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Sophie McDermott's life in fast-paced San Francisco was already complicated as a single mother balancing the demands of work and raising her son, Dawson. Just when she believed her life couldn't get any more hectic, fate intervenes. Being employed by Polo Enterprise should be a dream come true, but Sophie is about to come face to face with the last person she ever expected- Alex Hernadez, her first and only love whom she has spent years trying to forget. What will happen when these two get to work closely? Will he get a chance to find out Dawson is his son and will they find a way to overcome the damages of the past and finally claim the happiness they have always yearned for? Or will shadows of deceit and jealousy tear them apart once more?
Ugh, the story of my life - having to work twice as hard just to get half as far as everybody else. It's like the universe hands you a little something, but then instantly snatches it back with the other hand.
This struggle? It's been my constant companion.
"Sophie, come down! Breakfast is ready, and you'll be late for work," called my mom, the one person in my life who hasn't turned into a burden.
"I'll be down in a minute, Mama," I replied, rushing to the dining table.
"Good morning, Mommy," greeted my child. Yes, I have a child too. Now you know there are two people in my corner.
"Good morning, baby," I said, planting a quick peck on his cheek before almost inhaling my breakfast and ignoring my mom nagging about taking it slow. I was too pumped for this new job to care about little indigestion. With food still in my mouth, I squeezed both of them and hurried outside, ignoring my mom's reminder to drink some water.
"Be good, sweetheart. I love you," she called after me.
At work, the day was just beginning. I settled into my role like I was born for this. I was operating on pure adrenaline and nerves. I was determined to prove my worth and show my employer that hiring me was no mistake
"What do you think you are doing?" Celine, the head of my department asked as I was about to go grab a bite for lunch.
" it's lunchtime so I was about to get something to eat," I said feeling confused and unsure if I had done something wrong
"Do you think this place is for people like you? Celine's expression hardened
"I..."I tried to get a word out but I couldn't as she interrupted
"Oh, or u think you deserved to be here. Girl you have to work for your place here. I don't even know why the job was given to you. Everybody here went to a prestigious school and worked hard to earn their place here and then there is you coming from a no-name and less prestigious school and you think this place is your playing ground?"
My feet couldn't move from the ground neither could my mouth come up with anything coherent to say as I slowly sat back on my chair. Tears welled up in my eyes and all I could say was
" I. I'm sorry. I Didn't mean to offend you. I just saw others going out and I was told of the lunchtime policy when I was employed that's why I thought it would be fine to go" I manage to stammer out
"Others, not you and if you must work under me, you must do it my way or kiss this job goodbye" She declared before leaving the office.
Not exactly how I'd pictured my first day going but I promised myself in that moment - Celine was going to eat those words. One way or another, I'd prove to her that I belonged here just as much as any of them so I cleaned my eyes, and took my phone out to look at the pictures of the two people who mattered most to me which were my mom and my baby. They are my motivation and I can't quit.
Working hours were finally over, but I wasn't done with the task Celine gave me, so I decided to stay back to complete it and make her happy by morning. I was the last to leave the office, and when I got home, my mom was outside waiting with concern evident in her eyes.
"Where have you been?" she asked, with a sigh of relief immediately as she saw me. Before I could answer, she added, "You look so exhausted. Let's go in so you can eat."
I was too tired to even answer her question. After dinner, I went up to Dawson's room where I saw him sleeping peacefully. Gently, I pressed a kiss on his cheek and then went to my room to take a shower. As I was coming out, I was surprised to see my mom sitting on my bed.
"Mom, you should be resting. I apologize for keeping you awake at this hour."I said feeling guilty for being the reason she was disturbed
"I don't think I like this job. It's too dangerous to be coming back by this time, and the way you were rushing your food was obvious you didn't have lunch. Talk to me," she expressed her concern.
"I just love your meals, and you know it," I said, trying to hide the truth from her because I didn't want to worry her. "Go and sleep, and I have to sleep too because I have an early morning," I added playfully, pushing her out of the room.
"If you ever need to talk, just know you have someone," she said with a caring tone.
I nodded and then closed the door, letting the thoughts of the day fill my mind until I drifted off to sleep.
....
It was another challenging day with Celine. I had worked hard on the file she assigned to me, staying up late to complete it. I approached her table, feeling hopeful that she would recognize my efforts.
"Celine, this is the completed file," I said with a smile, adding " I had to stay up late for it"
"And, I'm supposed to applaud you for doing a job you're paid to do," she said condescendingly.
She then turned her attention to Mia, praising her work while ignoring me entirely. "Hmm, Mia, this is good. You've made progress. Keep it up."
"Should I come back?" I asked feeling dismissed
" I'm not pleased with your work, redo it" she threw the file at me
"But you haven't even opened it," I said
"Are you questioning my judgment". Wait so you are now the head and I'm under you. Sorry boss, please how do I serve you? She said sarcastically and everybody burst into laughter. " know your place, you're here to follow instructions".
"In what area do you want me to work" I managed to ask feeling helpless
"You are educated, right?" She didn't wait for an answer before continuing, "EVERYTHING. That's absolute trash, and you would have spotted that if you went to a good school."
As I stood there, feeling helpless, she announced that the new president would be arriving that day. She instructed everyone to get ready for the conference hall, but she pointedly excluded me. "That doesn't include you, Sophie, so get out of my face to your desk and start working."
With my head bowed, I took the file and returned to my desk, while everyone else prepared to meet the new president.
Two highly intoxicated people had a chance encounter and the life of both dramatically changed because they were never thought to have a one-night stand with each other. However, the consequences of that night forced them to change their priorities in life and take responsibility for their actions.
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." Darcy stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You're not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She stared at me in the mirror. "You can't even glance at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of gazing at that scar?" Heather Bailey got a surprise from her husband: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. She was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman. After signing the divorce papers, shockwaves caught her up. Her flower shop was burned to the ground. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers from influential families, she started her revenge on Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted, but that was just the beginning.
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
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?"
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."