All Vivian wants is to go through college without the drama of dealing with debts and angry creditors. Desperate for a way out, she reaches out to her friend, Cynthia, for help. Overnight, Vivian is introduced to a world of pleasure and influence beyond her wildest imagination. Within months, she's debt-free and living her best life. Just when she thinks life can't be better, she meets Oscar, a reclusive billionaire who is hard to please but generous with money. What started as a business arrangement quickly transforms into a whirlwind romance. However, their fairy tale love story is suddenly cut short when Vivian is kidnapped and everything spirals downwards from there. Is this a ploy by Oscar's opponents to torment him? Or are the lovebirds dealing with a familiar enemy who is determined to keep them apart at all costs?
"Oh my gosh. I'm going to collapse!" Vivian gasped just as she crashed against her friend's front door. She began to pound on it with her fists.
"Vivian! What are you doing here?" Cynthia asked in surprise when she opened her front door and saw her friend looking panicked.
"Are you ok?"
"Please Cynthia, let me in. I'll explain everything to you, please," Vivian panted.
Her eyes darted around fearfully as if she was expecting someone to jump out of the walls and grab her.
Cynthia opened the door wider to let her friend in. She couldn't help but wonder who or what Vivian was running away from at this ungodly hour.
It was a few minutes past 1 a.m. Cynthia had been watching a rom-com movie on TV before she was interrupted by the loud knocks on her door. She noticed Vivian's rumpled oversized T-shirt, stained denim shorts, and dirty sneakers.
Even her curly wig was messy and nearly falling off her head. The only accessory she had on was her knockoff Chanel fanny pack.
Vivian stumbled over to the couch and sat down heavily on it. She took off her wig to reveal her neatly done cornrows.
"Do you want some water to drink?" Cynthia asked.
"Yes, please," Vivian replied almost breathlessly.
After she'd taken a generous drink of water from the glass that her friend offered her, Vivian sighed with relief.
"So, you want to tell me what all of this is about?" Cynthia asked.
Vivan's lower lip trembled when she tried to speak. "I had to run away, Cynthia. I had to run away from it all."
"Run away from what?"
"From the madness that is my life. I can't do it anymore, Cynthia. The debts keep piling up and I don't have any means to pay them up. Now I must be on the run every time like a criminal, to avoid getting caught by my creditors. I just want to be a normal girl; go through college, graduate, and move on with my life. Is that too much to ask for?"
"No, it's not," Cynthia replied. "Who are you owing?"
"Everyone – a bunch of girls at the hostel that I borrowed money from, my cousin, and even the school. I still haven't finished paying my tuition and time is running out. You have to help me Cynthia; I don't know where else to go. I need help!"
"What about your parents?"
"Dad has been out of work for months now. The little money my Mom makes from her small business goes into the upkeep of the home and taking care of my younger ones."
"Oh..."
"Exactly. I can't go to them for money right now because they don't have any to spare. I can't continue like this."
"That's sad," Cynthia said sympathetically.
"One of my creditors sent some thugs to harass me at the hostel. Luckily for me, they went to the wrong room, but I got to know that they were looking for me. That's why I came here. I know I can't hide here for long, so I need you to help me. Please!"
Cynthia sighed. The lack of adequate security at the off-campus hostels was disturbing but the university management didn't seem to care.
"What do you want me to do then? I don't have money to lend you because I know there's no guarantee that I'll get it back any time soon," she said bluntly.
"I – I understand," Vivian said sadly.
"You know I'm the one putting myself through school. So, every single dime in my bank account is very precious to me. Plus, there's also my family to consider. They depend on me for their upkeep too."
Cynthia's mom was a widowed civil servant who could barely take care of her three children on her meager salary. Thankfully, Cynthia had been able to help her family stay afloat with the regular cash she sent to them monthly.
"I know," Vivian admitted. "And I'm not here to ask you for money either."
Cynthia was surprised. "You're not? What do you want me to do for you then?"
Vivian looked her friend dead in the eyes and said, "I want you to show me how you make your money. I want to be financially independent like you. I want to be able to afford a nice apartment like yours. I want to make enough money to take care of myself and help my family. Please, Cynthia. Don't say no. I desperately need your help."
"If I remember correctly, you once said that you could never sell your body to make money," Cynthia said with a smirk.
"Yes, I did. But what has that got to do with this?"
Cynthia smiled. "What do you think I do to make money?"
Vivian was a bit confused. "You said you were into customer service, right?"
"Right, but do you know the kind of customers that I service?"
"I don't know," Vivian replied sincerely.
"And did you ever ask me?"
"Stop with the suspense, Cynthia. What are you getting at? Who are your customers?"
"Men. My customers are men," Cynthia answered matter-of-factly.
"Men? I don't understand."
"My dear Vivian, I sleep with men for a living. I am an escort."
Vivian gasped. "A what?"
"You heard me, Vivian. The customers I service are men who pay me well for what I do."
Vivian was shocked into silence. She couldn't believe that her soft-spoken, well-mannered, decent friend was a hooker.
The same Cynthia that couldn't stand it when people used swear words around her. The same Cynthia went to church regularly and was even an active member of the youth fellowship on campus. This was so unbelievable!
"I can almost see the wheels turning inside your head and I understand your surprise," said Cynthia calmly.
"But you wanted to know how I make money and I needed to tell you the truth from the get-go. That way, you don't start having any false hopes," she added.
"To be honest, I'm shocked," Vivian admitted. "You don't look like a prostitute."
"Escort," Cynthia corrected her firmly.
"What's the difference?"
"Prostitutes are those raggedy dressed urchins that stand by the roadside at night, waiting to be picked up by random men. An escort is a lady who has a list of high-profile clients that she meets with on an appointment-only basis.
"An escort can even travel abroad to meet with a client if needed. Does that sound like the same thing those girls on the streets do?"
Vivian shook her head slowly. She was mystified by this straightforward explanation that Cynthia had given her.
When explained like this, the whole escort thing didn't sound so bad. Besides, if she was honest with herself, she'd admit that she had always admired Cynthia's composure.
Vivian liked how her friend spoke so eloquently and carried herself with so much dignity. Cynthia's school fees, house rent, and other bills were always paid on time.
Her house was always loaded with food. She had the choicest pick in clothes, shoes, and handbags – some of which were even original designer pieces.
Vivian had naively assumed that her friend was able to afford all that luxury from her generous salary as a part-time customer service staff in whichever company she worked at.
"So?" Cynthia asked, breaking into Vivian's thoughts. "Are you interested, or do you still think sleeping with men to make cool cash is disgusting?"
In a small town where reputations were everything, Kate, a pastor's daughter, faces scandal when her boyfriend abandons her while she's pregnant. To salvage her dignity and protect her family's good reputation, she marries Tony, a wealthy widowed stranger she met during an outreach program. Tony's relationship with Kate comes with some complications: his two adult children are unaware of his sudden marriage, and his affluent status stirs vicious gossip in his social circles. As Kate and Tony's marriage begins, romance blooms, but so do troubling rumors about Tony's past. With disturbing secrets emerging and threats looming, Kate must navigate the storm of scandal and deceit to find if the love she shares with Tony can ever survive or be destroyed beyond repair.
Love is not part of why billionaire CEO, Kane Beaumont marries his virgin bride, Emilia Taylor. It was purely a contract deal to him and nothing more. Saving her family's business from the claws of evil loan sharks is Emilia's motive for marrying a man she barely knew. However, she doesn't count on being hopelessly attracted to him even when he treats her like a worthless peasant. Their relationship is chaotic, thanks to Kane's lover who is determined to ruin any opportunity of their romance ever blooming. Even if it means putting Emilia's life in danger, setting her up and turning the world against her. When sparks begin to fly between Kane and Emilia after an unfortunate accident, their relationship goes through a tough test that destroys the tiny flames of love burning between them. Will love eventually find a way in the end or will this marriage continue to be a high-stakes business deal with dangerous rewards?
"You are truly here," said the man softly, his eyes running over her as if trying to make sure she was who he thought she was. Erin couldn't hide her confusion. "Do I know you? I'm not sure we've met before.” “Not in this lifetime, but you are mine," he replied confidently. “Excuse me?" Erin asked in utter confusion. Who was this guy, and why the heck was he saying this weird stuff to her? “I know you don't know me yet," the man continued.“But you will, Edvana. You will know me because you are my mate.” ************ When Erin agreed to take Devon up on his claim of being her destined mate, she did not expect to be transported back in time to a pre-civilization era during a werewolf civil war! How was she going to make it back to the future/present alive, when she was now caught in the middle of an apocalyptic battle?
Rachel Lane is a part-time dance instructor and YouTube content creator. Derek Fraser is a successful businessman at the head of a billion-dollar tech empire who works hard and plays even harder. They meet in a club where he is hanging out alone after a busy day at work, while she is there with her friends to celebrate her birthday. They run into each other at the bar, sparks fly and they leave the club together and end up having a one-night stand at his place. Two months later, she shows up at his office, pregnant. Derek is shocked and denies being responsible for Rachel's pregnancy. Disappointed and heartbroken, she leaves his office, determined to raise her baby on her own. One year after, he comes across her YouTube channel and sees that the baby he had rejected is now an adorable toddler and he yearns to have the child in his life. Derek tracks down his baby mama, trying to mend bridges with her, but she would have none of it. Now, he has to find a way to woo her and convince her that he is a changed man and he is ready to build a family with her. On the other hand, Rachel cannot help but feel that he is only trying to buy her affection, even though she is beginning to get attracted to him and he is turning out to be a great dad to their child. Should she give him a second chance or would that turn out to be a mistake that she might regret forever?
"Ms. Crawford, it’s time for you to divorce Mr. Larsen and come home. You're the only heiress the Master's waiting for.” ~•~ For the sake of love, Amara accepted the arranged marriage with Tobias William Larsen. She did everything to gain her husband’s heart but when his old love returned, she realized that all her effort was all for naught. Tobias demanded a divorce on the night of their wedding anniversary, even at the price of threatening her. Heartbroken, she finally dropped all her illusions about him and returned home to be the heiress. The next time she met Tobias, they were no longer couples but opponents. "Mr. Larsen, should I remind you again? We've divorced." "Amara, that's the stupidest mistake I've ever made. Please come back to me."
Jennifer Bennett, the rightful heiress to the Bennett legacy, fought hard for her family's recognition, only to be eclipsed by an impostor. Faced with false accusations, bullying, and public humiliation, Jennifer eventually gave up trying to win their approval. Vowing to rise above the injustice, she became the bane of those who wronged her. The Bennett family's efforts to break her only fueled her success, leading her to heights her rivals could only dream of. Someone asked, "Do you feel let down by your parents?" With a calm smile, Jennifer said, "It doesn't matter. In the end, power prevails."
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
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.
Sheila had her back against the wall when her family tried to force her to marry an awful old man. In a fit of rage, she hired a gigolo to act as her husband. She thought the gigolo needed money and did this for a living. Little did she know that he was nothing like that. One day, he pulled off his mask and revealed himself to be the world's top magnate. This marked the beginning of their love. He showered her with everything she could ever want. They were happy. However, unexpected circumstances soon posed a threat to their love. Would Sheila and her husband make it through the storm? Find out!