"People afraid of death are greedy for life." That was the belief of Alessandro Angelo, the Italian mafia billionaire. The one who fears no one, not even death. He lived his life everyday as if it was his last. Trained only to obey orders and keep no emotions. But what happens when he comes across a cheerful, bubbly Isabella Marco, the girl whose charm could lit up even the darkest portion of the coldest heart. Slowly and unknowingly for Alessandro, he started to want more; getting greedy for life, gradually going against his life principle. One day an order came in: "kill her or you die" Will he allow his cold self be smitten by her infectious personality or end her life as he was ordered?
MILAN
10:20AM
The loud blare of a mobile phone jarred Alessandro awake. He grunted slowly, rubbed his eyes before reaching for his phone on the desk.
Still half asleep, he used his elbow to forcefully prop himself upwards, and then brought the phone to his ears.
"Hello?" his sleepy yet deep voice spoke groggily into the phone.
"Angelo, see me in my office."
The voice was low and brief yet commanding enough. Alessandro needed no soothsayer to know who he had just spoken to. He had forgotten to check the caller identity in his sleepy state but the voice was enough to shake him back to reality.
He sighed rubbing his eyes more and wading off the last remaining of sleep in them before he stood, stretching himself to full length. He had fallen asleep in his study. A glance at the round wall clock told him he had slept for almost an hour. If only chief hadn't woken him up, who knows he would have been lucky to have his first hour of sleep for the first time in a long, long while. And hopefully with no nightmares.
Flashes of the terrible event that happened years ago raced through his head briefly. He brushed them off with a slight head shake and then started out of his study briskly.
His plan was to have a quick bath before going to see chief but he ended up staying longer in the bathtub than he had imagined.
Minutes later, he trotted out of the bathroom, with a large white towel wrapped around his lower body. Trails of water trailed his path as he walked. A smaller towel hung partially around his neck as he used his right hand to wipe his hair with the other free portion of the towel.
He halted and stood before the huge mirror in his bedroom adjacent to the gigantic bed. His features shone at him. Above six feet tall, long straight legs with a face like that of a demi-god. Not just ladies but even some men get struck with bewilderment for his looks sometimes.
There were times, moments, when they mattered. Times when he took great pleasure in having them. Moments when ladies get to drool all over him in the presence of Lorenzo, the only one who could dare to match his achievements and feet. But not at this moment. Hearing chief's tone meant it was that time again. The time that his fingers either get dirty or he die.
He, Alessandro Angelo has chosen the former and would stick to it. Although he had never for once feared death, never, right from the moment he stepped foot into Chief Giovanni Piero's company. To him, people afraid of death are the ones greedy for life. He lives his everyday life as if it would be his last. That, in fact is the life of anyone in his shoes. The moment you start wanting more from life, that will be the end of you.
He scurried away from the mirror to the wardrobe. Suits, shirts and pants of different brands hung delicately in the wardrobe, made by the best craftsmen of the country.
He sized them up and finally his eyes settled on the Shelton suit. He unhung it carefully and slipped himself into it. Not like he cared much about his looks except when he needed to work with it. He casted another quick look at himself in the mirror once more after he was done dressing up after which he grabbed his phone and stepped out of the house.
He drove himself to chief Giovanni's company in one of his expensive cars. A quick drive from his home to the company. In less than ten minutes, he arrived. As he made his way up to chief's office, he got the usual stares. Alessandro by now was used to the stares and totally ignored them all but his ears couldn't be shut to them as much as he wished.
He got into the elevator and pressed the last floor. There were a few ladies already in the elevator as he got in and once they saw him, they were immediately struck.
Their hushed yet loud murmurings could be clearly heard by Alessandro.
"Gosh! He is so handsome..." One of the ladies smacked her lips while gripping her hands against her shoulders seductively.
"My dream man!" the chubby round face one amongst them squealed excitedly. Her unusually loud voice echoed in the elevator.
"I can never get used to his charming face. oh my gosh... I can stare up close at him all day...my heart!" another one of them gushed.
All the while Alessandro acted deaf to their ramblings and waited patiently for the elevator to get to his destination.
Once the elevator door opened, he stepped out and headed towards chief's office. He expected the ladies to also drop and head their different offices but when he casted a look behind his shoulders, the elevator door was closed again and heading down with none of the ladies actually getting out.
He let out a short chuckle and shook his head.
It turned out the ladies had missed their stop or didn't even press one at all.
Two heavy tap on the door was enough to tell chief he has arrived. He waited for his response calmly.
"Enter." Chief's voice came from inside. Alessandro walked in. Lorenzo was already seated when he walked in. They merely exchanged glance and looked away. They could never get along and have long accepted that.
Chief was on call as he entered so he had to wait for his call to end. While he waited, his eyes strayed at the painting that hung at a corner of the office. It looked like it was a part of the wall. Unique and well painted. To the world and normal people's eyes, it was merely a beautiful painting but to someone like Alessandro, he knew there was more to the mere painting on the wall.
Once chief dropped the call, his face turned grim. He let out a heavy heave and faced Alessandro and Lorenzo. The corner of his eyes twitched repeatedly. Something he usually does whenever he has something important to say. Alessandro often wondered if it was natural in the past but knowing him for years now was enough to explain it all to him.
"I heard the building contract will be given to chief Alegra. Make him reject the deal and be brought to me."
Alessandro nodded. "Is there anything I should look out for...or anything I should know?"
Chief pondered slowly for a while before he finally blurted out a no.
"Consider it done chief." Alessandro said. He then bowed slightly and started walking out of the office. He stopped in his tracks after walking just a few steps. "What if he refuses?" he asked turning to face chief again even though he knew exactly what chief's response would be, still he still wanted to hear it.
"You know what to do if he refuses. Make it as clean as possible." Chief answered without a second pause. The grimness in his face grew and the circles around his eyes, gotten from sleepless nights darkened. To him, he either gets what he wanted but if he couldn't, whoever gets it, dies.
Alessandro bowed one last time and finally walked out of the office. Lorenzo followed afterwards.
"What's your plan?" Lorenzo asked meeting up with him. Alessandro gave a little shrug without saying a word. His plan has already started to be mapped out in his head.
His gaze held me. Fine dark eyes. Those eyes... where had I seen them... Then it hit me. The snob at the club. What was he doing in Mr Hendricks house and in the young Master's room? Wait... Was he an old servant I hadn't met or a new man servant? I scanned him. He looked nothing like a servant. The aura from him felt nothing like the one a servant could possess. His eyes pinched and he took a step towards me. "Did you not just hear me? What are you doing in my house?" His tone was icy. His house? There was only one person aside from Mr Hendricks that could say those words... Young master, Jay Adams! I looked at him again and hell the resemblance struck me. My jaw hung open and for a moment I felt my body go numb. *********** Jay Adams was a perfect man. More like a demigod that commanded both wealth and power. Women swooned over him and wanted a taste of him but he hated women. He does not believe in love. Beneath the tough exterior, beneath his million dollar tuxedo and his coldness were his flaws. And then there was Karen, a complete opposite of him. Poor with a sick father, a sister to cater for and saddled with debts. What will happen when these two cross paths?
Tiffany let out an exasperated breath. She was right. She had been right about him all along. He was nothing but a rich arrogant prat. Unfortunately she wasn't about to waste her energy on people like him. "How about we pretend we never met and just work?" She said to him, keeping her tone cold and eyes firm. Ronald made a face. "Wait, don't tell me you are thinking I came here for something other than work?" Tiffany's eyes widened. "What?" He approached her, closing up the distance between them. "Earlier on, you seem to have so much interest in my face," he said, lowering his lips to whisper the words into her ears. "Don't tell me you are already thinking of something else to do with me other than work...perhaps..." Tiffany gulped roughly and bit down on her lower lip. "..." ********* Ronald Ryker is the heir of a well-known conglomerate and was constantly surrounded by women. But none of them moved him. Not until he met Tiffany, a single mother and older woman who immediately captured his attention. But Tiffany had no interest in him. Not in his wealth and definitely not his hot look.
Two people with different agendas are forced into an arranged marriage. For Veronica Nicholas, it is to save her family's business that has been saddled with debt and on the verge of slipping into bankruptcy and for Lawrence Williams, it is to hold onto his inheritance as the only son and heir of a conglomerate family. Veronica could never leave her darling boyfriend for the infamous national playboy nor does Lawrence wish to leave her long time crush who finally accepted his feelings after many months of rejection for a stranger he barely knows. Together the two must sign a secret contract that lets them live their desired lives while being in their arranged marriage. But how long does the life they thought was best for them last? Stuck together, Veronica and Lawrence must find a way to work together to get past the struggles of their everyday lives from their never ending enemies. Hatred at first but being in the same place where they see all the good and bad sides of each other, how long would they go on before the wave of love hit them? Or would they find a reason to go their separate ways once their different agendas have been fulfilled?
Two people, different circumstances yet love found them! Losing his wife turned his heart dark, turned him an alien to love and he swore to never love again, remain celibate and only care about his two daughters the remaining days of his life. Getting pregnant for a man that loved other women but her rendered her almost never wanted by another man because of her child but no matter what, Tessa would never have anything to do with a man that wouldn't want her child. And when Eric finally came to accept only her child but not her, she thought she could venture into marriage for the sake of her son who always craved for a father figure but deep down she wanted more. She craved to be loved and she wanted to love but that is not the same with Eric. But when love came knocking in their hearts, not even aunty Stella, the one that disliked Tessa, not even Eric's past could stop their love. The flame became unquenchable! Though it had seemed impossible and in fact never considered, Tessa and Eric found love with each other again!
Candles were lighted, beautiful scented flowers were well decorated in my house and even ribbons were tied at various places on that day. Soft music played in the stereo whilst people drank, ate and made merry. Sounds of laughter rang and everyone's faces were filled with smiles until tragedy struck like lightning that before I could realize what was happening, I became the youngest cursed teen werewolf in my pack accused of killing her mother. But then I hoped for my eighteenth birthday because it is only then that I would be free to live my life and have my mate but once again tragedy came knocking... And once again, Lily's life turned around... The rejected Alpha's mate....
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
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!”
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
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."