Mary is a woman of no mean achievements .She had sacrificed her love-life in persuit of financial independence . Now ,a billionaire at thirty-seven , cultural demands and circumstances are forcing her to make a choice between marrying into the hateful and arrogant Mafioso family and waiting for her heart's desire to materialize from wherever fate had taken him . Would she marry the Mafioso's son to help in resolving the long-standing rivalry between the two families when she strongly believes that the family is connected to the mysterious disappearance of her love ?
The Millinium Nursing Home was a bee-hive of activity . Dignitaries from diverse backgrounds intermingled freely , sharing pleasantries and drinks . It was not only an suspicious occasion , but also a historic day in the history of the subjects of Nema as Mary ,their daughter , had demystified the age-old chauvinism not only to become the first ever woman to venture into the hitherto male-exclusive territory of medicine , but had also gone ahead to discover the unique drug .
Today , her company was officially launching the miracle drug after winning the Research Development Award from the Academy of Sciences and a greenlight from the World Health Organization .
At thirty-seven , Mary's person could be described as fantabulously gorgeous , almost angelic . Being neither too short nor too tall , her curvaceous figure could only be contrasted with her brilliant brains . She was aptly described in many circles as ' beauty with brains ' .
Accompanied by her childhood friend and co-inventor , Mike ,she gracefully moved around the hall welcoming and shaking hands with the many dignitaries that had graced the occasion . From the way the two moved , many people could be forgiven for taking them for a couple . However , though either of them harboured fond feelings , she considered Mike as that good , trustworthy friend who would always be there for you whatever the circumstances . They had come a long , long way from nursery School to high school , from college to being workmates . She owed much of her success to his encouragement and honest criticism . She was like that brother she never had . On the other hand , he had always taken her to be an excellent friend who would sacrifice her life for him . His parents had teased him about what an incredible couple they could make from since they were teenagers . Though they kept hoping , they seemed to have been proven wrong as years went by .
" Oh my !" Shouted Karah from a group of six ladies and gentlemen as they reached them . " You look gorgeous in that dress , and even more majestic walking beside Mr . Handsome !" Karah was an old friend of theirs from high school . Now married with two kids , She had never tired of matching them .
" Good gracious ! You are cutier too , and in a fantabulous company of handsomeness itself ," she returned the compliment as they shook hands ." Am really honoured by your presence , guys ."
" You are one hell of a lucky girl ," continued Karah . " Seems like everything you put your fingers into turns magical , except one ," she mischievously eyed Mike . They burst into giggles . " Anyway , meet our collegemates , Juliet and Xaxa , and their ...No ,let them introduce themselves . Of course , am sure you two already know , Fato , my lovely husband ."
" It has been a long time since we met last ," started Juliet . " A lot has changed since then , but am really happy for you . This here is Sike , a very intimate friend of mine . I seem not to have enough of him , so I asked him along ." Mary was inwardly surprised because the last she had heard about her friend was that she had wed one of the sons of a Mafia leader . She would have to ask her later in private .
" Hi , Mary ," saluted Sike . " I have heard a lot about you , and it's my pleasure to have finally met you in flesh ."
" Hi too . Am grateful that Juliet had the foresight to bring you along ," responded Mary .
" The world is such a small village , but too easy for friends to totally disconnect ," Xaxa continued with the introductions . " I wouldn't believe it when I saw your invitation . I had thought you had deleted me from your memory bank altogether . Plus , my long business trips out of the country could't help . Am really delighted to reconnect . Johnny here is my sweet love ," she concluded , fondly patting him .
" Hi , Mary ," enjoined Johnny . " She couldn't stop talking about you since she received that card . She threatened me with hellfire if I coincidentally planned to be away on this particular date . It is of great pleasure to realize that you are that special person one couldn't afford being absent ."
" Am flattered ! Did she say that she and I couldn't get along well in college , or that I hated her when she travelled out of the country for her further studies without informing me ?" Mary enthused .
" That's another side of her I have learnt today . She is such an amiable little thing that I can't imagine her not getting along with anybody ," responded Johnny , feigning shock .
" I concur with you on that . You must be a very keen observer ," agreed Mary . " Now , since all of you seem to know me , albeit theoretically , let me introduce my partner . Mike and I have come a long way since baby class . Not only is he my childhood friend , but he is also my business partner ."
" Are you sure that is all between you two ?" Intervened Karah . " Guys , don't you think there might be something more than meets the eye ?"
" Well ," started Mike before Mary could respond " it's presumptuous to charge a book by its cover . Mary happens to be a very good friend of mine and business partner . However , I couldn't blame you for thinking otherwise because , in my humble opinion , no reasonable man could resist having such a sweet soul for a life partner ," he enthused , staring directly into Mary's eyes .She blushed , conflicting emotions coursing through her body for the first time since she had known Mike . It was the very first time that he had complimented her towards that direction . Realizing that the others were staring at her , she mustered enough energy and said :
" Ladies and gentlemen , you must excuse us for there are a couple of other people to welcome . We would sure catch up later ." She tugged Mike along .
They saw the Cabinet Secretaries for Science and Technology , and Health and Environmental Sanitation chatting in a corner table . They advanced towards them .
" Welcome , gentlemen ," she said . " Am really honoured by your presence ."
" Pleasure is all ours ," responded Bony , cabinet secretary for Science and Technology . " I wouldn't miss this auspicious occasion ."
" The uniqueness of this launch and all that pertains to it couldn't afford my absence ," stated Hose , cabinet secretary for Health and Environmental Sanitation . " Besides , your growing fame is always of interest ."
" Am really humbled by your nice sentiments . Feel at home and in case you need anything ,just ask . We are about to begin soon ."
They continued walking and sharing pleasantries with many other dignitaries who had arrived untill they reached her father , Mr . Jaz . He was having some bitter exchange with a group of three people .
" What are you doing here ?" Jaz was asking the elderly man in the group .
" Take it easy , Jaz ," responded the man ." This is business . Am not so envious of your daughter's accomplishments as to miss this occasion ."
" Since when did the king of the jungle start dinning with the rats ?" Jaz retorted . " Nothing good would ever come from your association . What are you scheming by coming here ?"
" My dear old friend , can't we put away our personal differences to celebrate our children's success ? You wouldn't wish for our family conflicts to be transmitted into the next generation , would you ? Let the young generation decide , for our time is up ."
" Here you are ,Dad !" She decided to interrupt after overhearing their exchange . " And who are these good friends of yours ?"
" Thank heavens !" Interjected the old man . " You have come at the right time to save us from your old man's displeasure . Am Kim , a businessman of no mean repute . This here is Max , my eldest son . He is running our Genetic Engineering and Organ Transplant facility . And this is George , our Chief of Security . Though , we weren't invited , it would be unfair for two neighbouudring families not to celebrate each other's successes . Moreover , am sure my son here would wish to discuss business with you ."
" Everyone is welcome . However , you must excuse us for not being able to send the invitations in time . Perhaps , your card got mixed up somewhere ..."
" No , it didn't ," intervened Jaz . " It was not even printed because I didn't want to ."
" That was selfish of you . Nevertheless , we are here now . My dear , why can't you show Max around while I catch up with your father ?" He asked Mary .
" It would be my pleasure ," responded Mary as they walked off . After a few paces , Mike excused himself .
" Why don't you proceed while I attend to other matters ?" He asked Mary .
" No problem . We will meet in the office in a minute for further preparations ."
" Excuse my preying , you didn't introduce your friend ," commented Max .
" Am terribly sorry , but we barely had time as your father and mine looked as if they were about to cause an explosion of the year . Name is Mike , my good friend and partner ."
" Are you always that ambiguous with your answers ? I mean , 'partner' could mean a lot of things ."
" You must be the first one to say that of me ," she said , laughing slightly . " Would 'business partner' remove the ambiguity ?"
" Better . Seems you two have come a long way to be partners in such a beautiful venture ."
" You can say that again . We have known each other since we were kids growing in the same neighborhood . And fate behaved in such a way that we went through same schools and colleges . Enough of me , other than how your father described you , what else are you ?"
" The old man has it when it comes to heaping praises . Born in a family about three kilometres away from here , I wasn't luck to familiarize myself with this neighborhood because I was sent to boarding schools as soon as I learnt to say 'Papa' , mostly out of the country . Specialized in Genetic Engineering that am trying to put into good use in the facility stated by the old man ."
" You must have a rich background to not only afford boarding school , but also in foreign territory . Some of us weren't that privileged ."
" Well , the end justifies the means . Now , look where you are . You are worthy fortunes ," he said looking directly into her eyes as they paused on the door to her office . " Well , I have a business proposal that you can't resist . Would you mind discussing it further at a more convenient time ?"
" I will consult and give you a call ," she responded as he gave her his card .
" I can swear that it's as irresistible as you . Don't dally your response , please ," he said , kissing her hand . He strolled away , leaving her standing at the door . She was still staring at his retreating back when Mike opened the door and peeked into the corridor . Some jealousy crept into his being on realizing the focus of her stare .
He cleared his throat and said , " your stare implies that you didn't have enough of him , right ?"
" Stop teasing ! You make me feel that you are jealous ," she enthused .
" Sorry , just thought I was minding my business ."
" Have I become your business now !"
" I don't know about that , but am sure you are part of my business . Talking of which , we are ready for the launch ."
She stretched her hand to him and they walked together into the hall.
A sudden twist of fate connected Helena to a prominent and influential person. To onlookers, she appeared as a naive bimbo. In truth, she was a top-tier specialist, shrouded in layers of hidden identities. Charlie declared, “She’s quite delicate and easily hurt. Cross her, and you’re crossing me.” The elite families, outwitted by Helena's prowess, kept these truths from him. Helena eventually broke free from Charlie, sending him on a frenzied worldwide hunt. To him, she was a bird with dazzling wings, and his goal was to help her reach new heights.
[Cute Baby + Secret Identity + Powerful hero and heroine!] Caroline loved Damian with all her heart for five whole years. She devoted herself to him and lived humbly for his sake. However, when the couple faced a crisis, she hoped that the news of her pregnancy would fix their marriage, but what she got in return was just a divorce agreement. And to make things worse, while she was about to give birth, she had fallen into someone's trap and her life was in danger. After managing to survive such a harrowing experience, she was determined to cut all ties with the man. Five years later, she re-emerged with her head held high, being the CEO of a famous company. Those who used to bully her now got a taste of their own medicine. And the truth about the past gradually surfaced... Dazzled by Caroline's newfound confidence, her ex-husband wanted to get back together with her, but she just turned a blind eye to his advances. Damian pleaded desperately, "Honey, our baby needs both his parents. Please remarry me!"
"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.
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
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!"
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."