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Eva Thornfield may know fabrics perfectly, but investors seem impossible to pin down. With her dreams of an avant-garde fashion line faltering without funds, her world feels like it's unraveling fast. Until a chance encounter introduces her to the notoriously reclusive tech billionaire Dorian Vance. Captivated by each other, he makes the uncommon decision to back Eva's visionary concept. But as they navigate threats aiming to tear Dorian's empire and Eva's rising success apart, they discover darker mysteries than finding the perfect fabric weave binding them together. Soon Eva must prove her design is flawlessly fitted to unlock Dorian's well-guarded heart, or lose everything she's sacrificed for, personally and professionally.
Eva tapped her foot impatiently against the chrome base of the bar stool, her gaze fixed on the fluorescently lit entrance of Cobalt Lounge. She checked her watch for the third time, letting out an exaggerated sigh.
"They're fifteen minutes late," she grumbled before taking a long sip of her lychee martini. "Some friends. I rearrange my whole design timeline to squeeze in birthday drinks and Gia and Noah can't even be bothered to show up on time."
As if on cue, laughter echoed from the lounge doorway as Gia stumbled in, her silken espresso-colored curls and amber colored eyes lighting up the room immediately. She nearly hip-checked the hostess stand with her curvaceous figure. Trailing in her wake was a slightly flustered Noah, attempting to smooth over the disruption. Lean, average height, with tousled dark blond hair and light green bespectacled eyes, Noah was eye candy, but it seemed the constant attention made him very shy and reserved.
"Party people in the house!" Gia announced brightly as she entered the lounge, giving the room a dazzling smile and ignoring the hostess's side-eye.Though her energy lit up the space, she moved gracefully across the floor in her curve-hugging dress
Eva grinned, shaking her head incredulously as Gia plopped onto the barstool beside her, nearly toppling over. Composed Noah took the other seat, nodding an apology to the people seated nearby.
"It's 4 pm Gia, and this is just my usual casual birthday hang," Eva said. "But I like your enthusiasm per usual."
Noah chuckled, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Please excuse Hurricane Gia. We were on time but she barged into the middle of an Academic Affairs council meeting to remind me about tonight. It was quite dramatic."
"Ugh Noah, don't tell me you were going to let our girl's thirtieth go uncelebrated!" Gia said, mock-shocked. "What kind of friends do you take us for?
Eva laughed as Noah raised his palms defensively under Gia's playful glare. She was used to her friends' playful dynamic after so many years together. She loved her small but mighty friend group-though they made an eclectic trio. Gia was polished but brought unpredictability, Noah brought grounding calm, and Eva felt like she connected them together.
After chatting for a few more minutes to allow Noah and Gia to settle in, Eva gestured to the bartender to come take their order. True to form, Gia ordered them a round of birthday shots along with a flamboyant cocktail for herself. Though Eva insisted on enjoying this lowkey hang, she knew Gia would find a way to coax the entire lounge into celebrating extravagantly with them somehow.
As they waited for their drinks, Noah regaled them with a story from his lecture that morning involving a student falling asleep and toppling right out of their seat. Eva grinned, happy to relax and let the stresses of her impending fashion deadline slip away, if only temporarily.
The drinks arrived promptly, tiny glasses of amber liquid Noah eyed warily, his studious nature making him less inclined to day drinking shenanigans. "I have early lectures tomorrow," he protested mildly even as Gia eagerly slid him a shot.
"Oh come on Noah, lighten up!" Gia cajoled.
"Though I guess professors do need to set a good example..." She trailed off with a dramatic sigh, as if lamenting his responsible streak.
Eva chuckled at their antics. After so many years together through undergrad and now faculty life, they were long past the point of peer pressure with Noah. But they still honored their tradition when they got together, no matter the occasion.
Eva lifted her own tiny glass.
"To chasing dreams," she proclaimed warmly. The phrase had become their special toast ever since college when Noah was on the grad school track, Gia was hustling her catering side business, and Eva burned candles at both ends cobbling together sewing machines and sketchpads trying to launch her fashion line.
They clinked glasses with a chorus of "cheers" and tossed back. The whiskey scalded Eva's throat but she embraced the burn, letting out a satisfied hiss, feeling it kindle a fire inside. Thirty was just another year to come out chasing dreams, hopes still intact.
As they waited for Gia's colorful cocktail to arrive, they chatted about milestones, goals and love lives-or lack thereof in Noah's case-Eva felt a glow spread through her that had little to do with the drinks or birthday candles.
With their unfailing support over the years, she had made it so far already...She just needed one crucial career breakthrough and her and her dreams would finally come to life.
The conversation flowed easily, and Eva was glad she had taken time out of her hectic schedule for this tradition. Moments like these were all too rare, though the strength of their bond endured the tests of busy lives and long gaps without contact.
Just as Gia headed to the bar to procure a champagne bucket "for proper birthday bubbles," Eva caught sight of an impeccably dressed stranger entering the lounge.
For a split second as he surveyed the dim interior, eyes obscured by dark rimmed glasses, she swore he stared right at her-a thrill of familiarity flashing through her.
Then a large group passed briefly between them, and when they moved aside, the mysterious stranger was scanning the rest of the room with his back turned. Eva took advantage of the moment to study him discreetly.
From his well-groomed salt and pepper hair to his leather shoes shiny enough to reflect the blue lounge lighting, he clearly emitted wealth.
Just then, Gia returned triumphantly displaying a bottle of Veuve. "Now let's get this party started!" she crowed, bending to wrap Eva in a clumsy but enthusiastic hug.
She returned the embrace, laughing. Trust Gia to turn everything into a spectacle. Caught up in the moment, she didn't notice one of the waitresses approaching from behind.
As she stood to hug Gia, she stepped right into the server's path. Locked in her friend's distracting embrace, Eva collided forcefully with the poor woman. With a tremendous crash that silenced the lounge, the waitress' heavy tray tipped, sending drinks, glasses and a bottle of champagne plummeting downward.
"Oh god!" Eva yelped as icy liquid doused her, grasping fruitlessly to catch the platter but it was too late...
22-year-old Evelyn Carter is attempting to start over in California while avoiding her past. She will be embarking on a new career path as a private school teacher. She is smart, attractive, and doesn't put up with nonsense. Who wouldn't notice her? However, what happens when she attracts the attention of someone unwilling to let her go? Who wants her and nothing else after falling in love at first sight? A 25-year-old billionaire CEO and single father, Lucian Carrington. He takes what he wants and he is also a very dangerous man. All it needed was one look at a stunning woman to realize she was HIS, even though he doesn't believe in relationships because they always end. Preview: Miss Carter, you will be mine. I say firmly. "Release my arm, Mr. Carrington, before I force you to." She says, seeming to smile at me. I give her a sly smile. Squeezing my wrist with her other hand, she twists it uncomfortably. I gave a painful hiss. "Don't underestimate me, Mr. Carrington." "This is the only time I will allow you to walk away from me, Miss Carter." She glared at me as she turned. "Mr. Carrington, I am no possession of yours." I was left standing there when she opened the classroom door and left.
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?”
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.