Facing every possible hardship anyone could think of; lost her mother to an accident, lost her brother to drugs and father her was in coma, she was barely living when a stranger from nowhere walked up to her and said "Consider it a partnership. You provide the façade and the public image, and in return, I offer financial security for a whole year and other financial benefits. Imagine, no more late bills, no more worry about your father's medical expenses. Your brother's education? Secured." It sounded more like a Ponzi scheme, too good to be true , Fate was never on her side so she decided to test fate and see if she was really lucky this time. "What if I said No?" she questioned But she couldn't, she was desperate for a decent life and a debt free one, she was too unlucky to be kidnapped hours after she was announced as the fiancé of the cold hearted Sebastian Steele, The heir to the Steele Group. Will she be lucky enough to escape the kidnap alive? Will she ever live a decent life?Will the Cold hearted heir warm up to the unlucky girl?
For some reason, My heart thumped an unwelcome rhythm against my ribs as I approached her. This wasn't the cool, collected Sebastian Steele most saw. This was Enzo Russo whenever he saw his father in sight.
I paused for a while and watched her from where I stood, looking at it. It was scary putting my life and potential ruins in a stranger's hand, it was worth being anxious for, all my life's worth and dreams could go down the drain if anything went wrong with her.
I sucked in a breath. The acrid scent of disinfectant mingled with the sweet perfume of the other women, made my nose
I moved on like the Sebastian Steele everyone sees on the outside, I stopped right in front of her across the counter, Shadows of fatigue lingered under her eyes, as she looked at me clueless, beads of sweat gathered on her forehead and her exhausted smile stared at me while the other two ladies giggled irritatingly as they gaped.
" You close by 6 pm right," I asked to reconfirm, my voice a touch too formal.
She blinked in confusion, " Ye, Yea, hmm, why?" She stuttered
I took a deep breath, forcing a smile. "I will be waiting for you outside," I said with a low and firm voice. "I would like to talk to you privately for a while."
Her eyes widened, surprise battling suspicion. "What, hmm, I don't think..."
"It's fine, Alexa," I interrupted, a hint of impatience creeping into my tone. "I will be waiting."
I turned and left, leaving her blinking in confusion.
As I settled into my car, the air suddenly felt suffocating, an unnecessary anxiety was catching up on me. To distract myself I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, counting down the minutes until 6 pm, convincing myself it wasn't a billion dollar project.
It was past six and she finally appeared scanning the street, she looked fragile, tense and ready to bolt at the slightest sign of danger.
I Partially wish Lucas was here to handle this for me, one of my most hated interactions was with women and stupidly I chose to deal with this one by myself, with nobody to keep me in check, how dumb.
I waited until she was within a comfortable distance before opening my car door.
She froze, startled, her throat bobbing as she swallowed hard, her grip tightening on her worn-out purse. Glancing down at her faded jeans, I realized my approach might have seemed intimidating.
"I apologize," I started, projecting my voice softer this time. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just..."
Before I could finish, she moved back,
"Alexa, " I said, holding out my hands in a gesture of appeasement. "I promise I am not here to harm you. I just have an idea that would be best for us?"
But she wasn't listening. She bolted in the opposite direction as I was not ready to play cat and mouse so I instinctively reached out, grabbing her wrist rather aggressively than I thought.
"Get your hands off me!" she shouted. "I swear, if you don't, I will scream!"
With a short sigh, I let my business mind take over
"I know about your father, Liam Carter,"
The effect was immediate. Her struggle ceased, replaced by a stunned silence.
Her eyes locked onto mine, searching for answers.
"What do you know about my father?" she whispered curiously.
"That is what I want to talk to you about," I said, carefully releasing her wrist. "But not here. It is too... public."
Her hesitation was evident. "Where then?"
"There is a small cafe two blocks down," I suggested. "It is relatively quiet and we can talk without interruptions."
She didn't move for a moment, her mind weighing the options.
Finally, she sighed, nodding cautiously. "Alright, but if I feel even the slightest hint of danger, I am running and screaming."
I could feel my face folding in irritation, " How much do you think you are worth?" The words had fallen off before I realized I should have held back, I sighed again
" I am not here to harm you, I promise."
I opened the door to the passenger seat for her and gestured for her to enter but she refused,
" I would rather we walk"
Even if she was a difficult one, I like that she wanted to be in control of the situation which I knew I would later despise but for now, it's cool.
"Alright, let's walk," I relented, shoving my irritation aside. "But understand, time isn't a luxury I have right now."
She walked with quick, determined strides, keeping a safe distance.
"Then maybe you should say whatever you need to say here, I am not sure how much you are worth but nobody cares about why your lips are moving."
"Ms Carter, What I meant was, this isn't some kind of shady proposition. It's a mutually beneficial proposition, structured to address both our needs. I'm offering something tangible in return.
She stopped abruptly, turning to face me. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
" I really hope this isn't some ponzi scheme, I also don't have time to waste."
Taking a deep breath, maybe we can discuss it in the middle of the road, after all.
"Consider it a partnership. You provide the façade and the public image whenever I need it, and in return, I offer financial security for a whole year and other financial benefits. Imagine, no more late bills, no more worry about your father's medical expenses. Your brother's education? Secured."
"Isn't that a fancy way to say marriage?" she scoffed, a humorless laugh escaping her lips. "You must be crazy."
"Please give me your attention," I pressed authoritatively, ignoring the sting of her disbelief. "It's a contract, a business arrangement. One year, no expectations, just appearances. You get the financial support you need and I get what I need to secure my end."
She didn't answer immediately; rather she studied me, searching for hidden motives, for any hint of danger. Finally, she spoke, her voice low and hesitant. "What if I said No? "
River Millbrook, a young woman forced out of a convent by her parents, finds herself entangled with the mysterious Novah Res D'Avenir, the cursed Alpha of Respawn Pack and next Duke of OrkLand in New Vimland. The story starts off with River's journey as she attends a ball meant for the Alpha to find his wife as he was cursed to never find a mate. As River and Novah grow close, River learns about Novah's mate from two centuries ago whose death is linked with Novah's curse. Andora, a kind-hearted orphan, once formed a deep connection with Novah until an incident during a blood moon resulted in her death at Novah's hands. Since then, Novah has been cursed to condemned to an eternity of longing, with mate and a raging bloodthirst every Blood Moon. River starts her quest to find a way to break Novah's curse, but when unknown forces threaten her life, she finds herself torn between backing off and trying to recover her past memories as Andora.
Alexander Stone, a billionaire tycoon in the heart of New York City, is at the top of his game. All appearances suggest that his empire cannot be shaken. Alexander’s world turns upside down when his mysterious ex-wife Isabella abruptly and dramatically returns to the city. With friendship dominated by years of mutual animosity threatening to spill over even as she secretly considers a plan that might obliterate whatever life he makes for himself, Isabella is keeping something immensely sinister. While going through a hard time to be together, Alexander and Isabella find out a shocking truth that contradicts their past beliefs about each other and reveal their feelings to them. Amidst rekindling their affair, sudden occurrences happen making them doubt those they know. As they navigate through the world of rich and influential people, Alexander and Isabella face their deepest fears and yearnings in the midst of deceit and betrayal that threatens to engulf them. As the pressure increases and the peril becomes more dreadful, they will either resist the pull towards each other or listen to others’ advice. At every unpredictable point in their stormy courtship, the row between love and vendetta gets fuzzy resulting in a surprising event that places the destiny of Alexander and Isabella on a tightrope. Will they ever reconcile with their histories and plan for a future as a single entity or will they always be caught up in the same issues that separated them initially? In this captivating narrative of love, greed,vengeance among the elite, only time can show how things will unfold.
Here's a brief summary of the story: Title: Walking with the Devil In the dark, mystical realm of Tenebrous, twin siblings Kael and Kyra Darkhaven rule with an iron fist, wielding powerful dark magic to maintain their dominance. Their arrogance and thirst for power have led them to crush any opposition, earning them the fear and resentment of their subjects. However, their reign is disrupted by the enigmatic Azrael, a mysterious figure from their past who seeks revenge for a long-forgotten betrayal. As Azrael begins to manipulate events from the shadows, the twins find themselves facing a formidable foe who threatens to destroy everything they've built. As the story unfolds, Kael and Kyra must confront their own demons and the darkness within themselves. They will be forced to make difficult choices and form unlikely alliances to survive the coming storm. Meanwhile, Lyra, a masked figure with a hidden agenda, and Cormac, a rebel leader seeking to overthrow the twins, become entangled in the conflict, further complicating the web of intrigue and deception. Throughout the story, the lines between good and evil will be blurred, and the true nature of power, loyalty, and revenge will be put to the test. Will Kael and Kyra emerge victorious, or will their arrogance be their downfall? Can Azrael find redemption, or will their thirst for revenge consume them? In the world of Tenebrous, where darkness reigns supreme, the outcome is far from certain.
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
After two years of marriage, Kristian dropped a bombshell. "She's back. Let's get divorced. Name your price." Freya didn't argue. She just smiled and made her demands. "I want your most expensive supercar." "Okay." "The villa on the outskirts." "Sure." "And half of the billions we made together." Kristian froze. "Come again?" He thought she was ordinary—but Freya was the genius behind their fortune. And now that she'd gone, he'd do anything to win her back.