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."
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
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!
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?
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!
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.
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”