"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."
There isn't a single ounce of fear projecting off him as he stands in front of me, his extreme level of authority practically radiating throughout the room. "Touch her again and the next bullet I fire will go through your fucking skull. Comprendere?" He warns, the threat clearly understood as the dozens of eyes around us become wide and fearful. .................................... Arie has always loved the idea of capturing memories and moments that will last forever. The ability to take a picture and know the memory of it will live on for as long as the people in it, possibly even more. That is, until the day she accidentally photographs something that will leave her regretting that one innocent click over and over. Arie is a beautiful talented photographer in her early twenties and very bubbly but he life took a turn when she met with Diego, a ruthless mafia Don who takes no nonsense from any one, if you cross the line with him, you're dead. Arie, one day in excitement took a picture in an event she attended that happened to escalate into a gory Mafia crash, that almost cost her life but for some reason Diego spared her life but it wasn't just on a platter of gold was she released from his grasp, as she became his slave who eventually turned to his lover as she was different from any woman he's ever met.
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.
Mia's life is spiraling out of control. Abandoned by her mother, bullied mercilessly at school, and thrown into a household of four dangerously attractive stepbrothers, she's desperate to find her footing. "You look absolutely edible," Sean growled, his eyes devouring her. Mia felt a rush of heat between her thighs "Oh, you think so?" she purred, turning to face him. She reached out and traced her fingers along the ribbon that wrapped around his waist. "Well, I've been waiting for this all day. And I'm starving." Sean's smile grew into a predatory grin. "Then let us feast," he said, and in a flash, the ribbon fell away, exposing his rock-hard length. He stepped closer, and Mia felt the warmth of his breath on her face as he whispered, "You're going to take every inch of us tonight, aren't you?" With Rolex's teasing smirk and Sean's quiet, hot stares, Mia doesn't know where to turn-or who to trust. Every glance, every touch leaves her breathless, confused, and craving more than she should. Will Mia survive their games, or will she lose herself in a dangerous world of secrets, seduction, and forbidden desire? One house. Four brothers. Endless temptation.
Despite being an illegitimate daughter, Lena bore a striking resemblance to the young lady of the Evans family. Faced with their threats, she was forced to take her half-sister’s place and marry Dylan. As an act of defiance, Lena seduced Dylan night after night, until she had him completely wrapped around her finger. Using his affections to her advantage, she set out to undermine the Evans family. Over time, Dylan began to notice something odd about his beloved wife...
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
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."
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
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.