Janetta was a gentle and calm woman, content with the simplicity of her life. She didn't need to shine in a crowd or seek any special attention. Her world was made up of tender gestures, a calm that soothed those around her. Every morning, she woke with a light smile, ready to fulfill her mission: making others' lives a little bit softer. On the other side, Alexander lived in a very different world. Divorced for three months, he had become an empty shell, his heart frozen by the wounds of the past. He no longer had space for emotions, drowned in the chaos of work and responsibilities. At 32, with a ten-month-old baby to care for, he found himself at a dead end. The baby's cries, sleepless nights, and daily chores seemed overwhelming. This wasn't what he had planned. Yet, he had no choice but to find a solution. This solution came in the form of a live-in nanny. Janetta, recommended by her boss, Alexander's best friend, was about to enter his life. Gentle, patient, and caring, Janetta would be the ray of sunshine in the gloom of a broken man. But what neither of them knew was that their meeting would change everything.
01
My blackberry vibrated violently against the table surface, the unexpected noise jarring me from the 19th-century London back alleys and straight into the fluorescent-lit present. I jumped, clutching at my papers, but it was no use-the sharp blast of cold air from the vent above dislodged them completely. Like startled pigeons, the pristine white sheets fluttered to the floor in a chaotic mess.
"Holy cows," I muttered under my breath, dropping to my knees without hesitation. My bag slid off my chair and thumped onto the floor beside me, but I ignored it, desperate to salvage the scattered manuscript before anyone could trample them.
The floor was mercilessly busy, shoes clicking past me-some business casual, some worn sneakers, all a threat to my sanity. The chaos of lunchtime in the coffee house didn't slow, and I quickly became a human speed bump among a stampede of caffeine-fueled professionals.
This clumsy, wrapped-up-in-her-own-world person is me.
My name is Janetta Summers, and I am the main editor at Blueburg Publishing House, a publishing company that I had interned at during university. During the beginning of my job, I was merely an assistant editor amongst many, of course, but our main senior commission editor had decided to put my name in the bowl when the main editor at the time had decided to resign. Through some combination of sheer luck, furious determination, and three bestselling authors later, here I am now, at the tender age of twenty-two, as the main editor.
A job at which, till today, despite my achievements, I still feel wildly incompetent doing.
I scrambled across the tile floor, heart hammering in my chest as I scooped up another handful of papers, biting my lip as I noted how out of order they now were. Five minutes of frantic gathering later, I managed to locate most of the manuscript-but a considerable chunk of thirty or so pages remained missing.
Panic licked up my spine as I stood up, running my fingers through my hair and pushing the dark strands behind my ear. My hazel eyes darted nervously around the coffee house, sweeping the slightly crowded lunchtime rush for any signs of my lost pages. My heart sank lower with each passing second.
No one else was bending down. No one else was holding a stack of papers.
Just me.
Just the strange girl standing awkwardly amidst a sea of people buying lattes and paninis.
I was contemplating whether it was acceptable to just curl into a ball under my table and disappear when I felt a light tap on my shoulder.
"Excuse me," a deep, manly voice asked, a warm, smooth timbre to it that somehow cut through the coffee-scented chaos around us.
I turned, nearly tripping over my own feet in surprise.
There he was.
A man with rich, chocolate brown tousled hair, strong arched brows, and deep, catastrophic stormy grey eyes. He wore a crisp white shirt tucked neatly into dark blue business pants, the jacket of his suit casually draped over one arm. In his free hand-the one not balancing the jacket-he held the missing pages of my manuscript, grasped with an almost reverent care.
My mouth went dry. I immediately dropped my gaze, the blush creeping up my neck hotter than the coffee that had burned my tongue earlier.
Mumbling a quick and mortified, "Thank you," I snatched the papers from his hand, clutching them to my chest like a lifeline. Without daring another glance upward, I turned on my heel, gathered my things with trembling fingers, and practically fled the coffee house.
The chilly air outside slapped my cheeks red, but I welcomed the embarrassment-induced cold as I tried to blend into the crowd. My footsteps quickened automatically, the tip-tap of my heels matching the thudding of my heartbeat. I didn't stop until I'd put two blocks between me and the scene of my humiliation.
The blackberry was still buzzing insistently in my hand.
"Hello?" I mumbled into the phone, dodging a man carrying a tray of sandwiches as I squeezed past. "I had a miscall from this number..."
There was a brief crackle of static on the other end before a voice answered, clipped and efficient, yet somehow familiar.
"Miss Summers? This is Ms. Graham from the office. I need to speak to you regarding the new author prospect. There's been a slight... development."
Development. That word never meant anything good in publishing.
"Uh, sure," I stammered, struggling to keep my papers, bag, and phone from falling to the ground in a messy display of my panic. "I'm about ten minutes away. I'll be there soon."
Ending the call, I stuffed the phone into my pocket, tightened my grip on the abused manuscript, and started toward the office with purpose. My bag thumped against my hip with every step, my breath visible in little white puffs as I picked up my pace.
I tried to shake off the encounter in the coffee shop, but it lingered like an echo. His voice. Those eyes. The calm way he had held the pages-as if they mattered.
Maybe he had recognized the author's name? Or maybe he just didn't want to see some poor woman drown in a puddle of paper. Either way, the mortification remained. I was used to being invisible, focused, pulled into the world of words and commas and deadlines. Not... noticed.
Especially not by men who looked like they belonged on the covers of the books I edited.
My office building came into view-a sleek, glass-paneled structure wedged between a yoga studio and a florist-and I exhaled a shaky breath. The familiar revolving doors welcomed me with a soft whoosh, and I hurried into the elevator, pressing the button for the twelfth floor.
Blueburg's twelfth floor was a maze of bookshelves, cluttered desks, and editors in various stages of caffeine withdrawal. The moment I stepped out, the scent of burnt espresso and paper greeted me like an old friend. I spotted Ms. Graham through the glass-walled conference room, already pacing.
She looked up as I entered, beckoning me inside with a swift wave.
"There's been a change," she said without preamble, clicking the door shut behind me. "You remember the author I mentioned-E. Langford?"
"The new one? Historical fiction? Yes," I said, adjusting my grip on the slightly crumpled manuscript. "Is there a problem?"
"Not a problem," she replied, her lips twitching into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Just... a twist. Langford's not just some fresh-faced writer from nowhere. Turns out, he's someone the board is very interested in. They've scheduled a meeting. Today. With you."
"With me?" I blinked. "Why me?"
"Because he specifically asked for you." Her eyes glittered. "And he's already waiting in the meeting room."
My stomach dropped.
"Wait, he's here? Now?"
"Yes," she said, clearly enjoying my panic. "And I suggest you try not to run this time."
I furrowed my brow in confusion. "What do you mean-"
But I didn't finish the sentence.
Because the door opened.
And in walked the man from the coffee shop.
The man with stormy grey eyes.
Holding a new manuscript.
And looking directly at me.
She was barely twenty years old when her heart was shattered by the man she thought she could love, a man who, out of spite and a thirst for revenge, left her in pain. He hated her for a crime she didn't commit, a crime she didn't even know about. The pain was unbearable, the betrayal devastating. Five years later, Ana was no longer the fragile, vulnerable young woman she once was. She had grown, matured, and built a strength she never knew she had back then. Life had changed her; she no longer believed in love or the goodness of men. She had learned not to let her emotions control her. Yet, when Devin reappeared, her balance faltered. He had returned, determined to finish what he hadn't been able to do before: his revenge. His dark, cold eyes exuded an icy hostility, but Ana knew he was no longer the man he once was. The Devin of today was more cynical, more ruthless. Still, she couldn't ignore the lingering attraction she had always felt for him. Devin, for his part, bore the scars of a life marked by betrayal and pain. Since the age of fourteen, revenge had become his only obsession. Fate had driven him to hate the daughter of the man who had destroyed his family. But when he crossed Ana's gaze again, he realized that the war he had waged against her could destroy both of them. Could their love be possible, or would the past be too heavy to bear?
Bronte was the beloved girl of everyone, always smiling and full of life. Her popularity made her an essential person in everyone's eyes. Yet, there was one exception: Blake. This arrogant bad boy, with his messy hair and piercing gaze, didn't even seem to notice her. But that was before her parents went to Africa. Forced to leave for several weeks, they entrusted Bronte to Blake. Upon her arrival, Bronte felt like an intruder in his world. Their first interactions were cold, marked by endless pranks and arguments that never seemed to end. Yet, behind Blake's attitude, Bronte sensed something deeper, a secret he hid carefully. Over the days, their relationship slowly began to change. Despite the provocations and tensions, an attraction started to form between them. Blake couldn't admit it, but it was clear that Bronte was no longer just the neighbor.
"Look at yourself in the mirror, little bun. You're still shivering under my touch, so excited, so pitiful..." His voice was low, teasing, as he stroked her cheek, his fingers trailing down to her trembling neck. "Let go of me, you bastard!" She struggled, trying to twist away, her hands pushing against his chest. "What did you do to the divorce paper?!" He smirked, not even flinching at her resistance. "It wasn't a divorce paper, baby." He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "I changed the contract." Her eyes widened, confusion flashing in her gaze. "What do you mean-?" "In the end," he whispered, "you belong to me, and only me." His fingers brushed over her lips as he held her in place, savoring her resistance, knowing all too well how much she wanted to escape. But it didn't matter. She was already his, and the paper proved it. There was no going back now.
He swept my sweat-drenched hair off my neck, pressing his lips against my ear. His hot breath made me shiver, and every vibration of his voice left me breathless. "You're not the first to try to seduce me," he whispered, his warm breath grazing my skin. "But you're my favorite." His eyes locked with mine, piercing and intense, before he slowly pulled me away. I watched him take my red lace thong, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. A wave of desire overwhelmed me, mixed with a strange sense of defeat. I hadn't expected this, nor the palpable tension that had settled between us. And now, I'm an intern for Cole, the writer of the steamiest novels I've ever read. All of this is more real, more intense, and most of all, more dangerous than I could have ever imagined.
Jack had just arrived in town, a cold breeze following him, signaling the arrival of winter. The first snowflakes danced in the air, covering the streets with a white blanket. Summer, on the other hand, hated this season. Every year, she dreaded the cold, the gray skies, and the early darkness. But that day, something changed. When he walked into her café, an unusual shiver ran down her spine. The man with silver hair and icy blue eyes, as cold as the winter sea, seemed to bring a breath of fresh air with him. But there was something else, something captivating in his presence, a mystery that Summer didn't yet understand. Jack, with his calm, frosty demeanor, knew how to bring the chill, almost as if he could make the air feel sharper. Yet, soon, she would discover that beneath that apparent coldness, he had the power to ignite a fire inside her. A fire she never imagined could exist.
She loved her husband. She gave him everything, without hesitation, offering her heart, her soul, and her dreams. But he was nothing but a receiver, never a giver. He took without ever giving back, feeding off her affection and sacrifices. He was selfish, and every gesture she made for him seemed like a mere formality to satisfy his needs. He was never there for her, except when it served him. The only things he offered were confusion. He gave her empty promises, sweet words that rang hollow. He offered manipulation, ideals disguised as his "undeniable love," but in reality, he only loved one person: himself. She adored him, but he saw in her nothing more than a tool to fill his inner emptiness. He had invaded her mind to the point where, when he proposed an open relationship, he made her believe it was her idea, seducing her with subtle words. She wanted to believe him, convincing herself that it was a step of compromise, a sacrifice for the love he claimed to have for her. But deep down, she knew it wasn't what she wanted. She wanted him, and only him. He wanted her, and all the others he could get, all those who would feed his insatiable need for power and domination. But all of that changed when Tobias Wrexler entered their lives. His intense gaze, his silent yet powerful presence, brought a turning point in her life. The shadow of her husband suddenly seemed far less threatening in the light that Tobias brought.
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
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?
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?
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. .