She signed a contract to survive. She never expected to fall for the devil himself. Amanda Holson's quiet life as a gallery assistant shatters when she's forced into a contract marriage with Leonardo Castelli-a billionaire whose name is whispered in the shadows of New York's underworld. Ruthless, powerful, and dangerously captivating, Leonardo is a man who always gets what he wants. At first, Amanda is just another piece in his game. But as the lines blur between duty and desire, she begins to see the man behind the cold, calculated mask. Secrets unravel, enemies close in, and soon, Amanda must decide: can she trust the man who owns her... or will loving him cost her everything? In a world where love is a weakness and power is everything, can their hearts survive the darkness?
The dimly lit ballroom of the Metropolitan Art Auction buzzed with energy. Amanda Holson adjusted her name tag and smoothed the creases of her black blouse. As a gallery assistant for one of SoHo's finest art spaces, she had attended many events like this, but tonight carried an inexplicable weight. The stakes felt higher, the air charged with unspoken tension.
Amanda's eyes swept over the crowd of polished elites, art connoisseurs, and collectors. She wasn't here to buy or sell; her job was to observe, network, and represent her gallery. Yet, despite her practiced professionalism, she felt like an outsider among these impeccably dressed millionaires and billionaires.
At the far end of the room, a commotion drew Amanda's attention. Whispers rippled through the crowd like waves. "That's him," someone murmured. "Leonardo Castelli."
Amanda turned toward the source of intrigue. A man, tall and imposing, entered the room with a presence that silenced conversations. Leonardo Castelli. She'd heard the name countless times-one of New York's wealthiest men, known for his vast empire and shadowy reputation. He wore a tailored charcoal suit that fit his broad frame perfectly, exuding power and control.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, Amanda froze. His gaze was dark and piercing, holding hers with a magnetic intensity. She felt an odd jolt in her chest-a mixture of curiosity and caution. It was absurd to think someone like Leonardo would notice her, a modest gallery assistant with paint-stained hands and dreams too big for her wallet. Yet, in that instant, it was as if he saw right through her.
She quickly looked away, focusing on the auctioneer who stepped onto the podium.
The auction began, and Amanda did her best to concentrate on the items being presented. Stunning pieces by emerging and established artists passed through the hands of bidders, their prices skyrocketing with every call.
Midway through the auction, Leonardo Castelli made his first move. "Two million," he said, his voice deep and steady. The room fell silent, every head turning toward him.
Amanda couldn't help but glance in his direction. His expression was unreadable, yet there was a calm authority in the way he dominated the room. The piece he bid on was a contemporary sculpture-a swirl of metal and glass that symbolized chaos and order.
As the auctioneer finalized the sale, Amanda felt a tap on her shoulder. It was her boss, Claire Weston, a polished woman with decades of experience in the art world. "Amanda, mingle with the attendees. If you see an opening, mention the gallery's upcoming showcase."
Amanda nodded, though her nerves prickled. She wasn't fond of schmoozing with the wealthy, but it was part of her job. She scanned the room, searching for a friendly face, when she found herself unintentionally gravitating toward Leonardo Castelli.
Leonardo stood by the sculpture he'd just purchased, his expression thoughtful as he examined the piece up close. Amanda hesitated. Approaching him felt akin to walking into a lion's den, but something compelled her forward.
"Impressive choice," she said, her voice steady despite her nerves.
He turned to her, his sharp features softening just slightly. "You think so?"
She nodded. "It's a bold piece. The interplay between chaos and order is striking. It feels... honest."
Leonardo's lips curved into a faint smile. "Most people see art as a status symbol. You see it for what it is."
Amanda flushed at the unexpected compliment. "I work at a gallery. It's part of the job."
"Working at a gallery and understanding art are two different things," he replied, his tone both challenging and intrigued.
There was a pause, charged with unspoken tension. Amanda felt a strange pull toward this man-his calm, commanding presence, the way his eyes seemed to weigh her every word.
"Which gallery?" he asked suddenly.
"Noir Gallery, in SoHo," she replied.
He tilted his head slightly. "I'll have to visit."
Before she could respond, a tall man in an expensive suit approached Leonardo, whispering something in his ear. Leonardo's demeanor shifted instantly, his gaze hardening.
"Excuse me," he said, his voice clipped. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss...?"
"Holson," she supplied. "Amanda Holson."
He nodded once before turning away, leaving her standing there, her thoughts swirling with confusion and curiosity.
As the evening progressed, Amanda couldn't shake the brief interaction from her mind. There was something enigmatic about Leonardo Castelli, something that stirred both intrigue and unease.
When the auction concluded, she found herself wandering toward the exit, her thoughts miles away. The cold night air greeted her as she stepped onto the sidewalk, her heels clicking against the pavement.
"Miss Holson."
She stopped abruptly, her breath catching. Turning, she saw Leonardo standing a few feet away, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
"Mr. Castelli," she said, surprised. "I didn't expect to see you again tonight."
"I wanted to thank you," he said, his voice quieter than before.
"For what?"
"For reminding me why I started collecting art in the first place," he replied. "Perspective like yours is rare in this world."
Amanda didn't know how to respond. His words were sincere, yet there was an edge to them, as if he carried burdens she couldn't begin to comprehend.
"I hope you'll allow me to return the favor," he continued. "Expect a visit to your gallery soon."
Before she could reply, he was gone, disappearing into a sleek black car that blended into the night.
As Amanda walked home, her mind raced with questions. Why had Leonardo Castelli taken an interest in her? What did he mean by "returning the favor"?
When Amanda reached her apartment, a mix of exhilaration and unease washed over her. Sorting through her mail, she noticed a sleek black, thick ansd expensive envelope with her name, Amanda Holson, written in elegant script.
She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she opened it. Inside was a single card with one word written in bold, sharp letters: Soon.
As she stood in the dim hallway of her apartment building, clutching the mysterious envelope, her pulse quickened. Who had sent this?
He was the devil in a tailored suit. She was the journalist who should have stayed away. Billionaire mafia boss Alessandro Salvatore rules his world with ruthless precision-until investigative journalist Isabella Rossi crashes into his life. She's relentless, fearless, and far too tempting for her own good. He warns her to walk away, but Isabella never backs down from a story... or from him. When betrayal from within his own ranks puts Isabella in grave danger, Alessandro has no choice but to protect her. But keeping her close means risking everything-including his control. As enemies close in and forbidden desires ignite, Isabella finds herself in a deadly game-one where trust is a risk, and falling for the wrong man could cost her everything. The lines between power and passion are blurring. Secrets are unraveling. And in a world where love is a weakness and betrayal is fatal, one question remains... Will they survive the storm, or will their hearts be the ultimate casualty?
In a city where shadows whisper secrets, love and danger are two sides of the same coin. Petra Volkov, a struggling artist and orphan, finds solace in her sketches at a quiet café-until Ethan Colombo, the enigmatic heir to an Italian mafia empire, walks into her life. Their connection is instant, electric, and impossible to ignore. But just as their love deepens, a shocking truth is unveiled: Petra is the lost daughter of Viktor Volkov, a feared Russian mob boss long presumed dead. With her hidden identity exposed, Petra is thrust into a ruthless power struggle. As rival factions conspire and betrayals lurk in every shadow, she becomes a pawn in a deadly game she never chose to play. When Petra is kidnapped, the stakes become terrifyingly real-forcing Ethan to confront his own family's brutal world. The past is rising. The war has begun. And the only way out... is to fight.
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
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?
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.
PERMISSION IS TAKEN FRIM THE ORIGINAL, BE WARNED!! Do you believe in Myths? Just when she thinks it can't get any worse, it does. Lucy lost everything four years ago in a rogue attack. She's been abused, starved, rejected, and broken. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, strange things start to happen, things that only happen once every century. She finds friendship in the most unlikely place and escapes to find her true self with the help of the most dangerous Alpha. Warning: This werewolf trilogy is not intended for anyone under the age of 18 or anyone who doesn't enjoy a good spanking. It will take you on adventures around the world, make you laugh, fall in love, crush your heart and possibly leave you drooling.