New! Blurb: How does it feel to be engaged to the cause of your problems? Zaria Sterling, after being ripped off of her family's fortune is forced to fend for herself. This is until she comes across A ruthless billionaire whom she had no idea she was in a relationship with. This is the reality Zaria faces as she realizes that she has signed her life and freedom into the hands of the devil, The one and Only Christian Ace. Title: Billionaire's Pawn Genre: Romance Trope: Marriage of convenience. Setting: 21st century. The USA. Theme: Love, Disgust, Anger. CHARACTERIZATION Zaria Sterling(23)- A 5ft2 young zealous woman, with brown hair and green eyes, working to make means for herself and her family, especially her little brother Zane, after her family land and assets were seized. In desperation she agreed to a marriage that she might regret. Christian Ace(Male lead): The most feared man in the Ace family. After a time-range task was assigned to him, Christian had to find a way to fulfill it. And fast. He is 6ft2, brown hair and eyes and 32yrs of age. Amanda Ace (side character): The most influential woman and head of the Ace family is a no-nonsense woman and doesn't take no for an answer, at least that is how she is to the outside world. But she treats her grandchildren better than anything because she adores them. She has kept the family name so high no other can attain that. Her children doubled the standards and revenue under her strict watch. But tragedy is about to strike. It doesn't faze Amanda Ace and she had made peace with that already. But she must keep the legacy running even in her absence. She devises then a plan. Lily Thompson(Villain): A 5ft8 tall lady with blonde features and blue eyes and 28years old. She is the only daughter of the Thompsons, a family competing against the Ace family. PLOT Exposition: Zaria reluctantly agreed and applied to a famous company to relieve her financial burden. During said application, she had no idea the owner of the company interviewed her. She got the job and few weeks in developed a relationship with someone she thought was an employee. Inciting incident: A few months later the relationship turned serious and though Zaria was scared, she continued the relationship until he proposed marriage to her. She was then asked to sign a contract that would warrant her leaving the marriage after a year. Rising Action: In a twist, during an unexpected visitation she embarked on to surprise her husband, she discovered what led her to believe that her marriage was built on lies and she was used as a pawn for her husband to get what he wanted. Plot Twist: Lily Thompson, the daughter of Ace's rival family decided to make advances on Christian and over throw Zaria. And he's grandmother was suddenly fueling her plans unknown to her. But unfortunately she dies. Climax: A stunning discovery revealed that her husband was not an employee but the owner of she company she worked at and also his family was the reason her father lost his land as his parents had used their influence to take it away from him, which led her to become a desperate enough to agree to the marriage. And also found out that she must have known him a few months prior to their official meeting as they met in the bar she visited months ago and slept together while drunk. But sadly due to family circumstances, she had to stay with him. Denouement: The strong bond Zaria and Christian had developed over time was strong enough to overcome what was between them including Lily who tried to sabotage their relationship. After reconciling, they decided to make their marriage official by having a wedding and surprisingly Zaria was a few weeks pregnant.
Chapter one
"You could have turned it in since, you are stalling at this point" Marie poked her head into the kitchen while I was in an apron and pressing down on the pancake. "Even if your are rejected at least you tried."
"I can't, that will dim my ego"
"Oh, so New York trip is out of the story then?" my eyes widened at her as she said that. "Your ego would probably sponsor us"
"It's a Mega-Company you are talking about" I avoided looking at her. "I can't just carelessly apply because I want too."
"So? What's the worst that can happen?" she shrugged, walking towards me.
What's the worst that can happen? I whispered to myself as I entered the elevator to the top floor. The cool air attacked my bare legs as I tried going through the protocols again.
Fifth floor.
Wait at the reception with your required documents.
I almost panicked for a thousandth time fearing I had forgotten an important document at home.
The elevator pinged open, startling me because this wasn't the floor I picked. My fear was short-lived as I saw a group of people men, and women, waiting to enter the elevator and my anxiety went up because I tried greeting them but it came out as a whisper and they all ignored me.
Finally I was at the fifth floor, I strolled to the receptionist with my file on the fifth floor, I strolled to the receptionist with my file in my hand.
"Good morning," I said shyly.
"Good morning ma'am, please take a seat we will get back to you"
I nodded and went to sit. I scrambled through my files again to make sure I had everything in order. I was so deeply engrossed that I didn't notice time had passed until I sat up to adjust myself.
"Erm...sorry, I came for an interview" I walked to the receptionist to enquire. "How long am I to wait for?"
"Ms Sterling?" she looked up at me and then back to her laptop.
"Yes, Zaria Sterling" I puckered my lips.
"There was a slight change in the interviewing policy but you can go to the second door at your right when you walk through this hallway" she pointed towards the hallway. "And knock, We apologize for the delay" She then smiled widely at me.
I returned the smile and nodded my head, taking my file with me, and followed her directions.
When I got there, I knocked on the door and waited for a response. I didn't know if I was supposed to open it or wait until someone answers me. I raised my hand to knock again before a deep voice interrupted me.
"Come in"
I shivered a bit before opening the door.
"Good day Sir," I said when I entered the office.
The color palette of the room was dull and sexy, black, grey, and white all painted in ways that made the room alluring. A part of the room was painted completely black but splashed with white adorning it like a wild animal's claw.
The seats were arranged in a U-shape at one end of the room opposite where he was seated with a desk in front of him and a chair in front of the desk.
"Have a seat ma'am" I sat down immediately. There was just something about him that screamed that he wasn't to be disrespected.
He gestured for my documents and I gave them to him. He swiftly went through them.
"Zaria Sterling, apply for an assistant position" he read out loud.
I nodded. "Yes sir"
"So what makes you think you are perfect for this job" he asked making intense eye contact with me.
I couldn't even look at him, my eyes were wandering about but I tried to focus on his tie.
"I have good listening skills and I follow Instructions quite well. Also, I am good at multitasking. My mother almost always spanked me whenever I did different tasks at the same time. "
I smiled at the memory. "She said it could cause brain damage, I don't know who told her that but I believed and tried to stop."
"Did you?" he questioned, writing on his notepad.
"Well, I did it unconsciously. I couldn't help it."
He nodded.
"You currently work?"
"Yes. At a bakery" I noticed that his eyes lingered on my face a little longer.
"And how do you think they would describe you there?"
My mind wandered back to Ms. Patty, the owner of the bakery I worked in, and how she would scold us like children, and when we were alone she would tell me how good of a job I was doing.
"Hardworking, like I said because of the way I completed multiple tasks at once I gained Ms. Patty favors."
He nodded once more still jotting on his notepad.
"Ms. Zaria, It was nice doing this interview with you" There was a way he pronounced my name, I don't know what it was but I liked it.
"You will receive an email to know if you can proceed or if your journey ends here" he thinned his lips while offering me a hand.
As I grabbed his hand for a handshake he stood up, ultimately carrying me up with him. His hands swallowed mine and I looked petite standing in front of him.
I awkwardly smiled at him as she shook my hand before escorting him outside.
"Oh my goodness Marie" I called her the moment I stepped out of the building before I flagged a taxi. I was shaking after we bade ourselves goodbye, the interviewer and I, and I came out the way I went in.
"What is the excitement about?" she laughed.
"I just completed my interview"
"Look at you go, weren't you shivering at the thought of it before"
I scoffed. "I am still shivering, not because I completed it but -"
"But what? Don't leave me hanging girl. A fine-ass man asked for your number?"
"Even better"
"Tell me, I'm gonna die if suspense if you don't"
"So, during my interview, the interviewer who is a-" mid-sentence I realized my phone had gone off.
I caused. I really wanted to tell her, now I have to wait u til she visits me or I power my phone.
The taxi came to a stop few blocks from my house, just where I told him to stop.
"Thank you" I said to him before walking away towards my house.
In the mystical land of Elaria, a young warrior named Kael is thrust into a battle between celestial beings and mortals. Armed with a cursed blade and guided by the mystical vision of the Fallen Queen, he must navigate treacherous alliances and face his darkest fears to prevent the world’s catastrophic destruction.
Maria is sold to Leonardo after her father begs her to play along and act like it is against her will so that she can spy on the Sanchez family. She agrees and marries Leonardo who she has heard many terrible things about. He tortures her in many ways and she despises him. she tries to spy on him and find out his secrets but along the way she finds things that’ll traumatize her and change her view on everything. Leonardo collects Maria as a slave just so he could punish her father not knowing the entire thing was planned. Maria is kidnapped and after Leonardo saves her, she falls in love with him and they realise their feeling for each other.
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
"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.
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
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..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
After a painful breakup with her boyfriend of two years who coldly told her to her face that he couldn't keep dating her because she was too uptight--In a moment of anger and defiance, Anna decided to throw caution to the wind for one reckless night. She headed to the wildest club in Texas, determined to lose herself in the chaos. But fate had other plans. To her shock, she ran into her ex-boyfriend at the club. Desperate to save face, she made a split-second decision and approached a stranger, pretending he was her new boyfriend. What she never anticipated was the magnetic pull she would feel towards him or the fact that she'd end up going home with this mystery man. Soon enough, the real surprise hit her--this stranger wasn't just anyone; he was her new boss. What begins as a night of rebellion spirals into a whirlwind of forbidden attraction, societal pressure and hidden affairs. And now there are so many things at stake. Find out how this story unfolds.