Building an empire comes first. Or it did until I met her. My family's billion-dollar hotel chain has been my life for as long as I can remember. Travel. Women. Wealth. That's all I know, until fate grabs me by the throat and decides to not let up. She's a beach body, a beautiful, curvy California girl who hasn't found the right person to give into yet. I would have felt the same, but something about her has me pacing the floor at night. And my father sent me out to her hotel specifically. The sly dog knowing that she's exactly the woman I need in my future. But it's not that easy. It never is. Not until our love produces a little one. Then everything changes. Especially me. Now I want more than just one night. I want forever.
Blake
"Excuse me, could I have one of those?" I asked. The flight attendant glanced down at the stack of newspapers in her arms, a surprised expression crossing her features before her pink lips curled into a flirtatious smile.
"There's a news channel on board, number fifty four." She bent down lower than necessary, giving me a glimpse of the lacy black bra underneath her uniform. Her breasts brushed my bicep as she reached for the controller in my armrest. "Here, let me help you with that."
A couple of years ago, I would have leaned into it. I would have smiled back and taken her to a hotel room as soon as the plane touched down. Not anymore.
Shifting a bit so my arm wasn't in the way of her ample chest anymore, I smiled politely and nodded at the newspapers. "I prefer getting my news from the papers."
The flirtatious smile faltered before she straightened up. "Of course sir. The Times?"
"One of each, please. Thank you."
She shuffled through the stack, then handed me three different papers.
"Anything else I can get for you today, sir?" She batted her long lashes, thrusting out her hip a little. The name tag on her uniform told me her name was Carol.
Carol was pretty and clearly interested, but I wasn't. "I'll take a Macallan on the rocks."
It was after lunch. Still too early to be drinking, but I needed it. Carol nodded and walked down the narrow aisle to get my drink, handing out more papers to the other passengers in first class as she went.
Settling back in my seat, I unfolded The Times. The paper rustled as I snapped it open. I paged past the gossip section, but not fast enough to miss my brother's face smiling up at me from the page.
The headline was one that I saw at least once every couple of months. Danny loved the attention that went along with being who we were as much as I avoided it. Today's headline speculated about my brother dating Madeline Thompson, a hotel heiress in her own right.
I shook my head. Danny, Maddy and I all grew up together. Our fathers, despite being rival property magnates, had been friends for years. Danny and Maddy both adored being in the public eye. I knew there was nothing between them, but I also knew they thrived on headlines and society gossip.
Carol delivered my drink and I gulped half of it down, relishing the smooth burn of the alcohol. My brother was going to be insufferable later. No doubt being the subject of an article in The Times had made his already enormous head swell another size or two.
"Aren't you too young to read newspapers?" Carol asked, hovering near my seat with another welcoming smile.
Sighing inwardly, I nodded. "I'm an old soul, I guess. Thanks for the drink."
My eyes drifted away from her brown ones back to my paper. Taking the hint that I wasn't in the mood to be social, she frowned and took off.
I scowled at Danny's picture for a second, then went in the search of the real news. For the next three hours, I devoured the papers before pulling out my laptop to get some work done.
Too soon for my liking, the Captain's voice crackled over the speakers. "Good afternoon folks. We're going to be starting our descent into Florida in the next few minutes. We hope you enjoyed the flight with us today and that you'll choose us when you travel again."
I was already booked on this airline for a flight out tomorrow, much to my father's chagrin. He never understood why I preferred to fly commercial instead of taking the company jet. Neither my dad nor my brother understood why I chose to stay under the radar, out of the public eye, keeping mostly to myself.
Luckily, they'd given up on trying to talk me into changing my mind. As the Chief Financial Officer of one of the biggest hotel groups in the world, they thought I should enjoy the perks more. But being CFO was enough for me. I didn't want or need the rest of it.
Heat and humidity hit me in the face as soon as I stepped out of the airport terminal. "Fucking Florida," I muttered under my breath, heading toward the rental car company I always used. Why my dad chose Tampa for the company headquarters never made sense to me, but he loved it here.
Something about being able to work and still live the retirement lifestyle. It made zero sense, but it wasn't my logic or my decision. At least he didn't expect me to live here, or even to spend a lot of time here.
I spent my time traveling between our hotels all around the country. I worked from hotels and planes, hardly ever sleeping in my own bed. It suited me perfectly.
After spending fifteen minutes in the express line to rent a car, I made my way through the throngs of people in the airport and found the Mercedes I'd rented out in the lot.
Once I was on the road, I blasted the air conditioner in the car and turned the radio all the way up. Rock music poured out of the speakers. I let the pounding bass wash over me, relaxing the knots in my shoulders.
My father's office was in an imposing building downtown. It was one of the only properties we owned that didn't double as a hotel. Just the sight of it had the pleasant buzz from the music flowing right out of me. I used to love it here, but I had really grown to hate this state. I didn't know what the issue was, but being here made me really uncomfortable, like somehow my skin was on too tight.
Reaching for my collar, I pulled it away from my throat and rolled my neck from shoulder to shoulder. My suit was tailor made for me and up until I landed in Florida, it fit me like a glove. Now it also felt too tight. Like my skin, it was choking me. Making me itch.
A car horn blared at me as I slowed to a near crawl before pulling into the parking lot. Frank, my dad's favorite security guard, waved me through the boom with a friendly flick of his hand. I returned the gesture, half wishing I could stop and chat with him. But my dad was waiting.
I glanced at the clock on the dashboard, realizing that by taking my time to get here I was officially five minutes late. I hated being late nearly as much as I hated where I was. Growing up with one of the most successful men in the country as my father, I had learned a lot about business. One of the first lessons I learned was about timeliness. Time is money and nobody liked losing money.
Gunning it through the lot, I parked in my designated space and jogged across to the elevator. Unlike most execs, dad didn't have a corner office. He had a large rectangular space in the middle of the floor with a massive balcony overlooking the ocean. Glass stackable doors made up one entire side, in his words, to let in 'plenty of natural light.' On days that he felt like it, the doors were opened completely so he could feel like he was working outside.
This guy could offer me the moon, and Iād hand it right back. Never in a million years did I expect to run into the biggest crush of my childhood. But, of course, I have. And Iām reporting to him at the new company I landed a big-time job at. Arrogant. Hot as hell. Total jackass. Why heās still single is no mystery to me. Heās not willing to settle down. Heās always been that way, and as far as Iām concerned, he always will be. But, boy, is he beautiful to look at. Every part of me screams "run" as my insides turn to mush. No. Not me tooā¦ Not again. I should be immune by now. I know him far too well to fall into this hopeless pit of adoration again. But maybe thereās a way around it. Itās his power that drives me over the edge of insanity. If I were the boss instead of him, Iād hold all the cards. Good thing Iām always up for a challenge. Funnily enough, this guy thinks heās going to score. He might have to redefine what getting lucky looks like after me. At least, thatās the plan.
Ethan Lewis has been in the bright lights for as long as he can remember. Heās just turned the cusp of celebrating his twenty-fourth birthday, and yet he feels more like eighty. Living the life of a celebrity isnāt all it is chalked up to be, and dealing with the unruly number of women who are more interested in his billions than who he is as a person is getting old. He has resigned himself to giving up on love and focusing on the only thing that truly gives back ā his career. Riley Phillips has always dreamed of being on a big stage with the warmth of the spotlight baring down on her, but she just couldnāt seem to catch the right agentās attention. After giving a quick commencement speech as Valedictorian of her graduating class at Billmore High, sheās offered something she canāt refuse... The chance to work in Hollywood. Itās not all itās chalked up to be, but she works hard and finally gets her big break four years down the line. There is a new movie that her agent wants her to audition for, and her co-star? The dreamy Ethan Lewis. She scores the part, but soon regrets it due to his callous, overbearing persona. Heās nothing like the public touts, and she for one isnāt impressed. Funny enough, he is - immensely. This is book 1 in a continued series. All books are available
He said I couldnāt do it, but he was wrong. An old professor at UCLA promised me that I would make nothing of myself, so I made sure I did. To the tune of billions. Iām only a little cocky about it. Yachts, parties, and one-night events pretty much spell out my life. And all of it works well until I run into a beauty I canāt get out of my head. But weāre keeping it friendly and casual until we arenāt. Thereās just one problem. Her old man hates me. And for good reason. He was my UCLA professor. Heās dead set against me becoming anything important to his little girl, but the old manās got it all backward. Iām not looking to make an example out of our passion or prove a point. This isnāt about hit it and quit it. His daughter is mine, and he might kick me out, but sheās letting me all the way in.
My Needs. My Demands. Your Pleasure. You're Welcome. She had one year left of college when our parents got married. And thanks to being raised in poverty, she needed help with her expenses. My dad, being the benevolent billionaire, stepped up without question. But there was a catch. She had to intern at the firm for a year. With me. As her boss. Poor sweet little thing. She has no clue what sheās up against, but sheāll figure it out soon. I donāt play typical games, but the ones I do play, I always win. And regardless of how taboo our relationship might become, Iām all in. The reward is worth the risk. I just hope she can keep up with my many demands.
Heās going to make me break my number one rule. And possibly lose my job. How dare he? Itās pretty simple, though. Donāt date students. Which is normally easy to stick to. Who wants to date an eighteen-year-old boy? Not me. I much prefer an older man with rough hands that knows what heās doing. Enter Mr. Evans. A single father billionaire with more time on his plate than he knows what to do with. And the man is brilliant and wickedly delicious. Much to my surprise, heās quickly becoming my star pupil, which means he gets more of my time than necessary. But I canāt help myself. Heās exactly what I need in my life, in my bed, kissing me at the stroke of midnightā¦ And the best is even though heās older than me, heās more than willing to let me teach him a few new tricks. Let's just hope we don't get caught.
I need a wife. Now. It doesnāt have to do with love and living the good life. This is all about getting the money my billionaire father left to me. And Iām running out of time. But who proposes to a stranger after the first date? Me. Thatās who. As if I have another choice. Luck is on my side though, and a beautiful model shows up in my office. Single? Gorgeous? Funny? All of the above. Our first date goes so well that I feel unsure about my decision to do this thing with herāyou know, fake it. I put it off and decide to do it later, to ask for her help after we get to know each other better. But I like her more and more each time we meet, and eventually, offering her a ring isnāt for my dadās moneyāitās because I want her more than anything else in the world. Besides, whoās going to know if itās fake or real? And does it really matter? Yeah. It does.
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.
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
I received a pornographic video. "Do you like this?" The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts. "Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response. "You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!" The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed. I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella. ************************************************************************************************************************ āI want to get a divorce, Mark,ā I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first timeāeven though I knew he'd heard me clearly. He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!" The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him. "I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster. He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table. I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house.
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
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.