Chapter One- A Powerful Attraction

San Francisco, Early October 1997

Phoebe Halliwell left her house with a sigh. She just needed to get away from everything.

Especially Prue.

It had only been a month or so since her sisters Prue and Piper had moved back into the manor from the apartment they had been sharing in the city, and already her eldest sister was grating on Phoebe's nerves.

She and Prue had never really gotten along, but now... Now it was worse than ever. The two of them simply had nothing in common.

Piper, always the middle sister, tried to play peace maker, but it rarely worked. No the only thing that worked, was Phoebe and Prue staying far away from one another.

Phoebe loved her sister, she really did, but she didn't particularly like her. Prue was just so stuffed up, she never lived, and she always looked down at Phoebe for doing just that...

Phoebe was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she wasn't watching where she was going and she ran right into somebody.

"I'm so sorry." She apologised, her eyes widening when she realized that she had run into one of the best looking men she had ever seen.

"It's okay." He said with a smile. "I wasn't paying attention either."

"Still, I'm so sorry." Phoebe said. "I'm not normally such a klutz."

The man smiled, a dazzling smile that made him look even more handsome. "Well, I guess that luck is on my side then. After all, if you had not been run into me, we might never have met, would we have?"

Phoebe blushed at his obvious flirting. Normally, she would have been a little uncomfortable, after all she had just met the guy and didn't even know his name, but there was something about him... Something that made her decide to be even more reckless then usual.

"I guess we were both in luck." She said with a smile. "I'm Phoebe Halliwell, and you are...?"

"Cole." He told her with a smile. "Cole Turner. Well, Phoebe, I know this is sudden, but can I buy you a coffee?"

Phoebe smiled. "Sure, I'd like that."
* * * * *

Cole, otherwise known as Belthazor, looked at the young woman sitting across the table from him.

He didn't know what had possessed him to ask her out or even to flirt with her. Normally he would have polite and even moderately charming, but then got out of there ASAP.

Yet, there was something about this girl... She intrigued him and he had to admit he was attracted to her.

It had been a while since he had had a relationship and despite his demon heritage, Cole actually did prefer mortals. There was something intriguing about sweetness, innocence, vulnerability, qualities that demonesses rarely possessed.

This girl, Phoebe, interested him and he figured that she might be good for a fling until he got bored, like he always did.

"So what brings you to San Francisco?" She asked with a smile.

"Business." Cole told her. "The company I work with is opening a new branch here and I was sent to run it."

That much was true, he was technically running a business for the Brotherhood. Which was why he was going by his human name, Cole Turner, while he was here in San Francisco. He had to fit in, appear to be perfectly normal while acting as an agent of the Source and keeping his eyes open for whatever it was that was supposed to happen there.

"Oh, which company?" Phoebe asked, honestly curious.

Cole named the high-profile investment banking firm run by the Brotherhood.

Phoebe looked startled, then laughed.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, surprised by her reaction.

"No." She told him. "It's just... I was thinking that you sound like the type of guy my sister Prue goes for."

"Oh?" Cole asked. "What type is that and is that a bad thing?"

"The nice suits, the high-profile job. She's very into that." Phoebe explained. "And no, it's not a bad thing, it's just... I'm normally more into the rebel type. Prue and I are as usually different as night in day, yet here I am..."

"Here you are?" Cole prodded, not that surprised by her words.

Phoebe didn't seem like the type he normally went for either, for one thing... She was too young. He would estimate her to be in her early twenties, while he usually preferred women in their late twenties or early thirties, finding them more mature and more intellectually stimulating.

More than that, Phoebe appeared to be the rebellious, party-girl, laid back type, which he usually avoided. In fact, he would bet that her sister, Prue, was more like the type woman he was usually interested in.

Yet, he found himself incredibly attracted to Phoebe, despite their differences. He had to admit that he did like how sweet she was, how basically innocent.

That was a flaw with the type of women he usually went after, they were more jaded, though still vulnerable and occasionally you could find one who was still sweet, but they were a rarity.

Phoebe on the other hand, didn't appear to be at all jaded, which might be the main reason he was attracted to her.

"Here I am finding myself really attracted to you." Phoebe answered finally, then blushed. "I'm not usually that forward. At least not within an hour of meeting someone."

"It's okay." Cole told her. "I appreciate honesty and though this is our first date, I sincerely hope that it isn't our last, because I'm really attracted to you as well."

Phoebe smiled. "Well, if you're asking me for a second date, then the answer is yes."

"Tonight then?" Cole asked. He had never been one to wait if he wanted something. And he wanted Phoebe Halliwell. "Dinner?"

"That sounds wonderful." Phoebe said softly, as the waitress came and left their bill on the table.

Cole took some money out of his wallet and left it there, then stood up. "Pick you up at Seven?"

"That'd be wonderful." Phoebe told him, she took a pen and paper out of her purse, quickly wrote something on it, and handed it to him. "Here's my address."

Cole took it. "Well, then see you tonight, Phoebe."

"See you then." She said with one last smile, then she walked down the street.

Cole watched her go with a smile. Today was definitely a good day and he hoped that the evening would turn out to be just as pleasant...
* * * * *

"You're in a good mood." Penny Halliwell commented when Phoebe got home.

"Definitely. I met a guy." Phoebe told her bubbling with excitement.

Penny had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Her youngest granddaughter was boy-crazy and had a never-ending stream of boyfriends. "What else is new? You're always meeting a guy, Phoebe."

"I know." Phoebe told her with a smile. "But this one is different, Grams. In fact, I can't believe I'm attracted to him. He's not really my type, yet..."

"Oh?" Penny asked curiously, raising an eyebrow. "What's he like, then?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Phoebe told her with a smile. "You'll just have to wait and see, he'll be here at seven."

"You're going out with already?" Penny asked in disapproval. "When did you meet him? How did you meet him?"

"I ran into him. Literally." Phoebe told her. "In the park, about two hours ago. And actually, this is our second date, we had coffee. Gram's, he's a nice man. I think you'll like him."

With that Phoebe disappeared up the stairs with a bounce before Penny could protest, leaving her grandmother staring after her in dismay.

Typical Phoebe to meet a total stranger in the park and then go out with him.

She worried about her sometimes and wonder if she would ever learn any sense. Heaven help that girl when she got her powers...
* * * * *

"I'll get it!" Piper called that evening, when the doorbell rang.

She opened the door, and stared in surprise at the man on the other side.

He was in his early to mid thirties, or so she would guess, and was wearing an expensive designer suit. He was well groomed and had the air of a successful business executive.

She wondered what he was doing at their door. "Hello, can I help you?" She asked in surprise.

"Hi." The man said. "I'm Cole, I'm here for Phoebe."

Piper's eyes widened. This was Phoebe's date? Wow.

"Oh, she'll be down in a minute, come on in." Piper invited, finding her voice.

"Thank you." Cole said as he entered the Manor. "You must be one of Phoebe's sisters, Piper?"

"Actually, yes, I am Piper." Piper told him. "How did you know?"

"Phoebe mentioned you earlier." Cole told her. "I guessed from her descriptions which one you were."

Piper was about to reply, when Prue entered the room.

She looked surprised to see Cole. "Who's this?" She asked Piper, smiling at him.

Piper hid a groan, anticipating what was about to happen next. "Prue, this is Cole. Phoebe's date."

Prue looked at her in shock. "You're kidding, right?"

"Nope." Piper told her.

Just then, Phoebe came down the stairs.

Piper was surprise by her little sister's appearance. Instead of the revealing and shocking clothes that Phoebe usually wore, she was wearing a knee-length black skirt with a slit in it and a dressy sapphire coloured top that Prue had given her for Christmas and that she had never worn. Her hair was piled on top of her head and she looked really mature and very attractive.

"Wow, Pheebs, you look great." Piper told her.

"She's right." Cole added with a charming smile. "You look fantastic, Phoebe."

Phoebe's face lit up. "Thank you, you don't look bad yourself."

Cole smiled and offered her his arm. "Should we go?"

Phoebe grabbed her coat. "Yeah." She turned to her sisters. "I'll see you later."

With that, she and Cole left.

Once the door was closed behind them, Prue turned to Piper. "Was that Phoebe who just left?"

"Yeah, she looked good, didn't she?" Piper asked.

"Surprisingly." Prue commented. "Who knew that she could actually look classy if she put her mind to it. But that guy... How in the world did they hook up?"

"I honestly don't know." Piper commented. "But I think she really likes him."

"Yeah, but you have to admit he's not her usual type." Prue commented. "And he seems a little out of her league."

Piper was annoyed with Prue's attitude. So what if Phoebe usually went for, well...losers. It didn't mean that she couldn't attract a decent guy.

"I mean, I'm sorry, but you have to admit that Phoebe's dates don't usually wear designer suits."

"True." Piper commented. "But that doesn't mean anything."

"I'm just wondering why he would want to go out with her." Prue commented. "I mean, character aside, he's a fair bit older than she is."

That part was true enough and it had concerned Piper a little too. After all, Phoebe was only 23, that was a bit young to be dating someone as old as Cole appeared to be. But it was Phoebe's business, not their's.

She said as much to Prue.

"Look, Piper, I'm just worried about Phoebe." Prue told her. "There has to be a reason for a guy his age to go out with Phoebe and you have to admit that for all her...experience, she's fairly innocent and naive. I don't want to see her get hurt."

"Well, even if this guy's motives aren't exactly pure, it's still none of our business." Piper told her. "Prue, she's an adult, she can make her own choice. More than that, she wouldn't appreciate us sticking our noses in her private life. Especially not you. You have to admit, things aren't exactly peaceful between you two. Do you really think she'd want your interference?"

Prue sighed. "I guess not. It's just... There's something about him. He's attractive, I'll give you that, but... There's something about him that bugs me. I don't think he's entirely on the level."
* * * * *

"Your sisters seemed surprised when they met me." Cole commented as soon as he and Phoebe were seated in the restaurant.

Phoebe laughed. "Well, I did warn you that you weren't my usual type. I'm surprised that Prue didn't faint, especially when she saw me. I don't usually dress like this."

"You should." He told her. "You look very lovely."

She did indeed. She had looked cute in the tight blue jeans and sexy halter-top she had been wearing in the park that afternoon, but now...

In the more adult ensemble, she looked very grown up and very desirable...

He appreciated the classy look, in fact he preferred it over the out-right sexy or revealing. He preferred some things to be left to the imagination, which Phoebe's outfit did. Her top showed just enough of her cleavage, while her skirt revealed just enough of her long, slender legs. He wondered if she had any idea, just how sexy she looked.

Her shy smile tended to imply that she didn't. "Thank you." She said softly. "I wanted to look good. I mean..."

"It's alright." He told her, finding her shyness endearing.

He had the feeling that while Phoebe Halliwell wasn't exactly innocent, she wasn't experienced either. Especially not with his type.

Cole had the feeling that until now Phoebe had only dated rebels or troublemakers, the kind of guys that both her grandmother and her older sister would disapprove of. She had dated guys, that though they could be trouble, she knew how to handle.

He was trouble of another kind. Cole sensed that Phoebe had no barriers for his kind of danger, that she would submit to his honeyed seduction without much persuasion, and he had to admit that he found that very interesting.

He definitely planned on taking advantage of that, but... All things in time. This one he would take slow. After all, why not savour it?

After a moment, he pushed the thoughts aside, and concentrated on Phoebe.

He poured on the charm throughout the rest of the evening and could see her respond to it. When the evening was over and they headed back to his car, he had the feeling that if he were to suggest a...nightcap, she wouldn't object to the idea.

But he didn't. No, there was no need to rush this, he was going to take his time. Instead, he drove her back to the manor, and then parked the car and walked her to the front door.

"I had a good time." She said softly.

"So did I." He told her, and in fact he had.

Much to his relief, Phoebe had turned out to be an intelligent and interesting dinner partner and he had found the conversations stimulating, which just added to his fascination.

"Can I see you again?" He asked quietly.

Her face lit up. "I'd like that. When?"

"How about Friday?" He suggested.

It was Tuesday now, so that would give them a few days apart, and hopefully during those days her thoughts would keep turning to him.

"That sounds nice." She said softly.

"Okay then, I'll call you tomorrow and we can set the details."

"Alright." Phoebe said, she had given him her phone number earlier along with her address.

She turned to go inside, but before she could, he touched her arm gently. When she turned back around, he leaned in and kissed her softly, but passionately. She responded instantly.

"Cole..." She whispered.

He touched her cheek gently. "I'll see you Friday, Phoebe. Sweet dreams."

With that he turned and walked towards his car, knowing that she was staring after him.

He got in his car and then watched as she walked into the manor, having no doubt that she was all starry-eyed and dreamy. Just as he wanted her to be.

"Yes, Phoebe, sweet dreams indeed." He whispered as he started the car and drove away.
* * * * *