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Joan's life was shattered when her family's business crumbled, forcing her to work in a bakery to survive. Santiago, scarred by a bitter heartbreak, swore off love-until fate brought them together. They struck a deal; Joan would pretend to be Santiago's girlfriend, and in return, he'd help revive her father's company. But when secrets surface, and dangerous pasts come back to haunt them, their fragile arrangement begins to crack. As their lives spiral into chaos, one question remains: Will their bond withstand the shadows of their past, or will it all come crashing down?
Copyright © 2023 Bethel-Gold.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed "Attention: Permissions Coordinator," at the address below.
Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author's imagination.
***
The golden-brown-haired lady came into the office with two large brown envelopes in her hands as she quickly walked to the table of the expecting older man. She placed the envelopes on the table and they both began bringing out the files that were inside as they skimmed through each of them.
When she felt tired of standing, she sat on one of the chairs that were in front of the older man, she adjusted her skirt and put her hair in a ponytail since it kept falling down.
After a moment the man asked "Joan, anything yet?"
Joan looked up from the file of files in front of her and shook her head with a little furrow on her brow. "Nothing yet, Dad," she answered and he sighs.
"Let's keep looking, there could be something that we could find that would get us out of this mess we found ourselves in," he said and they kept looking through the remaining untouched files.
A knock was heard.
"Come in," Gary said, loud enough for the person knocking to hear.
A man in casual wear, a troubled look, and a small enveloped letter came inside his office, closed the door, and walked towards Gary and Joan were busy.
"There's a problem sir" the man spoke and that made both father and daughter stop and take a look at him worriedly.
"What will that be, Robbie?" he asked then took the envelope that Robbie handed over to him. He looked at the sealed envelope and he looked at Robbie before opening the envelope to see its content.
He took out the folded paper and read its content, his eyes widened when he saw the content and it rose to look at Robbie's troubled ones.
"They di-"
"Yes sir, they did"
Gary stood up and threw the paper on the floor in anger, Joan watched her father's reaction then stood to pick the paper that lay on the floor, and she read through it and could feel her heart race.
She turns to Robbie "They have to be joking" she said and Robbie shook his head.
"They are not ma'am"
Joan shook her head "They can't do this, they... they can't just make such a ridiculous request" she stated then placed the paper on the table "Yes, we have been struggling since the Kingswell project which was a disaster but we are still holding up" she raised her chin up the turns to her dad who had sad look on his face.
"We still have some resources to keep us going, w-we are on the verge of bankruptcy but we can still hold on, right Dad?" she asked for clarity with hopeful look but the sadness that played on her dad's face told her otherwise.
"Joan dear" he came closer to her and touched her hair "We used up the rest of our resources to try and make an alternative but it failed too," he told her and she gasped.
Trying not to let it get to her she shook her head and paced around the room as she thought about what could be done to save her dad's company then she stopped and walked closer to her dad.
"We still own a bigger share, right? We can use some of our profits to keep up for the time being then refer some of our employees to other companies, temporarily so that we can have lesser salaries to pay as we sort out this issue," she turns to Robbie who shares the same look as her dad.
"I don't want them to suffer because our company is, they have families to feed," she finishes and he bows his head then she looks at her dad who seemed like he would burst out crying.
"Joan, I am sorry but we have just a little share from the company" he breaks to her and she widens her eyes "I don't know how that happened but the Reliso's Company was able to get a majority of our shar-"
"And they want more?" she asked, her dad nodded "That's ridiculous, they possibly wouldn't just want our company without having something they gain from," she said.
"What more could they want? They need more power and since our company has been progressing over the years, they saw our weakness and decided to work with that" her dad explains.
"No, not that," she said when realization dawned on her "It's something else," she said then let her lips draw a smirk "And I think I know what exactly they want" She picked up a document and the letter.
"You're going somewhere Joan?" she nods "You want to meet them" he didn't ask.
"Trust me, Dad, I know what I am doing Dad, just trust me on this, please" she begged when she saw the sullen look on her dad's face "I'll fix this and soon things will fall into place" she tried to assure.
She wasn't sure about the actions she was going to take now but hoped for the best.
"Robbie, you heard all that we said, go make a report on that and put the right team together so that you start work as soon as possible," she said and he nodded before leaving "I'll see you soon Dad," she went to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek before leaving.
... Three months later ...
Robbie didn't bother knocking when he burst into Gary's office looking really panicked. He walked to Gary who had a little furrow on his brows when he saw him.
"What's the matter, Robbie? You were supposed to k-" he was interrupted by the opening of his office door again to see Darken Reliso, the son of Henry and Ansel Reliso in his usual expensive Gimanni dark blue suit, clean cut, and shining pair of shoes.
He had that static annoying smirk on his lips and kept his right brow up. He was holding a document.
Darken walked slowly into the office and stopped just as he was in front of Gary, he then let himself sit on the chair in front before placing the document in his hand on the table.
"Good day Mr. Anderson" he greets cooly. He looks up at Robbie who had a glare directed at him. "Can you leave us so we can talk?" he asked but Robbie made no move to leave so he rolled his eyes and looked at Gary "Can you te-"
"What are you doing here Dark?" he interrupts him,
Darken frowned and sat up on his chair "It's Darken, not Dark"
"Same thing, what are you doing here?" he asked again.
Choosing to ignore him, he placed his hands on the table and raised his chin up "Now I see where Joan got her feistiness from" he remarks.
"What do you mean by that?" Gary asked with a little furrow now on his brow.
"You'll know soon, just tell this man to leave us to talk" he side-points at Robbie.
"He is my secretary so he has to be present in every meeting I have with anyone" Gary defends.
Darken looks up at Robbie and then laughs hard before composing himself "Too bad good people are too stupid to see who truly is against them," he remarks and before Gary can ask he continues "Anyways, I came here to seal off the deal I sent three months ago" he states.
"Your offer is ridiculous" Gary remarks.
"What choice do you have? Anderson Tech is going through one of its worst challenges and you are already bankrupt, soon some company will come to buy you guys off and probably turn your company into a children's playground" he said with a laugh.
"I better watch my words if I were you Dark"
"It's Darken and for heaven's sake, sign the document already. It will be okay if we took over some shares of your company than a stranger whom you don't know of, unless..." he wriggled his brows.
Gary got an idea of what he was referring to.
"No!"
"Well then, sign this paper or you'll just end up losing what you think you still have a hold on"
Gary looks at Robbie who has a defeated look on his face, he knows he is in a deadlock here and as much as he doesn't want to agree with Darken, he is right. The Resilo's might be annoying but at least, he knew them.
He looked at the front page of the document then signed in all blank spaces and flung it at Darken "Don't think you can come near my daughter, stay away from her" he warned.
Darken stood to his feet with a triumphant smirk and walked away. "We'll see about that"
Pastry chef Isabelle Marie Campbell is fired from her job in a coffee shop following a report by a billionaire, leading to her struggle to save her late mother’s bakery with a deadline to vacate her space in a month. Fortunately, she lands a job as a personal chef to an old American-based, Italian billionaire. Her heart twists when she finds out that he is the grandfather of the cold-hearted, hot-tempered, and arrogant Alessandro Levon Moretti, an Italian billionaire heir based in New York City. He was also the same man responsible for losing her job. His grandfather’s health was fast deteriorating, and he needed a woman to marry fast or lose his inheritance. As Isabelle contemplates either quitting her dream job or enduring Alessandro’s unwelcoming presence, he walks up to her with a cold and arrogant expression. “Be my girlfriend for three months. We shall have a contract for it…
Cade Lorenzo discovers a family secret which made him feel betrayed. Fresh from college, Cade's quest for answers about his parents' mysterious disappearance leads him to a foreign land, where he meets with the lady he met online. But things take a perilous turn when Cade's reunion with his mother ends in a disaster, prompting him to abandon his old identity as a billionaire and forge a new path as an ordinary citizen. A cruel revelation emerges, which threatened not only his own safety but also the lives of those he cares about. Caught in a web of deceit spun by the cunning Daniella, Cade races against time to expose her shenanigans before things gets bad. He was involved in an accident, leaving his family mourning his supposed demise. Years later, Cade returns, but now a different man with a mission, Will his family get to know what his mission is before things gets out of hand?
At Bernard Tech, financial troubles loom large as their current major project hits a snag. The Lorenzo family grapples with challenges, caused mainly by their youngest son, Dimitri, who is haunted by past heartbreaks as he walks a dangerous path, much to their dismay. Kingsley Bernard, desperate for a solution, asks his friend Donald for assistance. Donald Lorenzo offers a lifeline. A marriage proposal between their children. Audriana must navigate the treacherous waters of Dimitri's unpredictable behavior. As tensions arise and secrets unravel, will Dimitri discard his reckless ways and embrace love? Will their union rescue Bernard Tech from ruin? Would they find out who tried to sabotage pivotal project?
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"