/0/31721/coverbig.jpg?v=eb14aef2ff2992d5a91b6a3991cfab27)
Charles is the heir to his father's billion dollars empire. But he doesn't want it. In fact, he wants nothing to do with his family name. But all that isn't as easy to attain because not only is he the heir, he is unknowingly in possession of the number one most wanted document in the country. All Charles wants to do is get away, but that becomes even more difficult when he meets his Nemesis. Annabelle is smart, beautiful, rich and a professional with a deadly secret and a unique background. Worst of all, she was perfectly tailored to play games. Or so she thought. When she meets Charles, she begins to discover that her mission isn't as easy as she thinks. What happens when a desperate waitress is added to the mix? Can they survive the dangers of the game they play? What will happen when hidden secrets surface? Can love prevail? Will they get scorched? Or, is this just a delicious disaster?
July 15th 2019
I drove throughout the night, only stopping twice to take a piss and to buy fuel. The goal was to get to Abuja before seven a.m in morning at whatever cost necessary. And as I pressed down on the gas of my Toyota Camry, I knew the car would soon begin cursing me or flat out breakdown. Just as I expected the car jolted and I grumbled in frustration and something akin to annoyance. Stressing the car or myself had not been the initial plan. But when I discovered my only options were between my car or a free ride from my dad's private jet, I had picked the car without a backward glance.
I zoomed past the welcome to Abuja sign boldly written by the side of the road, the beautiful sight of the city caught my attention as I did. I couldn't help but take a moment to admire the beauty and grace of the state. Abuja was way more peaceful than my hometown Lagos and deep down, I hoped it would bring better luck.
After another five minutes of reckless driving, I arrived at the hotel, parked my car beside a Prado jeep, picked up my briefcase and phone, and then stepped out of the car and into the cold morning air.
"Good morning sir," a man with round bright eyes greeted me from behind and I turned. My eyes landed on the badge resting on his left breast pocket before lifting it to his face. He was a porter. I tossed my car key to him and began making my way into the hotel.
"Should I park everything in the trunk, sir?" The Porter asked and I nodded, still taking long strides towards the hotel reception. But then I paused, impulsively turned and began making my way towards him. When I got to him, I slipped some Naria notes into his unsuspecting hands and made for the reception doors again. The guy's eyes widened in surprise.
"Thank you very much, sir-" he began but I was already halfway into the lobby of the hotel. The truth was, I didn't give a damn about his gratitude. I hadn't done it for him. I had done it for a way deeper reason.
I stepped into the lobby and made for the reception desk. Bolton White was one of the good hotels in Abuja. Although it wasn't rated five stars, It was rated three and that was comfortable enough for me. Also, I didn't want to be recognized by any of my father's partners while in Abuja.
Getting to the reception stand, I placed my phone on the counter. "Hello, what can I do for you?" A beautiful woman with light brown hair asked.
"I have a reservation for the week," I replied, taking in her appearance and physical features. She looked familiar.
"Okay. What's your name?"
"Charles. Charles Harrell," I replied and watched as she punched some keys on her laptop.
I sighed. I was running late. Lord knew I didn't have time to waste. Which was why I had booked ahead in the first place. Tapping my fingers on the polished counter I glanced around, making a quick sweep of my environment. When I was sure there was no one suspicious watching me, I glanced at my watch.
6:34 am.
Damn!
"Your room is ready for you sir," the pretty receptionist finally said and I sighed in relief.
"Thanks," I muttered and made to grab the card from her protruding hands only to freeze at the sight of a triangular tattoo etched into the corner of her wrist.
What the fuck was my... that insignia doing on this woman's wrist?
"Is there a problem, Mr Charles?" the receptionist asked and I zapped my eyes away from her wrist to focus on her face instead.
"Nah..." I whispered and grabbed the card, but then held on to her fingers. "I'd love to speak to you sometime in the evening, probably when you are off work. Would you be so kind to indulge me?"
She stared at me stoically for what seemed like years before finally replying, "We don't do that here sir."
"Do what?" I whispered, feigning ignorance.
"Flirt," she replied curtly.
"Could you repeat that love?" I whispered, not expecting her to play hard to get.
"We do not make personal contact," she gritted, more firmly this time and in a higher tone, continued, "or flirt with our guests, sir. It's against our ethics and it'll cost us our jobs." With that said, she zapped her fingers from my gasps and turned to her laptop, shutting me out.
I smiled. If my father wanted to play, so be it. I was going to come back for her after I was done with my impending business. And she was going to tell me exactly where she got that tattoo from.
I was the best in the game after all.
That's because you ---- my subconscious began but I immediately shut it down. I wouldn't, couldn't think of the past. For my sanity, I needed to concentrate. And concentrate I would. No matter what.
Taking in a deep breath I pocketed the key, picked up my phone from the counter and turned toward the elevator only to be met with the softest solid I have ever felt, my progress toward the elevator, stunted.
"Fuck!" I groaned and immediately went to my knees. My aim? To pick up my briefcase and phone with had slipped from my hands during the collision. Instead, I was met with blazing hazel eyes that were staring at me as if they wanted to burn through my soul.
Damn! Those eyes were agitated alright, and beautiful as hell.
"What on earth are you looking at?" She fired and I flinched. How angry was she exactly? If I recalled correctly, she bumped into me.
"I'm sorry but-"
"If you weren't busy checking out bumps, you would have seen me coming-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa woman, slow down. I didn't see you coming because I hadn't even turned-" she didn't let me finish. Again.
"Save that for the women you woo. Not me."
I grabbed my briefcase, pocketed my phone then began to raise. I understood that she was angry but this wasn't my fault alone and truthfully, I didn't need this right now. I needed to be fully focused on my impending meeting. A meeting that if I didn't move my ass right now, I was going to miss.
"Look madam," I began when I had fully risen, my build towering over her. "I don't know you and the truth is, I don't want to. I'm just going to walk quietly away. Hopefully, you do the same-"
"Men and their foolish pride," she groaned and then began picking up her books. "All you had to do was apologize."
What the hell? Who was this woman and why was she hell-bent on getting under his skin?
"Look-"
"Please save it," she snapped and stood to her feet. "Hopefully someday, you grow some manners." I couldn't even respond for she had already brushed past me and was making her way to the exit door.
Wow!
I couldn't help but watch her strut out the door, my eyes completely glued to the slight sway of her hips as they moved from side to side.
But damn, attitude aside she was beautiful.
I briskly shook my head and began towards the elevator. But then, my legs stepped on something soft, my foot almost losing its balance. And if not for the fact that I worked out now and then, my ass would have been planted on the floor.
Thankfully that didn't happen.
I picked up the small brown leather purse that had almost caused me great embarrassment and looked it over. Flipping it open, I discovered a room key, some ATM cards and a passport that belonged to-
Well damn.
Seems I wouldn't be seeing the last of hazel eyes after all.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
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."
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!