"Come back!" he says after taking a sip of the coffee. I walk back and stand in front of him. "What do you think you are doing bringing me cold coffee!" "It w-was hot when I bro-brought it..." I stammer. "Shut your mouth!" his loud voice booms." I don't want to hear any nonsense excuses from you. Do you see those boxes behind you? They are filled with files. I want them arranged in alphabetical order and ready by 12:00p.m. Am I clear?" he says in a harsh voice. I widen my eyes when I see the size of the stack of boxes behind me. There is no way I am going to be done by noon. I am about to tell him when he says, "I know you are going to say that you won't be able to finish before noon, but the truth is I don't care. I want you to finish and I don't care how you do it." he says coldly and turns around. I knew there was no turning back because I signed my life away to the devil. I will have to bear whatever he does to me. What a way to start my first day! _________________________________________________________ Katherine Luciano is a beautiful lady, living with her single mom. She did not know her life would take a different turn the day she goes for a job interview. She meets the one person she wishes she never sees again in her life. The one person who made her high school the worst time of her life, Lorenzo Costanzo. A well-known person in society. He has the looks, the fame, the money, and everything with a lot of mysterious secrets. Does she fall prey to his wrath once again, or change the heart of a cold man
I am waiting in a room full of potential applicants-a few who look like strippers-all with the hope of getting the job. I wonder why they come dressed half naked. Is seduction the only way they think they can get the job? Why do some women think so little of themselves? I pray the boss is not like all those bosses who are looking for a personal assistant who helps in other areas like his bedroom, if you know what I mean. A few others dressed more professional than me look like they have been in this profession far longer than I have. It's making me feel unqualified with my MBA right now.
I was eager to get this job because the money would help my mama and I. Being a single mother is never easy, but she pulled it off. She brought me up in the best way possible. I never really got to know who my father is or where he is from because every time I ask mama about my father, she tells me that he was a one-night stand. And while I believed there was more to the story, I knew better than pushing her to tell me. I am not forcing the issue, and I know she is silently grateful for that.
I am brought back to earth when the secretary calls my name. She is a blond with big grey eyes and a pretty smile. I walk up to her table.
"Hi, I am Joan, you must be Katherine. Walk to the door on the left. He is waiting for you."
"Alright, thank you," I say, walking to the door while saying a silent prayer before knocking.
"Come in." I hear a husky voice say.
I walk into a beautiful office. The walls are painted black with golden lines all around it, with mahogany brown in some places. On my left is a wall adorned with white glass, a tile thing I think, with a beautiful golden line pattern on it. There are two black armchairs and a two-seater couch with a brown wooden coffee table in the middle. The windows have two green plants in front of it. The desk area has this long book shelf behind it. There are two black chairs in front of the brown wooden desk. The person behind the desk has his nose buried in some documents, so he has not seen me yet.
"Come and have a seat," the man says. His voice sounds very familiar, but I hope it's my mind playing a trick on me.
"Thank You, Sir."
"Let's begin," he says finally lifting his head. Once he does it's like all the blood leaves my body, making me freeze on the spot. I can't believe it's him. The one person who I thought, or rather prayed, I would never see again. He made my life a living hell in high school. My sworn enemy, Lorenzo Costanzo.
He has changed. He was handsome before, but he is even more attractive now with his grey shirt unable to hide a fantastic chest... I stare into his beautiful green eyes forgetting why I am here.
"When you are done staring, I would like for us to begin," he says acting like he does not know who I am.
"What is your name?" he says.
Is he really asking me that question? I can't believe he is acting like he does not know me. Maybe he is asking to be sure.
"My name is Katherine Luciano," I say, and I genuinely wish he does not remember who I am after what he did to me in high school.
"What school did you go to?"
"I attended NYU."
"I am talking about your high school."
"I attended Stuyvesant high school," I say giving up all hope of him not figuring out who I am.
"Hm, interesting."
"Can I ask something, sir?"
"Sure, why not."
"I find it weird that you care only about my high school information. Please, why is that?"
"Did you really think I would forget you, Bella?" He says with a smirk on his lips.
Oh no! He remembers me. He just called me by the name he always used in high school. I am totally not getting this job.
"Then why did you act like you did not know me a minute ago," I say.
"Because I felt like it," he says, still acting like the same jerk he always was.
I don't say anything but give him a look that says 'seriously?' I can't believe that deep down I wish he had changed. He stands up and walks towards the windows giving me a view of his gorgeous ripped abs underneath his shirt. He turns his back on me showing off his amazingly broad shoulders. But even with such a fantastic body and a handsome face he still has the heart of a devil. What a shame!
"I want you here Monday morning, don't be late."
"Are you saying I have the job?" I ask.
"Do I have to be more explicit for you to understand?"he asks.
"No, you don't."
"Good! See you on Monday morning with my coffee; black, no sugar."
"Alright sir, but I have to say, we did not even have a real interview. Not that I am complaining or anything."
"Bella, I have known you for almost half of our lives. I know you won't be a threat to me, and from your resumé I knew you were good for the job even before you walked in."
"Oh! Alright then, thank you." I say, happy I got the job but also feeling worried deep down. Did I get the job because I am qualified, and he knows me? Or is there another reason? I will have to wait and see.
"See you on Monday," I say walking out of his office.
"Don't be late!"
While walking out of the building, I call mama to give her the good news, but she does not pick up. I am guessing she is in a meeting. She sends a message a few minutes later saying I should meet her for lunch in an hour.
I grab a taxi and take it home to freshen up, to meet up with her in an hour.
I get home, shower and change into something more casual. I am wearing a black cami, a NYC tank top, pink and black striped high-waisted pants and a pair of patent leather pumps. I order an Uber to the restaurant we are meeting at.
I arrive and walk in, already knowing where she will be sitting since this is her favourite restaurant.
"Hi, Mama," I say sitting down.
"Hi, baby girl, how was the job interview?"
"It was quite strange, but I got the job."
"I am happy for you, and what do you mean by strange?"
"I will explain after eating, I am quite hungry."
About halfway through the meal I tell her how the interview went.
"Mama, you won't believe who my boss is. It's none other than the mighty devil himself, Lorenzo Costanzo."
"How many times have I told you to stop calling him that?"
"But that's what he is."
"No, he is just a confused man who does not know how to express his feelings."
"I am pretty sure he has expressed them well by showing how much he hates me."
"He does not hate you."
"He does mama, and do you know the funny thing is we were not even classmates. He was my senior in high school. I don't even understand how he noticed me or had time to bully me when there were other girls in school, and prettier ones in his class, who would die for the attention he gave me."
"He noticed you because he likes you."
"How do you know that, mama?"
"I just feel it."
"Okay, whatever you say. But I still doubt he does, and mama, do you know he acted like he did not know me at first."
"What do you mean?"
I explain to her about what happened in the office and how much of a jerk he was, but she feels maybe he just wanted to be sure.
Mama left shortly after we finished talking and eating as she got a call from her office.
After lunch I decide to go shopping, because last time I checked my closet it does not have clothes fit for a personal assistant. I also have a lot of time to spare before going home so I take a taxi and go to the mall.
I visit about ten different stores or more, looking for the best outfits that say 'sophisticated'. I won't lie, it was hard but worth it. I am visiting the last store for the day when a strange number appears on my phone screen. I answer, wondering if maybe it is Enzo wanting to remind me of something.
I answer and hear the worst news anyone could receive about their mother. The person on the phone says mama was rushed to the hospital while on her way home from the office. She said she fainted, and they tried waking her up but to no avail, so they rushed her to the hospital. I ask the person to send the address of the hospital so I can be on my way.
I take a taxi and ask the driver to drive as fast as he can without killing us. To say I am scared would be an understatement! I am terrified because mama is one of those people who is always healthy and hardly ever gets sick, so to hear she fainted and is in the hospital makes me very scared.
I arrive at the hospital and quickly go up to the front desk to find out how mama is doing.
"Where is my mother?" I say to the nurse at the front desk.
"What is her name?" a lady wearing a nurse's uniform asks.
"Christine Luciano," I say.
"Your mother is on the second floor. Take the elevator to the second floor. Once you get there, walk straight down the hall. The first door to your left is where you will find her."
"Thank you,"I say taking the elevator to the second floor.
I follow her directions and find the room with no difficulty.
I walk inside and see mama using an oxygen mask to breathe. Oh, my God! What is happening?
I walk towards mama's side and notice she is awake. Thank God!
"Mama, what is wrong?"
"Don't cry, my baby girl. Everything is going to be fine. I am going to be okay, you should not be worried." she says taking off the mask to speak to me.
"How won't I cry mama, when I see you like this," I say, holding her hands in mine.
"Don't worry, everything is going to be fine" she says giving my hand a warm squeeze.
A doctor walks in later and asks me to see him in his office about mama's condition. I follow him to his office praying there's nothing too seriously wrong with mama. He asks me to take a seat, but I insist on standing. The way I am feeling right now, all I want to do is to hear what he has to say and be by mama's side. But he insists, so I sit down with trembling hands.
"Your mother has breast cancer, but we can..." he says, but I don't let him finish talking before I cut him off.
"No-No, this can't be happening!" I cry before I breakdown in tears.
"Miss Luciano, I need you to be strong. Everything is going to be fine," he says while he tries to comfort me.
"Your mother needs all the support she can get, so you need to be strong."
"You are right. I need to be strong for mama," I say wiping the tears that have fallen and trying to keep the others at bay.
"So, what can we do?" I ask trying to sound strong.
"That's more like it," he says smiling reassuringly.
"Your mother is at the first stage of cancer, luckily we detected it in time. She will need surgery, but everything should be fine."
"How much does it cost?" I ask the one question I have been scared to ask since I found out mama has cancer. Mama and I do not have much money, but you could not call us poor, because we have three meals a day and live a comfortable life.
"$20,000," he says, and I think to myself, 'where am I going to get that kind of money?'
"Doctor, I don't have that kind of money now but I promise you I will get the money within due time. Please don't stop the treatment for my mother." I say praying Enzo pays well so I will be able to pay for mama's treatment and surgery.
"The only thing I can do for her now before you get the money is to put her on drugs until we have to do the surgery."
"Thank you so much doctor, thank you."
"You're welcome."
"I will go and see my mother now."
"Alright, see you next time Miss Luciano."
I walk back to mama's room to find her sleeping. I sit down on the chair beside her bed. I can't imagine my life without mama-she is the only family I have. I hope Enzo pays well so I can pay the hospital bills as soon as possible. I spend the weekend with mama at the hospital. On Monday she will be discharged, so after work I will be coming back to get her.
"I, Amelia Anderson, reject Nickolas Adams II as my mate." I've had enough. I don't know why I didn't reject him the moment I arrived here. What the heck was I stalling for? Nickolas and I don't have a single chance in heaven of being together. It's better to feel immense pain now than keep enduring little bits every time we run into each other. The muscles in his back tighten, but he doesn't turn back and says, "Accepting your rejection would be doing you a favor, and that's the last thing I would ever do for you." He walks away after that. ***** Nickolas, the Lycan king, had lost hope of ever finding his mate, resigned to the belief that he was destined to spend the rest of his days on Earth without her. However, fate takes an unexpected turn when he embarks on a journey to the werewolf kingdom. In a twist of destiny, Nickolas discovers his mate-a werewolf, and not just any werewolf, but the princess and daughter of his father's murderer, Amelia Anderson. Despite her royal status, Amelia's life is far from the fairy tale one might expect. A unique aspect of her identity brings difficulty, and being the sole individual among her peers without a mate intensifies her sense of isolation. The trajectory of her seemingly mundane life takes an unforeseen turn the day she encounters her mate. Suddenly, she is thrust into a reality she never imagined, and Amelia finds herself paying a steep price for a lifetime of sins she didn't commit.
“I need to teach you a lesson for defying me,” Beau says, and in an instant, my leg drops down. He puts his other hand on my waist and lifts me off my chair. Landing perfectly on him, my eyes widen once I feel him against me. “Yes, darlin’, you are the reason for it. And tonight, you are going to satisfy it.” He holds me down, hunger in his eyes. “I’ll do no such thing,” I say, resisting the urge to grind my hips against him. My already wet pussy is pressed against his hard length, and I find myself wanting to pull it out so he can fill me up to the hilt and make all my dreams a reality. “Oh, you will, and you are going to enjoy it.” Beau buries his head in my neck and places a kiss on my shoulder. My eyes close as he begins to grind against me. A moan escapes my lips, but Beau spanks my ass hard the second it does. “Don’t moan out, darlin’,” he says, putting his hand under my dress and caressing my stinging ass. “You don’t want anyone to hear us, do you?” he asks, kissing my neck before burying his head in my chest. I shake my head as pleasure surges through my body. “Good girl.” **** Delilah Stephen is a young architect trying to make it independently without Daddy’s help. She is so close to achieving her goal when something unexpected happens. The investor meant to make her dreams a reality turns out to be someone Delilah wishes never to see again, Beau Williams. He is a handsome billionaire with a dangerous family. He broke Delilah’s heart seven years ago and is now back to win her. Delilah passionately hates Beau, so he has his work cut out for him. She refuses to forget the past, but Beau doesn’t give up. He will stop at nothing to make Delilah feel something for him after so many years. But for how long can he keep trying, and will he ever succeed?
“Why can’t I fucking hit you?” Thomas yells, smacking the belt close to her feet. “Why,” he smacks it on the door above her head. “Why, fucking why” to the right and left sides of her body. Melina trembles against the door with her eyes closed and head tucked between her knees. She jumps, sniffing Thomas’ cologne, and tries to hide more. He’s probably bending down. “I want to hurt you, Melina, but I fucking can’t. Tell me why I fucking can’t. Tell me why,” she bites her lips to muffle her sobs as she fears they will exacerbate her situation. “Fucking look at me when I am talking to you,” Thomas says, grabbing her hair and pulling her head up. “I am- so-r-r-r-y,” she says as she turns to face him with her tear-stained face and bloodshot eyes. “Did you think it would work? Did you actually think you could get me arrested and then flee? Are you that dumb, Melina?” he tightens his grip on her hair, and it starts to hurt. Melina can’t believe this is what he thinks. How will she prove that it was never her intention to have him arrested? ******** Melina Davis was born with the face and body of a goddess. Her heart was as beautiful as her, but it never did her any good. Melina was the most unlucky woman in this world when it came to love. Her first love was an abusive con artist who made sure to exploit Melina's kindness. The second one who Melina felt was genuinely worthy of owing her heart was far more dangerous than her first. His name is Thomas Costanzo. He is the second in command of the Costanzo mafia. He was highly feared in the mafia world. Some even feared him more than the don of the Costanzo mafia. Melina didn't know she shouldn't cross him, and she did. She broke the heart of one of the most feared men on this earth, and now, he is out searching for her. Once he finds her, Melina will wish she never crossed paths with him.
Ana was like every young she-wolf out there. She couldn’t wait to meet her mate. She didn’t expect the way things would go the day she finally met him or the way he would treat her once they met. Ana’s mate wants nothing to do with her but won’t let her go. Ana feels like a prisoner to her mate. Her mind is torn on what to do. She wishes her mate would love her, but he shows no hope of that happening. She wants to try and build something with him, but he makes things difficult for her. He treats her horribly, and Ana doesn’t know why. Ana wishes he would reject or let her go, but he won’t. She feels like he is determined to make her his prisoner forever. Read and find out how Ana survives being a prisoner to her.
"Yes, we have, but I still want you to stay.” "Stefano, we just finished arguing, and you did not give me a single reason why I should stay, so I am leaving.” “No, you are not,” He says, dangerously coming close to me “Excuse me,” I say, backing up the wall “You heard me; I won’t let you leave me,” He says as his breath fans my face with every word that comes out of his mouth. “Then give me a reason to stay,” I say, looking down on the ground due to our proximity. I feel shy to look at him with how close we are. *********************************************** Andrea Lopez is a beautiful woman with a wonderful life. Any woman would wish to have her life, but you can't be sure her life is great. Andrea has everything but the one thing she desires most, Love. All she has ever received from Love is pain in return. There is no love in her life, but everything changes when she takes a trip to Italy. She reunites with her first Love, Stefano Costanzo, a cold, ruthless man who hates Love. He would rather pull his heart out of his body than feel Love, but for how long will he hate Love? Will the cold, ruthless man allow himself to love again, or will our Andrea never find Love?
"What!" Ethan says in his all too familiar deep rude voice. "You hit me, which caused my coffee to spill all over me," I say, pointing out the obvious. "So, what do you want me to do about it," He speaks like he has done nothing wrong "You are supposed to say sorry," I say in a duh tone "And why should I." "Because that is what people with manners do." "I know that, but you don't deserve sorry from me." "Wow, really, and why is that." "Because black bitches like you don't deserve it." "I have told you times without number to stop calling me that," I say getting angry with his insults "Make me," Ethan says, taking a dangerous step closer to me. I don't say anything, but hiss and walk past him. I don't know why I even expected him to say anything better. It is Ethan, after all. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a story about two people who knew how to express the word hate more than anything else to one another. Ethan hates Adina more than anything in the world and would give anything to see her perish into thin air. While on the other hand Adina could careless about Ethan other than the fact that she won't let him walk all over her with his arrogant character. What happens when a big incident changes all that. How do these two different people deal with a feeling that is supposed to be forbidden to feel for the each other. Read to find out how the person you hate the most is the one person you can love the most.
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
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…"
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.
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
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."