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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?"
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?
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
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?
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
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."
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.