"I own you, your soul, your life and most of all, your body." He said as his eyes raked down her body hungrily and he turned to leave the room. "I hate you so much Vincent. You're a vagabond as they all say." Natalie called out to him as she drew the covers over her body sobbing. "I'm glad you hate me. Natalie. I'm glad." He said wearing a mean smile on his face. From buying her from an auction, Vincent Blood, has always reminded Natalie that she belongs to him. Natalie's life changed faster than she had ever expected but she has to live her life with the infamous Vagabond of Prime City. How will she survive his craziness and how will he survive her attitude that drives him mad?
With every step he took, the crowd paved the way for him to pass through.
Whispers followed as he walked. Surprise was more evident on everyone's face.
Everyone in Primecity knew him. Few had seen him. His features were unmistakable.
The butch cut. Gray eyes. Chiseled face standing at 6 feet, 6 inches. And that ruthless, bloodthirsty aura.
No one could mistake Prime City's number one mafia boss, 'The Vagabond'.
The rumors must be true. Many people thought so. A new drug had shown face in town.
"If he's going to bid for it, then none of us are getting it." An old man in his mid-60s or so said to the group around him as the vagabond vanished from sight.
Most of them nodded in agreement to what the old man had said.
He didn't stop until he was standing behind the manager of the underground.
"Mr Austin." He said. Maybe it was a greeting or an acknowledgment? The hall was still quiet. Only his voice was heard.
The man, Mr Austin turned abruptly to see who called his name. When he saw the face of his caller, a smile appeared on his face.
"Mr Blood sir. So glad you could make it." He said happily. Suddenly the hall was filled with whispers and murmurs. Mr Austin, signaled to Mr Blood to follow him. Everyone watched as they both disappeared.
"Do you have the item I hear of or is it just rumors?" Blood said as they got into the sparsely furnished office.
"Yes. Yes. The new drug is true." Austin said as a smile appeared on his lip.
"I'm not interested in anything else. Give it to me." Blood said without batting an eyelid. Staring pointedly at Mr Austin.
Austin did not seem surprised by his request. Of course, he didn't. He had paid enough money to make sure the news had reached his ears.
"You know, The Underground Auction House has policies, Mr Blood." He replied picking his words wisely. Blood was known not to have patience. He killed people for just looking at him.
"But?" Blood asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"But, I can't give it to you no matter how you ask. You must bid for it like everyone else."
"You know no one would want to bid on something I have bid on?"
"Yes, I do. That's why you're here." Mr Austin said smiling as he watched Mr Blood's face. It seemed like Blood was catching on.
Blood let out a low laugh. He was about to respond when the door burst open and he turned to look at the newcomer.
It was a slim woman with sea-green hair covering one of her eyes and her lips painted black.
She wore an animal print gown.
"You cheeky bastard. You got the vagabond to come." She said as she looked from Mr Blood to Mr Austin in awe.
Austin tipped his hat while Blood looked in amusement.
"You planned this all out? It's the least I'll expect from one known to be the craftiest man in Primecity." Mr Blood said, standing up and going to the door.
"Next time you try this, I'll kill you though." Mr Blood said and walked out of the office leaving the woman and Austin alone.
"Amelia, are you crazy?" Mr Austin asked the woman as he let out a breath of relief.
"I expected him to shoot me halfway." Mr Austin said, clutching his chest.
"Bad thing he didn't," Amelia replied, looking at him angrily.
"Madam Hooch. Why are you pissed at me? You have to pay up now. We bet years ago that the first person to get the vagabond to their auction house had to pay 10k grand. You owe me señorita."
Mr Austin said standing behind Amelia and undoing her strap.
"Minusing the number of times you've bent me over your table? I propose I owe you 10 dollars." She said, pushing him away.
"The auction is waiting for us. So chop-chop Mr. Austin." She said as she walked out of the office.
Mr Austin laughed as he followed behind her.
"A good evening to everyone. Tonight we're gathered here for our usual auction service. Recently, The Underground has come in contact with a rare drug and you know as we do it. The highest bid gets the drug." Mr Austin announced to the crowd which cheered.
"First on the list, is the peer pill. $5000 per pill. Manufactured in new crown city. Gives a massive high. Starting bid price, $1000." Mr Austin said.
Bids went up and it was sold for $9,800. Next was an antique gun. Which was sold out as soon as it came to a man popularly known as Chief.
"Here's the drug of the moment. The pill."
Mr Austin said as three ladies walked in wearing tennis skirts, a corset top, and bunny ears.
"The starting price of the pill is $20,000 and it comes with the lady holding it." Mr Austin said, earning lots of oohs and aahs from the crowd.
Nobody bidded for the pill yet. Everyone was waiting for him to bid. Everyone was looking at where he was seated. But, he just sat looking at the stage as if transfixed.
"Since nobody will bid, I bid $13,000," Henry called out. Looking slyly at Mr Blood.
When Mr Blood did not say anything, everyone picked it up from there.
The pill was bidded up to $20,000 by Henry and everyone else backed out.
"Going once, going twice? Going thri-" Mr Austin said while scanning the crowd. Looking hopefully at Mr Blood who at that moment cut him off
"$20,001," Mr Blood said, raising his tag.
The crowd went pin-drop silent. Henry's laughter broke the silence.
"You drive a wicked bargain. Mr. Blood," Henry said as he lowered his tag.
"Going once. Going twice. Going thrice. Gone. Mr Blood has the pill."
"You're mistaken. I only want that girl." Mr Blood said as he pointed to the lady at the end.
"Alexis. Make your choice now. It's either me or him." Jacob said to her as he brandished the engagement ring in front of her. While Alexis fought a battle within herself. There was so much to sacrifice just to keep him happy. Just to keep him alive. "I chose him. Jacob. I chose Marcel. Not you." She said, biting back tears. Marcel wore a sinister smile on his face. "I always knew you were here for the money. When you said you love me I thought everything changed but it didn't. You're just money hungry." Jacob spat absolutely mad as he tugged at his tie. Loosening it and storming off. "I'm sorry." She whispered as he was out of sight and tears trickled down her face. Since the day Alexis Roberts signed the contract, Jacob Pitt had vowed never to trust her. The transactional relationship was going fine and smooth. Until they started falling for each other. Alexis Roberts and Jacob Pitt, meet at a function and from then henceforth, Alexis would be Jacob's 'display' girlfriend while she got paid for it Different scenarios arise to test the relationship. From past lovers, to frenemies and secrets kept from each other. Will this transactional relationship pass the test of time? Read My Priced Darling to find out!
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ This Book Contains Matured Contents, reader's discretion is advised. *** "Do you have any idea how much I want to be inside you right now?" he asked as he stood to his feet. "Then why aren't you?" I responded, loving the feel of him pressed so close, my back to the mirror, my front to him. But even still, in some far corner of my lust-fogged mind, I realized that we were still in a bathroom. Anyone could walk in and see us. The thought of getting discovered was scary and erotic at the same time. "Oh, we're not done. Spread your legs a bit for me, Kitten." He commanded. When I did as he instructed, he settled between my legs again. "Now close your eyes. And try not to move." Dominic Rutherford murmured. I drew in a sharp breath as his fingers slipped into me with a silky, wet ease. First one. Then another. A feverish tide rose inside me, and I groaned. I jerked in response, causing me to unconsciously move my hips towards his teasing, clever hand, seeking more. "Ohh-" My body trembled under his touch. "Please..." *** Ruby escapes a stifling marriage filled with betrayal, eager to reclaim her freedom. At a masquerade ball, she meets Dominic, a mysterious older man always wearing a mask and has a complex past. Their intense attraction ignites a passionate and dangerous affair. Dominic, who was tasked by Ruby's unknown brother to find her, is captivated by her defiant spirit. As Ruby gets entangled in Dominic's dark world and faces threats from her vengeful former husband and an enemy within, she struggles with her fear of love. Will Ruby and Dominic overcome their pasts and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart? Can Ruby submit to love even after the truth is revealed?
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.
Daisy is the illegitimate daughter of Mr. Hubert. His company went bankrupt, so he asked for help from Drkov's house. They agreed to help Mr. Hubert but with one condition. One of his two daughters must marry their nephew - Atlas Drkov. Atlas Drkov is a billionaire but he is disabled and uses a wheelchair. Yaretzi - daughter of Mr. Hubert's official wife - does not accept marrying a disabled man. She and her parents made a plan. They kidnapped Daisy's mother, threatened her, and forced her to marry Atlas. To save her mother, she accepted. However, after getting married, she fell in love with this man, and so did he. Difficulties start from here.
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
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.