She's a college student, trying to save her sister. He's the Prince of Estrea, trying to save his family. Together, they discover the true meaning of love and sacrifice.... College student Ari Douglas just learned that her sister, Henley, has leukemia. With no insurance, they don't have many options or hope. Then a friend tells Ari about AmericanMate, an elite modern matchmaking service. With no other options and needing cash quickly, she applies to the service. Former playboy Prince Grayson Pierce of Estrea is tired of women wanting him for his money and title. At the urging of his best friend, Grayson decides to go through AmericanMate. But he has just one catch: He's in it for life. There has never been a divorce in the long line of succession of the monarchy... ever. Can two hearts sacrificing for the good of their families find love in each other? Bought by the Billionaire Prince is created by Theresa Oliver, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
"Hey, Mom! What's going on?" Having seen who it was, college sophomore Ari Douglas answered her cell phone on the first ring. "You want me to bring something home tonight for dinner?" Ari usually stayed in her dorm room at New York University and went home to Queens to visit her mother and sister on the weekends. But she missed the last weekend, so she was making it up to her mother tonight.
"Don't worry about that now." Her mother's voice had a bit of an edge to it, like when she was a child and she didn't want to worry her.
"What's wrong, Mom?" Ari stopped on the campus sidewalk and bent her head toward the phone to listen.
Her mother sighed. "Ari, it's nothing to worry about, but Henley collapsed on the track today."
"What?" Ari's voice rose several octaves.
Track was her sister's favorite sport and, when she wasn't in class, she spent every waking moment practicing for meets.
Ari switched ears, shaking her head. "I knew that she was going to pass out one day from overworking herself! Is she all right?"
"She's fine." Ari could hear the smile in her voice, always trying to put on a brave face. "They're going to keep her over night while they run some tests, but there's nothing to worry about."
"I'll be right there." Ari began walking toward her dorm room. "What room is she in?"
Ari listened, committing the information to memory as she picked up the pace, having to keep herself from sprinting. When she entered her dorm room, she quickly said goodbye to her mother and clicked off. Then she grabbed her duffle bag and started throwing things into it, packing enough for a few days, just in case.
"Where's the fire?" Vickie asked. Vickie Thompson and Ari had become fast friends since they became roommates their freshman year. Now, they were both sophomores and looking forward to just a few more years of college. Ari had thought about going for her Master's degree, but wanted to finish this degree in Creative Writing first.
"Henley collapsed on the track today." Ari quickly threw things onto the bed from her chest of drawers.
Vickie's chocolate brown eyes opened wide, contrasting sharply with her wild, light brown hair and caramel skin. "Is she okay?"
Ari shrugged, not slowing her pace. "She's in the hospital." She zipped up the bag and quickly threw it over her shoulder. "Please tell my professors why I won't be in class tomorrow. I'll send them a text when I can." Ari balled up her long, dark brown hair and secured it in a ponytail, her usual go-to move when she was in a hurry.
Vickie pulled her in for a hug. "Drive carefully." She pulled back to look into her eyes. "and don't speed."
Ari smirked. "Yes, Mom." A few minutes later, Ari was in her Volkswagen Beetle, headed for Queens, hoping that it was nothing serious.
***
At the hospital, Ari saw her mother across the room. She quickly closed the gap and pulled her in for a hug. "How is she?"
Cecille pulled back and led her to a nearby chair in the waiting room. "As I said, it's probably nothing, but the doctor wants to run some tests."
Ari didn't want to worry her mother any more than she already was, but doctors didn't just keep people and run tests for no good reason. "Where is she now?"
Her mother inclined her head toward the door. "They have her in the back, running tests. Then they'll put her in a room."
Ari nodded, letting out a deep breath.
Her mother gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Now don't you be worrying unless we have something to worry about."
Ari gave her mother a weak smile. "I just wish there was something more I could do."
They waited into the night for what seemed like days but had been only hours, when a doctor pushed through the doors. "Mrs. Douglas?"
"Here!" Cecille raised her hand.
The doctor's eyebrows pulled together in concern and his lips formed a straight line as he crossed the room to them. "Let's go into the back."
Her mother nodded, but Ari's heart sank. They didn't call you into the back to talk privately unless there was good reason.
The doctor pulled them in a room and closed the door.
"How's Henley?" Cecile asked, a crease forming between her eyes.
The doctor sighed. "Well, the tests are inconclusive as of yet, but we'll know for sure after we run a few more tests."
"What do you think it is?" Ari asked, unable to take the suspense. She hated when doctors hemmed and hawed around. It was better when they just got straight to the point.
"Leukemia," the doctor said flatly.
Cecille's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
"We won't know for sure until after the other tests are ran," the doctor repeated, looking at them with sorrowful eyes. "But, yes, I'm afraid so."
Tears sprang to her mother's eyes, obviously unable to speak.
Ari squeezed her mother's hand in support. "What can we do?"
The doctor spent the next hour talking to them about chemotherapy treatments and eventually a Stem Cell Transplant after she's in remission. So much information caused Ari's head to spin.
After the doctor left the room, her mother looked into Ari's eyes and said in a low voice, "Ari, I don't have any insurance." After Ari's father left them six years before, her mother had worked as a waitress in a local diner. Although the tips were good, there were no fringe benefits. And surely no insurance.
"Don't worry, Mom." She pulled her to her shoulder. "Everything's going to be all right. We'll think of something." As her mother's tears fell onto her shirt, Ari silently vowed that she would do whatever it took to help her sister.
***
"Mom, I'm going down to the cafeteria for some coffee." Ari stood and stretched in the middle of the night, unable to sleep. "Want some?"
Cecille shook her head. "No, hon, but thank you."
Ari raised her eyebrows. "Will you be okay for a few minutes?"
Her mother nodded. "Yes, of course. I'll be fine." Then she forced a smile. "Hey! I'm supposed to be taking care of you. Not the other way around."
Ari smiled. "Mom, we're in this together." She pulled her in for a quick hug. "Besides, you don't have to protect me anymore. I'm no longer a child."
Cecille laughed. "Honey, you haven't been a child for a long time. I think you were born a little adult."
Ari chuckled and then headed down to the cafeteria, wondering where she was going to get the money for Henley's treatments. Short of robbing a bank, none of them had much money. Between both hers and Henley's college tuitions, there wasn't much money. Ari made a mental note to cancel the rest of her classes and quit school until she could figure out what to do next.
Then Ari started thinking seriously about robbing a bank. She could pretend she had a gun and go into a bank. They were the only ones who had the kind of money she needed....
Ideas ran through Ari's mine and a plan started to solidify as she entered the cafeteria. Normally, there was no way that she would even consider robbing a bank, but dire situations caused for drastic measures. She walked through the cafeteria line, but everything was self-served at this hour. So, Ari made herself a cup of coffee and approached the cashier.
A few pencils in a cup set right in front of her. "Mind if I borrow one?"
The cashier waved toward them and smiled. "Not at all."
Ari took one and a napkin, and then looked around the room, and no one was there. Ari let out a sigh of relief, not in the mood for idle chitchat. After paying the bill, she sat at a corner table, out of the way, needing time to think and plan.
Ari made a list of all the ways she could get money. Rob a bank. Check. Take out a loan. Check. After staring at the napkin for a moment, she turned it over and started drawing out a plan to rob a bank, when a voice brought her from her reverie.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but is this seat taken?"
Ari looked up and sighed, palming the napkin to hide her work. It was a nurse from the emergency room. Ari shook her head and raised her hand toward the chair. "Have a seat." She sighed. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I won't be good company tonight."
The nurse wore a tag that read MELISSA. She took a sip of her coffee. "I hope you don't mind me saying this, but I overheard what the doctor said in the waiting room earlier. I'm so sorry."
Ari tilted her head to the side. "Thank you, but it's not over yet."
Melissa's eyebrows rose in concern. "Well, don't do anything stupid. Something will turn up."
Ari took another sip of her coffee. "Look. I appreciate your concern, but no one's going to help a poor college girl without insurance."
"I hope that's not true." Melissa looked into her eyes. "It's none of my business, but do you have any idea how you could raise the money?"
Ari smirked. "Short of robbing a bank? No."
"Well, don't do that." Melissa smiled, and then leaned in conspiratorially. "I have an idea."
Lacey Taregan, a wolf-shifter from the Silver Pack, is tired of her family treating her poorly, even though she is a princess and a member of the Royal Family. A warrior in her own right, she longs for acceptance and respect. Julien Grey is the Alpha of the Harvest Moon Pack. Not just any Alpha. Thee Alpha… the most powerful in the world. Having been wronged by his pledge years ago, Julien opts for an arranged marriage, one that will strengthen his alliance with the Silver Pack. He gave his heart once and doesn’t intend to give it again… ever. But a chance meeting against some rogue wolves could change everything. Will they learn to get along for the good of the pack, or will they lose everything to the rogue Wildclaws, threatening their existence? In a clash of pride and power, can two head-strong shifters let down their guards and open their hearts? The Alpha's Companion is created by Theresa Oliver, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
Alcohol and heartbreak are definitely not a good combo.Too bad I learnt that a little too late. I’m Tessa Beckett and I painfully got dumped by my boyfriend of three years.That led me to getting drunk at a bar and having a one-night stand with a stranger.Before he would see me as a slut the next day,I paid him for the sex and deeply insulted his ability to please me. But this stranger turned out to be my new boss!
Andrea Deciding that I was going to skip a day at work so I could have first time sex with my boyfriend seemed like the most absurd decision I could ever make. Or at least that was what I'd thought. Until I'd walked in on my said boyfriend cheating on me with some redhead and decided to get my revenge by losing my virginity to his wealthy billionaire father instead. Crazy, right? Trust me, I know. Like that's not enough, things take a drastic turn for the worst after I realized I was in love with him and pregnant with his child. Before I could get the chance to come clean about every including my feelings formhim and the pregnancy, he finds out about my trickery. Alejandro's not one to condone being lied to and deceived so he immediately tells me he doesn't want to see me again. So what do I do? I pack up and leave the country. But it seems like the universe isn't done with us just yet. . . Alejandro I should have known better than to get involved with someone way younger than me. It was something I've never done before. But like the saying goes, there's a first time for everything. The first time I met Andrea I was captivated by her beauty. More than that there was this innocence in her that called out to me like a moth to a flame. I ignored all the warnings in my head and went after what I wanted. And what I wanted was her. Unfortunately what she wanted was revenge against my son. I told myself that it had to be some kind of mistake. There was no way she had been playing with my feelings and planning some silly revenge this whole time. But she had. It had taken a surprise visit from my son for me to find out her true intentions. Even then it had been hard to believe it. But I couldn't deny that she'd fooled me real good alright. So naturally I cut ties with her. And that's supposed to be the end, right? Wrong. Turns out that our story was never destined to end just there. . .
On her wedding night, Natalie's stepmother set her up to marry Jarvis, a disfigured and disabled man. Fortunately, she managed to escape, but little did she know that later she would fall for the man she was betrothed to.Jarvis pretended to be a poor man, but he didn't think that he'd fall head over heels for this woman.Their life went on until one day, Natalie found out her boyfriend's little secret."Huh? How could you have billions of dollars' worth of assets?" she asked in disbelief.Jarvis didn’t know how to respond.Being met with silence, she gritted her teeth angrily. "They said that you couldn't walk, but as far as I can see, you're strong enough to run a marathon."Still, he remained silent.Natalie continued, "They even said that you only have a few years to live. What about now?"Finally, Jarvis opened his mouth to explain. "Honey, this is all just a misunderstanding. Please calm down. Think about the baby.""Jarvis Braxton!"The man knelt down immediately.
He has all the traits that you wished for your dream man to have. Power, money, perfection, handsomeness and a body like a Greek God. But he's inlove. He's inlove with her. For him, she was the completion of his dream, a perfect wife and a mother to be with his children. He would give her everything including his own life. He would sacrifice his world for her. But she left him. She betrayed him. She broke his heart into pieces. And he turned into a cold, heartless, rude and an arrogant billionaire, who would do everything to show her that she's no longer important into his life. Even though the truth is the opposite of what he is doing. His heart still aching for her. And that's when he met me. I applied as his Personal Assistant to fulfill my bucket list of dreams. To explore my life and experience everything. He offered me a deal. He asked me to marry him just to show his ex that he already moved on. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "She's pregnant." He blurted out and i almost stumbled on where i am standing. I just gripped the backrest of the couch to support my weight. The pain creeping in my heart is unbearable but i managed to stay calm. "Wow! Congratulations!" I said faking my excitement as i remembered him saying... -cheating would not be the reason to break our marriage- of course i couldn't accuse him of this as 'cheating' because she was the real reason why we are pretending as a couple. He still love her. He's still inlove with her. And that's when i made the biggest decision in my life. Taking all my strength and a piece of my heart that still hanging on a thin rope... I left him. Taking also my biggest secret in me... that i've already fallen inlove with him. And somehow i learned a lesson; 'Loving someone who doesn't love you back isn't as hard as loving someone who still inlove with his ex and who only uses you to get her back again into his life..'
Accused of murder, Sylvia Todd's mother was deemed a traitor by the entire pack, condeming Sylvia to live the rest of her life alone in humiliation as a lowly slave. All she wanted to do was to prove her mother's innocence somehow, but fate never seemed to be on the side of the traitor's daughter. Still, Sylvia never lost hope. As the future lycan king of all werewolves, Rufus Duncan possessed great power and status, but he had an inexplicable reputation for being cruel, bloodthirsty, and ruthless. Unbeknownst to everyone, he had been cursed long ago to transform into a killer monster on every full moon. Even though fate did not always look upon the two, it brought Sylvia and Rufus together as each other's destined mates. Will justice be served for Sylvia's mother? What about Rufus' secret? Can Sylvia and Rufus defy all societal norms and stay together? Will these two unlucky souls have their happy ending?
After a passionate night, Verena left some money and wanted to leave, but was held by her companion. "Isn't it your turn to make me happy?" Verena, always disguising herself as ugly, slept with her fiance's uncle, Darren, in order to escape her engagement with her unfaithful fiance. Darren had respect and admiration. Word of his romantic escapades circulated, some saying they saw him kissing a lady against a wall and others calling it gossip. Who could ever tame Darren's heart? Then, shockingly, Darren was caught bending down to help Verena with her shoes, all to score a kiss from her!