Nicole has had a lot to deal with in the space of a month, including finding her lover of two years with someone else. Life gets better, taking matters into her hands and making a life for herself, but what if a known enemy is better? An attempt to move on with another would cost her so much, getting closer to the same cartel that murdered her parents. Secrets get revealed and love is an utter mess in this romance thriller
Panting heavily, I struggled to run. All my life, I never knew the need for moving my legs till now that survival was needed. I hadn't come this far to give up. It was one thing to run a marathon for an exercise and another to run cause your life depends on it and the worst part; not knowing what you're running from.
I stopped abruptly when I got toward the cliff and looked down at the ocean. Turning my neck to see if they were close, I pulled on my hair enough to rip it off. There was no way I was jumping into that and coming out alive.
And what was it all for? To end up dying in water after escaping my kidnappers or to surrender?
Disheartened, my weak knees fell to the hard ground and I winced at the pain. Shutting my eyes, I envisioned somewhere else. Somewhere normal. I never knew they'd come a time all I wished for was feeling the sun on my skin or wishing I was doing so little as going to the supermarket filled with people. And then my life flashed before my eyes- from my thirteenth birthday to seeing my loved ones and registering each one of their scents to the extent my nose couldn't even smell mine.
Obviously, I smelled like dust being locked up for weeks like a cave woman and the only chance I had to escape was hopeless. It was almost as if I was gone. I knew I was gone or had about a few minutes left.
My eyes opened in shock and my body jerked at the sound of the gunshot making me feel anxious. In as much as I felt numb, nobody ever wanted to die or at least knew they were going to die.
______________
Six months earlier
Nicole
It still remained vivid in my head and each time I remembered, it was much faster and I seemed to pick new details every time like what bra size cup she wore for her fake boobs.
No, I breathed out. I wasn't going to let out my anger on her but instead on Pete.
I couldn't believe our two years went down the drain just like that. I wanted to spend my life with someone who cheated on me with the same secretary I complained about in his apartment-on his bed. Same one I had been on before. Quite a number of times.
Granted, I was busy with work. Typical me. It was a way to keep independent and happy. Just as I planned to surprise him that Friday night, having a key to his apartment...he turned out to be the one with the most shocking performance. He couldn't even look me in the eye when I confronted him. It was just like a movie.
I never did any of those shouting and arguing stuff, I only dropped the Chad heidstick brut red wine and pizza that I had brought for us on the bed and left, devastated and with excruciating chest pains.
My heart jumped when the door opened slightly with Ken's head popping in,
"Hey do you have a minute?" She asked and let herself into my office to take a seat. I plastered on a fake smile, squaring my shoulders on the chair. I couldn't let my best friend see me in this state, so I had to chin up. Especially when I knew she was going to laugh about it. She was right anyway.
I faltered."Sure."
She paused for a second, looking at me. "You do know we have a meeting in like ten minutes and it's one Mrs. Dakota wants you to bag plus why aren't you wearing any make up. You look...different." At least she didn't call me ugly without it.
"I was rushing and didn't have time." She gave an amused look. "You never not have time. What's with the scarf?"
I gulped. "Thought it'd be great on me." She ran her hair into her chocolate hair and pointed.
"Well, honey, that doesn't look great on you, at all." I didn't take an offense to that.
"You said something about a meeting?" I asked and arched a brow when she got up to take down the window blinds. Ken was always extra.
"So the funniest thing happened," she said and turned to me. "I went into the ladies and guess what-who I saw? Will and Judith." It was so funny how uninterested I was. I usually lived for gossips like this.
"And?" I asked. "They were-"
"Oh my gosh," I said and opened my mouth. "Unprofessional much?"
She laughed. "They were only making out. So he saw me and ran after to beg not to tell anyone."
I squinted. "But you just told me."
"Exactly. You're not anyone." I shook my head and laughed.
"I feel it's actually serious. They aren't just hooking up. He might be interested in her. He's turning forty soon and wants to settle down and she seems in love with him."
"That's if he doesn't cheat on her," I murmured under my breath.
"What?" She asked.
I grinned. "They're a perfect match."
"Yeah so back to work, do you have the survey for Lakeside court?"
"You should ask John that. It's been updated and I don't have the posters here." I rubbed my tired eyes. The only reason why I came to work in the first place was to bury my energy into something else. Apparently, I didn't have any left for that after crying my eyes out all weekend.
I worked at Coleman homes as a realtor. It was one of the biggest real estate company in Florida in which I Initially came in for internship program in my third year as a public relations student of the University of California, went back to get a Real estate license when I knew it was a big deal. I was happy with my job, and the pay made it worth it too.
Mrs Dakota was a pain in the neck. Hell, I didn't even know why I was still there. The first time I ever stepped into her office at Coleman homes, she made me wait thirty freaking minutes in her office with her before she finally spoke to me after waiting hours to see her.
What was she doing? Yeah, she was talking to her puppy while I was in front of her. Like she didn't even care to know who I was.
But like they say, 'let by gones be by gones'. The same girl she treated that way she promoted as MD last week Friday. To think I was actually going to celebrate with Pete and then I found him...
Breathe, Nic.
"Oh I forgot to tell you, I saw Pete last night."
My eyes widened at the mention of his name before digesting that she just told me saw him.
How could she have if he was in his apartment?
Her brown eyes deepened into mine. "At a bar, with a girl."
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."
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
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. š³š³š³š³š³š³š³š³š³š³š³š³š³š³š³ 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. .
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?"