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."
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"