Audrey finds herself torn between love and betrayal in her quest for revenge. She is given a new life, identity, riches and power to find out who her assailant is. After finding out it was someone she least expected, will Audrey still seek revenge even if it is at the cost of her blooming love?
*CHAPTER ONE*
AUDREY'S POV
"Ugh, why do I always mess up orders", I watched as the customer threw me a disgusted look. He requested a latte and I served cappuccino. Fuck, my head isn't here today.
"Audrey, would you mind not leaving dissatisfied customers who in turn give us bad reviews on our page?" Janelle said looking pissed.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to, I didn't sleep well last night cause I got back really late from Neon, so I feel kinda woozy and dull".
"Yeah right, whatever. Just stop messing stuff up for the rest of us, not all of us can afford to date the boss's son you know?" she said bitterly with a lot of venom.
Okay that was mean and harsh. Janelle and I have been friends since high school and she knows me more than anybody else and most importantly she knows my relationship with Joseph isn't that serious.
"Janelle, what did you just say to me?, that's really mean you know, I'm your friend and I already apologized right?. Is there something else I'm missing?".
I'm Audrey Maria Ray and Janelle Sophie Anderson was my best friend since our high school cheerleading days. I was captain and she was second in command. I had long dark curly hair, olive skin and brown eyes, while Janelle was a redhead with green eyes and thin lips.
Back then, we both wanted to be cheer captain and I was eventually chosen because I fit the position more, I was prettier than Janelle. That week Janelle never spoke a word to me, she was hurt, I guess, so I just let her be. After some time, we were cool again. After high school graduation, I lost my dad to an accident. He and mom had a really big fight one night. He stormed off in anger, went to a bar, got really drunk and on his way back home, his car crashed into a company truck whose driver was sleeping behind the wheels. I always wondered which company that was. All we got at my dad's funeral was a fat envelope and a condolence letter with no name on it. We never knew the company, and I guess we never will. Ever.
My mom had no skills whatsoever, she was dad's trophy and as such never worked a day in her life. Dad's death broke her, she cried day and night. I took over my dad's position, I was now the bread winner, I didn't get to attend college, the money from the company, we survived on it till I started working and getting paid. It was difficult to get a job here in New York, with any qualifications. In comes Joseph Coleman, the son of a wealthy baker who owns big cafes and pastry shops all over Manhattan, they were filthy rich. Joseph has always had a crush on me right from our high school days. He was quarterback for the football team. I wasn't a whore but I had responsibilities and for Joseph to put in a good word for him, I had to do something for him. That's how I became his girlfriend and got a job.
Janelle knew all this, I never loved Joseph, I don't love him and I never will love him.
"You heard me, Audrey don't mess up orders anymore, if you're feeling sleepy go home, or better still go to Joseph he should be in his office" Janelle said without even looking at me.
She really has a problem, now I am sure, very sure. And I'm never one to start fights, so I chose to ignore.
I tried to be more careful and attentive to the customers in the shop. We got through the morning hours with no other problems.
It was around three in the afternoon and I was wiping off the tables, when I felt arms wrap around my waist. I knew who it was without turning around, Joseph.
"Hey babe, how's it going" he said
"Good, it's been good, what are you doing here?"
"I literally own this place, don't forget Audrey".
Of course blond haired, blue eyed arrogant asshole Joseph Coleman. How typical.
"I know, just what are you doing outside your office"
"I came to see my girlfriend, watching from the cameras was no fun. You're so much better up close, and you're all mine". I felt his hands trail lower to my butt, I held it before he got there.
"Anything I can help you with Sir?" I said, emphasis on sir.
"A lot of things, a lot of exciting things Audrey". I knew what he meant by that. I might have agreed to date Joseph but I've never slept with him, we never went past first base, and I don't plan on it. Soon as I'm stable, I'm breaking up with his arrogant ass.
"What do you need me for, sir?"
"A cup of coffee with cream and sugar and a slice of cheesecake"
"Anything else sir?"
"Yes, bring yourself along as well, pretty girl" he said, touching my face. It took everything in me to just stand still and not smack his hand away but I needed this job, I needed the money. Mom had cancer and chemotherapy is expensive.
"Alright sir"
"Good girl" he said, smacking my ass as he left. Ew.
I heard the bell on the door chime signaling a new customer, as I turned I saw Janelle looking at me, I'm sure she saw my exchange with Joseph. She swiftly diverted her attention to the customer who was placing orders. What's her problem?.
I looked up at the new customer and my breath got hitched in my throat, he was out of this world. Gray eyes, full lips, chiseled jawline and raven black hair. He was extremely handsome. I was gobsmacked.
"Welcome to heaven Cafe, sir" I said as I managed to get my words out.
"Whatever, someone come serve me now, you take down my order now and fast" he said in a deep manly voice, such a pity that pretty face came with a nasty attitude. We can't all be properly trained now can we?
"Sorry sir, I already have an order to deliver now, you'll please have to wait until the servers are free and done with their current orders then you'll be served" I said, maybe with an eye roll too. Yes, unprofessional I know but I can't stand the nasty attitude.
"Did you just speak to me in that manner?, do you know who I am, young lady?"
Celine’s arranged marriage to billionaire Andre Calloway turns into a nightmare on her wedding night with. Her darkest secret from her past is found out by her husband. Andre has to get married to a woman of his late father's choice and produce an heir to avoid losing his inheritance ,but she turns out to be his brother's killer. Celine goes through hell in the hands of Andre to atone for her sins. Will Andre forgive her or will a new revelation come to light concerning that dark night?
Mafia boss Alessandro Rossi retrieves his heir from his runaway wife. He employs the young Victoria to care for his son. After spending one drunken night together, she is pregnant for him. Their lives are entwined now and they end up in a loveless marriage. She finds comfort in the arms of another. Read to find out what happens when the nanny and wife to the mafia boss brings the enemy straight to their doorstep.
Rena, forced to flee to escape a marriage to a man as old as her father, made a spontaneous decision to marry Kellan, a stranger whose skills in homemaking were only matched by his financial acumen and his gentle demeanor. As their marriage unfolded, it took on a comforting predictability, with Kellan consistently showing himself to be reliable in every emergency. This sense of security crumbled when Rena uncovered Kellan’s true identity and the hidden motives behind their union. Enraged, she initiated a divorce and disappeared. Yet, it was not long before Kellan found her once again...
After a devastating divorce with the man she had been married to for over three years, Rachel thought her life was over. Her family disowned her, they wanted nothing to do with her anymore and she couldn't blame them. She had just divorced David Hart, one of the top successful bachelors in the country and heir to the Hart industries. But they would never understand that she didn't divorce him, he divorced her after she caught him cheating on her with her god-damned best friend! Rachel was just about to end everything by jumping off a bridge when she was saved by the most unexpected person. The boy she once bullied severally in highschool because he always wore ugly glass and was from a poor background, how come that glass make him so hot now? Why was he helping her get revenge on ex-husband who is trying to make her life even more miserable? And most important how did he get so handsome? What exactly does he want from her? ... No, you must want something, anything. If you can really help me get revenge on David and Lana, I can't just let you do it for free". Ethan went quiet for a while. I held my breath waiting for what his request might be. If it was something money could buy, I'll try my best to get it for him even though I was somehow broke right now. "You're right I do want something". He said after thinking for few minutes "What?" I asked slowly. " Until you get your revenge on David, Lana and every other person you want, you will live here". Live here as in...? " Wha... What are you saying? ". I stammered hoping he wasn't saying what I thought he was saying. I tried to step back but I missed a step and almost fell on the bed but Ethan caught me holding me in his muscular arms. Ethan moved his face closer to mine be was so close, our nose almost touched. " I want you to be with me! ".
"Miss Brown, I am the butler here at your service," the butler replied. "My master wants to buy the baby in your belly." "What?!" Does that mean the abortion didn't take place? Did they kidnap her from the operating table just to buy the baby? But why her? "You..." Alice was about to ask a question, but the man in front of her calmly continued, as if he had expected her question, "You're pregnant with his child, and he needs a child. That's all I can tell you." Alice was forced to sign a surrogacy contract and eight months later gave birth to two healthy babies. Fortunately, the man was unaware of her daughter's existence. It wasn't until five years later that fate brought them together again...
Scarlett was left betrayed and broken beyond repair when her best friend Megan set her up with the male escort who stole her virginity...Or at least, that's what she thought he was. There was something odd about the strong and strikingly beautiful man that she spent a night with. Despite the pure hatred she felt for him, the deals he ended up offering wasn't one she could refuse. Scarlett always thought she'd marry her soulmate but turns out, that won't be the case for her. But could her mysterious husband make his way through her broken heart and fix it? It's hard to imagine but love has funny ways to manifest in places where it's least expected....
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."
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. "It's time to reveal your true identity, darling."