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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...
Isabelle Campbell
It's already the end of the month. Still, the pervert douche 'My manager' has refused to give me my last month's pay.
"I'll pay last month's and this month's by the last day of the month" his useless promise rang in my head.
I know I should have taken some actions to make him pay me up. If I didn't need the money urgently, I wouldn't have to come to work here. I have my mother's bakery down the street but business has been slow and I can't keep up with rent.
I would have gotten a cheaper space and moved out of there, but that bakery holds so much memory of my mum that it's so hard to let it go. Thinking of my mum changed my mood suddenly and the heaviness I had been trying to keep away was slowly getting in my heart. Too much hurt for this weak heart to bear.
I looked down at the cupcakes I was icing and smiled. I made a happy face on all the cupcakes, even though I was sad and miserable.
I picked up a cupcake and smiled when memories Mum showing me how to ice the cupcakes this way. My train of thought was interrupted by a commotion happening outside the kitchen.
I went out to check what was going on and saw a young man, in a grey, expensive-looking suit looking down at the scared-looking Eliose in anger. His stance and how his fists were curled said a lot about how angry this man is.
I walked up to them. "What's going on here?" I asked Eloise.
"I-he di-"
"I am the customer here, so you look at me and ask me the question, not this incompetent child behind you" his voice was as cold as ice. Sharp as a knife, they cut through my patience and laid-back act.
I gestured for Eliose to leave then turned to the young, handsome, angry man who was throwing a tantrum.
"Sir, what is the problem?" I asked in the sweetest voice I could muster.
"Well, your workers here can't get a simple order right" he points in the direction Eliose went in "I asked for tea. Freaking TEA!!! And I was given coffee, even after I made it clear that I hated coffee so much"
My eyes went wide like saucers. He's the VIP tea guest. Shit!
"We are so sorry for the mix-up sir, please have your seat, let me get the rig-" he put his hand in my face to shut me up.
I hate people's hand on my face.
"You messed up" his hand went back to his side, thankfully.
"That's why I want to rectify it. Please have a seat sir, and I'll get the correct order for you right away" I waited for him to sit but he didn't, he just stared me down and scoffed.
"I want to speak to your manager" he crossed his arms.
I shook my head. Eliose is in deep shit.
"Sir, it doesn't have to get to that. I take full responsibility for it. It's my fault you got that order, it's a mistake" I tried to convince him, but my heart did a million summersaults as I imagined how harshly the manager would handle Eliose for this mistake. "Please, we can solve it without involving the manager" I plead.
His emotionless eyes scanned my entire appearance and he chuckled nastily.
"Look at you, miserably begging me not to report your incompetency." He shook his head.
His comments immediately made my blood boil.
Miserable? Incompetent? Who the hell does this guy think he is?
I wanted to lash out but I needed this job and my two month's pay. I wouldn't shit on this guy for his slip and wrong choice of words.
Taking in deep breaths and hiding my clenched fist in my apron. I forced a smile on my lips but couldn't stop the daggers my eyes narrowed his way.
"Sir, I am sorry if you felt that way about our service." I said in between gritted teeth "This won't happen again, and I will make sure your order is greatly and carefully made to avoid cases like this from happening"
He picked up his phone from the table. "It wouldn't happen again" he stated then typed on his phone.
"Yes, it wouldn't. Let me get your order for you sir" I said, trying to stylishly pry at what he's doing.
He looked down at me and stopped typing. "That wouldn't be necessary..." he looked at my chest then back to my face "Belle" my nametag. "I would make sure you're disciplined mercilessly, then you would sit up and learn to serve your customers well and not be as incomp-"
"The HELL is wrong with YOU?" I yelled, not being able to take it any longer.
I am so proud of my skills and I agree mistakes do happen, doesn't give him the right to insult me over and over again in my face.
"I apologized, told you we would get your order right this time and you're just proving to be a stubborn, spoilt rich baby throwing tantrums at the slightest issue arising" I didn't think when I spoke. I am too angry to know what I am saying to him.
"I wonder how you handle crisis at work when the littlest thing gets you, this worked up and makes you throw tantrums" My gaze burned through his cold eyes. "That's if you work and mummy doesn't feed you" I muttered.
In a flash, the coldness in his eyes now burned with anger. I swore I saw fire in his eyes when I said those words. Probably hit a nerve then.
He took a step towards me and pointed to himself. "You dare talk to me like this?" his voice became dangerously low, deeper, and this time, fire wrapped around his angry question.
I'm scared now. "You don't talk to people badly if you don't want to be spoken to in that way" My voice sounded so mild and I think I squeaked the words out.
He chuckled, his eyes still held the fire in them and his expression turned emotionless. He wanted to say something but then I heard my manager's voice from behind me and that's when I knew I was screwed.
"Answer me, Campbell? Is it true you disrespected our VIP guest?"
My heart is beating so hard, having a heart attack would not be a surprise.
I turned around to face Mr. Freeman whose face was red in anger, like it would explode in seconds. He was looking at me like I killed someone or stole from the bank. Like a wicked king about to banish an innocent little girl for senseless reasons.
"Mr. Freeman, I wa-" he raised his hand for me to stop then pushed me aside to apologize to the jerk behind me.
"I will make sure she's disciplined right away," he said in the kindest tone ever.
"I want her fired this instant or you lose a big customer" his voice sliced through my heart like a sharp knife.
I whipped around like the breeze did the magic, my eyes wide open upon hearing his ridiculous request. My eyes went to Mr. Freeman who is now looking at me with eyes that have never looked at me kindly since I started working here.
"You heard the man, get out and every one of your pay is canceled because you nearly cost this shop a valued customer" he points to the door "Out of here before I have you thrown out by Big Nelly" he pointed to the big guy sitting by the door and pushed me so I can leave.
I looked at the arrogant man who made me lose my job by a simple command. He was now seated scrolling on his phone as my now pathetic ex-manager tried to talk to him and probably interest him with the new snacks I started making for the shop.
My blood boiled, my fist clenched by my side, my teeth gritted and my eyes glared hatefully at him. I wish the sky fell on his head and something bad happened to him for what he did to me.
I turned around and went to pack my belongings then left the only place that would have saved my mum's bakery.
It was still morning, so I headed for the bakery just stayed there, and asked my mum to strengthen me. On my way, I got a text from a former customer asking for a thousand cupcakes and muffins delivered to her tomorrow for a retreat she's doing tomorrow evening.
My mood instantly changed and I wasn't gloating over what I just lost. The money might not be up to my salary of two months but it's enough to put a down payment till I can get the rest.
I rushed to the bakery to start working on the order, I dialed my best friend/manager of the bakery to come help me out if she was not busy with her new job. I pressed the call button and looked at the front of the bakery. I stopped in my tracks when I saw the majority of my equipment laid carelessly on the floor, someone picked up one of the expensive pans and ran in the opposite direction.
"Hey!" I walked in between the equipment, careful not to damage anything. I looked inside and saw Mr. Darren coming out of the door with two guys carrying out the oven. They dumped it outside the door and Mr. Darren locked the door. "What is all this sir?" I looked at the equipment and then back at him.
He threw a paper at me and pointed to me. "I warned you. Told you I would take it out by the end of the month if you don't have the money ready"
My heart clenched when I read the quick notice he threw at me. "I said I would get it for you today" My voice shook, my eyes watered and I had to blink them to clear my sight.
"Do you have the money now?" I shook my head "It's the end of the month, you didn't keep to your end of the agreement and I did, so bye" he turned around to leave but I stopped him.
"I just lost my job, give me more time. I would pay it up" I cried.
He hissed and gave me a once-over. "No more time and this begging doesn't look good on you. Get some other place you can manage and stop disturbing the market for me" he smiled and spoke, a hint of greed in his tone "Someone would come in tomorrow to check the place out and hopefully buy it off for good" he laughed then turned and walked away from me.
I sat on the floor and read the notice again. My eyes were filled with tears and I didn't hold them back this time, I let it fall as I sob. I heard footsteps again and when I looked up, it was the same person who had stolen some equipment of mine. The person took another pan and ran away.
I didn't have the strength to stop him anymore.
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?
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?
It's true what they say about marriage: one partner's always happier than the other. ~~~ Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage. The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie's long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back. Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan. Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.