"Brian I am your Godmother!" Jayda reminded him in case he forgot she is ten years older than him. A whole decade. "Age is just a number, I don't care," Brian said as he continued to walk closer to her until her back hit the wall of his office and his arms secured on each side. "Adeline would flip in her grave to find out her best friend and son are romantically involved" She added "She would be happy for me" "What about society?" "Enough Jayda!" His eyes appeared bloodshot as he stared into the eyes of the woman that dominated his thoughts since his childhood. "I have waited long enough to have you. I. Can't. Wait. Any more. You are mine and I will kill anyone that tries to steal my happiness away from me. Get that into your thick skull" She was supposed to feel mad for being reprimanded like a toddler but instead, her core craved for him most sinfully. A night of passion turned her God-son into her lover but how long will this fairytale last?
Chapter 1
Before
"Everything is going to be fine Brian, I'm going to drive you back home so you can stay with Lucy ok?" Jayda said, trying to soothe little Brian from thinking the worst of their current situation.
"No, I want to stay here Godmother, " He said, firmly.
Jayda exhaled a deep breath and just simply pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Everything is going to be fine okay?" She assured
Brian although far too young, understands life way better than an adult and it's mostly because he learned to appreciate life from the moment he could say 'mom'.
"Are they going to die?" He asked, his voice trembling with uncertainty.
"No, I promise they won't. God would never take them away from you"
Even Jayda wasn't so sure but she was willing to say anything to keep the nine-year-old sane.
"Did you talk to him?" He asked slowly pulling away from the hug. His eyes looked like a deep blue ocean trapped in a glass.
"Every second sweetheart" she gave him a kissed on the centre of his eyebrows.
"I want to talk to him too, " He said
"Sure you can" Her cell phone began to ring "give me a minute"
She took a few steps from the little boy to receive her boyfriend's call.
"Hi, how's Lucy?" She asked.
"She's fine. How's Kyle and Adeline?"
"It's bad Donnie, I couldn't break the dire situation to Brian. I tried to persuade him to come over but he wouldn't even budge. They're still in the O-R"
"What are the chances?"
"There could be a severe head injury from the tumbling." She said, her hands trembling from the fear of losing her best friends.
"I wish I could be there"
"Just take care of Lucy, I'll be back after the surgery and they're stable"
"You ate?"
"I can't even stomach my saliva and poor Brian wouldn't eat anything"
A little twirl made Jayda see the Doctor exit the Operation room.
"I gotta go, Doc is here"
"You take care J, I love you." He said
"I love you too" she hung up and hurried to where the Doctor stood.
"The operation went successfully but they are not out of danger yet, we still need to conduct more internal tests to be sure nothing has been missed"
"Thank you so much Doctor, can we see them?" She asked while Brian gripped on to her fingers tightly.
"I suggest you come back tomorrow morning, you both need to rest" He bent down to meet Brian's height.
"You are one tough dude" He complimented before leaving the both of them in the long and empty hallway.
"Mommy and Daddy are going to be fine and the Doctor is right, you need to rest. We'll be back as early as possible in the morning"
He was hesitant as though some kind of force was pulling him to stay back but deep down he knows better.
He gave her a nod and together they exit the hallway.
They arrived at Jayda's home half an hour later to meet Lucy asleep in the arms of Donnie her father.
"Hey Don" Jayda whispered trying not to wake her sleeping beauty up.
"How did it go?" Donnie asked
"They're stable at the moment and more tests will be conducted once they're out of anaesthesia"
"Hey buddy, come here" He signalled for Brian to come over which he did.
"Your parents are going to be fine ok?"
He returned with a nod.
"I'll sleep on the couch, you can sleep with Lucy in our bedroom so Brian can take Lucy's"
"No, I don't want to sleep alone. I want to be with you Godmother" He pleaded and they couldn't say no.
"Ok sweetheart" to Donnie "you can sleep in our room, we'll be in Lucy's"
Donnie properly lifted Lucy on his shoulder and went up the stairs with Jayda and Brian following behind.
TWO HOURS LATER.
Jayda stepped out of the house to join Donnie who is seated on a rocking chair at the porch with a cigarette in hand.
"He finally slept, " she said, taking a seat beside Donnie.
The duo had met during their final year in high school with Adeline as the trio and eventually Kyle as the quartet. They all came out of families that didn't have much or no finance. Adeline grew up in the orphanage and attended the community public high school where she met Jayda whose parents are also dead and was leaving with her grandma before shamefully getting pregnant with three years old Lucy and kicked out of granny's house who later died a year after. Jayda still carries the guilt of not being able to settle the differences they had before her death. Like Jayda, Adeline who is a year older was raped at the age of eleven by her first foster dad who was later paedophile convicted got pregnant out of wedlock with Brian before meeting Kyle, the love of her life.
Kyle and Donnie both high school dropouts are the hood's sweet boys. Easygoing, caring, super nice and every girl's dream. They both work in a car repair shop and hell-bent on providing a convenient life for their sweethearts and children. A life they never had.
"Give me that" She collected the cigarette from his hand and began to puff.
"Kyle was drinking" He suddenly confessed
"What!" She said while trying to keep her voice on the lowest tone.
"He was drinking?" She asked
"Yes. He seemed to be caught up in some sort of deep thought and I suggested he wait for me to finish so I can drive him to pick Adeline from work and Brian from school but next thing I knew he already drove off"
"How could he do that?!" She looked up at the ceiling "I'm so disappointed"
"I'm sorry I let you down" He apologized
Her cell phone began to ring.
"It's the hospital" she picked immediately.
"Hello" She gasped in shock and abruptly stood up "I'll be there right away"
"What happened?" Donnie asked after she hung up.
"It's Adeline, she went into shock. I have to go"
"I'm coming with"
"What about the children?" She asked
"I'll take them to the neighbour's house"
A masquerade ball. One night. Behind the mask. Anything can happen. Diana Thorton decided to have one night to herself, away from being Alexander Stone's Assistant. The whole point of a masquerade-themed ball is to conceal one's identity but what happens when the face behind the phantom of the opera mask turns out to be her boss? She recognized him and that didn't stop her from sharing an intense night in a bid to rebound over a recent heartbreak. Turns out that one night isn't enough and wanting more is being greedy. Will she reveal her identity to the one man who made her feel like a woman and is now looking for her or throw caution in the wind as she prepares to resign even after falling pregnant? Only a forced marriage can cover up her shame as well as also salvage that which the media has ruined for her boss's reputation. With a two-year contract and an annulment after, will love find its way back to the couple just as it did on the night of the ball?
Olivia Donovan is almost Forty while Jason Ice is younger -- a lot younger than her. Divorced because her former best friend had an affair and is now pregnant with her former husband while they were still married, Olivia moved to the city and single handedly raised her two kids. Single, gorgeous and bad boy billionaire, Jason Ice succeeds in life despite an apalling childhood. Falling in love with Olivia was love at first sight on New Year's Eve and this twenty-something-year old guy is not ready to take no for an answer.
April Denver's Erotic message to a constant one night stand was mistakenly sent to someone else after siri chose scum instead of sean as the receiver on her contact list. Alpha male billionaire Jordan Cross sees a message from April indicating her sexual need for him. He sets out to her apartment and from that night onward, his virginity taken by her, he knew he was done for. She doesn't feel the same and for this to happen, there's one thing Jordan Cross must do to own all of her. Fulfil her request.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Elodie took a deep breath and knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet corridor. A moment of silence passed, broken only by the pounding of her heart. Finally, the door snicked open, revealing a surprised Dashiell. 'Can't you see the Do Not Disturb sign? We don't want-' His initial frown quickly morphed into confusion at the sight of his wife. 'What are you doing here?' he demanded. 'Your girlfriend invited me,' Elodie replied, her voice laced with icy calm. She tried to peer past him, but his broad frame blocked the view. A saccharine voice chimed in from within the room. 'Elodie? Oh dear, we didn't mean for you to find out this way. It's just that-' Elodie cut her short. 'Oh please, Selene. Spare me the fake apologies. You wouldn't have sent me all those texts if you didn't want me to know.' Dashiell shifted uncomfortably, his face a mask of annoyance. 'What texts?' Elodie stepped past him, taking in the luxurious suite with a sardonic smile. The king-sized bed, the scattered rose petals, the lingering scent of sex – it all painted a vivid picture of their betrayal. She looked up at Dashiell, her gaze unwavering. 'I want a divorce.' ****** Dashiell lived a life of luxury, surrounded by the best things money could buy. But when a car accident left him vulnerable, he met Elodie, a seemingly ordinary woman who nursed him back to health. Mistaking her for just another employee, Dashiell entered into a loveless marriage with her solely for convenience. However, fate had a different script in store. Elodie, the 'ordinary nurse,' held a secret more precious than any diamond: she was the sole heiress to Northstar, a vast and powerful enterprise. Unaware of her true identity, Dashiell cast her aside when his ex-girlfriend returned, leaving Elodie humiliated. But Elodie was not one to be easily broken. She shed the facade of the meek nurse, reclaiming her rightful inheritance and stepping into the role of Northstar's CEO. Now, the woman Dashiell discarded was the one holding the reins of power. As Elodie thrives in her new role, Dashiell is consumed by regret. He finally sees Elodie for the extraordinary woman she truly is, realising the depth of his mistake. But will his remorse be enough to win back the heart he so carelessly discarded?
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."