Scarlett Brown is a 23 year old beauty with her mother who is her only family slowly dying of cancer. She barely had enough to take care of herself and her terminally Ill mother. She became desperate when she was given a 90 days suspension from work with no other source of living. Damien Blackwell, Chicago's top billionaire is put on the knife edge by his Nana who demands he got married or loses his inheritance and the right to call her his Nana. A business arrangement is just the thing he needs to get his Nana off his back. The last thing on Scarlett Brown's mind was getting married but she'll do anything to keep her only family alive. She couldn't afford to turn down Damien Blackwell's offer, not when the money Could save her mother. As Damien and Scarlett becomes embedded in each other's world, would they be able to hide their feelings for each other? Would they be able to uphold the most important clause of the contract?
I walked into the dimly lit bar, with the weight of the world crushing on my shoulders. I looked around, and stared at the series of people who at that moment, didn't care about the world out there. Some where there to drown away their sorrows like me, and some to just have fun.
I walked towards the bartender and took a seat, removing my bag and placing it on the table. I angrily kicked off my stilettos, these things were another sure way to commit suicide.
" What would you like to have ma'am?'' the bartender asked me
" Give me a glass of your strongest alcohol.
No in fact give me the entire bottle''
" Right away ma'am''
I took a long sip of my drink and gazed out the window of the dimly lit bar. The city lights shimmered in the distance, but all I could focus on was the pain in my chest. I kept questioning the universe why I was born so unlucky.
I lost my dad and only brother to a car accident 4 years back, don't ask me how that felt, because it was the worst year of my life. My mum has been laying in the hospital for 6 months now, cancer slowly feeding on her life and I could do nothing about it.
The treatment fees were ridiculously high, and the money I earn isn't enough to take care of the both of us, not to talk of taking care of the bills of a cancer patient. I was barely keeping her alive with the little I got, she was the only family I've got afterall.
Let's not even talk about my love life, because it seems I was made to marry the devil when I get to hell. My past relationships have been anything but healthy. I couldn't seem to find anyone who really did love me. If my unluckiness was to be weighed on a scale, it would be on a hundred.
I just wasn't meant for anyone. It was among the reasons I was here drinking my pain away. My boyfriend of 2 years apparently woke up this morning and decided I was no longer useful to him.
I took the frustration to work and a client kinda got on my bad side, and I guess it is safe to say he happened to be on the receiving end of my frustrations, and that got my superiors to suspend me for 3 months. Isn't that great?
I took another gulp from the bottle and dropped it on the table with a huge sigh. Apparently, I was half way through the bottle and I didn't even know.
" It's not pretty for a beautiful lady to drink
directly from the bottle"
I whipped my head up and stared at this stranger that was already sitting on the stool beside me with a drink in hand. When the hell did he get here?. I guess this is what happens when you're too lost in your pain and you're trying every possible best to stop your tears from spilling. I ignored him and took another gulp from the bottle. I ain't no nightstand.
" Am I being ignored?"
I paid no attention to him and just continued to wallow in my sorrow, taking gulps after gulps.
"Damsel in distress ey. This world isn't fair"
I still ignored him but as I was about to take another gulp from my bottle, it was snatched from my hands. I turned my head toward the snatcher, and it was annoying Mr stranger.
"That's enough alcohol you've had. This bottle is very strong, and I don't think going home as a drunk girl is safe on these streets"
I stared at him for a while, and that was when I even noticed any of his features or clothes he was wearing. He had on a pair of black sneakers, black pants, black leather jacket and a black undershirt with a black face cap. Who is he now?? Black panther??
I scoffed and tried snatching my drink back but he held my hand and I was forced to look him in the eyes. Holy fucking cow!! If I wasn't in this mood, I'll probably be drooling over his eyes alone, because if I added the face I would be fucking him. He had the most piercing set of forest green eyes I've ever seen. There's just something about them that makes you drown in them. Focus scar!! I mentally slapped myself.
" Mind your own business Mr black"
I took my drink back and tried taking a sip, and again it was snatched from my hands
" I didn't know you could talk"
" So you think because you have a drop dead gorgeous face, you can walk into this place and place your handsome butt in my business?"
I promise, I wasn't the one talking. It's the alcohol, yes, it's definitely the alcohol. He chuckled deeply and ohh God I was almost a melting ice cream from the sound of his chuckle.
" You think I'm gorgeous?"
" Any girl will drool over you and try to fuck you the slightest chance she gets"
What the hell am I blabbing about? Stupid stupid acohol. It's only a miracle I'm not hovering all over him or laughing stupidly
" Well, would you?"
" Would I? Pfft oh please I wouldn't even dream of missing the chance"
That wasn't what I wanted to say. I sure I'm saying all these for someone who just got her heart broken. He laughed and shook his head.
" You're drunk. How about I get you a bottle of water to drink. You need to sober up so you can head home."
" I came here to drink and get fucking drunk to forget my pains, not sober up. So please Mr fine face do well to mind your business"
I took the bottle back, and this time I succeeded in downing the whole bottle. I felt the burn in my throat, and I loved the feel of it. I was becoming numb to my emotions. I placed the bottle on the table and just stared on. My eyes were slowly getting droopy. I gently place both my arms on the table and place my head on it
" You know you can't sleep here right?"
" Shut up Mr Fine face. I'm trying to get a nap and please mind your Goddamn business. I'm not sleeping, just a l..I..tt..l..e n...a....p"
And those were the last words I said before I passed out on a bar table, a literal den of predators with a gorgeous stranger right beside me.
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
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."
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.
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?