*No one messes with fire and goes unburnt.* "Twenty four hours is my most generous offer to you." He says with no trace of pity in his tone. Her eyes widen, "But that's unfair." "Unfair is demolishing the house on you while you're still inside and believe me that's what I'm going to do if you don't get lost in twenty-four hours." She scoffs"You're unbelievable." "Being unbelievable is what has brought me here today." He agrees with a nod. "And being an idiot is what will take you to where you will be tomorrow, cause you might be a billionaire, but you sure are an idiotic one." Cainan Inferno is a self-made billionaire and since he worked for everything he has, he doesn't do well with insult from people, especially those that are not his class. So what happens when poor Neriah Gomez cross the line with Cainan and calls him an idiotic billionaire before his staff? Will he do to her like he has done to the rest or will the cold-hearted monster choose to let it go??
One and half year ago...
"Promise me you will take care of yourself, dear," Gina says as she follows Neriah into the already moving train.
"I promise, mom," Neriah says for the one millionth time today.
Tears run down Gina's face ruining the perfect face Neriah hopes to remember for a long time. "And you promise to always call right?" She asks, making Neriah's heart hurt even more.
Neriah pulls her into a tight hug, "I'll call; I promise I'll call every week as much as I can." She vows, before pulling away and helping to wipe her tears away.
She gently takes Neriah's hands making her look into her eyes, trying to insert assertiveness. "If things get bad, you know you can always come back home okay?" she reminds her.
Neriah nods, biting her lips. Gina seems to be making it as though this is a final goodbye, which she knows isn't true. "I know, and if things don't work out well after two years, I'll come back home and find a decent job in the town, and get married. I promise, now stop crying and causing people to stare."
Gina nods, wipe her tears off and kisses Neriah on her forehead, "Take care of yourself, okay?" she says with a small whimper.
Neriah nods before collecting her other bag and Gina gets off the train and wave at her.
***
NOW...
"Please, Mr Tony, just one more week and I'll find a place to move go to, I promise." Neriah practically begs as she follows Tony out of her apartment.
Tony is the caretaker of her apartment, this is the thirteenth month since she has been in this apartment and it is the last month she has here.
The Middle Eastern man gives her a pitiful smile, "I like you, Miss. Gomez, but my hands are tied here. Mr Inferno, the new buyer of this house hopes to have everyone out before Friday so that he can tear down the building and begin a new one."
Neriah rubs her forehead vigorously as she felt a migraine coming in, "Mr Tony, that's tomorrow -" she tries to speak but he interrupts her.
"Don't do this to me, Neriah," he pleads, "you're one of the best tenants this building has ever had, but you got to move out before Friday."
Her eyes grow glassy and her lips trembles, "I don't have anywhere to go," she mumbles pathetically.
The fact that this notice came suddenly, robbed her of the chance of finding another good place to move into and she didn't have the luxury of staying in a hotel.
Tony groans, "I'm sorry, Miss Gomez" he apologizes once more before walking out of the room.
When Neriah had stepped into the big city eighteen months ago, she wanted to pursue her dream which had always been fashion and clothing design and there was no better place to pursue that but in the large city of Lagos where all dreams could come true.
Upon her arrival, she settled in and began working at some of the industries she'd read about while she was still at home, but none of them would approve of her work. Determined, she continued to go further, but the more she believed, the more she failed and the more heartbroken she became.
Her dreams are almost over, having already spent eighteen out of the twenty-four months she'd initially set out to pursue this dream and now to make matters worse, she's now being asked to leave the house with the refund of the six months advance she made on the house.
She scrambles to the cold tiled floor, burying her head between her legs and tears sting her eyes as she contemplates what to do next. Life couldn't be worse for someone like her. All her life she had to fight through every moment and from one battle, she was tossed into another. She wonders if it will ever end.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to announce this year man of success, Mr Cainan Inferno," announces the man on TV and the clapping of multitude follows next as the the the camera shows the young man getting up his seat and going over to the stage where the host is.
Why does the name sound familiar? Neriah wonders on the floor, where else has she heard the name.
She pauses a moment trying to recollect and then! It occurs to her like a flash of lightning. Inferno is the name of the man that Mr Tony said bought the building from the landlord.
Neriah grabs a pen and piece of paper before moving in front of the TV and seeing his name boldly written on the screen where he's being interviewed, she quickly writes it down. She goes to her laptop and types the full name in, before pressing on the search button and patiently she waits as the web displays the basic information about him to her. Apparently, the broadcast is a rerun and she's grateful that it is being aired now.
She takes her time and downloads all the available information about him, which she is still surprised are good things he's done. From everything written here, he's a self-made billionaire, who is heavily invested in humanitarian work and research. According to this article, he's a selfless enthusiast who hopes to change and make the world a much better place and many other wealthy billionaires in the country have joined him in the quest.
How bad can he be?
Neriah washes her sobbing eyes and put a little makeup on and ties her messy hair into a side ponytail. She grabs her sneakers and after putting them on, she walks out of her apartment.
The Inferno group which happens to be the real name of his company is luckily just a few minutes' walks from her house according to what she'd written down earlier from the web, which explains why he wanted to buy the building over.
Neriah is a little amazed by the fact that she'd lived in this neighbourhood for close to two years, but had never bothered to even know anyone or anything around her. She immediately blames herself for being too driven by her dream to get to enjoy life and hopes to make a change about that from now on.
Neriah finally comes to a stop at 14th street Avenue where the company is supposed to be and as she looks, her mouth drops open and she knows she's soon going to fall on her butt if she keeps starring up and hoping to see the top of the building.
"Excuse me, ma'am," a young man in a blue suit says, brushing past her and hurrying into the building and she hears him murmuring, "I'm so fired already." Under his panicking breath.
Neriah swallows down on nothing and looks at her wristwatch and it's only three minutes past eight a.m., she tells herself before entering the building.
The inside is even more organized than the outside with each staff on their position, on their desk highly focused on their works. She approaches one of the workers on his computer at the corner of the room and smiles a little as she reaches his table.
The blonde-haired, twenty-something-year-old man stops typing and glances up at her with the 'I can't be bothered' look before asking, "Can I help you?"
"Yeah, good morning, I'm actually looking for Mr...."
"Oh my gosh, he's here," comes the stuttering voice of the man she's standing before, "can you move away from this desk? I don't want to get into any trouble with the boss."
Neriah turns around from the blond and rather rude young man and as she does this, she sights the man she's been hoping to see before coming here.
Cainan Inferno.
The image of him being happy and loving with my best friend felt like betrayal. It felt like he had launched a knife into my heart while I was struggling to breathe. How could he betray me this way? How could he betray me with my best friend? "You said you loved me." I cried out and brushed the tears running down my face away. He stared at me, and the coldness in his eyes mirrored the one his mother always had for me. "That was my greatest mistake." I felt cold. ..... Once Imela believed love was enough, but not anymore. Love was just another lie that the weak believed in to keep them from seeing the truth: that there was no place for people like them in this world.
He rose and moved towards me, my heart picking up its pace with every step he took. His hand stroked the side of my face, causing a tingle to rush through me and I shivered into his touch just like earlier. He leaned in and his breath fanned over my face, hot, weakening and mind-numbing. "You should be running, Zera." he said with a voice so raw it made me shudder against him. "The most sensible thing to do is run from someone like me." "I don't want to run." I stubborn stated, worn out with his long game. It wasn't helping anyone. He wanted me, I could see that, and I wanted him too. His nose rubbed against mine, and he moved his forehead against mine. "Oh darling, but you should. I won't be like those little boys you've been with. I won't stop when you want me to. I won't stop until I'm completely buried in your mind and soul. You will belong to me."
"Take off your clothes, I want to see the body I'd be living with for the rest of my life," he commands, moving to the other side of the room where the red armchair was. She hesitated, and that displeased him. He growled, clearly infuriated. āDo you need some kind of motivation? Because you will not get it. Take off your fucking clothes!ā he thunders, making her jump and her legs shake. With shaky hands and a trembling body, she grabbed the hand of the silk gown again and dragged it down. Her eyes stayed glued to the floor, not having the audacity to look up at the alpha king across the room from her. āYouāre not done yet!ā *** Mia Asika had wanted only one thing for the longest time, enlightenment and the freedom to travel the world in search of it. Mia's dreams however ended the day Ariel, her beautiful and fair older sister who was betrothed to the alpha king, died the night before her marriage and she became the last resort. Hated at sight, the alpha king moved to make her union to him that of misery. Can Mia's will for survival withstand the alpha king's cold and unloving nature? Love and Chaos series Book #1 The Alpha King's Ugly Bride Book# 2 His Forbidden Mate Book #3 The Alpha King's Runaway Bride Book #4 Alpha Koz: The Abnormal Alpha
The room is awfully quiet except for Keenan's laboured breath and my heavily pounding heart. His hands are planted on his hips and his eyes fixated on the ceiling as if he's thinking about all the regretful things he's done in his life. Why does this it feel like the beginning of another disastrous road? "What's wrong?" I ask in panic, because I wonder if he's also recollecting the events that happened last night in part like I am and regretting it. "Apparently we did more than get drunk last night," He lift the paper certificate from the bar counter and shows it to me, "we got married."
She rubbed her forehead profusely, "You do, you could walk away and save yourself now and I will be fine and I will understand." He glanced at her and his gaze locked and there was a level of sincerity in them, "If I save myself, who's going to save you?" ***** Jasmin Whyte was a twenty-six-year-old thief who ran away from her boyfriend after she caught him cheating, an excuse to finally leave her old life behind and start over, but when she discovered that she was two weeks pregnant for her him, she began back to her old ways. It wasn't long before she fell into trouble which was how she ran into billionaire Cainan Inferno and her life took an unexpected turn. Cainan Inferno was a thirty-three-year-old Billionaire and the CEO of The Inferno group which was the largest company in the country. He once had it all with money and looks, but his life took a sour turn after he lost his wife Neriah Gomez to cancer. Meeting Jasmin Whyte sparked the feeling he thought was long dead and he knew the only one capable of helping him move on from his late wife was her. He tracked her down and made her an offer she couldn't refuse while ignoring all the threats her past posed to his name, reputation and social status. All he asks in return was for her to steal his heart. Will she be able to do the one thing he asks or will she lose her heart in the process?
"You really think I'm playing around?" He grounds at me through gritted teeth and he takes a step closer and I begin to move back. "I gave you a strict instruction and you disobeyed, you chose to rebel." There is about one zillion comeback running through my head, but my brain only focuses on the man whose green eyes has somehow turn into black because he's mad at me. "Do you know what happens to rebellious people?" I keep moving back until my back hit the wall and I hiss out in frustration. I swallow hard and try not to look at him, pissing him off would be a good thing when we aren't the only ones in the whole house. "Do you?!" He demands with a roar. "No, I don't. Tell me." I say, hiding the trembling of my voice as I look up at him. He takes a firm step close to stand intimately close to me, his height making me feel like a little child. "They get punished." *** The arrangement was, I get to meet her, propose to her, we get married as that would create a stronger bond d the two business associates, bringing us together as a family. Falling in love with her personal assistant was never part of the arrangement.
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."
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashtonās uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
When they met again, Jason cast aside his paranoia and pride, warmly embracing Chelsey. "Please, come back to me?" For three years, she had been his secretary by day and his companion by night. Chelsey had always complied with his requests, like an obedient pet. However, when Jason declared his plans to marry another, she chose to stop loving him and to let go. But life took unexpected turns. His unyielding pursuit, her pregnancy, and her mother's greed gradually pushed her to the brink. Eventually, she endured tremendous suffering. Five years later, when she returned, she was no longer the woman she once was. Yet he had spiraled into five years of chaos.
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
For the sake of their company, Atasha Rae was forced to marry the known heartless billionaire, Lorcan Amadeus. But it only took her a week as his wife because later on, he suddenly wants a divorce immediately. So as he wished, she signed the divorce paper even after admitting to herself that she was somehow starting to fall inlove with him. Heart badly wounded, she ran away from his life. Until she discovers that she's pregnant with his child and as a result, she ends up with no choice but to keep it a secret. Out of Lorcan's awareness, she's keeping a secret that would lead him to an overflowing regret. Because for a week of their fallen marriage beyond repair, she's carrying the billionaire's heir.