The CEO's Forbidden Desire

The CEO's Forbidden Desire

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dark
forbidden
opposites attract
dominant
kickass heroine
boss
heir/heiress
drama
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Blurb

Gryphon Vance: She was the object of all my unholy desires. She was fake and manipulative. She lived in a world that believed in bringing others down in order to get ahead. She was what everyone despised and I couldn't get out of my damn mind.

She was my step-sister.

Serena Vance: He was the cruel CEO of the Vance Hospitality Empire. He was ruthless. He was fierce. He was insatiable in his hunger for power. But even so, I couldn't keep him out of my thoughts. I couldn't remove his touch from my skin.

Even if our parents had gotten married right under our noses and any thoughts about Gryphon were forbidden...all desires were forbidden.

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Gryphon Vance and Serena Vance start off as workplace rivals until their parents decide to get married and they find themselves unable to resist each other and yet, knowing that it is completely forbidden to want each other.

What happens why they are unable to keep their feelings to themselves in a world full of paparazzi, high society galas, and enemies hiding in the shadows?

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This is Book 2 in the CEO Series after The CEO's Secret Fiance. Enjoy!

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Chapter 1
|Serena's POV| In Manhattan, power isn't inherited—it's fought for, stolen, and bathed in scandal. I adjust the diamond cuff on my wrist, letting the chandelier light catch the stones before dropping my hand with an air of boredom. Another gala, another room filled with men who think their last name is a crown, and women who wear their husbands' wealth like it's their own. Manhattan's elite is predictable. They smile with practiced ease, murmur empty pleasantries, and sharpen their knives behind their backs. And tonight, I am playing my role to perfection in this gala that my darling mother has decided to throw at our penthouse. Apparently she has something to announce to the world and I am here to pretend to be the model child that she desperately wants me to be. "Serena, darling," a familiar voice purrs, the scent of expensive whiskey and arrogance trailing behind it. "You look like sin wrapped in couture." I don't turn immediately. I let him wait, force him to work for my attention, before shifting my gaze to Donovan Young. He's all sharp cheekbones and calculated charm, his black tuxedo tailored within an inch of perfection. The son of a luxury conglomerate, heir to an empire of old money and dirty business tactics. And, unfortunately, my on-again, off-again mistake. "Donovan," I say smoothly, taking a sip of my champagne. "Still trying too hard, I see." His smirk deepens. "And you're still pretending you don't like it." The game between us is one I've played since I was nineteen—push and pull, danger wrapped in a lover's whisper. But I know better than to let him in. His love comes with a leash, and I refuse to be anyone's prized possession. I met him in my first year of college at Columbia, right here in New York City, and since then, my relationship— or lack thereof— has been nothing but a saga of pure chaos and destruction. He is a bad habit that I cannot shake and I am addicted to his ways knowing well enough that he never means well. "Now, tell me, did you do what I asked of you?" He asks brushing his lips against the tip of my ear and even though I stand an inch or two taller than him in my heels, I still feel a disgusted shiver ripple down my spine because of his proximity. There was a time when I used to love his company, a time when I was naive and too innocent for his ways to understand what it was doing to me. And now, I don't care for much. "Yes," I take in a shaky breath, "the reporter has been given the instructions to trail Casmira and her presence in the charity ball tomorrow will also be scrutinised rest assured. You'll get what you want if you play your cards right." I tell him shifting my gaze through the swarms of people mingling amongst each other, dripping with wealth, deception, and corruption. Donovan gives me a pleased grin, "wonderful, dearest. Now, I have a proposition for you," he states squeezing my waist gently and I meet his eyes with my own gaze narrowed. "What are you talking about?" Any proposition from Donovan is another one of his self serving tactics. "I owe someone a favour, a new designer, Nicholas Farrera" he states and I already hold my breath, knowing where this will go, "so, I promised him a free gig from you. It is tomorrow night at The Plaza." My eyes widen to a point where my inner disdain makes its way onto my face but I control myself for the time being, "excuse me? Nicholas Farrera? You want me to do a free show for that pervert who calls himself a designer? First of all, my manager would never agree to this, and secondly, his show would ruin my chances of getting into the Paris Fashion Week this year," and that, is something that will disappoint my mother to no extent and I cannot have that. Things get ugly when she is disappointed. Donovan narrows his eyes at me, his hold on my waist turning painful to a degree, "are you forgetting who you're speaking to, Van der Bilt? Have you not realised by now that if I am asking you to do something then you simply do it. There is no questioning me in that, dearest." He adds the last line with a sinister smile as he looks around us to ensure that no one is overhearing us. I look around at the sprawling celebrations around me, the golden champagne flowing freely through the crowds, glimmering in the light that my mother's high ceiling chandeliers cast while the two floored living space of our penthouse has jolly Upper East Siders dancing and talking and playing and making underhanded deals that will bring nothing but chaos. Yes. This is the world that my beloved mother chose for me when she tricked my father into marrying her all those years ago. Then my billionaire of a dad passed away when I was seven and two more of my mother's alimonies later, here we are. "I'll talk to Jake about this." I tell him before getting up from the elaborate leather sofa where I had been sitting with Donovan, "excuse me while I go get a drink." I don't wait to hear a response from him as I make my way to the open bar just beside the sprawling staircase that leads up to the upper floor. "A martini. Extra dry." I tell the bartender who catches my sight the moment I reach the counter, "and olives. Lots of olives. Thank you," I fidget with my bracelet as I place my hands on the bar top, looking over my shoulder to where Donovan is already cozying up to some shady investment banker and roll my eyes right as my drink is placed in front of me. "Thanks, Sergei." I take my place at one of the bar stools, not wanting to return to my sad excuse of a boyfriend just yet as I bring my drink to my lips right when I feel a strange shiver slither down my spine...I'm being watched— which shouldn't have been a problem since I am the host of this party and people are bound to watch me— but this is different...more intense. My head snaps to my side and I am met with the most intriguing gray eyes I have ever seen, framed by raven eyebrows and high cheekbones of a man that looks to be straight out of a book. His raven hair glints brighter than the crystal counter of the bar top that I am leaning against and the look in his eyes is so intriguing that I cannot help but feel drawn in. Gryphon Vance. The son of hotelier Eduardo Vance of the Vance Hospitality Empire and known for his ruthlessness and sharp wit that never lets anyone forget about his old money roots or the influence he holds in this world. And right now he is watching me like I am his next target. "Miss Van der Bilt." He states in a velvety voice that has my cheeks reddening at the once over his eyes give me, "quite the arrangements you have made for tonight." He says nodding in appreciation and I am certain that my blush deepens. My grip on my martini glass stem tightens slightly as I take in a deep breath, "it was all my mother's planning. She's the one you should compliment." "I did," he smirks and somehow the sight only makes him look even more enigmatic. "I'll see you around, Miss Van der Bilt." He nods his head in my direction and walks away without another word while I sit there stunned into silence. For years we have travelled in same circles, attended same events being a part of this gilded world that is really all about gossip mongering and espionages, and yet, never before has Gryphon Vance tried to speak to me under any circumstances. And somehow I get the feeling that it is not the last I would be hearing from him. "Serena," my mother's harsh whisper pulls me back to reality as I snap my head to my side, away from where I had been watching Gryphon leave as I find the signature scowl of Beatrice Van der Bilt plastered on her face. "Look alive, you're the host here, the guests should not think that you're not interested in the party!" Her words of disregard towards me are not strange, in fact, if anything they are the only constant that I know of. I give her a lopsided grin that I know irks her more than she shows through the tension in her jaw, "relax, mother, everyone already thinks that I am a bratty b***h who doesn't give two f***s about anyone. No one will find my expression out of the ordinary." I tell her and her lips press in a thin line as she literally clutches the pearls around her neck. My mother hates this kind of a language— deems it beneath herself, in fact— and I use every chance I can get to rebel against this rule of hers. After all, it was her idea to showcase this persona of mine to the world. The Class-A b***h Act— all orchestrated by Beatrice Van der Bilt and yet, no one would ever know. "Come with me, I have an announcement to make and we are to do this as a family." She hisses, deciding against wasting her breath on my charades at the moment. I knock back the martini in one go and slide off of the bar stool, pressing my hands across the front of my evening gown as a show of looking appropriate to my darling mother, "let's go. Even though I have absolutely no idea what this announcement of yours is, but sure, I'll pretend we are a united front." I shrug. My mother scoffs as she starts leading me up the stairs so we can acquire her favourite spot in parties like these— the balcony overlooking the lower portion of our living space, the perfect place for my mother to look down her nose at most of Manhattan's bigs and bads. "Why my darling, I have just secured our future for the rest of our lives, you should thank me, really!" She whispers to me just as she takes her place and as I step up beside her, my heart starts racing and I have to control my expression because one by one all eyes are turning in our direction. If I know one thing about my mother, then it is the fact that she only uses these words to let me know whenever she has found her next alimony provider. Fucking hell. She is about to announce another marriage. The clinking of her champagne flute pulls the attention of the entire party to the two of us and my heart just would not stop racing. "Thank you everyone for gracing tonight with your presence!" She begins, her voice flowing smoothly, captivating the audience as they all watch with large smiles on their faces, "tonight I have gathered you all here for a special announcement that only the people close to me deserved to get to know about first—" she means the people most likely to spread the news and having most influence, "— as you all are aware that recently I have become a silent partner in the Vance Group of Hotels," cheers and claps of acknowledgement and envy resound through the crowds as she continues, "I must tell you all that it was not for nothing. Eduardo and I have decided to merge our empires for more reasons than one!" No... I feel a presence coming up beside me like a looming shadow of doom over my future as I hold my breath the moment Eduardo Vance takes up mantle beside my mother and Gryphon comes to stand by my side with a cool and composed expression on his face. No... "...we have decided to tie the knot and we are excited to announce that tonight is our engagement party!" My mother finishes her speech just as Eduardo raises a toast to her and my ears are booming with the sound of my own heartbeat as I try to gather my wits about what has just happened. Too much. This is too much. I feel Gryphon's eyes on me but I don't meet his gaze as I realise what this all means... My mother is marrying for the fourth time. We will become a part of the Vance family. Eduardo Vance will become my step father. And Gryphon...my step brother. All the more reason for my mother to exert even more control over my life. I will never be free. The rings are exchanged, photos are clicked, the crowds congratulate us for this new beginning and I power through it all with a strange numbness creeping over my whole body as I catch Gryphon's gaze and gulp— This is going to be hell.

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