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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...
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. Whatās worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldnāt thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesnāt seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that heās different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
Warning! Mature Contents! ***Excerpt*** "You belong to me, Sheila. I alone am capable of making you feel this way. Your moans and body belong to me. Your soul and your body are all mine!" *** Alpha Killian Reid, the most dreaded Alpha in all of the North, wealthy, powerful and widely feared in the supernatural world, was the envy of all other packs. He was thought to have it all... power, fame, wealth and favour from the moon goddess, little was it known to his rivals that he has been under a curse, which has been kept a secret for so many years, and only the one with the gift of the moon goddess can lift the curse. Sheila, the daughter of Alpha Lucius who was an arch enemy to Killian, had grown up with so much hatred, detest and maltreatment from her father. She was the fated mate to Alpha Killian. He refused to reject her, yet he loathed her and treated her poorly, because he was in love with another woman, Thea. But one of these two women was the cure to his curse, while the other was an enemy within. How would he find out? Let's find out in this heart racing piece, filled with suspense, steamy romance and betrayal.
[Cute Baby + Secret Identity + Powerful hero and heroine!] Caroline loved Damian with all her heart for five whole years. She devoted herself to him and lived humbly for his sake. However, when the couple faced a crisis, she hoped that the news of her pregnancy would fix their marriage, but what she got in return was just a divorce agreement. And to make things worse, while she was about to give birth, she had fallen into someone's trap and her life was in danger. After managing to survive such a harrowing experience, she was determined to cut all ties with the man. Five years later, she re-emerged with her head held high, being the CEO of a famous company. Those who used to bully her now got a taste of their own medicine. And the truth about the past gradually surfaced... Dazzled by Caroline's newfound confidence, her ex-husband wanted to get back together with her, but she just turned a blind eye to his advances. Damian pleaded desperately, "Honey, our baby needs both his parents. Please remarry me!"
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!
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"