Set in the vibrant city of Atlanta, Inner Circle follows four inseparable African American friends-Maya, Jasmine, Chantel, and Brooke-as they navigate the twists and turns of their intertwined lives. Each woman is unique in her career ambitions, love life, and aspirations, yet they are united by a deep bond of friendship. Through their laughter and tears, they lean on each other to tackle the challenges that come their way. Maya is a high-powered attorney who seems to have it all: a great career, a stylish wardrobe, and a stunning condo in the city. But beneath the surface, she's struggling with the demands of her job and a recent breakup with a long-term boyfriend, leaving her questioning if she'll ever find true love. Jasmine, a talented chef with dreams of owning her own restaurant, is caught between her passion for cooking and the reality of working in a demanding, male-dominated industry. She's seeing someone new, but can't shake the feeling that her past might ruin things before they even begin. Chantel is a free-spirited artist who's never been one to settle down. While she prides herself on her independence, she's now facing the reality of an uncertain career and a budding romance that might just change her view on love and commitment. Brooke, a successful event planner, appears to have her life perfectly organized. However, she's hiding a secret from her friends that threatens to unravel the life she's worked so hard to build. As her social circle grows more complex, she finds herself making decisions that could jeopardize her friendships and her future. Together, Maya, Jasmine, Chantel, and Brooke discover that they can face anything as long as they have each other. Through career missteps, broken hearts, and surprising new beginnings, their sisterhood becomes the anchor that keeps them grounded. Will they rise above their struggles, or will the secrets they're hiding tear them apart?
Maya Carter stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of her corner office, gazing out at the Atlanta skyline as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting hues of orange and pink over the bustling city. Her office was immaculate-pristine white walls, sleek modern furniture, and a wall of law books that she'd carefully arranged herself. To anyone else, it would look like the picture of success. But tonight, Maya felt anything but successful.
She exhaled slowly, loosening the silk scarf around her neck as she sank into the leather chair behind her desk. The case she'd been working on for months had finally ended, but the victory felt hollow. Somewhere between the long nights and endless paperwork, she'd lost sight of the thrill she once felt every time she stepped into a courtroom. Now, her victories felt like checkboxes on a to-do list, lacking the satisfaction they once brought.
Her phone buzzed on the desk, pulling her out of her thoughts. Maya glanced at the screen-another text from Jasmine, her best friend since college. Jasmine had been begging her to come out for drinks tonight, insisting that a night out was just what Maya needed. But the truth was, the last thing Maya wanted was to go out. She wasn't ready to face the world, not tonight. Not when every happy couple she saw would only remind her of how she was starting over.
She took a deep breath, silencing the nagging thoughts that circled in her mind. The break-up with Eric was still fresh in her mind, but Maya knew she had to keep moving forward. Everyone around her said she was strong, resilient, and unstoppable-but even the strongest people had their moments of doubt.
For the first time in years, Maya felt unsure of where she was headed. Her career was at its peak, her wardrobe filled with designer clothes, and her condo was located in one of the finest parts of the city, yet there was a hollowness in her chest that no accomplishment could fill. She remembered the last time she'd felt truly happy, and a pang of longing washed over her. Maybe it was love she was missing, or perhaps she'd simply lost herself along the way.
As she looked out over the city, Maya felt a glimmer of hope buried beneath her sadness. She knew that she would find her way through whatever lay ahead-she always did. But for now, she'd take it one day at a time, hoping that somewhere along the journey, she would find the piece of herself that was missing.
Her phone rang, shifting her thoughts back to reality. It was Jasmine.
"Hey, Jas," she said with a sigh.
"Well, hello to you too, heaux. Why the hell didn't you answer my text."
"I just got back to the office; I was trying to collect my thoughts."
"Well, the case is over, isn't it? It's time for the next one. Let's celebrate!"
"Not really in the mood," Maya said, yawning.
"Bish, really? So you just gone go home and climb in bed and read a romance novel or some shit like that."
That didn't sound like such a bad idea, Maya thought.
"Girl, I am not about to let you be a poop butt. We are meeting at Kado's new spot for drinks. He has a table for us already set up, and there's a jazz band playing tonight."
"Kado? That's a name I haven't heard in a while. When did he get back in town?"
"Well, supposedly, he moved from L.A. for good; he was on tour with some big-name stars and decided he wanted to settle here for good in the A."
"Is he still married to that girl he dated in college?"
"Who, Bethany? No. She left him high and dry for a Laker when they moved to L.A., and the dude wasn't even first string; he was some bench warmer...You always did have a thing for him."
"I thought he was cute, that's it," Maya said, placing her laptop in her bag.
"Oh, so cute that you backed it up on him at the homecoming dance back in '06?"
Maya rolled her eyes. "I really can't stand you," she said with a chuckle. Suddenly, she felt a little better.
"I know, that's why I'm here. To make you laugh. So grab your shit, head to the elevator, hop in the Porsche, and bring ya ass."
"Alright, whatever. Have you talked to Brooke?"
"Yes, she's at an event...for that fine ass soon-to-be senator, Andre Jackson."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
Amy didn't expect that her husband whom she had loved and trusted earnestly for many years would be cheating on her by having sex with his secretary. When she confronted him, he and his secretary mocked and ridiculed her, they called her barren to her face, afterall, she had not conceived for the past three years that she had been married to her husband, Callan. Terribly Heartbroken, she filed for divorce and left to the club, she picked a random gigolo, had a hot one night stand with him, paid him and dissapeared to a small city. She came back to the country six years later with three identical cute boys and three identical cute girls of the same age. She settled and got a job but soon find out that her CEO was the gigolo she had sex with six years back at the club. Will she be able to hide her six little cuties from her CEO, who happens to be the most powerful man in NorthHill and beleived to be infertile? Can Amy and the most powerful man in NorthHill get along considering the social gap between them.
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."