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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 naïve 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.
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
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!"
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.
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."