It has been seven years. Sophie Esinberg despises Raymond Reynolds to her heart's very core. After all, he left her alone and miserable all those years ago. She despised herself for being so naive and taciturn, for letting herself fall for his kindness, charm and his facade. But above all that she despised herself for still loving him, for feeling whatever she and Raymond had was pristine, and maybe for still wanting him. But it looks like destiny has some other plans. Raymond bumps into Sophie at an Award Function after seven years of the incident. Will Sophie let him in this time? Will Raymond finally spill the secret which has kept them apart for so long? Because no matter what they might think, they're stuck in love.
7 Years Later
Raymond Reynolds' POV
"Welcome to Jeunesse Inspiring moins de 30 ans Mr. Reynolds", a girl of about my age spoke while giving me a flirtatious smile with a glint of seductiveness in her voice.
Only one thought came to my mind after hearing this.
Disgusting.
She gave me a card with my room number printed on it in golden italics. I pressed my lips into a tight smile and left after giving her a curt nod.
This is not something unusual for me. I get to meet these type of girls almost everywhere I go but I am not that Raymond anymore. Whatever happened seven years ago changed me, for good I suppose. Although I am quite sure my teammates wouldn't leave a chance like this.
Life can be unpredictable sometimes. I had no hope that I would reach here one day. That I would be able to fulfill my dream. Yet here I am Football Captain of U.S.A's team. I really couldn't have brought myself to do this if it wasn't for her.
I didn't want to disrespect what she taught me or what she changed in me. So I did what my heart told me to. I did what she would've told me to. I followed my dreams.
Walking through the Hotel's Lobby I made my way towards the elevator. I glanced at my master card and pressed floor number 22 accordingly.
Soon with a dinging sound elevator came to a halt. I made my way towards my room through the empty lobby. Once inside I saw my luggage already placed neatly on the stand near the cupboard. I decided to have some sleep since I was very much tired. I reached New York about an hour ago, earlier I was in Munich, Germany due to our International Football Association meeting. I had to fly directly here from Germany.
I changed myself into some comfortable clothes and plopped down on the bed. I switched on the Television and the first channel to appear on the screen was some news channel covering the Event for which I am here for.
I realized that this Reporter is standing outside the Hotel, where also all the fans are gathered. People holding banners are screaming, shouting, hooting and dancing, cheering for different nominees.
" Celebrities, Sportsperson, Artists, Scientist and Entrepreneurs have started arriving here for The Year's Biggest Event 'Jeunesse Inspiring moins de 30 ans'. Let me remind you, ladies and gentlemen, that this is the year's most awaited Event. People Nominated for this award are under the age of 30 and are best in their respective fields. As you can already see fans have gathered here to show their support for the event."
The reporter now turns to a girl holding We Love You William banner. She then asks " Well, as we can clearly see you are supporting William-" she now turns towards the camera "-let me tell you, people, this is none other than William Gatterman we are talking about here. Yes, William Gatterman captain of Australian Cricket Team."
The girl holding the banner starts jumping and shouting "He's gonna win!"
The reporter continues " As you can see fans are going crazy outside and we just got to know that hotel is arranging for more security as the number of fans is increasing rapidly.
Some of the Nominees already arrived are William Gatterman , Cricket Team Captain- Australia and none other than our own charmer Raymond Reynolds, Football Team Captain- U.S.A
From the Business category, we have Yel-en Dang, C.E.O- Aurora from China. Enighbam Longhach, C.E.O - Vostro series from Germany. Levin Lockhard, C.F.O- Borealis from Finland.
From the Science category, we have young and beautiful So-"
I turn off the television. There was nothing interesting on it. Sleep betrayed me somehow and I ended up taking a shower to refresh myself instead. We had been given a schedule of the activities taking place in the following seven days of the Event.
According to the schedule, we have an Interaction Session Party at Eight in the evening. It is only five right now. So I made up my mind and changed into a Maroon v-neck t-shirt and dark blue jeans. I put on my sneakers and made my way outside the room.
After exploring some parts of the Hotel I saw a library and started walking towards it. Although I'm not a book lover but I read some when I am on the verge of getting bored.
After going through some shelves my footsteps came to halt as I took in the appearance of the person standing in front of me.
She was beautiful with all the curves in the right places. She wore a plain black dress which ended up just above her knees. Her long black-brown hairs were tied neatly in a ponytail. She was reading some book with her lips slightly pouting. Red lipstick made them look more sensual. I clenched my fist and controlled myself because all I wanted to do this moment was to kiss her senselessly.
My heartbeat started racing and sweat appeared on my forehead. I was excited and nervous at the same time. She was too engrossed in her book to notice anyone near her and I was too engrossed in her beauty to let anyone else affect me.
It felt like it was only two of us in this room. Only me and her.
My body was tingling from inside and it became hard for me to keep my breath even.
Seven years and she had the same effect on me.
Catherine Moore had the most loving family and a perfect life she deserved. Her family adopted her when she was eight. Everything in her life was quixotic or so she thought. Her perfect life is snipped in a matter of seconds when her parents died in a car accident and she gets to know that her biological mother didn't only abandon her but she also secretly disappeared the day she left her at the orphanage. Noah appears in her life out of nowhere doing all the perfect things and she hates him for it. The question is why? Is it a simple coincidence or she will she unravel a deeper secret in the quest?
It took everything in me not to kiss him back. His lips moved against mine in a perfect rhythm. "Soaf-Soaf please listen to me" He said while his blue eyes were gazing into mine. His breath fanned my face. We both were panting. My heart was thudding hard against my chest. "I-I have to go." I said shocked after what had just happened now. Fucking shit. Somehow I got myself out of his grip and took the file which fell on the floor when he pinned my hands on the wall and ran out of the classroom. I heard him mumbling a few curse words as I rushed to the door. "Soaf...Soaf" His voice faded as I ran out of the classroom. What has just happened? What the hell is wrong with him? He kissed me. Raymond Reynolds-The most popular boy of our school just kissed me. Why would he kiss me? No one even talks to me in at school. He didn't even know my name two weeks ago. Suddenly an image of light brown pair of eyes glaring at me pops up in my mind. Ellen Whitmore. She's going make my life a living hell. ************ Sophie Esinberg is your typical nerd with glasses, books clutched in her arms and face down while walking down the school hallway. She wasn't like this earlier. She used to be outspoken and confident. Then what changed her? Sophie faced a hell lot of bullying and had no one who could stand up for her. After her childhood best friend Daniel left her she accepted her life as a loner. Not until one day she is forced into a project with School's Famous Bad boy, also known as Mr. Popular- Raymond Reynolds. Everything comes crashing down when she finds that she is falling for cocky , super hot and irresistible Mr. Popular. But she knows she's a nobody in his world. She is incompetent. Will she fight against her instincts and let him break her heart?
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
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.
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
Leanna's life had been full of hardships until her Uncle Nate, who wasn't related to her, offered her a home. She fell deeply in love with Nate, but as he was about to get married, he ruthlessly sent her abroad. In response, Leanna immersed herself in the study of andrology. When she came back, she was renowned for her work on solving problems like impotence, premature ejaculation, and infertility. One day, Nate trapped her in her bedroom. "Seeing various men every day, huh? Why don't you check me out and see if I have any problems?" Leanna laughed slyly and quickly unbuckled his belt. "Is that why you're engaged but not married? Having trouble in the bedroom?" "Wanna try it out for yourself?" "No thanks. I’m not interested in experimenting with you."
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
**This book contains a trigger warning. Mention about rape and torture in this book. Please read with caution** "Our marriage is nothing but a deal," he said looking at the girl, her green eyes met his cold silver eye, and both of them glared at each other. "For any rules you break, I will claim any part of your body," his gaze grew dangerously darker at his word. Ashley Harlow was at the top of the world, living the perfect and luxurious lifestyle as the legitimate daughter of the well-known Daniel Harlow. But sadly, a one-night stand put an end to that and brought her life upside down and that of her family's name to the ground. To restore his family's reputation, she was forced into marrying Damien Albrecht, a young, ruthless, obnoxious, brutal billionaire and the head of a mafia gang in exchange for her father's company.