"Excuse me, sir?" I inquired, taken aback by his directive. "If I don't see you in the next thirty minutes," he said, his tone ice-cold and authoritative, "I will make sure to inform the financial department to remove a substantial amount from your salary as a punishment for your blatant insubordination. And trust me, I will most certainly follow through on this." "But sir, I live quite a distance from the office, and thirty minutes simply won't be enough time for me to reach there, especially considering it's already midday," I said, anxiously checking the time on my phone screen and hoping he would understand my predicament. "If I don't see you today, I promise you that, I will punish you in such a way that it's gonna hurt you so bad" he said, as he switched of the phone. "Is this the tormentor sent straight from the depths of hell to turn my life into a never-ending, infernal circus of torment?" I quipped to myself, half amused and half incredulous, as I rushed hurriedly towards the safety of my room, pondering the absurdity of my situation. Ayra Malik, an ordinary Casino worker finds herself embroiled in a high-stakes drama when her co-worker impersonated her identity by claiming she was her after successfully stealing an Engraved bracelet from a casino client. Caspian Hawthorne a wealthy business tycoon who has ties with the owner of the Casino accused Ayra Malik of theft and immediately instructed for her apprehension without meeting her in person. When the lady in question insisted that she hasn't stolen any bracelet and infact, hasn't met with the client, Caspian decided that he should pay the lady a visit at the Police division where she was detained but on reaching there, he discovered that he was wrong and the lady is totally not the one at the suite.
AYRA'S POV;
"Ayra, Ayra," a voice pierced through the haze of my sleep.
"Today, aren't you heading to work?" the voice persisted.
"Melissa?" I mumbled, my mind struggling to surface from the depths of slumber. "You're back?" I asked groggily, attempting to stretch.
"Yes, and do you know what time it is?" she pressed, yanking the duvet off me.
"Unless you want Mr. Larsson to dock a day off your roster," she teased, playfully swatting me with a pillow.
After several futile attempts, I finally managed to drag myself out of bed.
"Welcome back. How was the night shift?" I asked as she sat on the bed, preparing to sleep.
"Busy as usual," she replied, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.
"Have you already taken your bath?" I inquired, noticing she was about to lie down.
"Yes. What's the point of working there if you can't at least grab a shower?" she murmured, already drifting towards sleep. "Please, make sure to wake me up at 4 PM. I'm not sure I'll wake up on my own," she requested, her yawn wide and weary.
"Sure, I will," I promised.
"Skipping breakfast?" I asked, but she was already asleep.
I rushed to the bathroom to shower and get ready for work.
My name is Ayra Malik, and I'm twenty-three. The lady fast asleep in the bedroom is Melissa Shawn, my best friend, roommate, and one of my favorite people. She knows almost everything about me, though not quite everything.
We both work at the city's top-rated casino. Melissa prefers the night shift for the extra tips at the underground casino, despite coming home every morning utterly spent. I, on the other hand, work in the hotel section. I'd rather avoid the older men's inappropriate advances-especially the ones old enough to be my father.
After dressing quickly, I left the house, closing the door softly to avoid waking Melissa.
"Morning, Ayra. Ready for work?" greeted Mr. Garrett, our kind landlord, as he tended to his flowers.
"Morning, Mr. Garrett. Had a good night?" I asked, smiling.
"Yes, and you?" he responded as I rummaged through my bag.
"Same," I replied.
Mr. Garrett is a generous man, though his wife is less so. He has three children: two daughters in high school and a young son who still lives at home.
"Mr. Garrett, here's our contribution for this week's water supply," I said, handing him the money.
"Thanks. Have a nice day at work," he wished me as I hurried away.
I rushed to the bus station, where my usual ride awaited.
"Good morning, Mr. Alfred," I greeted the bus driver, a sheepish smile on my face.
"You're always running late, Ayra," he noted with a smile.
I didn't argue; I knew he was right.
Gripping the sturdy bus handle for support, I stood among the crowd. The bus was always packed as we headed to work in the affluent part of town. Most of us held menial jobs-drivers, cleaners, nannies-roles that kept us in the lower echelons of society.
As soon as we arrived at the bus station, I bid Mr. Alfred a quick goodbye and hurried off. The walk from the bus station to my workplace was a kilometer long, a factor that often made me late.
Adjusting my bag on my shoulder, I felt the weight of the day ahead as I approached the towering edifice of Eclipse Edge Casino. The vibrant energy of the bustling establishment infused me with a sense of anticipation.
"Good morning, Ayra," Collins, one of the receptionists, greeted with a playful grin. "Welcome to Eclipse Edge Casino, Ma'am. How may we assist you today?" His cheerful demeanor added warmth to the bustling casino lobby.
"Collins, let me be. I'm already late," I said with a hurried smile, heading towards the changing room.
"Ayra, always in a rush," Mr. Larsson, head of the cleaning department, remarked.
"Sorry, Sir," I replied, knowing I couldn't keep making excuses.
"The occupant of room fifty-two just checked out. Go clean up," he instructed before turning to leave, whistling as he scanned the building.
"Good morning, Sir," Collins greeted him respectfully.
"Morning, Collins," he replied in a somewhat bossy tone. "Did you prepare the bill correctly for the guest who just checked out?" he asked, his tone expectant.
"Not at all, Sir," Collins assured him confidently.
"Good," Mr. Larsson replied, ascending the stairs.
I couldn't help but smile. Despite being only the head of the cleaning department, Mr. Larsson often acted as if he wielded more authority. It wasn't his place to question the billing, yet he felt the need to assert himself. Quite amusing, isn't it?
I swiftly changed into my uniform, secured my apron, donned my black shoes, and gathered my cleaning supplies before heading out.
"I thoug........",. "That's my problem with you Miss Natasha, you always think and act, forgetting that you have to seek for my consent first." Mr Anthony interrupted. " I am Beverly's father and it is my sole responsibility to decide if my daughter should go anywhere. it seems you are forgetting your place Miss Natasha". He said as he angrily storm out of the house, leaving me standing with a blurry vision. Mr Anthony Devale is a billionaire who recently annulled his marriage with his wife. But the problem is, he has a three years old daughter that needs to be taking care of. Meanwhile, Miss Natasha Evans badly needs a Job to take care of her sick younger brother who has been diagnosed with a heart disease and a large sum of money is needed for the corrective surgery. Natasha saw an advertisement for the position of a nanny from Job vacancy app with a very good pay. She wasted no time to jump for the offer.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her. Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall. "Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood. Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome! I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do." "Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!" Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"