Two people - both fiercely independent and unapologetically restless. Bound together by a love that is both beautiful and dangerous. Can they learn to trust and rely on each other, or will their individual natures tear them apart?
Emma sat in her room, her mind flying about the place in a cloud of thoughts. She'd had a busy day at work. Rearranging and stocking rows and rows of shelves with books that had sat in the store for so long, had to count for something, right? She gently massaged the base of her neck.
Sales had dwindled over the months since she joined Patrick at 'The Hippocampus Bookshop'. Patrick had been in the book business long enough, even before the advent of Amazon Kindles and tablets, so he knew they were barely hanging on a very slim thread for survival.
"These kids don't know the joy of owning a paperback," he'd shake his head like a priest at a funeral whenever the subject was raised.
It was hard to deny the truth. With fewer books leaving the store daily, they could only fight to hang on for as long as possible. Fees from the book club meetings and activities, coupled with some generous donations from Patrick's friends who were authors, were just about enough to raise money for the rent and taxes. But that was all it could do. Even the publishers had noticed the steep sales decline and reduced their delivery to the store.
Emma sighed in exasperation and pulled out her laptop from the tote bag she'd taken with her to work. There'd barely been any time to take it out and do some updating on her Reddit blog. Her engagements had soared recently and she planned on keeping it that way, except life had other plans, very shitty plans. But she remained grateful that Patrick wasn't an overbearing boss and he let her do just what she wanted. Giving her best to the job was her way of showing gratitude to him for his support.
Through book club's social events, she'd been privileged to meet with big shots in the writing game, people with New York bestsellers to their names, and she had Patrick to thank for that.
A notification blinked at the bottom of her laptop screen. It was an email from her dad. The last time they spoke, he'd been in some European country, "on a quest to find the meaning of life". He tended to just wake up and leave for as long as two months, only to call you from some resort or jungle in the middle of only God-knows-where, to say he'd found the discovery of a lifetime. And almost every time he did so, it turned out to be a dead end and he came back home, tail between legs in shame and disappointment. Emma knew her dad loved her, and even her mum when they were still together, but for how much longer would she keep on making excuses on his behalf?
She shut the laptop without opening the mail, the zeal to write leaving her. She picked up her phone to go sit on the bed, gently massaging her temples to calm down her nerves. She'd scarcely sat down for a second when her phone rang into the warm evening, jolting her from the whirlpool of thoughts she'd been stuck in.
'Mum', the caller ID read. Her mother had probably called to begin her usual tirade of rants about a new boyfriend who's been an asshole or some other insignificant nonsense. Emma rolled her eyes and watched the phone ring for a while before putting it on airplane mode. It felt selfish of her to snub her mother's call, she could have at least listened on as usual. But she had issues of her own to deal with, her mother's boyfriends would come later. Besides, who was to say that she wouldn't call again to complain?
Emma was about to shut her eyes and take a nap when she remembered she'd been having a conversation with her match on Tinder. She quickly picked up her phone and true enough to her intuition, he had left her a message. They were going to meet later tonight for a dinner date at "Buona Sera". He didn't have a bad taste as far as she was concerned. Not everyone took their Tinder matches to fancy restaurants for their first physical date. She scrolled through his pictures again just to convince herself that he was worth it, that he wouldn't be another disaster to write about on her blog.
A WhatsApp message came in from Patrick, reminding her to write something tonight as they'd agreed. He'd taken up his role as her accountability partner seriously and helped her to develop some discipline. She smiled fondly and texted him back.
Aye aye mon capitane! :ā -ā D
She shut down the phone and fell back on the bed, counting the ceilings unconsciously as she lay face up. Her eyes traveled to the bedside clock; six-thirty p.m. Scarlett would barge in any minute from...
"Hey hey honey," Scarlett strutted into the room, without knocking on the door as was her usual practice. Emma rolled her eyes and laughed in her head. Even Snowball, Emma's ragdoll cat who'd been napping in a corner, seemed to roll her eyes at the disturbance and let herself out of the room.
"Hi, Scarlett. Off to work?" Emma smiled weakly.
"Yeah. What'd you think?" Scarlett swept both hands down her body. She was dressed in a white crop top and a red checkered miniskirt, both legs cold in stockings which ended in a pair of matching sneakers. The three piercings arranged on either of her ears, coupled with the tiny hoop hanging from her nose made her look like Harley Quinn; that's if the Joker's bride was a redhead.
"You're beautiful as usual. A man would kill to have you," Emma winked jokingly.
"Yeah right," Scarlett twirled before taking a mock bow. "So what's happening? You're not gonna glue your lazy bum to that bed tonight, right?"
"Well.." Emma began and trailed off.
"What's the matter?"
"There's my date with this guy I met on Tinder. But..."
"But what? Emma, honey," she came and crouched over Emma on the bed, "You're getting your ass out of this room!"
Emma jolted in shock before bursting into laughter at the spontaneity of Scarlett's action.
"I don't wanna go," she whined like a naughty toddler.
"You're already there as far as I'm concerned, baby girl. Now get yourself into the bathroom and get ready for a beautiful night out at..." She waved her hand in the air for me to provide the answer.
"Buona Sera," I offered.
"Oh my god. This one has some taste, huh," Scarlett slapped Emma lightly on the thigh.
"I don't know, Scarlett," Emma turned around and buried her face in the bed.
"You don't know what? You need a man in your life, baby," Scarlett nodded her head as she spoke, a gesture Emma found quite amusing.
"You're older, you need a man more than I do Scar," Emma teased jokingly.
"Don't be silly Emma. Life's given you this fine man now and he's taking you to the bubu place for dinner too."
"It's 'Buona Sera'," Emma corrected, giggling under her breath. Scarlett rolled her eyes, as if to say, "whatever". "But why don't you have a man yourself?" Emma asked, trying to shift the focus away from her.
"It's a choice I've made. Besides, who wants to pull a man into this shitty life?" Scarlett turned around and walked towards her small closet.
"Don't say that, Scarlett. You're an awesome lady with an awesome life and an awesome job," Emma sat up, cocking her head to the side with a kind smile.
"Bet your grandma has changed her mind then?" Scarlett turned around to face her, a mischievous smirk playing around her lips in an "I didn't think so" manner.
"I'm a stripper darling, I'm used to shit like that. It's cool. But you, honey pie, should step out and meet someone. Starting from tonight," she said, pitching her voice to rise over Emma's groan of protest.
"You're going to meet your Tinder date tonight, and that's it. Get up," she took Emma by the arms and pulled her up till she stood to her full height.
"I helped you, and you offered to pay me. This is the payment I need, and I'm not open to any negotiations." My heart pounded fast when I realised that the little lie I had told had landed me in deeper trouble. After narrowly escaping death, the only thing on my mind was moving on from the betrayal of my family and ex-boyfriend, but my little revenge plan backfired. Now I'm forced to be with a stranger and on his terms. Why must I pay such a steep price for a small favour? Ava had endured so much abuse from the woman who claimed to be her mother. Finding out about her best friend and boyfriend's secret affair just a few days after she let him take her virginity was the straw that broke the camel's back. After surviving an accident, shattered Ava ran into her enemies on the day she was discharged. To level up and make them believe she had moved on with her life, she told a little lie with the aid of a stranger who later asked her to return the favour, but his demands were outrageous for Ava. He threatened to make her disappear from the face of the earth if she refused his payback option, now Ava's trapped with the stranger, in a new environment, very far from home. How long will she be his slave before she gains her freedom again?
Serena agrees to marry her boss on contract to save her sick Father and give elevation to her poor family. She has no choice but to remain a maid in secret and a housewife in public to the rude CEO of Eclat Finance. Things get complicated for Serena when the CEO's best friend blackmails her about her past and threatens her into doing the unspeakable to enable him to swindle his best friend. Serena is stranded as she falls in love with the CEO but cannot go back on her agreement to betray him as that could cost her life and her family. Find out in the chapters what would go on, and how it would end for Serena.
"You don't matter to me, and you never will." He pushed me to the ground as I sobbed. "But here my dear, you're meant to please me. If your father had not come begging on his knees, I wouldn't be marrying you. So you better make this worth it or I'll have to kill you with my bare hands." He said, causing me to tremble out of fright as he moved towards me... No... not now please, I wasn't ready to lose my virginity. I fled out of the room but he was quick to catch me. He slammed me to the wall and my head hit hard against it. I wasn't strong enough to take the pain that came with it...my head felt light, and the next thing I knew was that I was consumed by darkness. ****** Kassidy's life became a relentless series of injustices after her mother's death. She was coerced into a marriage she had to endure, bearing witness to her husband's cruelty. She never considered their union genuine, having been raised in an abusive home. She could only hope that one day she would find peace with the world and life. Meanwhile, Melody, her covetous stepsister, desired everything that had ever been offered to Kassidy, including her inheritance, claiming it as her birthright. Melody's father, Steve Jean, who is also Kassidy's stepfather, withheld privileges from Kassidy while he imposed an unfair condition. Kassidy must marry! Perplexed, Kassidy felt chills of terror running down her spine upon hearing the name proposed for her. The rumors circulating about him filled her with dread, but she was left with no choice. She reluctantly surrendered herself and her birthright to her step-sister. How much longer could she endure this injustice? As for Bruno, fate appeared to have different plans in store for them. How could she possibly cope?
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
Stella Richard married Rene Kingston in the place of her sister Sophia due to some reasons. But from the beginning, she knows that her marriage was just a time-limit contract and once the time was up she had to go. For RK, this marriage was just a burden but for her, it was a gift from God. Because RK was the man who she had loved all her Youth... So, in the meantime of her marriage, Stella did her best so that this marriage may work out. But on the day she found she was pregnant, her husband gives her the divorce paper and said... "I don't want this child. Don't forget to abort." These words come out of his mouth, like a bomb for Stella, and changed her life... She signed her name on the divorce paper and left the house... Because she doesn't want to be with such a cold-hearted man... Five years later... RK bought the company In which Stella worked. But Stella did her best not to have anything to do with him... Because she had a child and she didn't want him to find out about him... But one day When Stella picked up her son from school he saw her... RK, "How dare you had a child with another man?" Stella, "I don't think it has anything to do with you." RK was about to say more when his gaze fell on the child beside her... His face looked as same as when he was young...
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
āYou need a bride, I need a groom. Why donāt we get married?ā Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. āShe keeps asking for a divorce, but I donāt want that! What should I do?ā
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called āsisterā. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, āNever!ā