"Reveal to me who caused you pain," he commanded. I could have succumbed to fear and divulged the entirety of my traumatic past, but instead, I shook my head. There was no way I was sharing my darkest secrets with him. "I will find out... I always find out, cara," he murmured. Despite his assurance, I doubted he could fathom that my father was the source of my nightmares. He gazed at me, and I met his stare head-on. "You have freckles," I whispered, raising my right hand to touch his face. "Do I?" His voice carried a husky tone. He turned his face slightly toward my hand, revealing the firm set of his bold profile. His jaw was rigid as granite, but his eyes softened. Leaning in closer, he hesitated for a moment. I understood he was giving me the opportunity to evade his kiss.
Maria
I opened my bedroom door. As I walked through the entrance, i hit my toe, "Shit" i exclaimed, that's what I get for not looking at where I am going. I got to the kitchen to make myself some tea, well, some people prefer coffee to function, I prefer tea.
I prep some hot water for my tea, I still have about two hours before I get to work. I love cooking myself breakfast in the morning, so I make some too while waiting for the water to boil. I enjoy my solitude and what I love the most about it is the silence, so I bask in it while I sip my tea as browse through my phone. I read my messages and found a message from my best friend Patience.
Patty and I met years ago when I went to spend the summer with my aunt, our friendship wasn't instant, I can't wrap my head around how we became inseparable, but we did. And here we are still each other's besties.
We made a pact that when we clock 50 and still single we should move in together. I know it's crazy, but that is how we are, the thing is, Patty has a crush on her boss who hasn't even realized she exists.
Emotions can be cruel sometimes. I look at how she talks about him with passion sometimes and I can't help but feel sorry for her. Every time we see him on tabloids with different beautiful women locked in his arms, she gets sad. Quite pathetic huh?! but she's the best thing in my life and I wish I could do something about her predicament but my hands are tied.
I wish it was possible to choose the people we love, she would have chosen Shawn. The guy who serves us tea and scones at the cafe across my apartment building happens to adore her.
We are more like neighbors, she doesn't live far from me. I got up and headed to the bathroom to take a shower and dress.
I'm a Realtor and today I have a client who I have to show this really big beautiful house to. I love my job, but it puts me under the pressure of owning a house like soonest.
I don't have enough money at the moment, which would require me to save a lot of money to own one, but I'm saving anyway, dreams come true.
I dress up in a skirt suit, pick up my phone and car keys, jet out of the house, and head to work.
We don't have a parking space in my building, so I park outside, I don't mind. No one in their right mind would steal my car anyway, it's quite too old and rugged to be stolen. I bought it because I needed to be mobile and it was cheap and something I could afford it. It is also very easy to afford. The last thing I need is to get into an accident and harm myself or anybody with me or around me.
Patty hates my car and rarely rides with me, she prefers her Honda. It's better than mine, obviously. It's got AC and comfortable seats, I hope I'll be able to get myself a better car really soon, I think I deserve it. I'd like a Tesla, a girl can only dream, I chuckle at the thought of it. Anyway, I can only take one day at a time and enjoy my beetle Volkswagen till I can afford a better car.
I drive to the house, I want to show the client. It was located in the type of beautiful neighborhood that just exudes wealth, the greenery, and terrace and it had little to nobody walking the streets. Each house has a garage, if I'm going to buy a dream house, it would be in a neighborhood like this. My heart pounds in fear and self-doubt at the thought of owning a house because of my upbringing being a girl who came from nothing, and fathered by a man who told her she'd amount to nothing did something to my self-esteem, but my granny made up for it. She showed me what real love genuinely means, she is my world, which reminds me. I should call her today.
I round my car to the entrance to wait for my client, it's almost 8:30 am which is the time we agreed to meet. I sit up and wait, I'm never late for work I like it that way. I don't want to give my boss any reason to fire me. Although we have never had any disagreement about how I do my job, we have had a few run-ins.
He came to me the first month I started working in the company, he is married and has two beautiful girls. Why would he think I wanted to be the other woman? I would rather end up alone than get mixed up with a married man, God knows I would hate myself.
I want a man to call my own, I want a man who can love me insanely, crazily, passionately and irrevocably. I know, I'm unrealistic, I have been told that a thousand times, but still. I dream, I hope and I pray. This will come from God.
I see a Land Rover pulling beside me, I guess my client is here.
I get out just as a beautiful stunning blond woman is getting out too. Wow! She must be a model, I thought.
"You must be Maria," she says, with a soft voice, she extends her hand to me, and as we shake hands, I say
"Yes, I am,
"My name is Harriett, I'm here to see the house"
"Yes, of course, nice to meet you Harriett, sorry for staring."
"No problem, can we get started, i kind of have a meeting at 10:30
"Sure, come on in" i tell her
We walk towards the house as I open the door she says "it's so beautiful from outside" and I nod in agreement as we enter.
The living room is big. I have seen it more times than I can count, but every time I see it again it feels like the first time.
"It's beautiful" I whisper in wonder, she looks at me in and nods vigorously.
" I love it, I guess we have a winner"
"You do? Wouldn't you like to see the rest of it"
"I already love it, but I wouldn't mind seeing the master's bedroom"
"This way" I head to the bedroom, I can hear her heels as she follows me, I open and I let her proceed.
"Wow, I love it. I keep saying that, I'm sorry, I don't have another adjective to explain it. I smile at her to show her I understand.
" I guess we'll see you by the end of the week to sign the papers?"
"We?"
"Yes, me and my husband, he is out of the country at the moment, we would have come to see it together, but he will be delighted"
I looked at her deeply skeptical, I lost a bit of my hope, I had been so excited, I had started planning for the commission I would get. But now I didn't know whether her husband would love the house or not, I prayed he would.
"Don't look so forlorn, he is gonna love it. I know my husband, he would love it for the sole reason that I do! So don't worry about it"
"Okay". That was comforting, I guess.
"We should go so I can make that meeting," she says
"Yes of course"
We walk outside in silence, then she turns around to Shake my hand again.
"Thank you for showing me the house, I think you love it as much as I do if not more"
"Yes I do, it's a beautiful house, anybody would."
"I agree with you, I will call you to confirm the day we sign those papers?"
"Okay, see you then."
She gets in her car and waves at me as she drives away.
I made a sale today, I thought, but I will not celebrate until the agreement and the cheque is signed. Nonetheless, that doesn't make me less excited.
I pull out my phone to call Patience.
"Hi sweetie, I think I just made a sale"
"Oh, really? Maybe we should celebrate, she says after a high-pitched screech.
"Gab, that's an annoying sound, do you want your boss to come and throw you out?"
"At least he will notice me"
"Oh Patty_
"No, no, no, this is not about me, its about you, and we need to celebrate, wine is on me."
"I don't want to celebrate right now, we can do after the cheque is signed. I don't want to jinx it."
"Since when do you believe in jinxing anything, I thought you were a strong believer of 'what is meant for you will be yours and no one can do anything about it?'
"I still believe in that but I want to wait for this, please"
" Okay, the wine is still on me when that cheque is signed"
"You won't get an argument from me on that. Thanks, sweetie, I have to go to the office now, see you at Shawn's."
Kristin is a young girl who suddenly wakes up in the basement of the Russian mafia and one of the best Assassins in the world, Aleksandr Ivanovic. what he wants with her, she doesn't know. she is forced to face his harsh and cruel treatment. the strange thing there is, Alek keeps referring to her as Khloe, her twin sister's name. She spends too much time there that she starts making friends and maybe, just maybe, she might understand why Aleksandr has her in his basement. she might see him for the broken mafia Don that he is, and not the vicious, ruthless, and heartless assassin the whole world paints him to be. But will Aleksandr keep his hands to himself before Kristin gets a chance to know him beyond the mask he has on, or will he ruin everything before it even begins?? Warning: This is a very dark romance, with mentions of rape, torture, and gory thing.
Content Warning- Violence, Assault, Foul language, and sexual content. Readers' discretion is advised. "There's no place, I'd rather be than to be with you Afina Jones" - Steve when he was falling deeply for her. "In your eyes I see paradise, I'm lost when i look in your eyes and i dont ever want to be found, you're the true definition of perfection and all i want is to compliment you"- Bradley Haastrup Afina, an orphan with a challenging past, finds a supportive family in the Haastrups. Her close bond with Bradley and Lisa changes when Bradley, harboring a secret crush, is deployed. A traumatic incident sparks a connection between them. Afina discovers her buried feelings as Bradley heads to England. She befriends Nixie on a Hawaiian vacation, meeting businessman Steve. A mysterious love journey ensues, marked by a kidnapping. Steve, a gangster, falls for Afina. Despite a toxic relationship, Bradley's return rekindles their love. Threatened by Steve, Bradley prevails, and Bradley and Afina's enduring love story begins.
I wasn't sure I wanted to get involved with someone so powerful. The energy he exuded the last time he was around was frightening as well as fascinating. But my curiosity got the better of me. "Go ahead then. I'm all ears." Right when I believed he was going to go ahead and spill it out, he took an unexpected action. Something so obnoxious and with so much authority. He says in a shrill voice. "I'd like to meet you tomorrow by two at Kincaid. I have a deal for you." And hangs up immediately after saying that. Adriana is faced with a choice to accept the Lycan king's proposal and take revenge on her ex-mate and Alia, her home wrecker or live like a rogue for the rest of her life. Everything was taken away from Adriana. She was heartbroken and dejected, so she left. Circumstances bring her back and she meets Alpha King Ares. The most feared and revered Lycan. He was feared in both the human and Lycan world. He presents an offer before her but she feared for the result of getting involved with such a man. What happens when their path is deviated by fate and they realize that they can't do without each other? Will they succeed in defeating their enemies and conquering the challenges that life will throw their way?
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."
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!"
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!"
Jennifer Bennett, the rightful heiress to the Bennett legacy, fought hard for her family's recognition, only to be eclipsed by an impostor. Faced with false accusations, bullying, and public humiliation, Jennifer eventually gave up trying to win their approval. Vowing to rise above the injustice, she became the bane of those who wronged her. The Bennett family's efforts to break her only fueled her success, leading her to heights her rivals could only dream of. Someone asked, "Do you feel let down by your parents?" With a calm smile, Jennifer said, "It doesn't matter. In the end, power prevails."
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.