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Ixora Benedict, a very shy young lady who was well endowed, considered fat by females but sexually objectified by males. She was full of love, loved to show affection openly and dreamed of having a family someday. She had been in a few relationships but none was genuine. They couldn't see past her feminine features which were very accentuated and only wanted her for one thing which was Sex. She graduated from college two years back and has worked with an event planning company, Jolly Events, New York, from her last year in college till now but she gets fired because her boss finds out that she engaged in a one night stand with a guest at the wedding in which she had worked as an usher... After she's fired, she gets a new job as the secretary to the CEO of a big corporation. To her surprise it's the guy with whom she had the Steaming one night stand, He's the CEO of SMITH INCORPORATED, Jason Smith. He doesn't recognize her and is initially unkind to her but later on becomes nice to her. Ixora can not help but fantasize about him, little did she know that he had ulterior moves. She catches him speaking ill about her to his friend and sexually objectifying her just as other men had done in the past. She's mortified and decides to harden her heart. She embarks on a journey to build herself to the point that she no longer needs any form of male validation. The world's number one billionaire, same person who took her for granted earlier, now wants her for himself... Would she be able to give love another chance in her life? Or will she forever have disdain for love?
"Please I'd love it if you never called me again!" I said and slammed my phone on the bedside table.
On second thought, I hope I didn't crack my phone.
I immediately take off my eye mask and inspect my phone. Thankfully, it wasn't broken. I breathe in a sigh of relief. I really couldn't afford a new phone right now.
Imagine if I get my phone broken because I was pissed off at some stupid ex. I had broken up with him a long time ago but somehow he thought it was okay to call me today.
Sighing once more, I get out of my bed and look at my face in the mirror. The eye bags sat comfortably under my eyes. I sigh once more.
At this point, I don't know who sighed more between a snail, snake and I.
Oh, snakes don't sigh, they hiss. So much for being an educated individual.
I throw on a baggy shirt on the bralette I had on and head to the sitting room.
It was still early in the afternoon and I thought I'd be able to sleep for a while before I went out for the work meeting I had to attend later. I rarely sleep at night these days. No, not because I work at night. I just can't seem to sleep at night.
I don't want to take any medications and I have refused to admit that I had insomnia.
I have always been a big sleeper, I just don't know what was wrong this time. I have decided to address it as something temporary.
"Oh Ixora, I thought you were asleep." Jessica, my roommate said as she saw me.
"I can't seem to sleep. Well I was asleep before some idiot called me, totally distorting my sleep that was so hard to find," I said and sighed again. What was wrong with me and sighing countless times today?
"That's sad. Have you considered taking sleep medication?" She asked me
"No, I haven't. I do not want to take any medication that my body may want to rely solely on for sleep." I said.
"I think you should take some though..." she said and threw some popcorn into her mouth.
I threw myself on the couch and watched TV with her. She was watching some kind of entertainment news.
"The biggest corporation in the world from our very own country the United States of America," the presenter paused and smiled proudly, "has bought 10 small companies and flipped them into million dollar companies in the space of three months," she continued.
"Hmm, three months? It seemed this biggest company turned things to gold." I said jokingly.
"If it's Smith incorporation, then, Yes, they turn everything to gold. I'm sure if I went into that company now, I'll become gold. They're really good." She said. Jessica knew bits and bits about business because her family was into it.
"5 of these companies are in the United States. Other companies are in the United Kingdom, China, India, Australia, South Africa." The presenter stated.
I must admit, I was impressed.
"Among the five companies in the United States, one is in publishing, the other in media and entertainment, two in food production and the last in finance. Let's not forget that this company has invested heavily in agriculture. This company is no other than Smith Incorporation." The Presenter finished.
"I said it!" Jessica exclaimed.
"Did you know their headquarters office is not so far from us?" She asked.
"No, I didn't." I replied. Maybe I should get a job there. Because my bills were part of the reasons why I couldn't sleep.
"I have bill-induced insomnia," I said to myself and chuckled at the absurdity of that.
"Jess, I have to go in to work for a brief meeting," I notified Jessica and got up.
I dressed up and left for the meeting.
***
"We have a big event coming up. I want all of you to get ready. Prepare! Do whatever you have to. I don't want anyone slacking!" My boss, Miss Williams screamed.
I really couldn't understand why she was shouting. This is supposed to be a meeting for god's sake. It was worse because I sat in front and had her saliva all over me.
Will I tell her that? No. She's always right but at least she pays promptly even if the pay was beginning to seem very mediocre.
"Remember not to be personal with the guests. This is a high profile wedding and only high profile individuals will be in attendance." She rambled on.
"Ixora! Ixora!" I hear her call my name.
"Yes Ma'am?" I immediately reacted.
"Why are you zoning out in the middle of an important meeting?" She asked.
Important indeed. With her repeating what she says in every other meeting?
"I'm sorry ma'am, it won't happen again." I apologize, just as any employee would do. Isn't it crazy how you have to apologize for everything Even when you're right? Surviving in the present world isn't for the weak.
"It better not! Imagine if you zoned out while working?" She asked. What a foolish question. If I zone out while working, I'll fall flat on my face when I stand while working.
"I'm sorry ma'am, I'll try my best not to zone out while at work," I apologize once more and I hear some of my colleagues chuckle.
Miss Williams tutted and went back to her lecture.
***
The meeting was thankfully over. After the meeting I had decided to speak to my boss about a raise but she turned down my request.
Feeling downcast, I decided to take a different route home.
I now saw the headquarters office of Smith Incorporated that Jessica talked about. It wasn't just a big company, the building was gigantic!
Maybe I should try getting a job here. I'm sure the pay would be much better and maybe there wouldn't be so much nagging.
I walked towards the building but I felt out of place. I wasn't dressed like someone who should be given a job there. I shyly withdrew. I'll return well prepared.
***
I get into my apartment and my roommate is cooking
"Hey, you're back," she said .
"Yes, what are you making?" I asked.
"Mac and cheese," she replied.
"Oh that's nice." I said as she continued.
"Umm," I cleared my throat and started "please I know I am far behind on my rent but I'll see what I can do before the end of the month." I finished.
"Oh that's not a problem, do you want some food? I'm done cooking." She asked.
"I'm serious, I'll try to raise some money soon." I said.
"That's not a problem, Ixora. It's not a problem and has never been a problem." She said, suddenly very serious.
"Here, take your food and rate my cooking," she says jokingly and hands me a plate.
I ate and tried not to think of my troubles.
Clara Davidson, a maid in the Green mansion, has a run-in with her drunken master/boss; they spend a night together, and she ends up knocked up and pregnant with twins. She lives in hiding because this boss of hers is the head of a dangerous mafia. News of her pregnancy spreads like wildfire within the camp of her boss's enemies, and they take her hostage. Antonio Green, the most powerful young drug lord and mafia king, hears of this and takes it as a threat. He decides to teach his opponents a lesson-'Never mess with Antonio.' His advisers and right-hand men warn against this, as he'll be risking his whole empire just because of a poor wench. Will he heed advice? Or will this poor wench be the downfall of Antonio's undefeatable dynasty?
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?
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Veronica is an eighteen-year-old omega who falls into an emotional breakdown when her Mate, who was soon to be the Alpha of the Sun crest pack, turns against her, hurls hurtful words at her, and rejects her on the night of the full moon festival because he and everyone in the pack, including her, thinks she is an omega. As if the pain of rejection, helplessness, and worthlessness wasn't enough, she lost her best and only friend to the cold hands of death when rogue wolves attacked their pack. Right in the presence of her mate, she was tagged as someone who always attracted problems and calamities anywhere she went and he turned a blind eye and watched as she was banished from the pack. With hatred for her life, she runs deep into the woods that were off-limits and jumps off to end her life, but in a turn of events, something else happens. What would her mate do when he finds out that Veronica is not who he thinks she is? Will she be able to forgive him? What fate lies ahead for them?
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.