Dami thinks he's headed for a simple internship in Lagos. What he doesn't expect is to fall for Jacinth - his best friend's mother, ten years older, heartbreakingly beautiful, and dangerously off-limits. But when Jacinth's ruthless ex-husband returns - a feared mafia boss - her past threatens to destroy everything. The war for power, love, and revenge begins - and it all starts with seduction.
Chapter 1
This was supposed to be a vacation. Well, maybe not a vacation per se-more like an internship. But hey, vacation, internship, same thing. At least, that's what I told myself as we packed our bags and left Abuja for Lagos. My name is Damilola, 30 years old, a petroleum engineering student. I'm friends with Daniel, Toby, and Chike. We've been tight since our first year, and now, here we were, embarking on what felt like a new chapter in our lives.
We schooled in Abuja, but Daniel's mom, Jacinth, had somehow managed to find us a spot at a top company in Lagos. She's one of those women who just knows people. When Daniel suggested we all stay at their place instead of scrambling for accommodation, we didn't hesitate. It made sense-save some money, stay close to the job, and hey, free food? Count me in.
We arrived at the house, and Jacinth was there to welcome us. She was as warm and inviting as ever, but something felt... off. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Her petite frame, her curvy figure, the way her smile lit up the room-it was all hitting me differently. And then it hit me: I was getting a hard-on for my best friend's mom.
What the hell, Dami? I scolded myself internally. She's way older than you. But damn, she's fine.
"Guy, what's up with you? She's talking to you na," Toby's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I blinked, realizing Jacinth was standing right in front of me, her brows furrowed in concern. "Are you okay, Dami? You look like you've seen a ghost," she said, her voice low and smooth, like honey.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," I stammered, forcing a smile. "Just... tired from the trip."
She nodded, her eyes lingering on me for a beat longer than necessary. "Well, let me show you boys to your rooms. You can freshen up and come down for dinner."
We followed her upstairs, our footsteps echoing in the spacious hallway. Jacinth moved with a grace that was almost hypnotic, her hips swaying ever so slightly. I tried to look away, but my eyes kept dragging back to her. She stopped in front of a door and turned to us.
"This is your room, Dami," she said, her voice soft. "I hope it's comfortable enough for you."
I stepped inside, my heart racing. The room was cozy, with a large bed and a window that looked out into the backyard. "It's perfect," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
She smiled, and for a moment, our eyes locked. It felt like she was seeing right through me, like she knew exactly what I was thinking. The air between us seemed charged, and I had to remind myself to breathe.
"Good," she said, finally breaking the silence. "Dinner will be ready in an hour."
She left the room, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Toby and Chike were already unpacking in the shared room next door, but I needed a moment to myself. I grabbed my towel and headed for the bathroom, the cool tiles beneath my feet doing little to calm the heat building inside me.
I stepped into the shower, letting the water cascade over my body. This is ridiculous, I thought, scrubbing myself harder than necessary. She's Daniel's mom, for God's sake. Get a grip.
But no matter how much I tried to scold myself, the image of her wouldn't leave my mind. It was like she was etched into my brain, her voice, her smile, the way her curves filled out her dress. I groaned, turning the water to cold in a desperate attempt to snap out of it.
By the time I stepped out of the shower, I was feeling a little more in control. I dried off and lay down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. The room was quiet, the only sound the faint hum of the air conditioner. I closed my eyes, letting exhaustion take over.
---
I don't know how long I was asleep, but I woke up to the sound of the door creaking open. My heart skipped a beat as I saw Jacinth standing in the doorway. She was wearing a transparent nightie that left nothing to the imagination, her curves silhouetted by the soft light filtering in from the hallway.
"Dami," she whispered, her voice a sultry purr. "Are you awake?"
I sat up, my breath catching in my throat. "Jacinth... what are you doing here?"
She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. "I couldn't sleep," she said, her eyes locking onto mine. "And I thought... maybe you couldn't either."
My heart was pounding now, my mind racing. This couldn't be happening. But as she moved closer, the scent of her perfume enveloping me, I knew it was real. She reached out, her fingers brushing against my chest, sending shivers down my spine.
"Do you want me, Dami?" she asked, her voice dripping with desire.
I couldn't speak. My body was reacting on its own, my hands reaching out to pull her closer. She straddled me, her lips finding mine in a heated kiss. It was intense, passionate, and everything I had been trying to suppress. My hands roamed over her body, exploring every inch of her as she ground against me, her moans filling the room.
We moved together, our bodies entwined, the heat between us unbearable. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced, the way she felt, the way she moved. I was lost in her, consumed by her, until-
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound jolted me awake, and I found myself alone in the room, the sheets tangled around me. My heart was still racing, my body still on fire. The knock came again, louder this time.
"Dami, dinner's ready!" It was Daniel's voice.
I groaned, rubbing my face with my hands. As I sat up, I noticed the wet spot on the bed, and I cursed under my breath. "Damn it," I muttered, grabbing a towel to clean up.
This was going to be one hell of a vacation.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Dami, are you coming or what?" Daniel called again.
I didn't respond immediately, my mind still reeling from the dream. "Yeah, I'll be down in a minute," I finally said, my voice hoarse.
As I got dressed, I couldn't shake the feeling that Jacinth's eyes were still on me.
Valle Verde, the Alpha king just discovered that the woman he was mean and cold to was his fated mate but it was too late as she had already ran away.. He made a decision to go find her but was met with a challenge. He found her in the human world and she had become influential. A woman many men wanted. He meets with other obstacles as he fights to get his family back: one of which was a power hungry scientist who sought to take him captive. Will he see through the end of his mission? Will he get his fated Luna and child back? Read on to find out.
Jane, a 22-year-old, had been hiding at her parents' house for a long time. She had no contact with the outside world. One day, she found herself in the arms of Kaius Black. He was the son of a loan shark and a powerful criminal. Jane's father had borrowed money from him, and now she had to pay the price. As Jane started to break free from her old life, she discovered many secrets. She learned about her real identity, her parents' true identities, and a twin sister she never knew she had. She also realized that she had saved Kaius's life years ago, when she had sneaked out of her house to explore the world. But Jane soon found out that her new life was not as great as she thought it would be. She was in danger from her new family. She teamed up with her twin sister, a police officer, to uncover the truth about her stepmother and stepbrother. They would do anything to get the family's wealth.
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.
It's true what they say about marriage: one partner's always happier than the other. ~~~ Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage. The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie's long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back. Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan. Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.
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?
For the whole 17 years of her existence, Alana did not know the word freedom and happiness having been confined in the basement of her family's house accused of killing her own mother. She's beaten, cursed at, and barely survived from crumbs of food thrown at her. She thought this is her final destiny and has accepted the bitter fate of her life not until the night of her 18th birthday, a mysterious alpha appeared at her door telling her that she is the long-lost daughter of the alpha king and claiming her as his mate he's been looking for several years now.
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."