When billionaire playboy, Damien Archer sets his eyes on the one woman who wants nothing to do with him, how far would he go to win her over? - Olivia Sanders might be the most boring person you've met. The kind that obsessed over romance novels and dreamed her own love story, the kind with the most intricate imaginations. On the outside however, she might seem plain. Content. After college, a twenty one year old Liv finds it difficult landing a foot in the real world while trying to balance working as a secretary at a tech firm and dreams of her own. But everything changes the moment Damien shows up as the heir to the business empire. And they both navigate the building tensions that soon rise between them. Alas, it's a tale of forbidden romance when Olivia recognizes him from her dark past, and that single thing is bound to change everything.
Olivia didn't really like the city.
To be honest, she was more of a town's girl having lived the most of her life is Eastern Texas.
She loved the horses, and the smell of hay on a dewey winter morning. She loved the animals, and how crimson the sky would color at times.
But this, running down the tarred roads of Illinois to catch the bus, this she didn't quite love.
Slipping from her hands was her backpack that she carried like a seventeen year old. Deep down, she still felt like she was, at least hoped that she was. That she never grew up. It certainly didn't help that the past few years were a blur.
College which for her was supposed to be her prime years, were actually the most mediocre. Olivia spent her whole life behind a book and love song's playing beneath her headphones wherever she went.
I wouldn't really say she had friends, but she had Alli. Besides him, she was as alone as one can be. She waved her long arms, yelling out at the bus that was about to pull away.
Gathering her books and bags in her hands, she stumbled forward, strands of her red hair falling over her glasses.
The color of her hair being her most fun feature- -sometimes she wore in braids, or a messy bun which was ironical because she'd spend minutes in front of her mirror achieving the level of complexity and messiness.
She never really liked makeup, mostly because getting to work in the mornings were hectic and it'd turn to a mess.
Her nails brushed against the bonnet of the bus as she halted by the steps, her eyes immediately met Hamilton, the driver whom she'd known since she got here with her aunt sometime ago. Her aunt who now lived separately, not far off from her. She usually called each morning as sort of some daily checkup that had turned a ritual.
"Morning Liv" The driver watched her as she climbed into the bus. "Morning Ham" She made her way to the seats, settling in with the chaos that were her hands.
Once she put work documents away, she heaved a deep sigh and adjusting the collars of her striped office shirt and wrinkled her thigh long skirt. There was not much difference from what she had worn the previous day, except in colors and style.
Olivia was deeply predictable, although she thought if she had the money, she would have better style, which we can all agree on.
However for now, she'd stick to her mum's old shirt and skirts she'd sewn by herself. She wasn't living below average, she was content as she'd tell you that a thousand times.
However, where she was in this moment wasn't exactly where she'd planned to be. But it was life, and sometimes it surprises us. Liv had wild dreams growing up, like owning a design label in the New York City, a trademark to that name.
She had even wilder imaginations and fantasies, even though she was still a virgin. It was the books, the books she'd read growing up. The smut that gave her thrill and made her timbers shiver. However, she never really got to feel the real thing, mostly because she was shy. And deeply scared to give her whole self to one single person, one person that could break her heart.
All her life, Olivia had fallen for just one person and it didn't end well after the camping trip. Never again, she told herself. She'd rather read the terribly plotted wattpad romance stories and enjoy it, if it was the closest she would feel to love. The mythical feeling that was, love.
Looking out of the windows as the bus pulled away, she was reminded of how she felt about the city. She didn't detest because this placed housed her, alongside the year long memories but she just never thought of it as home.
The fall weather was beautiful today, and she was resuming work after a week bank holiday that had been given. And even after such break and a million deep breathes that reassured her that she got this-Olivia was still a mess.
It was then her phone lit up in her hands and she looked to screen to see, mum. It was Agatha, her aunt who was more or less a mother since both her parents died in the car crash.
September 07, she'd never forget that day-she believed changed her life. Fresh off their summer trip, her mum and dad were involved in a ghastly accident. She'd moved on from it, that's if one could ever move on from something like that.
Maybe a much better phrase was that she didn't dwell any more on that past. Because she always had Agatha growing up, and most of the time she was just enough.
In the new city, she had Agatha. Navigating the terrifying puberty years of girlhood, she also had her aunt. For the big moments and even the smallest, that it until months ago that she moved out-an attempt to find her own footing.
But one promise that she made and kept was that they talked everyday. And though Olivia never said it, it was her favorite part of the day.
"Hi Agatha" She heaved a sigh, a smile crawling to her lips. "How are you, Liv?" There was some noise behind her but she could still hear the genuinity in the tone of her voice.
"How are you?" "I'm okay" Liv had toned out the entire world as she spoke to her favorite person. The roads were bumpy so occasionally, she swayed side to side. "Did you catch the bus?" "Yes, i did" Olivia replied, implying that that wasn't always the case. "I had to run and at some point, this son of a bitch got mud all over my shoes" She added, rolling her eyes to the back of her head.
"Aww i'm so sorry" Agatha replied. "Don't worry, everything will be okay soon" Liv closed her eyes to those words, taking comfort and solace in such assurances. And she nodded, knowing she could always count on her to make her feel better.
"I'm making lemon tea" She could hear the sound of the cutleries behind her. "If you were here, i would give you some. It's a shame you didn't come here for the break-" She paused, as if she still had words to say. "I- I had work"
"My own work" Olivia rephrased. "I know Liv, but this place gets boring. I don't want you forgetting your home" She scoffed, leaving a smirk at the corner of her lips. "I could never" She said.
The winds filled her hair as Liv adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose, resting on her knuckles, she listened to a Weyes Blood song the moment her aunt hung up.
Music was her free therapy, an escape from her anxieties. She had the latest edition of Love the Sin, a novel by Onyemaobi, in her hands but she chose to bury her head into it, but rather fill her eyes with reality.
Maybe the city wasn't so bad if you actually took note. She sat in the chair, with an arched back, waiting for her stop. And the moment the bus came to a halt, she launched forward, rushing down the aisle and out. "Bye Ham"
"Have a good day, Liv" She heard from behind her as she alighted. "See you later" She filled her lungs with the crisp Chicago morning air before her eyes sent on the queue of cars before her.
The lot was filled, and it usually wasn't. There was also a crowd swarming through the door, and while she climbed on her toes, she searched for Alli.
She mounted the steps that led into the building, over her a sign that boldly said Archers. Hefting out her ID, Oliver paced towards the front door and headed to the elevators with her bag still over her shoulders.
"Hey" She greeted the door man and made her way through the dispersing crowds. "Hi" "Liv" She suddenly heard from behind her, and she recognized that voice.
But the moment she turned around, someone bumped into her from the stairs, falling the books in her hands down for the nth time that day. "Son of a bitch" She muttered beneath her lips, ready to pick a fight with the suited man that had just passed-his cologne infiltrating the thick air and she coughed.
He didn't even both to look back, but she knew she wasn't deaf. At least he would have heard her books fall to the ground. She leaned forward, finally succumbing but still arching her brows in anger.
And Alli walked up to her. "Hey" He reached out to the last book on the ground and handed it over to his best friend.
"What's up?"
"Some cocky bitch just bumped into me and didn't even utter a word-" Alli turned around. "That guy?" He pointed to the exact one in a shimmering black tuxedo and a clipboard in his arms. Liv arched her brows the moment people began to gather round him and her eyes diverted to Alli.
"What the fuck is going on?"
"That cocky bitch is Damien." She narrowed her eyes at him as if that name was suddenly meant to ring a bell. "Didn't you get the email?" Alli asked like he had no idea that the phone might be the worst way to reach Liv. She shook her head, walking past him. Damien hefted the mic to his lips as he turned around, his cold dark eyes meeting Liv's blue ones for just a second. And she felt a chill run up her spine as she held her novel close to her.
It was anxiety in her stomach, for whatever reason, accompanied with anger and rage for a person she didn't even know. Well, she did know his type. They filled the world, arrogant, cocky, privileged. But what he was doing here, that, she had no idea.
That is until a construction worker walked through the doors, holding up a large plaque that bore the name.
His name. Damien Alexander Archer.
And she turned to Alli, who'd sensed she'd finally got it. "Hold on" Came a shrill whisper as she looked back and forth. "Archer?" She pushed a hard lump down her throat and Alli walked up to her, leaning in closely.
"He's our new boss" He said. "Since when?" "Since Hank died." Her brows collapsed at such news, her heart falling simultaneously.
"What?" "A heart attack" He added. "So his son being the heir to the company will be taking over. You should really check your emails, maybe-" She zoned out again, turning to face him. Damien.
But he was already looking at her. And there was anxiety again, the kind that erupted in her stomach and she looked away, and back. Both their eyes pulled away as she pointed to the stairs.
"I should go-" She paced, clearing her throat and Alli stretched out his arms. "Wait" He shrugged.
The moment he wasn't before her, she calmed. And Liv clutched her chest, knowing the only reason she felt this way was because something about Damien was strikingly familiar.
Or maybe it was Alexander.
And in that moment, it hit her- and if she didn't already hate him, which she did, she was to going to detest him even more.
To be continued...
"I, Alpha Malik Denver hereby reject you, Eliana Jacobs as my mate and Luna." His voice was like a sword through my chest, slicing my heart into a million tiny pieces. He looked at me with a commanding glare and I knew I didn't have much of an option. "I, Eliana Jacobs, accept your rejection." I whispered as my hands fell to my stomach because unbeknownst to the Alpha, I was carrying his child. Eliana Jacobs had been through hell her entire life. Ever since her mother died, she'd been abused by her whole pack. However, destiny led her into the hands of Malik Denver, the most ruthless of all Alphas in Oakland and the leader of her own rival pack. In a twist of fate, he took her in and saved her from becoming rogue. But all in exchange for one thing—a child. How would Denver take the news of her return? Would he finally regret his decision to let her go? And alas, what would happen when he finds out about his secret baby?
When Isla Carter moves to Marquette, Michigan to live with her estranged father and to start a new life, what she doesn't expect is to meet Elijah, a mysterious young man who she's instantly drawn to before she ever finds out his darkest secret. - Isla knew she had always been different ever since she was young and she rarely ever fit in wherever she was. She moves to Marquette because of her mother, in the hopes that starting a new life with her dad could somewhat help her. She doesn't really expect things to change—that is until they do. Until she meets Elijah, the dazzling and beautiful mystery with whom she falls in love with. He wasn't like the other guys but she soon finds out the reason why. Elijah was a werewolf. Fueled by intrigue and desire, the both of them bond and eventually become closer, close enough to threaten the very balance of nature and humanity. Isla is faced with several threats and dangers that comes with being with Elijah. But when a truth about her past comes to light, she's forced to figure out where exactly she stands. But she knew, Loving Elijah was a choice bound to change the rest of her life forever, for better and for worse.
“You leave Leonardo Carter” Patricia slithered through her lips and in her eyes, Francesca saw the truth and a threat. “Or i make your life a living hell for stealing him away from me” She brushed past her nemesis’s shoulders with a villainous glint. “I’m just protecting my family” She clasped the slight protrusion that was her belly. Because unbeknownst to everyone, Patricia was carrying the heir’s child. - Leonardo Carter was New York City’s most eligible bachelor. Powerful and Enigmatic—asides from being the Mayor’s son, he was also the heir to the multi-billion dollar Carter Corporations. Every woman sought after him and every parent as well. But all his life, he had belonged to one woman, Patricia Walters. Petitioned by his father to provide a wife on the national Conference night, it was only reasonable that Patricia saw herself finally being his wife after six years. But alas, when the night came, she watched in horror as he slipped the ring on another woman’s finger. One wrong proposal, and lifetime filled with vengeance. Patricia is dedicated to her quest to get to the bottom of this engagement and hopefully unveil this new woman—Francesca Peters’ hidden identity. Embroiled in a conspiracy larger than her, Patricia looses herself to the jealousy that eats her up before she ever realizes that she lost Leonardo long before. Fueled with revenge, she swears to take down the all of them, including the entire Carter empire for shaming her, with the help of her best friend, Jacqueline. But her whole world collapses when she finds one vicious string that still connected the both of them—she was pregnant with his child. That was bound to change everything, and set a new motive. Will she ever come clean to Leonardo, who so wanted to have a child for his father, that she was expecting his baby? Or will she hide it for as long as she could? What happens when Francesca is roped in the dirty mafia business that went on behind the scenes of such wealthy family and will she later give into the charming heir? Watch the story unfold with a burst of twists and turns, one that would leave you hanging by your seats. One large scandal, One proposal, several deaths and several lives intertwined together. What will finally halt Patricia’s thirst for revenge—perhaps it could be a stranger from her past.
Eva Daniels, a psychopathic assassin is tasked with taking down Tobias Blake—the alpha of the Dark Raven Pack. But as the chase progresses, the two soon develop a mutual obsession with each other that may destroy everything including themselves. - Trained to kill, Eva is recruited by a top-secret werewolf hunting organization called The One. And each kill leads her closer to Tobias, whose attention she might have already caught. When eventually they cross paths, they begin a cycle of obsession which leads them away from the truths they once knew and closer to each other— —sabotaging everything and everyone in their way while uncovering some of the darkest secrets linking both worlds. A match made in hell, this pair must overcome all obstacles but the question is if they'll find their way back to each other in the end. And just how much would have been lost?
The romantic lives of three teenagers are intertwined in unimaginable ways the moment one of them returns from the States. And with all of the impediments that come with living in a conservative town, these set of queer youth struggle the most with drugs, trauma and crime, inadvertently testing deeply entrenched beliefs about life, friendships, love and sexuality. This book encompasses all their lives, and tells their heartwarming coming of age stories as they embark on a journey of finding their identity whilst navigating the tumultuous hallways of high school. It is anything but easy, especially when a tragic murder is uncovered, leading to a trail of both imminent danger and fear. The question isn’t just whether or not they’d survive it all in the end, but also how much of themselves they’d lose in the process. And who would they even be?
Luke Sanders, one of the richest well known CEOs in Beverly moves to the suburbs to settle for a quiet life, where he meets Alyssa, a woman on the verge of a midlife crisis. For these two, they seem to have all they wanted, which included wealth and a happy family, but they would soon begin to question, Alyssa especially, what happiness really means. They meet at an unconventional moment in their lives, and after a certain tragedy storms the serene town. And while both struggle with secrets of their own, they are being drawn further together especially when Luke happens to be next door. In this steamy novel, Alyssa is forced to forsake a moral compass and chase after what she wants the most— —which is to be the person she was before. Wild, and free, something Luke is willing to offer. But at what cost really? WRITTEN BY ONYEMAOBI.
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
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."
Scarlett was left betrayed and broken beyond repair when her best friend Megan set her up with the male escort who stole her virginity...Or at least, that's what she thought he was. There was something odd about the strong and strikingly beautiful man that she spent a night with. Despite the pure hatred she felt for him, the deals he ended up offering wasn't one she could refuse. Scarlett always thought she'd marry her soulmate but turns out, that won't be the case for her. But could her mysterious husband make his way through her broken heart and fix it? It's hard to imagine but love has funny ways to manifest in places where it's least expected....
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
After a devastating divorce with the man she had been married to for over three years, Rachel thought her life was over. Her family disowned her, they wanted nothing to do with her anymore and she couldn't blame them. She had just divorced David Hart, one of the top successful bachelors in the country and heir to the Hart industries. But they would never understand that she didn't divorce him, he divorced her after she caught him cheating on her with her god-damned best friend! Rachel was just about to end everything by jumping off a bridge when she was saved by the most unexpected person. The boy she once bullied severally in highschool because he always wore ugly glass and was from a poor background, how come that glass make him so hot now? Why was he helping her get revenge on ex-husband who is trying to make her life even more miserable? And most important how did he get so handsome? What exactly does he want from her? ... No, you must want something, anything. If you can really help me get revenge on David and Lana, I can't just let you do it for free". Ethan went quiet for a while. I held my breath waiting for what his request might be. If it was something money could buy, I'll try my best to get it for him even though I was somehow broke right now. "You're right I do want something". He said after thinking for few minutes "What?" I asked slowly. " Until you get your revenge on David, Lana and every other person you want, you will live here". Live here as in...? " Wha... What are you saying? ". I stammered hoping he wasn't saying what I thought he was saying. I tried to step back but I missed a step and almost fell on the bed but Ethan caught me holding me in his muscular arms. Ethan moved his face closer to mine be was so close, our nose almost touched. " I want you to be with me! ".
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."