I am Kira Reed and for as long as I can remember, I have worked in his company. But I had enough! He's such a despicable man to the point I couldn't resist his tyranny. Or maybe that's what I want to make myself believe. Who am I kidding? Besides, the holidays are coming and I really want to go home this year. ............... "Get your filthy hands off her!" I yelled at him, placing myself between them. Mark did not sit idly by and responded accordingly. "You have no right to come into her life like that and pretend nothing happened," he said, taking the attack posture. "Who said nothing happened?" I shouted at him, placing my hands on the collar of his shirt. I could hardly control myself, as I've never been good at keeping my anger in check.
KIRA
I am Kira Reed and for as long as I can remember, I have worked in his company. But I had enough! He's such a despicable man to the point I couldn't resist his tyranny. Or maybe that's what I want to make myself believe. Who am I kidding? Besides, the holidays are coming and I really want to go home this year.
***
"Are you sure this is what you want, Kira? Think again, this man won't take you back," said Alana, one of my supporters in this company.
"I've never been more sure, Alana. You know I can't stand him anymore!" I shouted, closing the door to my office.
"Won't you at least wait and give it to him in person? He'll get mad, you know. Especially now that he won't find someone so soon to replace you."
"You think I care? I'll leave my resignation on his desk and leave. I have to be on a plane to Hollow Peaks by 6 PM."
"OK. Regardless of what happens here, I'm glad you're spending Christmas and New Year with your family," Alana said wistfully.
"You know you're invited too. Plus, my brother would really enjoy it," I said and winked at her.
"Hey!"
"What? You know better than me that there are some sparks in there. Maybe the magic of Christmas will open up some more minds. Anyway, I need to wrap this up and go packing at home. There's a lot to sort out."
"I'm gonna miss you, baby"
"You can visit me anytime," I said and held out my arms. Alana stepped into my embrace. We didn't stay hugged for too long because I didn't want my co-workers to notice anything. Only Alana knew I was leaving.
Just like a feline, I walked into my boss's office and placed my resignation on the desk. I looked around a bit. Knowing how tyrannical Gabriel Bates was, the office was in complete contrast to his personality. No room for regrets. Maybe only that this was my only source of income. But I would be alright.
When I got home, I didn't know where to start. I loved this apartment. My parents had bought it for me when I moved to London. They said I needed a place of my own, so I didn't have to pay rent. It cost a fortune and, although I objected, my parents insisted.
I didn't pack too many clothes. After the holidays, I was planning to come back and look for another job.
I was looking out the window when my cell phone rang. It was Gabriel, but I didn't answer. I initially thought he wouldn't care that I was leaving, but there was a big event coming up over the company that I was part of. He was definitely calling to tell me I was being irresponsible.
Outside it was already snowing with big flakes, and there were only three days left until Christmas, but if I didn't count today, which was ending anyway, there were only two.
Finally, the cell phone stopped ringing.
And that was the last noise I heard from Gabriel Bates. Or so I thought.
***
"Look! There she is!"
My mother and brother approached me as I waited for them at the airport's arrivals area in Hollow Peak's airport. I couldn't hide my joy and a broad smile lit up my face. I haven't seen them in a long time.
My brother hated the big city, so he stayed behind and helped all the animals here. He was a vet.
I knew how much my mother loved me, but she also condemned me because I was the youngest and the only one who hadn't gotten married. Whenever we were together, she would always find something to criticize about me.
She always said that my biological clock was ticking and that I would remain an old maid in my twenty-seven years.
"Dear, have you been sleeping lately? It's awful how you look"
And that was her.
"Thank you, mom. That helps"
"I'm not saying it the way you are probably thinking. You're gorgeous, but..."
"I'm alright, mom. Just a bumpy flight, nothing more"
But that was not all. Somehow, my mind wondered at Gabriel's stunned face when he saw the resignation letter. I explained nothing to him in that letter, just that I quit. But that was only for me to know.
And there was more. Along with my resignation, my heart remained there, torn to pieces. Another secret of mine.
Everyone else knew I couldn't stand Gabriel anymore, but I was actually running away and put some distance.
The only way I could have done it fearlessly was leaving London for the holidays.
Now that I arrived on Hollow Peak, it overcame me with a deep sorrow that I would not ponder. Did I appear awful? Entirely convinced I was. Because the man I lost my heart to would never feel the same way about me as I did about him. So distance was actually the only way.
And in a week, when I would return to London, it would be to my cozy apartment and no job, no letter of recommendation from my previous employer, and no opportunities. All of that was almost as awful as the broken heart I was keeping to myself.
My chest hurting wound was incredibly annoying.
This Christmas, I might well be a complete Grinch, but my family couldn't possibly know the whole depth of my problems, so...
I have to fake happiness.
I was thankful, though, that we were spending this Christmas as a family. This was the honest truth.
"I'm so sorry, Alana and Brad couldn't make it. I would have loved you guys to meet the man who stole my heart."
"Me too, sis. I should meet him so he would know that you are not alone and that you have someone to take care of you," my brother said from somewhere behind my mother. He didn't change at all. The beard made him a little more mature, though.
"Come on, Joe, you're upset that Alana couldn't make it, but you'll get over it. Come here, I missed you so much," I said and hugged him like crazy.
And that was the additional issue I would have to manage during the week. Inquiries and remarks regarding my fictitious partner, who I shouldn't have created.
"I missed you too, sis, but you are mistaken. I don't even remember... Alana... or how you said her name was"
"It's Alana, and... ugh, nevermind. You know how I hate crowded places, so if we finished here we might as well go home," I told them, looking around.
There was great excitement. I wasn't the only one who came home for the holidays.
"This is the best thing to do, especially since I'm going to spoil you with my treat. My hot caramel white chocolate. I bet you missed that too"
For the love of God, I had forgotten about that. There were no holidays without his special treat. These were the moments when I realized how much I missed my family.
"Joe, you just convinced me. Let's go, I am starving too," I said, looking back on my shoulder like I was afraid anyone would see me.
Calm down, Kira. He wouldn't have the guts to come all the way here. Or would he?
Anna had it all, a perfect life and a loving husband. But destiny has its own plans. Switching tickets with a young musician, her husband Marco dies in a plane crash and her world crumbles upon her. Unable to cope with the pain she remains locked in her house refusing to face reality until her nightmares come to life. Dreaming how people would die she has one week to track them down and save them. Now she has to begin a race against the clock and save as many as she can. Being overwhelmed she finds relief in listening to young saxophonist Enzo Buonaurio. Little did she know he had an unintentional final word in her husband's early passing. What will happen when Anna dreams of Enzo's death? Will she be able to forgive and save him? Or let destiny play its card?
When Teresa Bradley, a young journalist with a passion for photography, meets Sebastian in a park, she becomes captivated by his beauty. Trying to capture his emotions, she falls into a river, risking her life. A powerful bond forms between them after Sebastian rescues her. As Teresa tries to make sense of her terrifying experience, Lettice, Sebastian's great-great grandmother, kidnaps her, revealing secrets about her own existence. Bash is determined to save his human Luna, so he's gathering an army with his cousin Liam and their pack. Despite the chaos and danger, a beautiful love story blossoms, with challenges to face. Teresa accepts her destiny and the bond she shares with Bash, but the threat is far from over. Rejected by her family, Lettice turns into a vengeful hellhound consumed by hatred and seeking revenge. Will Lettice's revenge be the downfall of the Kielder Pack, or can Sebastian and Teresa keep their family and lives safe?
“You dared to disturb Pharaoh's sleep? My curse will fall upon you and your descendants in three generations like a hundred knives!” Adrienne Webster, an enthusiastic archaeologist, is determined to discover the tomb of Pharaoh Khem-Amon in the Maani Valley. Disbelieving in curses, she disturbs the eternal sleep of the great ruler and thus brings upon herself the curse of the God of Death, Anubis, to live and die in Ancient Egypt. Reincarnated in Kamilah's body, the daughter of the discovered Pharaoh, she encounters love in the person of Anubis as he carries her in his boat to the Underworld. Will he rescue her in time or will it fulfill the curse? Join Adrienne on her adventure in Ancient Egypt as well as in the present, living her beautiful love. But will that be enough when the God of Chaos, Seth, returns to take revenge on Anubis? Read on to find out!
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
Aria Wilson agrees to her step- sister offers to have a one night stand with an old man interchange for large amounts. It will be use for his brother's operation. What they don't know is the man she had sex with is turned out to be Jake Thomson! The most powerful man in Golden City, a multi-billionaire. Her step- sister Ayah, pretended that she is the one he was with that night so she is the on who gained wealth. Aria got pregnant and walked away but after five years she came back and her children...
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
Brenna lived with her adoptive parents for twenty years, enduring their exploitation. When their real daughter appeared, they sent Brenna back to her true parents, thinking they were broke. In reality, her birth parents belonged to a top circle that her adoptive family could never reach. Hoping Brenna would fail, they gasped at her status: a global finance expert, a gifted engineer, the fastest racer... Was there any end to the identities she kept hidden? After her fiancé ended their engagement, Brenna met his twin brother. Unexpectedly, her ex-fiancé showed up, confessing his love...
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."