Ming's world as she knows it, capsides after one drunken confession on the rooftop is caught on live video. The video spreads on Instagram and by Monday morning, everyone at work knows that she has been in love with Gary for the last three years. Gary is her best friend/ co-worker, who also happens to be her sister's boyfriend. Mortified of what everyone would think, especially her sister, Mae, she pretends to be in a romantic relationship with no other than her boss, Wayne Keller. Ming catches Wayne off guard with a dramatic and very public kiss and leaves no room for him to refuse her. Wayne is a robot in human form and even though Ming hates his guts, she weaves her way into his billionaire lifestyle and spins a lie so deep she almost has everyone fooled. What happens when the lines blur in? What happens when a baby comes in? What happens when neither of them can tell where the lie ends and the truth begins?
"You don't have to do this, Jenna," I enunciated every word slowly, my hands splayed out in front of me. My Shirley Temple lays forgotten on the rooftop railing. I am much too concerned about doing everything I can to make sure Jenna doesn't jump off the ledge she is currently dangling from.
Seriously, how did this night take on such a dark turn? Half an hour ago, I was doing shots with Gary at the bar and dancing my ass off to Kendrick Lamar. I had escaped out of here to catch my breath, only to come face to face with suicide's mistress.
I know Jenna from marketing. She is a year ahead of me. We did a marketing project together a couple of years ago. I remember how she had owned and dominated that project. Our supervisor had been very impressed with our pitch, going on to treat us to a fancy dinner that night.
Where is that woman now? What happened to her ending up here tonight?
"You don't have to jump, okay? Whatever it is, we can talk about it. You can tell me about what happened. We'll figure it out together."
I feel like I am talking to a toddler. It makes me tense and jittery. Jenna shakes her head miserably. Her eyes are stained with so much mascara, that she could easily pass for a raccoon.
"I don't want to live anymore, not when he is getting married to her."
"Who?"
"Nate. From media. We've been dating for over two years now. I was expecting a proposal, but guess what? He broke up with me two weeks ago. He'd been dating some hotshot lawyer the whole time we were together. He asked her to marry him tonight. I saw it on Instagram.
"Oh wow."
Jenna sniffs. Do you know the worst part? He called to ask for my blessing. He wants me to be happy for him.
"What a douche."
"A lucky douche, who bagged a lawyer with a cushy trust-fund, while I'm here, dangling from a ledge, about to end my own life."
"If you do this, Jenna, you will be letting him win."
"But what else can I do?"
"You can decide to step down from the ledge and vow to live your very best life starting from tonight."
"It's not as easy as it sounds."
Jenna looks so sad, and I feel sorry for her. It is the only reason why I decided to be vulnerable as well. Why did I decide to spill my deepest, darkest secret to her? Thank heavens we are the only two people out on the roof.
Sighing, I leaned against the railing and retrieved my drink. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I have been in love with my sister's boyfriend for the past three years. Well, technically, he was my boyfriend first. I met him six years ago when I started at the company. We hit it off immediately. Quickly became best friends. He never saw me as anything more than that. But I knew it was going to happen someday. I was so sure of it. Until he met my sister."
Jenna stares at me for the longest time, and then, she scoffs. "No offense Ming, but I would also go for your sister if I was a guy. I've seen photos of her on your IG. She's a total goddess."
I snorted at that. "Whatever."
Jenna's smile and something about that smile warms my heart and makes me feel like I am walking on fluffy clouds.
"Don't die tonight?" I pleaded.
"Listen, Ming, I know you are just trying to help, but if I don't jump, I'm still going to wake up tomorrow with this awful pain in my chest."
I nodded. "I understand that you are hurting right now, but trust me, you are going to get over Nate 'what's his face.' It's all going to get better. One day at a time. Just, please don't give up. Huh, Jenna?"
"Okay, fine. I won't," she promised. Then, she gives me her hand and lets me help her get off the ledge.
"Thank you," I said, helping her gain balance on her feet.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Jenna hiccups. "That's what I get from downing a dozen shots of tequila tonight." She zigzags to the railing and spews her guts.
It was pretty disgusting, but I helped to hold her hair away from her face.
"Hey, let it all out. That's it." I soothed her, rubbing her back in gentle circles. "Want to hear something funny?"
"What?" Jenna asks, wiping her lips with the hem of her dress.
"The last time I was drunk, I told Gary that I loved him. Guess what he said."
"I have a feeling you are going to tell me anyway, Ming."
"It'll pass. That's what he said. Of course, he didn't think I meant a word of it. I threw up on his favorite leather jacket two seconds later."
"No, you didn't," Jenna scoffs, her lips quirking upwards for the briefest of seconds.
I smile. "I'm an idiot. But you know who's a bigger idiot?"
"Who?"
"Nate. He's gonna regret breaking up with you. You'll see."
Jenna winces at the mention of Nate. "I don't want to hang around, waiting for that to happen."
"Of course not."
"Tonight has been quite a lot, Ming. I think I'm just going to head home and go on right to bed."
I couldn't agree more. "I'll book you a cab."
The roof door bursts open, and I watch as Gary comes running towards us.
"Hey Ming, are you okay?" he asks, halting in front of me. "Someone said they saw a woman dangling from this rooftop and I suddenly remembered how you wanted to come up here for some air."
"I'm fine Gar. I was just about to call a cab for Jenna here. She's in marketing. Jenna, this is Gareth James. He's my best friend."
"Nice to meet you, Jenna."
"Hi, Gary." Jenna offers him a smile and turns to me. "I should get going. It was nice talking to you."
"You can hitch a ride with us, Jenna. I'm taking Ming home anyway," Gary offers.
"Oh, I don't want to be a bother," Jenna brushes off his offer, already walking towards the door.
"I already called a taxi. It'll be here soon." I ran to catch up with her. "How about I walk you outside the building?"
"That would be nice. Thank you." Jenna looks grateful.
Gary coughs. "Right. Well, I had better go say goodbye to the guys. Ming, I'll meet you out front at five."
"Yeah, sure."
***
Ming's world as she knows it, capsides after one drunken confession on the rooftop is caught on live video. The video spreads on Instagram and by Monday morning, everyone at work knows that she has been in love with Gary for the last three years. Gary is her best friend/ co-worker, who also happens to be her sister's boyfriend. Mortified of what everyone would think, especially her sister, Mae, she pretends to be in a romantic relationship with no other than her boss, Wayne Keller. Ming catches Wayne off guard with a dramatic and very public kiss and leaves no room for him to refuse her. Wayne is a robot in human form and even though Ming hates his guts, she weaves her way into his billionaire lifestyle and spins a lie so deep she almost has everyone fooled. What happens when the lines blur in? What happens when neither of them can tell where the lie ends and the truth begins?
A sudden twist of fate connected Helena to a prominent and influential person. To onlookers, she appeared as a naive bimbo. In truth, she was a top-tier specialist, shrouded in layers of hidden identities. Charlie declared, “She’s quite delicate and easily hurt. Cross her, and you’re crossing me.” The elite families, outwitted by Helena's prowess, kept these truths from him. Helena eventually broke free from Charlie, sending him on a frenzied worldwide hunt. To him, she was a bird with dazzling wings, and his goal was to help her reach new heights.Â
Sheila had her back against the wall when her family tried to force her to marry an awful old man. In a fit of rage, she hired a gigolo to act as her husband. She thought the gigolo needed money and did this for a living. Little did she know that he was nothing like that. One day, he pulled off his mask and revealed himself to be the world's top magnate. This marked the beginning of their love. He showered her with everything she could ever want. They were happy. However, unexpected circumstances soon posed a threat to their love. Would Sheila and her husband make it through the storm? Find out!
Rocky Bai, a young and talented scholar in the field of gene study, ranked number one among his peers. While he was on the flight headed for the venue, an aircraft accident occurred right before he passed out. ... Rocky Bai is reborn! He saves a dragon and trains it in the Holy Dragon Empire. To his surprise, his dragon can cure disease and even bring people back from death. With the dragon, Rocky starts a new life. He is no longer a good-for-nothing, but an ambitious martial arts master and spirit manipulator among his generation. Let's join in their adventure!
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."