Risky Business: (Taboo Romance Series) (Forbidden Fruit Book 3)

  RISKY BUSINESS

  Forbidden Fruit Series

  by

  Ali Parker

  The Forbidden Fruit Series

  Description

  Caden Taylor has worked beside his brother, Luke for the last few years to build up their investment firm - the one that no one believed they could construct. He's cocky, living high on the hog, and is a bachelor for life.

  And he plans to stay that way.

  Nothing is getting in the way of his success, besides... he's got all he needs. Him and his brother are best friends, confidants and loyal to each other, almost to a fault. That relationship and a few one-night-stands and he’s golden.

  Unfortunately, Luke has a new girlfriend that he plans on hiring at the firm, but Caden is completely against it. Olivia is beautiful, brilliant, and the first girl that Caden ever loved.

  As things heat up with this forbidden romance, Caden must decide… His brother, or his first, and possibly true, love?

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  Contents

  Forbidden Fruit Series

  Description

  Free Novella – One More Night

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  JADED

  MAKING THE RULES

  About the Author

  Free Books by Ali

  Risky Business

  Forbidden Fruits Series

  Copyright © 2016 by Ali Parker

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  The novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and plot are all either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons – living or dead – is purely coincidental.

  First Edition.

  Chapter 1

  Olivia

  "You nervous?" Dr. Darren glanced over at me as we stood beside the stage. The auditorium was filled with his advanced finance students who were peppering the speaker before me with rather intimidating questions.

  "Never." I winked. "And even if I were, no one will know it."

  He chuckled and pressed his shoulder against mine. "Somehow I knew that would be your response."

  "No you didn't." I gave him a cocky grin and moved up onto the stage as the speaker before me made his exit on the far side of the platform. The clap was lackluster at best. Dr. Darren had been my advisor throughout my five years at NYC, and was an excellent professor. He cared for his students and took far more time helping me not only understand the value of an invested dollar, but many of the other skills I would need to access in front of the crowd of sharks in front of me.

  "Class," his voice boomed through the room, "please help me welcome one of my favorite students, and top graduate from our program last year. Miss Olivia Desmant."

  "Hot," someone muttered and the class snickered.

  I tugged at the collar of my white button down and gave them a tight smile. "It is rather hot in here... isn't it. Maybe we should turn the air on."

  Another round of snickers, this time they were welcomed.

  "I'm Olivia and after working for one of the top investment firms in New York for the last year, Dr. Darren asked that I come back and tell you all the things you might not know, and perhaps wouldn't want to." I smiled and let my eyes move across the room. Half the people staring back at me would never make it in the dog-eat-dog world of financial investments.

  "Let's start with a quick experiment and then I'll give you some statistics." I brushed my hands together and pursed my lips as I moved to the edge of the stage. "If you're a female please stand."

  The girls in the room stood up, half of them giving me an eat-shit-and-die look. It was almost comical.

  "If you're over the age of forty. Please stand up." I spoke softly, but kept my tone steady. They already believed me to be less than worthy of their time, regardless of my credentials. I was a pretty blonde female. I had multiple strikes against me. Where most would pull the covers over their heads and go back to bed over some of the shit I took on each day, I almost enjoyed overcoming the odds.

  "If you're timid, shy, or have a speech impediment of any kind. Stand." More stood and glanced around at the others as if they might attack any minute. A third of the classroom were still seated.

  "If you enjoy eating lunch, sleeping at night or taking a piss. Please... stand."

  A chuckle resounded around me.

  I pressed my fingers to my lips as everyone stood but one handsome guy. Tilting my head to the side, I gave him a warm smile.

  "You there... how about sex. If you enjoy the warmth of having a woman in your bed. Or a man." I shrugged. "If you enjoy that in the slightest - stand on up."

  He popped up like his ass was on fire and the room broke out into laughter.

  "Good." I clapped my hands. "Now, look around. Every one of you."

  They glanced around the room and shuffled back and forth a little bit.

  "If you think you're capable of not only making it as an investment manager, but rising to the top and owning your own firm... please, sit down."

  Four males sat down and several others started to, but seemed to waver in their belief about the future.

  "Right. Everyone sit down. Let's be clear." I moved to the podium and pulled out my notes. "This isn't a career, it's a life. And if you're not one of the chosen few who might be ushered to the top, you have a long life ahead of you."

  I glanced up and crossed my arms across my chest. "So why do it? What would be your reasons? Fame? Money? Prestige?"

  "All the above," Handsome called out and winked at me.

  "And what is that promise worth to you, Sir? Would you sell your last second in the day? The last warm meal you might ever experience? The last romp in the sheets you might get?"

  The room was solemn... right where I wanted them to be. I stood in stony silence and ignored Dr. Darren's chuckle from beside the stage. He knew where I was going. It was a lesson he'd taught me far too well.

  "Right. That's step one in making this thing work. What would I be willing to give up for the fame I'm capable of reaching and step two... how do I get the confidence to grab ahold of it when I see it."

  I moved through the rest of my presentation, dragging the students back into an int
eractive discussion about all the parts of the investment world and what to truly expect. My time was over far too quickly.

  "Now, if you're still interested in working for a large firm like Taylor, Taylor and Barden, then stand up." I smiled as half the class stood up. "Good. Come see me in a few years when you graduate."

  I walked across the stage to the room clapping and moved over to Dr. Darren.

  "Excellent job. Why mention Taylor, Taylor and Barden? Did you get an offer from them?" His eyebrow raised sharply.

  "Not yet, but I think it's coming soon. I'm dating one of their partners, but I didn't think that would go over too well as a good reason to sleep with the boss." I laughed and touched his shoulder. "It's been a long process. Luke Taylor and I have been dating since my junior year here. We've talked about me joining him. I'm just waiting on his offer."

  "I think that's incredible news." He pulled me into a side hug and chuckled as students walked toward us. "You were successful here, and will be in any endeavor you decide to take on."

  All of them but the one that mattered most. Love.

  "Miss Desmant, I'm Talon. Nice to meet you." Handsome from the front row stuck out his hand, and I shook it firmly.

  "Pleasure is all mine."

  "Can I call you Olivia?"

  "I'd rather you didn't, but suit yourself." I pulled my hand from his and watched him closely. I'd known his type all my life, and yet I couldn't force myself to judge him too harshly. He'd already labeled me as an easy win either in business or the bedroom, but that is where he was wrong - on both accounts.

  "A tough cookie, I see. I like it."

  "What's that? Cookies?" I smiled and moved past him to talk to a few more students. After twenty minutes of answering questions, I made my leave. My best friend Dana was flying in that night for the next week or so. She needed a vacation from UCLA, and I needed the company. Luke was becoming more and more pushy about the future. He didn't at all seem like the kind of guy who would want to settle down, but his words spoke of another reality entirely.

  "Olivia." A deep voice called my name, and I turned to see Talon jogging toward me.

  "I'm late for picking up someone at the airport." I glanced over at him as he walked with me toward the exit just ahead of us. His sandy blonde hair and dark blue eyes most likely made a few hearts flutter and thighs clench, but he wasn't at all my type.

  Dark brown hair and deep green eyes with a southern accent, and I was all in, but the frat boy look with a cocky disposition? Hell no.

  "I won't keep you. I just wanted to ask a question and you were so busy in there answering questions." He chuckled as if something he said was funny. Nervous.

  "It was the Q&A portion of the discussion." I smiled and stopped beside my red BMW. "What's your question?"

  "I'd really like to come by your office sometime and talk about the future. I graduate in December this year, and I think I could offer a lot to any firm smart enough to take me on."

  I opened the door and pulled a card from my handbag. "I like your confidence, but you'd better understand what you're signing up for before you dive head first into something that has the power to suck you under, drink you dry and spit you out."

  "You're surviving well. If you can do it... I can do it." His smile was out of place for the comment.

  "Because I'm a woman?"

  "Yeah. Exactly. And you're blonde." He slipped his hands into his pocket. "And likely the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Can't be easy for you. All those alpha males vying for your attention."

  "It's real easy. I don't like men." I shrugged, winked and got in my car. "Nice meeting you, Talon. Good luck."

  "I'll be in touch." His cheeks were pink as he moved back and watched me like a hawk.

  Too bad for him that the card wasn't mine. I didn't even know who Sylvia Warner was, but having the card flutter out of my purse on the way into the event couldn't have been a better omen. There was always one asshole in the group if I was lucky. Looks like it was Talon that day.

  I chuckled as I headed toward the airport to get Dana. I needed a girl's weekend, but work was too crazy to get away. The transition from my firm to Luke's was going to be hard, but worth the leap. I could only hope that he would try and respect me enough in the office to steer clear of anything relational and simply treat me like the professional I was.

  At the office I was an investment manager, not the girl that rode him every other night until he begged me to stop. We were great lovers, but not much else.

  Somehow he'd fooled himself otherwise.

  Chapter 2

  Caden

  "You nervous?" My secretary Annie stood at the door to my office with a smile on her ruby-red lips.

  "Never." I continued to tap my fingers in a slow cadence across my desk as I glanced back down at the file laid out on my desk. "I've done this a million times in the last few years. Why would I be nervous?"

  "It's a big account." She walked in and took the seat in front of my desk. "You know this could be a game changer for you and Luke."

  "And Perry." I glanced up and gave her a knowing look. Everyone at the office liked to ignore the fact that Luke and I had a silent partner in the firm, but I wasn't able to forget him. He was the reason we had Taylor, Taylor and Barden. The older man had not only believed in me, but given quite a sum of seed money to help my brother and I start our empire.

  "Of course." She shrugged and cleared her throat. "You know Luke is expecting you for lunch downstairs in ten minutes, right?"

  "Damn. Is it already eleven?" I glanced at the clock and closed the folder, ignoring the way Annie watched me. I'd have to have a conversation with her soon, but I was hoping that her odd infatuation would simply disappear.

  I had a rule about dating anyone at work, no matter how cute she might be.

  "It's almost eleven. You need anything from me today?" She leaned forward and pressed her hand to my desk, shifting just enough so that I could see down her shirt. The creamy-white tops her tits caught my attention, but I ignored her and gathered my stuff. Why my brother wanted to have the most attractive women in all of New York working for us was ridiculous.

  Or maybe it was because he was a fucking pig. That's what it came down to. A twenty-eight-year-old manwhore who spoke about a girlfriend that none of us had ever seen. It had become the central joke of the office. Luke's beautiful, talented and brilliant girlfriend that worked for our top competition. He promised to introduce the two of us soon, but soon was the promise a year back.

  "Nope. Just continue to keep the place held together, and we'll be good." I grabbed my wallet, phone and keys and moved around her, stopping only as she spoke again.

  "You know we're having the office party tomorrow night at Kadia, right?"

  "Kadia?" I glanced over my shoulder. "That place is fucking wild."

  "Yeah. It's a lot of fun." Her smile was highly inappropriate, almost comically so.

  "Maybe too much fun for an office party?" I shook my head and walked out of the office as I tried to think through how I was going to tell my bull-headed older brother that having an office party at the hottest night club in New York was idiotic. They had a sex room on the third floor from what I'd heard. How his reasoning to have the anniversary party for the firm there made sense was beyond me, but we were talking about Luke.

  I squeezed into the elevator and turned at the sight of a pretty blonde near the back. My heart fluttered in my chest. Olivia?

  No. Stop being stupid. Let it go.

  I wanted to let it go. To let her go, but I couldn't seem to do it. Five years of nothing - not a word from her - and then she had the audacity to send in her resume to work for the firm. It'd been a year since it came in, and I still felt like shit for shredding it, but I couldn't have her there. We had too much history between us, too many hurt feelings.

  Six years. I was such a fucking puss for still lamenting over her. It was high school and I was far beyond getting over it, but the what ifs drove me into a
craze to think through how my life would have been different if she hadn't turned her back on me our senior year.

  "Stop. You're too fucking old for this." I ran my fingers through my hair and got off the elevator, not caring who heard me talking to myself. The building we rented a floor on had enough people to fill the small city I was from two times over. Running into someone from our small firm was highly unlikely.

  I moved back and waited as everyone left the elevator. The blonde was last off, and she glanced at me and smiled as my heart dropped. Not her.

  Good.

  I turned and walked toward the overpriced restaurant at the bottom of our building, stopping by the hostess stand only for a moment before hearing my brother call my name. He looked nothing like me, and I was almost grateful for it. He was an asshole no matter who we were dealing with or what audience we were in front of. It was nice to think most people didn't associate us as anything more than business partners. A good cop - bad cop type of relationship, and he was forever the bad cop.

  "There you are. Shit. I thought you'd forgotten." He nodded at the chair across from him. "Sit. I have fucking great news."

  "Your idea of great and mine are two totally different things." I unbuttoned my navy suit jacket and pulled it off my shoulders as I glanced around the restaurant. "I think you need to fire Annie and let me do the hiring from here on out."

  "Why's that? She still after you to take her to bed?" He chuckled and leaned back in his seat. "Just lock the damn door to the office and pop her cherry for her. You know after a hard fuck she'll calm down a little. All women just need to realize who's in charge, who's capable of bringing them to heel."

  "That so?" I rolled my eyes and sat down.

  "Yep. And a man is what they need."

  "And you're that man?" I glanced up at the server, grateful it was a guy. If I had to watch my brother eye-fuck another poor unsuspecting girl, I might have to reach across the table and slap him. We got along beautifully, as long as we didn't broach the subject of women. They were toys to him... and always had been. I couldn't remember a time in my life of ever thinking about them as anything but precious. Maybe I was a puss.