Cheryl Michaels harbors alot of resentment. She despises her unruly strawberry-blonde hair, always defying any attempt to tame it. She loathes her mother for dying too soon, leaving her with the burden of raising her younger siblings. She abhors her father, an aggressive drunk who only added chaos to their lives. She's consumed with frustration over her inability to track down the father of her child. But above all else, Cheryl Michaels reserves her greatest hatred for her boss. And when she discovers he's best friends with her child's absent father, that hatred burns even hotter. How will Cheryl handle falling for her egotistic boss while also falling for the father of her baby when all she wants is to give her child and her siblings a good life.
Cheryl's pov
The night of conception.
One drink, one drink and I'll go right back home. I deserve the drink anyway.
I wrap my fingers around the doorknob of "Oaklyn's bar" and will myself to turn it.
"Come on Cheryl, you deserve this" I say to myself, hoping the guilt goes away, yet I stay rooted at my spot in front of the bar, Fingers wrapped around the doorknob. The ringing in my ear getting louder.
I look at my phone, no new messages.
I take in a deep breath and open the door. The bar is quite busy for a Tuesday night, nothing has changed since I last came here two years ago, maroon paint on the walls, tables that need to be changed and Vip section that's not actually Vip.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and walk to the bar, my palms not as sweaty, confidence rising in me.
I take a seat and order a martini, my favorite drink, I haven't had one since mum died.
Maybe another drink, I deserve it, I work really hard.
A third glass won't hurt, who knows when I'd go drinking again.
By my third glass I'm a bit tipsy, and that's when I feel it.
I glanced up from my drink, feeling a magnetic pull, and caught his gaze across the bar. He is striking, confidence radiating from him like heat.
My heart races as he smiles, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. I pretend to focus on my glass, swirling the glass.
The thrill of being watched makes me feel alive. Each stolen glance between us ignites a spark, making the noise of the bar fade into a distant hum. For the first time in ages, I felt seen and desired, and I couldn't help but wonder what might unfold if he crossed the room.
It's very well-lit in the bar, and I can see him raise an eyebrow as if to ask a question; I hold his gaze For a few seconds, and then he looks away, Suddenly interested in the glass in front of him. I look away too, my interests has waned.
After this glass of martini, I will be sure to go home. This is the last glass I'll have.
I take a sip of my martini and close my eyes, I can feel an headache forming.
"It looks like you have an headache" a husky masculine voice says behind me.
I turn so fast I almost give myself whiplash and I spill a bit of my martini on the stranger.
It's the guy that was watching me.
I take in his expensive suit and almost facepalm myself.
"I'm so sorry, please send the dry cleaning bill to me, you startled me and I'm so sorry" I apologise profusely, attempting to use my hands to dry the area.
He chuckles. "It's fine, it's my fault, I didn't realise I'd startle you that much"
I suddenly realise how close we are, I'm looking up at him, my hands still on the wet spot on his stomach.
I gulp, I feel the hair on my arm stand.
He takes a seat beside me, ordering a whisky and another glass of martini for me, I want to tell him i don't want another glass, but I don't. I let him get me the drink. He has brown eyes, very dark brown eyes. As opposed to my blue eyes. My mother often said my eyes looked like skies themselves.
"You have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen" He's staring into my eyes as he says this, as if to read my soul.
I feel heat creep onto my cheeks and I know I'm the color of a tomato, great Cheryl, one compliment from a man you don't know and you turn red in the face.
I will myself to say "thank you" with a smile on my face, although this stranger is devilishly handsome I still don't know what to feel about him.
He looks satisfied with my reply and takes a sip of his whiskey.
"What is your name?" He asks me, I take note of his voice, husky, velvety, it makes my mouth dry.
I think of whether to use a fake name, but then the chances are ever seeing him again are very slim. So I decide to use my real name.
"My name is Cheryl" I say to him.
"Cheryl" He says back, as if testing my name on his tongue. I like how he says my name. I like how the letters seem to glide off his tongue. I like his husky voice and I imagine his voice whispering into my ear.
Bad thoughts, Cheryl. Quit those bad thoughts, I am not an overly sexual person.
I havent even had sex since mum passed away and before that I can count the number of times I have had sex, but there's something so captivating, enthralling, about the man in front of me. I look at his fingers, long and slender, no ring too. I imagine how they'd feel In me, I swallow, shake my head in an attempt to rid myself of the bad thoughts.
"Is there a problem Cheryl?" he asks me,his tone indicating amusement.
My mouth feels too dry to speak so I shake my head again.
"You didn't ask me my name" He cocks his head to one side and smiles slightly.
"Pardon me" my voice comes out as little above a squeak. "what's your name ?"
"Xavier" He extends his hand towards me and I take it. "Would you like to come with me to my hotel room enchanting Cheryl?"
I would never say "yes" to such a request. I have a good head on my shoulder, I know how dangerous, foolish and stupid saying "yes" is, I have never made a stupid decision in my life.
I open my mouth to say "no" but a "Yes" squeaks out instead.
What is he doing to me?
3 years ago Rowan Stewart was gifted to the alpha of red moon as one of his pleasure servants. This is a common practice and the alpha of red moon is not adverse to this even though he has two wives. Life is decent for Rowan, although deeply unsatisfied with her life she is grateful for being alive and that the alpha spared her family. Her world changes when she find out she is carrying the alphas child, his first child. The pack is sent into a frenzy especially because a witch cursed the alpha years ago with infertility. Many don't believe the alpha is the father, the alphas wives are angry and seek revenge. Shirley's once peaceful life has taken a turn.
The Kingdom of Alièsa stands at a crossroads. Its fae king, Caspian, is without a queen, in the kingdom if a king cannot find a queen himself, tradition calls for a Choosing,a grand event where noblewomen compete for the throne. Caspian remains reluctant. Nevertheless, the ancient custom must be honored, and twenty ladies from esteemed families across the land are summoned to compete for the king's heart and the chance to rule by his side. Adelina Jeurous has spent her entire life preparing for this moment. Groomed by her ambitious parents, she sees the Choosing as her destiny. When the invitation arrives, she feels a rush of exhilaration,not only for the opportunity to win the throne but also because her beloved cousin, Aina, has also been chosen. But court life is not as simple as Adelina imagined. Beneath the dazzling surface lies a web of alliances, rivalries, and unexpected feelings. As the competition heats up, Adelina finds herself inexplicably drawn to someone she shouldn't-the king's enigmatic cousin. Torn between her lifelong dream of becoming queen and the desires of her heart, she faces choices that could change the course of her life. Aina Jeurous, on the other hand, has no such ambitions. She never sought a crown, and the invitation to the Choosing left her very bewildered. But the chance to spend time with Adelina, and perhaps shield her cousin from the court's pitfalls, convinces her to go. What begins as a lighthearted scheme to make the king favor Adelina takes an unexpected turn when Aina catches Caspian's attention. To her dismay, the king seems intent on pursuing her, even as Aina's heart wavers between loyalty to her cousin and thoughts of someone waiting for her back home. As secrets unravel and emotions deepen, both cousins find themselves entangled in a dance of love, duty, and ambition. In the end, who will win the king's heart-and at what
3 years ago Rowan Stewart was gifted to the alpha of red moon as one of his pleasure servants. This is a common practice and the alpha of red moon is not adverse to this even though he has two wives. Life is decent for Rowan, although deeply unsatisfied with her life she is grateful for being alive and that the alpha spared her family. Her world changes when she find out she is carrying the alphas child, his first child. The pack is sent into a frenzy especially because a witch cursed the alpha years ago with infertility. Many don't believe the alpha is the father, the alphas wives are angry and seek revenge. Shirley's once peaceful life has taken a turn.
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?"
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.
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."