father’s demeanor changes. “We do get lunch, don’t we?”

“You know you get lunch. Your training specialist will handle that. You get an hour. Don’t abuse it.”

“Great.” Noah stands. “Let’s go,” he says to me.

I slowly rise, but his father’s voice stops me from moving any farther.

“Noah, go find Lewis. He’ll get you set up. I’m keeping Georgia with me.”

“Why?” he asks, his annoyance evident.

“Because you know your way around. She doesn’t.”

An older man pops his head into Mr. Blake’s office. “Noah, you ready?”

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