After a life-changing event, Grace found herself at the most luxurious hotel in Manhattan with the hope of getting a babysitting job. But the moment she stepped out of the elevator, her entire life changed track. And that was because of Dominic Powers, her employer, the father of a five-year-old. The man who possessed an air of prideful gloom, and appeared hard to approach, the man whose piercing ocean-blue eyes haunted her ever since their first, brief encounter. Will Grace be able to focus on babysitting his daughter? Or will she get distracted and intensely tangled with the irresistible Dominic Powers?
GRACE
"Good morning, baby."
That strange yet soothing voice caused my eyes to snap open faster than Thanos's fingers. For a second, I trained my sight on the familiar ceiling above me because I could already tell that I had once again brought home another stranger after a long night of drinking.
My head started to race, trying to figure out what and what happened the previous night.
Even though one thing was sure- I entered the clubhouse drunk and then got extra drunk- it was necessary I remember who I hooked up with.
Ugh...who am I kidding? I won't remember shit. My nightlife is a shitty cycle.
A shitty, shitty cycle.
Once it was established that I am indeed stupid, I braced myself to face the man I had foolishly brought into my house with the intention of having crazy and drunk sex with. It is the type of sex I would never remember and that is the most perfect because I don't exactly work well with feeling ashamed.
Gently, I sat up.
But my head hurt madly, I had to groan and grab both sides of my head. I tell you, the after-effect of intense drinking feels new every other day, it is almost as though I am yet to get used to the aftermath of my insane nightlife.
After sweeping my long black hair out of my face with a small shake of my head, my hands still grabbing my head, I finally noticed the stranger I brought home.
Sitting in front of me was an all-smiling, cute Asian dude, probably Indonesian. I would have returned his smile because it was that contagious, but a battle was still going on in my head.
"Good morning, Rose," he greeted.
Shit. I must have taken up another identity again.
"Hiii..." I wished to pretend that I was happy to see him, but my mouth failed to cooperate. My mouth was too lazy.
"I made you a hangover relief juice. It is my Grandma's special."
I narrowed my eyes at the green juice pushed to my face.
"Your Grandma has hangovers too?"
He chuckled, his motion vibrating the weak bed in a way that caused me to feel a sharp tug in my head. "Ouch. Ouch." My face squeezed to relay the pain I was feeling.
"Oh my, are you fine?" Continuously hearing the tenderness in his voice would have been enough to cure my pain, but it sadly wasn't enough.
Neither was his cute face.
"Could you maybe not laugh? My head is..." He lifted one of his thick brows and I instantly began to eye the greenish liquid in his cup.
Then, seconds later, without bothering to ask what the exact content of the cup was, I snatched the object from his hand and downed half of the juice without pausing.
When I finally took a break from drinking, I sensed the bitter aftertaste. I masked the way I felt with a short smile and the man gave me a grand smile in return.
His attentiveness yet to disappear, he said, "You will feel better very soon."
After a quick nod, I began to scan my room. It was necessary to know what damage we might have caused the room during our possibly heated romp.
But everything was looking neat. Even my drawer was well arranged. On a normal day, it never is. My eyes went to the floor again, and I noted that there was no sign of discarded clothing.
With a confused look, I faced Mr. Cute who was still smiling at me like I was his favourite video game.
"Uh..." I paused because I quickly realised that I still didn't know his name. Honestly, I am not used to knowing the names of men I wake up to find on my bed the next day.
A simple thank you and goodbye always did the work.
As if he knew what was on my mind, the man answered, "David. My name is David."
I dropped the half-filled cup onto the little stool beside my bed and dashed him a quick smile before asking, "David... Why is my room looking like an unused hotel room?"
"Oh, last night when we got back from the club, you kept wondering what it would be like if you had a genie who would wish your room tidy. It was fun to watch you pretend to be Aladdin."
My eyes widened a bit as I processed what he had just said. "So, we didn't...have sex?"
He got up and said, "Nope."
"Huh?" My shock failed to hide itself. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. You did say you wanted to have sex but you thought I was gay because I was talking to the bartender in a way you found suspicious. So, you told me to take you home and here we are." He put his hands on his waist and gave another grand smile.
"Wow." I was still shocked. My vicious nightly pattern has been broken thanks to David and I am really shocked about that. Because David doesn't seem gay in any way.
Or...
My eyes slightly narrowed, and I asked, "Are you gay?"
"Nope. Honestly, I wanted to sleep with you badly, but I just couldn't do it for some reason." He shrugged, a pretend nonchalant look on his face.
"Wow." I think it's a good thing that nothing happened. It is nice to know that I am making progress with the way I live my life.
True to David's words, my headache had reduced and that meant it was time to go to work. I tried to rack my brain to remember which day it was; Monday? Tuesday?
Whichever it is, I need to prepare for work. Hopefully, I don't see a zombie when I look in the mirror.
"I need to check what I am cooking," David announced as he adjusted his t-shirt and made our eyes meet. "You would love to have breakfast, yeah?"
I nodded in affirmation and got off the bed.
Isn't he so extra cute? He is making breakfast for me even though we didn't get any action.
"Wait...." I stopped David whose averagely-built figure was already at the door. He turned, raised a brow, and I asked, "What time is it?"
"Uh... last time I checked it was ten-thirty or so."
"Oh, okay... What?!" I screamed. "Are you sure your time is correct?"
"Yes. It should be eleven o'clock by now."
My eyes widened more and I could feel my head dance in an unpleasant way.
"David... I am freaking late for work!"
Why am I fucking screaming at him as if he is the reason I got stupidly drunk?
Argh!
Hurriedly, I got rid of the gown I had on to expose my bra-covered boobs, and naked pubic area to David who I could have sworn let out a groan at some point.
But before he quickly excused himself, he urged me to try to hurry.
"Please, pack my breakfast! Thank you!"
I grabbed my folded towel from the end of the bed and rushed into the bathroom for a quick shower.
I could have opted to excessively spray my body with perfumes of different brands, but the smell I was getting from my body was discomforting, so sacrificing five minutes to bathe didn't seem like a task.
In no time, I was putting on a pair of blue and silver check trousers and a blue T-shirt supported by my very comfortable black slip-on shoe. I grabbed my phone and office bag and rushed out of the room.
"David, is my breakfast ready?" I took a quick look around my little living room while I fiddled with the earring I was putting on.
David walked out of the kitchen on cue and stretched a brown bag in his hand toward me.
After a quick appreciation was thrown in his direction, I grabbed my car keys from my bag and rushed out of the apartment. It was when I got into the car that I remembered that I forgot to tell David to make sure he leaves before I get back.
It was already strange enough that a man I didn't know just made me breakfast.
But, right now, David, is the least of my issues.
Grateful that my apartment was on the ground floor, I roughly backed my car out of the underground garage and soon, I joined the busy roads of Manhattan.
He scoffed. “I, Alpha Ximun…” Aysu’s eyes bulged. “What are you doing?” “... of the Night Crimson Pack…” Aysu shivered. That was a rival pack. “A- Alpha Ximun. Wait-” “... reject you, Aysu of the Tarmish Pack.” ~~ He was her salvation and death intertwined. He was the hell that consumed her every emotion. But, despite everything, he was the only one she could love and protect with all she was.
"I am married!" I spat into his face. "You can't just walk in here and spew nonsense just because I am carrying your baby." His smirk returned and I realised that I made a mistake that day. That day, I thought I was getting into bed with a gentle soul. But this man in front of me has the darkest of auras. It is the kind that makes it hard to look away or slam the door in his face. So, when he took two more steps closer, I could barely move. Then, he said, "I don't care if you are married because now that I have seen you, it is a must you come with me." ~~~~~ Carrie, on the run from her impending wedding, found herself entangled in a reckless one-night stand with a mysterious and affluent stranger. Little did she know that this fleeting moment of passion would weave a fate she could never escape.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
For seven years, Jillian pursued Bryan with unyielding passion, but he remained distant, his emotions tightly sealed. Disheartened, she left for overseas after graduating from college. Three years later, Jillian, now a successful attorney, sat provocatively on the lap of Bryan's competitor. She flashed Bryan a playful smile and taunted, "What's wrong, Bryan? Are you impotent?" Bryan's restraint shattered in an instant. In a swift motion, he scooped her up and tossed her onto the bed. The next morning, as Bryan woke up, Jillian flashed a mischievous smile. "Let's keep things casual, okay?"
Eight years ago, she thought he was a Money Boy at the club, and accidentally had a one-night stand with him because she was framed by her stepsister. Is $100 enough to buy a Money Boy for one night? The next morning, she casually dropped $100 and ran away. Eight years later, she returned with her genius son. Little did she expect to be "deceived" into the Noblefull Group by her beloved son. Her immediate boss turned out to be Mr. $100 from eight years ago! ... "Bad girl, how dare you humiliate me eight years ago, this time you will pay the price!" "Bad girl, one billion dollars, I buy your whole life!" "I just want to be a secretary. You already have several lovers. You are not my type." "But, I only have feelings for you, only love you." However, their relationship was not smooth. Due to a property dispute, his brother deliberately caused a car accident in an attempt to kill her and their son. Due to past grievances of the previous generation, his father held deep hatred towards him and sent assassins to kill them. There were also plots and attempts on their lives orchestrated by his girlfriend. On top of that, they faced oppression from rival factions of the mafia... This is a romantic novel about a billionaire and his secretary, involving several generations of love, hatred, and complicated relationships, and also involving the mafia, revenge...
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
"Ms. Crawford, it’s time for you to divorce Mr. Larsen and come home. You're the only heiress the Master's waiting for.” ~•~ For the sake of love, Amara accepted the arranged marriage with Tobias William Larsen. She did everything to gain her husband’s heart but when his old love returned, she realized that all her effort was all for naught. Tobias demanded a divorce on the night of their wedding anniversary, even at the price of threatening her. Heartbroken, she finally dropped all her illusions about him and returned home to be the heiress. The next time she met Tobias, they were no longer couples but opponents. "Mr. Larsen, should I remind you again? We've divorced." "Amara, that's the stupidest mistake I've ever made. Please come back to me."