/0/47429/coverbig.jpg?v=21b0f12ab692d75bd10be7e76ce336a1)
Emma Williams was a competent marketing manager at the technology company Parker Technology, until the day she was unjustly fired by her boss. Furious, she vented to a stranger in the elevator, questioning whether the company's CEO, Robert Parker, had any understanding of the company's actual operation. What Emma didn't know was that the mysterious man was none other than Robert Parker himself, who implicitly accepted the challenge she had thrown down. Determined to prove his CEO capabilities to Emma, Robert ordered her to be reinstated to her position. However, his plans went awry when Emma declined the offer. She had made the decision to start her own consulting firm, and with great success, she decided it was time to hire an assistant. When Robert saw the job posting, he saw an opportunity to undermine Emma's company and bring her back. As Emma taught "Bobby, the assistant," the ins and outs of her work and revealed her exceptional talent, an unexpected attraction began to blossom between them. But was it a good idea to mix business with pleasure? And when Emma found out whom he really was, would she be able to forgive him? Emma and Robert will have to decide if they can overcome the barriers that separate love and business.
I was in my office, in the heart of Silicon Valley, immersed in my work as a marketing manager at Parker Technology. The day was sunny outside, but my focus was on finalizing the last details for the launch of the new tablet. It was a project I had carefully planned and executed, and expectations were high.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when my phone rang. It was a message from Benjamin Cook, my boss. He asked me to come to his office immediately. I sighed and closed my laptop before getting up and making the short journey to his office. Upon entering, I noticed he was sitting behind his desk with a serious expression on his face.
"Emma, please have a seat," he said, pointing to the chair in front of his desk. I complied, and my heart started to beat faster. "I have some bad news, Emma."
I looked at him, confused. "Bad news? What's going on, Benjamin?"
He sighed before continuing. "Emma, we've decided to terminate your contract. You're being fired."
I was shocked. My eyes widened as I processed his words. "What? Why? This must be a mistake, right?"
Benjamin looked at me with a cold expression. "No, it's not a mistake. You're being fired because of the presentation for the new tablet."
It was unbelievable. "But the presentation was perfect! I reviewed it, and I can assure you that everything was working."
Benjamin shrugged. "It might be, but I couldn't open the presentation. You know, I only know how to use PowerPoint, and this presentation was in some strange program called 'Prize.'"
I was flabbergasted. The reason for my dismissal was that my boss couldn't figure out how to use the software I had used for the presentation. It was absurd.
"Benjamin, this is ridiculous! 'Prize' is a standard platform for presentations here in the company. Everyone uses it. I can show you how to open the presentation in two minutes; it's very simple."
He shook his head. "No, Emma, the decision is final. I was embarrassed during the presentation because of you. You're fired. Pack your things and leave the building immediately."
My anger began to boil inside me. I couldn't believe I was being fired because of his incompetence in using basic software. I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping the floor.
"This is a terrible mistake, Benjamin. You will regret this. This company is losing one of the best marketing managers it's ever had."
He didn't respond; he just looked at me with indifference. I knew it wouldn't help to argue further with him. I left his office with heavy steps, my heart filled with bitterness.
As I packed my belongings, I couldn't help but feel betrayed and furious. Everything I had built in the company seemed to have been thrown away for such a trivial reason. I knew I would have to move on and find a new path, but the sense of injustice consumed me.
As I walked out of the department with a box of belongings in my hands, I promised myself that I would find a way to prove Benjamin Cook wrong and that I was indeed the best at what I did. Even if it meant starting from scratch and showing the world that Emma Williams wouldn't be easily defeated.
***
With my box of belongings in one hand and anger throbbing in my chest, I stood in the hallway, waiting for the damn elevator. It was as if the building itself was mocking me, prolonging the moment when I would have to face the reality of my unjust dismissal from Parker Technology. I glanced at my box, which contained years of hard work and dedication. Now, it all seemed pointless.
Finally, the elevator announced its arrival with an annoying chime. The doors opened, revealing a handsome man dressed in a stylish suit. I had no patience to be polite, so I entered the elevator without even looking at him.
"Good morning," he said with a friendly smile.
I rolled my eyes and responded with a bitter tone, "Is it, though?"
The man seemed surprised by my abrupt reply but persisted. "Are you here for an interview?"
I furrowed my brow. "Interview? No, I'm leaving this place. And frankly, if you're here for that, I recommend not applying to this company."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Why do you say that?"
I let out a heavy sigh and, on impulse, began to unload my pent-up frustration. "Because this company is a mess. They fired me because my boss, Benjamin Cook, couldn't open the presentation I made because it was in a different format than PowerPoint. I worked tirelessly to ensure the presentation was perfect, but my work was in vain. And you know what? They always overloaded me with tasks that weren't even in my job description. I was exhausted, and all of this just to be unjustly fired."
The man listened attentively without interrupting. It was strange to vent to a stranger, but anger and frustration had reached their peak.
"Furthermore," I continued, "I doubt the CEO of the company, Robert Parker, even knows the company's address. They shield him like he's some untouchable god. But the reality is that he has no idea what goes on at the lower levels of the company."
The man looked intrigued, and his eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Robert Parker, the CEO? Is he that disconnected from the company?"
I nodded angrily. "You have no idea. They pamper him as if he were some kind of untouchable deity. But the truth is, he has no clue about what is happening at the ground level of the company."
The man tilted his head, seeming intrigued. "Do you doubt that he knows the company's address?"
"Exactly," I confirmed, my voice growing increasingly bitter. "I bet he's probably on a yacht right now on some Paradise Island, surrounded by women, without even suspecting that today was the presentation meeting for the new tablet. After all, he inherited the company, so he just goes around making decisions that affect our lives without even understanding how the business works."
The man let out a low sigh, as if processing the information I had unloaded on him. "Well, that's certainly an interesting perspective. Do you think Robert Parker should be more involved in what happens in the company?"
I nodded firmly. "Absolutely. If he were more present and really knew what was going on, maybe things would be different. Possibly, I would still have my job. But what can you expect from someone who has everything handed to him, right? I bet he only thinks about his pocket."
The elevator stopped at an intermediate floor, and a company employee entered, interrupting our conversation. He cast a curious glance at us, but didn't say anything. I continued to look at the stranger, hoping he understood my anger and indignation.
"I appreciate your honesty, Miss..." he asked, seemingly expecting me to introduce myself.
"Emma Williams," I replied, feeling slightly calmer now that I had vented.
He extended his hand toward me. "I'm Bobby."
The elevator reached the first floor, and the doors opened. I gave the man one last disapproving look before leaving, taking my box of belongings with me. "Think twice before applying to this company. You'd be better off finding a place where your work is truly valued."
I walked away with my box of belongings, leaving the man behind. I didn't know who he was or what he was doing there, but at that moment, I didn't care. Furthermore, I just needed to vent, and that brief conversation gave me some small relief amid all the emotions I was feeling.
As I distanced myself from the elevator, I knew my journey was just beginning. I had lost my job, but my determination to prove my worth had only grown stronger.
When Fierce's triplet children are kidnapped, her life takes a devastating turn. Desperate and without resources, she finds herself forced to turn to the only person who can help her: Hunter. Hunter, the werewolf whom Fierce once loved, is now the powerful alpha king of the pack. He has no idea that Fierce's kidnapped children are his, and the truth behind the abduction is more complex than anyone could imagine. As they join forces in a desperate quest to recover the children, secrets from the past begin to emerge, including the consequences of the night of love they shared when Hunter was crowned the direct heir of alpha Alastair... The unresolved passion between Fierce and Hunter becomes an irresistible driving force, but also a barrier that threatens to tear them apart. Will they be able to overcome their differences and accept the truth their hearts have always known? Or will the scars of the past be insurmountable obstacles to being together? Could Hunter forgive Fierce for keeping his children from him?
Ulrich shrugged off his shirt with a challenging nonchalance, revealing his muscular torso bathed in the dim light permeating the room. His golden eyes glinted with predatory intensity as he commanded Phoenix to do the same. "Take off your dress," he said, his authoritative voice echoing through the chamber. "And lie down on the bed." "Why?" she asked, her voice trembling. Ulrich locked eyes with Phoenix, his golden gaze sparking with determination. "Because it's an order, slave." ------------------------------------------ In the dark Northern Vale, Ulrich reigns as the cruel Alpha king feared by all packs. His sole desire is to conquer each pack and solidify his dominion, but a curse spoken by Gaia, the enigmatic Seer, casts a shadow over his empire. Ulrich can only have an heir if he finds a mate from his original pack—a seemingly impossible task after his pack was annihilated when he was still a young wolf. Disregarding the prophecy, Ulrich watches his chosen mates, one by one, succumb during childbirth, leaving him without descendants. Determined to avert the downfall of his empire, he calls upon his best werewolves to find a woman with black hair and blue eyes, a descendant of his ancient pack. Years of searching pass until hope arises with Phoenix, a slave from the plains of the kingdom. Phoenix is sold to the Alpha king, accepting her fate with resignation. Ulrich proposes a deal: if she bears him a child, she will be freed. However, fate has more in store for them than a mere arrangement of convenience. Will the Alpha King overcome his own cruelty for the woman he loves?
Catarina Piromalli is a young woman whose life has been marked by tragedy since childhood. At the age of four, she witnessed her parents, Beatrice and Andrea Piromalli, lose their lives in a terrible car accident during a chase. However, her fate would take an unexpected turn when Don Salvatore Mancuso, the powerful boss of the Ndrangheta, rescued her from the chaos of that fateful night. Catarina grew up in the shadow of the Ndrangheta, raised as an adopted daughter by the Mancuso family. However, Catarina's life took an unexpected turn when Dante, heir to the Mancuso family business, who had previously shown deep disdain for her, surprised everyone by confessing his love for her on her eighteenth birthday. Catarina's dilemma intensified when she realized that her affection for Dante was also growing, despite being raised as siblings. Their forbidden love challenged not only the rules of the mafia but also the plans Don Salvatore had for his son's future, plans that did not include a relationship with Catarina. Catarina and Dante are about to face difficult choices that will shape not only the course of their lives but also the fate of the Ndrangheta as they try to find a way to live the forbidden love they feel for each other.
- Why are you doing all this? - Ellis asked. - Once you told me that I couldn't buy it ... - Vittorio recalled, holding out his pen to Ellis. - Well, look what I just did: I bought the lady for half a million dollars. --------------- All Ellis Barker was longing for was to pay the last mortgage payment on the house she and her brother, Jason, inherited, and thus close her brother's debts. At least until the young woman arrived at the bank and her destiny crossed paths with Vittorio Amorielle, a mobster who will spare no effort to get what he wants, and from that moment on, that was Ellis. And it was thanks to Jason's debts that Vittorio was able not only to buy Ellis, but to marry her. But will they be able to deal with the consequences of this union?
Maria Luísa Braga de Almeida is a sixteen-year-old teenager who lives peacefully in Belo Horizonte alongside her mother, Anna Braga, her aunt Aline and family friend, Ícaro. Until a tragedy forces the young woman to live with the influential family of her father, the candidate for senator, Thiago de Almeida, whom Malú had never heard of. In her new residence, in the city of Curitiba, the young woman discovers that around her there is a network of lies and intrigue that controlled her life until that moment. Now Malú needs to unravel the secrets of her past, to find out what made her father abandon her. As well as facing what the future holds... without her voice.
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"
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!”
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.