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When a struggling artist Sophia Bennett agrees to a year-long contract with cold, enigmatic billionaire Julian Blackwell, all she has to do is sign the contract; play the part of the perfect wife, and keep her emotions locked away, it's purely business; or so she thinks. But for Julian, it's a strategic move to maintain control of his family empire and thwart the schemes of his power-hungry uncle. But as their world collides and sparks fly, the line between business and pleasure begins to blur. Secrets, lies, and vengeful plots threaten to destroy everything. Can two people bound by contract ever find their way to love?
~Sophia~
I wasn't sure which weighed more heavily on my mind, the overwhelming scent of turpentine in my cramped art studio or the increasingly daily harsh reminders from my landlord about my outstanding rent.
Three months, that's how far behind I was on my rent. The last call from Mr. Kelvin had been less of a conversation and more of an ultimatum. "You have got a week, Sophia. No excuses this time," he'd said, his tone firm and final.
I sighed as I set down the brush I had been using. The canvas in front of me was meant to be my salvation- a bold, fiery piece inspired by the storms that seemed to rage within me. The reds and oranges blended in chaotic harmony but staring at it now, all I saw was the crushing weight of failure. I looked around my room. The scattered paint tubes, half-finished sketches, and stacks of unpaid bills created a landscape of chaos I couldn't escape. This wasn't how I'd imagined my life when I'd packed up my small-town dreams and moved to New York City to pursue art (my long life dream).
The loud buzzing of my phone cut through the erring silence and brought me back to reality. I grabbed it off the table, expecting another call from Mr. Kelvin the landlord, but instead, my phone screen flashed an unfamiliar number.
"Hello?" I answered hesitantly.
"Ms. Sophia Bennet," came a voice on the other end, so smooth and professional. "This is Mr. Crawford, personal assistant to Julian Blackwell. I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time?" he asked.
I was frozen in that spot. Julian Blackwell? The name sent a jolt through me. Everyone in the city knew who he was- the billionaire CEO of Blackwell Corp, known for his cutthroat business strategies and an empire that stretched across industries. But what could someone like him possibly want with me? I thought.
"No, not at all," I managed to say with a shaky voice.
"Mr. Blackwell recently came across your portfolio," he continued. "He's very impressed and would like to discuss a potential collaboration with you. Are you available this Friday evening to meet with him at an event he's hosting?"
I blinked repeatedly, unsure if I heard him correctly. A billionaire was interested in my work? It didn't make sense. I wasn't famous or connected, just a struggling artist trying to make ends meet.
"Friday?" I asked repeatedly, my mind racing. "Yes, I'm available."
"Excellent," Mr. Crawford replied. "You'll receive an email shortly with the details. Mr. Blackwell looks forward to meeting you."
He ended the call before I could process it fully. For a moment, I just stood there, staring at my phone as though it might explain what just happened.
That evening, I met up with my brother Ethan for dinner at our favorite diner, a midestvolace with checkered tablecloths and the best coffee in the city. As I recounted the phone call, Ethan listened intently despite his struggles.
"So let me get this straight," he said leaning forward. "Julian Blackwell, the guy who owns Manhattan; wants to work with you?" Ethan asked with all seriousness.
I nodded, still half convinced it was some sort of mistake. "That's what his assistant said." I retorted.
"That's insane! This could be your big break, Soph!" Ethan grinned.
"Or a massive mistake," I muttered slowly. "What if it's a scam? Or he wants something shady?"
"You've got to stop doubting yourself, Soph," Ethan said, his expression softening. "You're insanely talented! Have you seen your work from people's view, maybe he sees what I and a hundred other people have always seen."
I smiled faintly, but the doubt lingered. I couldn't shake the feeling that opportunities like this didn't just fall into people's lap, people like me per se -at least, not without a price.
By the time Fridays arrived, I had managed to pull together an outfit- a simple but elegant black dress I borrowed from my best friend Lily- and I had practiced a professional pitch as little as I could. Still, as I stood outside Blackwell Tower, my nerves felt like live wires sparking underneath my skin.
The building looked above me, sleek and imposing, every inch of it a testament to the man who owned it. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside.
The elevator ride to the top floor felt both endless and short. When the doors finally opened, I was greeted by a bustling room filled with the city's elite. I felt out of place instantly among the designer gowns and polished smiles.
"Ms. Bennet?"
I turned to see a sharply dressed man in his thirties approaching. "I'm Mr. Crawford," he said with a polite nod. "Thank you for coming. Mr. Blackwell will join us shortly." He said.
I nodded, clutching my portfolio tightly. As I scanned the entire room, my eyes caught the breathtaking view from the floor to the ceiling windows. The city stretched out, glittering and alive. For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine what it would feel like to belong here, to finally have a place in this world, Still lost in thought.
"Enjoying the view?" A deep, commanding voice sent shivers down my spine, I turned to find Julian Blackwell standing beside me.
He was taller in person than what the magazine made him look, with sharp features and an intensity that seemed to radiate from him. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his suit was tailored to perfection. But it was his eyes-piercing and calculating, that caught me off guard.
"Mr. Blackwell," I said, extending my hand.
He took it, his grip firm and deliberate. "Sophia Bennett," he said, a faint scowl etched on his face, and then a smirk followed. " I've been looking forward to meeting you."
His words, though polite, carried a weight that unsettled me. I'd expected a business-like exchange, but the way he looked at me; as though he was assessing more than just my art- set me on edge.
"I appreciate the opportunity," I said, trying to steady my voice. "It's not every day someone like me gets a call from someone like you."
His smile widened slightly, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I believe in recognizing potential when I see one. But I won't waste your time with pleasantries l. Shall we talk?"
He gestured towards a quieter corner of the room. As we sat, his demeanor shifted from charming to serious.
'I'll be honest, Ms. Bennet," he said, leaning forward. " I don't just see promises in your works- I see an opportunity for both of us. But opportunities like this come with complexities. Are you prepared for that?
My pulse quickened. His tone was measured, almost Cryptic, and the weight of his gaze made me feel as though I was standing on the edge of something vast and unknown.
"What kind of complexities? I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
His lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Let's just say it's not a typical business arrangement." He said.
"What I'm about to propose will require a level of trust; and risk you may not be ready for, but it could change everything," he said before I could press him further.
Sage Damon has to go on a long-lasting life decision with a man who despises and hates her so much, she can't stand him and his arrogant attitude but she has to marry him to save her niece. Kairos Konstan is a ruthless and heartless billionaire who has been through a series of heartbreaks that have led to his hatred for women, but one thing stands out, and that being his love for kids, which is his reason for getting married to Sage and also a way of taking revenge for what he faced in his past relationships. Sage and Kairos steadily fight what they feel for each other, but one thing for sure is that Love happens no matter the price we have to pay for it.
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
Becky endured three years of marriage to the cold-hearted Rory. In all that time, she naively reasoned that one day, he'd gradually come to like her. But the second he forced her to kneel down and humiliate herself, she knew she had been wrong about him. This man had no feelings for her at all. So why should she still love him? When Rory gave her the choice between kneeling down and divorcing, she didn't miss a beat and chose the latter. After all, why should she waste her youth on this scumbag? Wouldn't it be nicer for her to just have fun every day with her billion-dollar family fortune?
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Angus Smith is the most powerful president who controls the national economy, while Tammy Wood is a seriously disfigured lady who was exiled by her family. However, she had been loving him for over 15 years since she met him at the age of 5. Thus when he proposed a marriage, she was so happy that she expected a new life. However, the truth was that their marriage was totally a plot. Upon the truth being revealed, Tammy was almost torn to pieces and escaped from him with their baby. Four years later, she was stopped by Angus as soon as she came back. It seems that Angus has regretted what he had done. So he just holds Tammy in arms tightly and decides to love her forever and ever!
A man like Travis Sinclair wants nothing more than a woman who matches his sexual prowess and is used to getting everything he wants. A cold-hearted billionaire ,he lives by one rule - no love, no commitment. Ayanna Davies isn't looking for a relationship. She's focused on her work and the financial security it brings. As a high end escort, her client is full of filthy rich men who are willing to pay handsomely for her services. But when Travis Sinclair becomes one of her clients, she begins twice about mixing work with pleasure. Not knowing that he is an old acquaintance whom she despises.
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?