AFFECTION AFTER DIVORCE
With a cheerful jingle, I swung open the door of Douglas Diner, signaling my arrival. The familiar aroma of brewing coffee and the distant hum of conversation welcomed me like old friends. Glancing around the bustling café, my eyes sparkled with anticipation. The morning rush was on the horizon, and I was ready to dance through the tables, ready to receive customer orders.
"Good morning, everyone!" I exclaimed, my voice cutting through the morning buzz. My fellow colleagues looked up from their duty posts and responded with smiles. "Good morning, Alicia."
Swiftly, I made my way to the staff room, reaching my locker to retrieve my crisp notepad and trusty pen. Back on the floor, I weaved through the occupied tables with a smile on my face, greeting customers with a warm "Good morning!" and a sparkle in my eye. The regulars grinned in response, accustomed to the infectious joy I brought to the café.
The jingling of the doorbell signals the arrival of a customer, capturing my attention. In walks a tall, sun-kissed man with tousled dirty blonde hair and vibrant green eyes.
"Good morning! What can I get for you?" I ask, pulling out my notepad and pen.
"Hey there, beautiful. I'll take a regular latte and a chocolate donut," he replies, and I promptly jot down his order.
I stride over to the coffee machine, preparing his latte, and then return to the counter to hand him his donut. Once the latte is ready, I carefully pour it into a coffee cup, seal it with a lid, and offer it to the gentleman.
"Thanks, love," he replies, punctuating his words with a wink that prompts an eye roll from me. As he heads out, he hands me the money for his order along with a card bearing his number. I dismissively roll my eyes at the gesture and discard the card once he's out of sight.
Just in the nick of time, one of my closest friends enters through the doors, causing a smile to light up my face. She makes her way around the counter, and we exchange a warm hug.
"Hey Pete," I greet as we break away from the warm hug.
"Hey Alicia, have you been busy?" she inquires, and I shake my head in response.
"Not really. I just started a few minutes ago, and it's pretty relaxed," I reply.
Pete's roots trace back to Ethopia, but she was born here. Over the last two months, we've had the chance to get to know each other, and she's become a significant part of my life. Pete has gorgeous brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. Joyce is my second best friend, in addition to Pete. I've known Joyce a little longer than Pete, but my feelings for both are the same.
"Well, let's get back to work," Pete declares before her first customer arrives.
*************
More customers begin to arrive, and the diner quickly fills up. Pete and I have been serving customers for the past four hours. Joyce had arrived three hours earlier, around six thirty in the afternoon. When I felt someone poke my arm, I was in the process of producing a smoothie for one of the clients. When I turn to the side, I see Pete and throw her an annoyed expression. I turn off the machine and completely turn my body to face Pete.
"Why are you poking me Pete, can't you see I am working? ." I ask and she responds by grinning like an idiot and pointing at one of the tables.
I follow her finger pointer until I see one of our regular clients seated at one of the front tables. Troy Nulec who is well known as one of Miami's top bachelors as well as one of the city's most well-known playboy. Who could blame him? Who wouldn't be smitten by his fascinating blue eyes, powerful figure, and billions of dollars? Oh, there's someone who wouldn't fall for him, and that is me. haha
Joyce declares, "Behold, your Prince Charming has arrived."
If glances could kill, Joyce would currently be dead with the way I looked at her.
In irritation, I retort, "He's far from being my Prince Charming."
Since Troy, whom I affectionately dubbed Mr. Rich, started frequenting this diner, the two girls sitting beside me have been adamant about him being my Prince Charming and expressing their belief that he holds a liking for me. This perception likely stems from the fact that he consistently requests me to prepare his coffee and the standard plain bagel with cream cheese.
"Yeah okay keep denying it but know that if you could you would let that man do you all day and night." Pete added this time it was Pete's turn to receive the death stare.
I just rolled my eyes at their little comments before walking towards Mr. Rich. I take out my notepad from my apron pocket as well as a pen.
"Good afternoon Mr. R ... Nulec what may I get you today?" I ask with a fake smile I had to give to the costumers.
"The usual." He responds not really paying attention to me.
He had his hand on his chin as he looked out the window deep in thought. I simply nod before I write down what he usually orders.
"Alicia can I talk to you." He adds and I am taken aback.
First off how does he know my name, oh wait yeah the name tag. But second off why does this hunk of a man want to talk to me an ordinary waitress.
"I am sorry but I am on my shift right now and I can't just sit around talking to the customers." I respond.
"What time does your shift end?" He asks.
"At ten." I respond without thinking.
Why did I just tell him when my shift ended?!
"Alright then I will wait for you." He answers before going back to his thinking.
"Mhmm I am sure you will," I stated inside my head before I turn on my heel and walk away to make his order.
"What were you and Mr. Rich talking about back there?" Pete asks with a curious look on her face.
"Nothing." I reply as I finish making the smoothie and start on the coffee and bagel.
"You sure?" Joyce states while raising an eye brow in suspicion.
"Yes I am sure, now leg me get back to my work." I respond as I pour the coffee into a mug and place the bagel on a plate.
When Sofia Fernando storms out after a heated argument with her parents, she takes on a night of rebellion with her best friend Gabriella. Unfortunately the night takes an unfavorable turn. Drugged by a stranger at the club, the evening spirals into danger—until David, the ruthless leader of the Capon mafia, who was watching from afar steps in. But David's intentions are far from noble. Obsessed with Sofia, he will stop at nothing to make her his, no matter the cost. As Sofia becomes trapped in a web of dark desire, she must choose between fighting for her freedom or surrendering to a love that could destroy her. This isn't a typical love story. It's a dive into the dangerous depths of obsession, where love and madness coexist.
On the night of her sixteenth birthday, Ava Barbara’s world shatters when she’s captured by Jacob Stanley, a ruthless werewolf hunter who is on a dangerous mission. Held captive, Ava discovers a dark secret that threatens both her pack and Jacob, her captor. Now Ava is left with with two options: Will she tell her captors about the evil that is about to befall the Wolf hunters and the Wolf Pack ? Or will she find a way to safe only her pack? This book will test your patience, so be prepared. Enjoy😁
Meek and kind-hearted Robert is stuck in a turbulent marriage with Pamela, the love of his life, whose family appears to harbour an irrational hatred for him. He constantly experiences hostility and abuse from his wife's family because he is the son-in-law. Robert's in-laws are unaware that he is not the poor, common man they believe him to be. In truth, Robert is the last survivor of a sizable wealth that was left to him by a distant uncle who died many years ago. Robert had decided to keep his financial situation a secret from Pamela and her family out of concern that his money would overshadow any true relationship.
(This book has sex scenes is rated 18+)In the elite world of New York City, 19-year-old Sophia Jack's life shatters when her father arranges her marriage to Billionaire Andrew Arthur, the son of a childhood friend. Sophia resists, setting the stage for a tumultuous relationship. Dark secrets surface as Sophia unveils ties between both families and the underground mafia. She faces a gut-wrenching choice: expose her father's past or allow Andrew's family's criminal empire to flourish. With the Mafia closing in, Sophia strikes a dangerous deal to save them both. But danger escalates, leaving them with the consequences of their choices.
"In a twist of fate, their lives collide under tragic circumstances. Bound by a dying wish, they find themselves tied together in matrimony without love. As the wife grapples with her father's final request, she must navigate a loveless marriage while her heart yearns for freedom. But amidst the shadows of obligation and manipulation, secrets unfold, unveiling a web of intrigue. Will they succumb to the weight of their circumstances, or will love find its way through the cracks of their arranged union?"
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
**This book contains a trigger warning. Mention about rape and torture in this book. Please read with caution** "Our marriage is nothing but a deal," he said looking at the girl, her green eyes met his cold silver eye, and both of them glared at each other. "For any rules you break, I will claim any part of your body," his gaze grew dangerously darker at his word. Ashley Harlow was at the top of the world, living the perfect and luxurious lifestyle as the legitimate daughter of the well-known Daniel Harlow. But sadly, a one-night stand put an end to that and brought her life upside down and that of her family's name to the ground. To restore his family's reputation, she was forced into marrying Damien Albrecht, a young, ruthless, obnoxious, brutal billionaire and the head of a mafia gang in exchange for her father's company.
I pressed my lips against his and stole his sweet, savory taste, not ready to end the sweet moment. I licked my lips seductively and whispered. "Despite your age, I love you." Sarah was obsessed with the man of her dreams, despite knowing that their love was forbidden and would be disapproved by her father and others. She held onto the many beautiful dreams she had of being with him, wishing for them to come true. She found herself in love with her father's best friend, a very handsome man who had been rejected by his wife. Her desire was to show him what true love really meant. When her father received a job transfer,Sarah saw it as a perfect opportunity to be with him. The situation improved even more when she realized they would be living under the same roof.
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
"The entire wealthy circle in Seattle knew how much Stella Carlson loved Aaron Malone. People watched the childhood sweethearts grow from inexperience to maturity, finally getting married in a grand wedding ceremony. On the day of the wedding, despite the alliance between the Carlson and Malone families, the groom ran away. Stella knew that Aaron had rushed to L.A. to take care of his ex-girlfriend, who had attempted suicide. Unwilling to become the laughingstock of all Seattle, she gritted her teeth and dialed the number of her adversary, her tone almost commanding, "Ethan, come and marry me now. This is your only chance for revenge." On the other end, Ethan Powers raised an eyebrow as he gripped his phone, staring at the floor littered with cigarette butts. "Did the groom run away?" he asked. "My darling."
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” 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. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”