/0/24460/coverbig.jpg?v=0a75f0e7b39178758eda3eb3b9cb34d5)
Danica Winters is a beautiful young woman struggling to make ends meet; she discovers that her sister owes money to a dangerous mobster. She will do whatever it takes to save her. Danica becomes the surrogate for Dax Ryan, an alluring billionaire, and though their deal is strictly business, the lines between them begin to blur. Danica will realize that becoming the surrogate for a billionaire can lead to dangerous complications...and new love. "But that wasn't everything that had occurred. A realization hit me when I looked over. Dax lay beside me in my bed and was sleeping soundly. This was very cozy and kind of romantic for us. We weren't a couple but his closeness affected my every nerve. I appreciated what he had done regardless. He just kept surprising me with showing other parts of himself that other people didn't see. I was curious if I'd eventually see every side he had." Carrying the Billionaire's Baby is created by Katrina Guerin, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
It took me extra long to clean the tables after the dinner rush was over at the diner. Some teens thought it'd be funny to stick their gum underneath their table; I had been scraping it for at least fifteen minutes. How much gum had they been chewing?
The diner was one of those retro restaurants that tried to imitate the fifties and had a jukebox playing 24/7. All of us waitresses had to wear fifties style dresses and roller-skates while serving. By the end of a shift, I was pretty exhausted.
Callie was the only one remaining on the shift with me, though she wasn't much help. She had one reason for staying late and it wasn't to help me out. The secret smiles and winks shared between her and our manager made me want to vomit, but I just put my head down and finished cleaning my section.
It had been a couple years since I had been hired for this job. I knew it wasn't something that would help my nonexistent savings account, but at least I could make ends meet.
I knew that I shouldn't be complaining; at twenty-three, I was lucky to be able to pay the rent for my shabby apartment. The few true friends I had did not complain about my life, but I knew they probably pitied me in secret. Maybe someday my luck would change.
I used to dream about having a huge house and a really nice sports car. I was young and naĂŻve back then, though I occasionally found myself thinking about that old desire when things were really bad.
I continued walking towards my car which was five years old and starting to have engine problems. It was a pitiful sight as it had a long scratch on it from the prior owner before me. I was reminded of my living situation
each time I looked at it.
Before I backed up and drove off, my phone started ringing.
I checked the caller ID and answered immediately when I saw it was my younger sister, Lola. Normally, she didn't call unless it was something urgent.
I got a bad feeling in my stomach, but I tried to calmly answer, "Hi Lola. What's going on?"
"Danica, I...I've got something to tell you. I didn't know who else to call."
Major sirens began ringing in my head.
My voice filled with concern as I asked, "Are you okay?"
Her voice got shaky as she said, "No. I'm not. I'm in a huge mess." She hesitated before continuing, "I owe $200,000 to a mobster."
"Oh my God. Lola, how did this happen?"
There was a slight pause on her end of the line. I heard her breathing get shallow which worried me greatly.
This was bad. There was no way that Lola had this kind of money. And from what I knew about local gangsters, they weren't too forgiving when a debt isn't paid. I couldn't believe this was happening.
I knew immediately that I would help her. She was the only family member I had left and I couldn't let her down. Our parents always wanted me to look after my sister, and I would honor their wish.
Lola finally answered, "I swear I wasn't being irresponsible. I made some huge mistakes and got caught up in this mess."
"I'm going to get you out of this."
Lola swallowed and said, "I don't want to burden you, but I didn't know what else to do. I'm so sorry."
"No, it's okay. You aren't burdening me. We're family. Any problem you have is also mine. We're in this together."
She hung up before I could say anything else. I drove off with worry overtaking me. My sister was in deep trouble. She should've known better than to get involved with a mobster.
I had to do something to get her out of the danger she was in. Where would I find the amount of money she needed? I couldn't earn it with the salary from my crappy job as a waitress. I've never gotten very high tips either because of cheapskate customers.
Why did this have to happen to Lola? It wasn't something I ever thought she would get involved in. Now that this was a reality, it made me nervous. How long would the mobster wait for payment?
After getting back to my apartment, I took my hair out of its ponytail and prepared my meager dinner. I looked around at my worn furniture and peeling walls and wondered if I'd ever get a nicer place.
The apartment was supposed to be temporary; I was only going to live there until I got the money for something more permanent. My dream was to have an actual house and a yard.
Maybe someday I'd have that house. Though that dream would now be pushed farther into the future, since I had to focus all my energy and resources to helping Lola.
Seconds later, I started to eat. The beef was sub-par while the potatoes were average tasting. I should've expected that from a microwave meal that was on sale.
After eating for a little bit, I pulled out the newspaper to look at the job ads. I thought that it wouldn't hurt to try to look for a good paying job. My sister couldn't wait long to get the money, so it was better to search sooner than later.
I wanted to find anything that would help me earn cash fast. There were some sketchy looking ads for jobs that I'd never do. I was desperate for money but not that desperate.
One ad stood out to me but sounded too good to be true. The money would be enough to save my sister's life and help me start over, but who would pay that much for a surrogate?
I would never have considered surrogacy in the past but times were different. It was fate that this position was available. I had to at least try to get chosen.
I checked the listing for the position to see when the interviews were being held. Bold letters jumped out to me and stated "Interview days: Monday thru Friday 6 pm until 9pm."
What time was it? I glanced down at my laptop, and saw that it was only 6:30. I still had plenty of time to head over there.
I thought about what to wear to such an important interview. Unfortunately, I didn't have many professional outfits to use.
I quickly changed my clothes into a very nice blouse and black pencil skirt with the only pair of heels I owned. Then I put my blonde hair into a bun before rushing out of the apartment and down the steps.
Luckily, the place for the interview was fifteen minutes away. It was perfect. Maybe the job was meant for me.
I had passed this building on my way to the diner several times. It was the headquarters for Ryan Inc. Before that day, I had never had a reason to go in there.
The company specialized in technology and sold some of the best products out there. They were an expensive brand, so I never had the opportunity to buy any of their items.
I knew my sister had liked what they sold, but I'd never been able to buy her anything. One day I wanted to get her everything she wanted, but that would be a long time from now.
I made my way to my car and drove off, while going a few miles over the speed limit. I really hoped I could get the position. It was a matter of life and death for Lola, so I couldn't waste any precious time.
Future Alpha Cleo Sharpe believes that she has it all: an amazing future, a devoted pack, and a handsome fiancé. She is horrified to learn that her mate is the pack loner, not the man whose ring she wears. Cleo finds this out as she finally has a chance encounter with Zander and feels irresistibly drawn to him. Neither one of them can resist the magnetic pull of a true mate and grow closer. Cleo even learns her fiancé is harboring a terrible secret. Zander Underwood is a man on a mission: he is determined to find his parents’ murderer, even if it means breaking his own heart and abandoning his mate. He will stop at nothing to avenge his parents' death, so they are not forsaken. As Cleo learns more about the dark forces that haunt the wolf packs, she will be forced to choose between the life she has always imagined and the enticing pull of man as intoxicating as he is mysterious. The Alpha's Reluctant Mate is created by Katrina Guerin, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
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…"
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?
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."