"Who. Are. You?" The voice of his attacker was so dark, and commanding. Zeno was a fighter, but he felt a chill run down his spine from the sound of the voice. The hand around Zeno's neck tightened, but he endured it. Judging by his attacker's looks and actions of confidence, this was his boss. ~~~ After losing his parents and being faced with an unbelievable medical bill; Zeno Evander finds himself working as a Manny for a mysterious Billionaire, but it doesn't last long, after almost being killed by the Mafia billionaire, Zeno swore never to return there ever again. After a week of escaping the Mafia billionaire, Zeno finds himself kidnapped and Blackmailed into signing a year's contract as the Mafia's Manny and bodyguard. Could Zeno escape his evil and monstrous boss? Or would he be consumed by him? Consumed by the forbidden passion he felt build up between them? Would he risk his life just to experience the burn of forbidden love? Betrayed by his family, ex-wife, and friend five years ago, Sebastian Orion became a totally different being, cold, aloof, and dangerous as he rose to become the most feared Mafia king of the underworld, and everyone who heard his name shivered from fear. He distrusted everyone and hated any form of human relationships, building a thick wall around himself. But, not until his son's manny came into the picture. Zeno irritated him. He hated the mere sight of his bodyguard and would have killed him, if not for the sake of his son. Sebastian tried to push Zeno away by treating him in the lowest way possible. But when the contract was coming to an end, were his feelings still the same? Or did he suddenly realize that it wasn't only his son who needed Zeno?
"Mr. Zeno, your grandmother's condition is feral, we need money to commence her treatments, for now, the money you gave will do for two months, but, I can't promise we'll continue after that if you don't bring in more funds." Doc. Ezra explained to Zeno outside the emergency room.
"I understand, Doctor. I'll pay all her medical bills, please take care of my Nana! I promise to pay every month till it's all covered!" Zeno pleaded.
He was heartbroken; he had just lost his parents to an accident twenty-two hours ago. Today was supposed to be their twenty-fourth marriage anniversary, they were driving over to pick him up from a client's house so they could all go out and celebrate, but they were unfortunately faced with a terrible fate.
His parents died instantly without any goodbyes while his Nana was heavily injured and was now in a coma.
"It all depends on you, keep to your word. Good luck!" Doc. Ezra said and left him standing in the hallway.
Zeno stood there, his whole world crumbling at his feet. He felt lost.
For twenty-three years of his life; this was the first time he was going to be alone, he had always been surrounded by his lovely parents and his sweet Nana. Now, he was orphaned and was on the verge of losing his only family member whom he loved so much.
Courage cursed through him when he thought of his Nana; he was going to do everything and anything possible to see that his Nana was properly treated. He can't let her die.
This time, he had a choice; he didn't get this much of a chance with his parents.
He was going to cherish and fight for the only person the universe had left behind for him.
~~
Sebastian Orion was dressed in his expensive, custom-made black shirt and black pants, his shiny black shoes and his customized Rolex watch completed his Cold, intimidating billionaire mafia look.
His tall and sharp features were a bonus to his looks. His hair was neatly cut and styled to the back, only two strands of hair were brought out on each side of his smooth face, just above his eyes.
He stood in front of his big mansion, waiting for his ride.
"Sir, the car is ready." A man in an all-black outfit informed through the earpiece.
A black Lamborghini with his name written on the plate slowly came to a stop in front of him, the door slowly and smoothly flying open like a bird's feather.
Before he could step down the stairs, an agitated young voice stopped him.
"Daddy, why can't I come with you this time?!" A boy of four ran out of the big house, carrying his small suitcase in his small hands.
He sure looked like the mini Sebastian. His facial features looked like it was cloned from his father's face, and his aura was the same as his.
The men in black all looked scared when they saw the young boy. They knew their boss didn't like it when someone failed in his duty, and, they had failed.
He had Instructed them a week ago to keep the boy occupied and find him a temporary nanny before he left for his business trip.
But they failed.
No one wanted to accept a nanny job from Sebastian Orion. They feared him, scared of what might happen to them if they worked in such proximity to him.
Rumors of how people who had offended him suddenly went missing without a trace were hot on the streets. No one dared take such a risk of working in his house!
"I'm sorry, boss, I failed you. I'll accept every punishment." Ida, his PA, rushed and bowed before him, taking the blame for his shortcomings.
Ida dared not say he couldn't find someone simply because they said they were scared.
His boss believed the money he put out with the offer would fetch just anyone.
Sebastian knew the reason they couldn't get his son a nanny, he'd heard the rumors too, well... Not entirely rumors.
He only nodded and turned to his angry son.
"Ken, I'll be back as soon as I strike a deal with the president of France." He bent to his son's level, patting his hair.
Ken only pouted and turned his face away from his father.
"You will be well taken care of by a nanny. Don't be stubborn like the last time. Okay?" Sebastian coerced his son.
"Whatever!" Ken turned in the opposite direction and stumped back into the house.
His men knew that his son was the only one who had the right to talk and act however he wanted with their boss, any other person would be put six feet under.
"Double the price, Ida," Sebastian commanded in his deep voice.
"Yes, sir," Ida replied.
~~
Zeno had just gotten down from the boxing ring, sweats could be seen dripping down his toned masculine body, adding a sheen to his skin.
Again, he emerged victorious. People's voices could be heard cheering him up around the ring as they held up a sign that had his name on, waving it gingerly from left to right.
They were happy their bet had been won.
Zeno was glad he had those many supporters, that meant that a lot of people placed a bet on him; he was sure the payout for tonight would be huge.
He ignored his opponent's boss who was busy accusing him of fowl and demanding a rematch.
The old man was just crazy, how could he demand a rematch when his opponent was passed out cold in the ring?!
He wasn't in the mood to entertain the greedy old man, all he wanted was to meet his boss and cash out for the night, he needed all the money he could get for his Nana's medical bills.
He pulled his black shirt through his head as he walked up to his boss.
"Mr. Rico," Zeno called the middle-aged man who was backing him and chatting with a younger man who looked like he was made from money.
"Ah, Zeno! Nice fight, boy!" Mr. Rico patted him on the shoulder, causing him to wince painfully.
"Ugh!" Zeno grunted.
"Oh, sorry boy. Forgot it was a tough one." Mr. Rico said with a chuckle.
"It's fine," Zeno replied.
"This is Mr. Nicholas, you'll be seeing him more often, Nicholas, this is Zeno, he's our best boxer here." That was all Mr. Rico said before he dragged Zeno away from Mr. Nicholas. He didn't even allow them to greet each other.
"Here you are! boy, Great fight tonight." He handed a light envelope to Zeno.
"Don't forget to do your best next week, bring me more money! Ha-ha-ha!" Mr. Rico laughed loudly.
Zeno didn't share his amusement, he just stood there weighing the light envelope in his hands. He already knew how much was inside, no matter how huge a fight was, he never received anything higher than twenty bucks, it was little but he had no choice, anytime he asked for a raise, he was always told that the money made was put into maintenance and bribing some official who let them run the underground boxing.
He resorted to accepting whatever he was given, he didn't want to be unreasonable.
"Thanks, Rico." He put the envelope into his shorts pocket and left.
"Anytime boy, anytime," Mr. Rico said to his retreating figure.
Outside the building, men and women could be seen smoking and chatting.
"Hey look! It's our champ!" A girl said from the midst of guys, she was in a sports bra and baggy jeans, with her checkered shirt tied around her waist.
"Hey, man! Congratulations on your win tonight!" A guy said as he puffed his smoke.
Zeno smiled and walked over to them.
"Thanks, Anna, Will." He said to them as they did a secret handshake.
Anna and Will were siblings, they were the only ones he could call friends. Over the years, he's made more enemies than friends due to his line of work; his opponents always hated him after a fight.
"Hey, Champ, wait up." Anna ran up to him as he was about to enter his power bike.
"What's up, Anna?" He asked.
"I know you're in a fix right now, I saw this ad online and I decided to save it for you, here," Anna handed him her phone.
Zeno reluctantly took it, he had thought it was another underground job; he didn't think he would be able to make it if he took two boxing jobs.
"What!" Zeno asked unbelievably.
The first thing that caught his eye was the price at the top of the ad, he couldn't believe it, what job could offer such an amount in this year and time?
He quickly read through it and it finally dawned on him.
"A nanny?" He asked with a raised brow.
This must be a scam. Who pays a Nanny a thousand dollars a month?!
"I told you not to touch me," Audrey said. "In front of people," He reminded her. Audrey could feel the smirk in his voice. ~~~ Audrey's seventeen years in the Grey Blood pack were like a caged animal. She lived each day dreading the next unexpected thing the Alpha could punish her for. Audrey tried hard to understand the mysterious dream she'd been having, but nothing made sense to her, she was lost. She wished to be freed from the Grey Blood pack, but she lost all hope of survival when she found herself locked and chained in the cold dark dungeon. She hated him, she cursed him as her blood drained from her. She was happy to die and go away from that monster-alpha. Audrey awoke in a magical world where she learned everything about herself, she cultivated herself to become the strongest wolf and witch alive. One item though, led her back to the last place she wanted to be. Alpha Aloha Lake ruled the Grey Blood pack, the largest and strongest pack in the States. He was known to be brutal, even the mafia feared him. Nothing or anyone bothered him, except one; the damned bitch Audrey. He hated her, and he would make her pay for her mother's sins. But he could not kill her...yet. Alpha Lake emotionlessly stared at Audrey's bleeding body that lay on the cold dungeon floor, he ordered his beta to dispose of her without a second thought. One year later the enemies met again. Will hatred be the only emotion they share? Could they resist the fatal attraction they felt for each other?
"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."
"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?"
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.
"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her. Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall. "Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood. Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome! I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do." "Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!" Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
During her three years of marriage with Brendan, Adeline had become as humble as dust itself. However, what she got in return wasn't love and affection, but endless indifference and disdain. Worse yet, when the woman in Brendan's heart suddenly showed up, he further distanced himself from her. Finally, Adeline couldn't stand it anymore and asked for a divorce. After all, why should she stay with such a cold, distant man? The next one would surely be better. Brendan watched as his ex-wife left with her luggage in tow. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him and he made a bet with his friends. "She'll definitely regret leaving and will come crawling back to me in no time." After hearing about this bet, Adeline sneered. "Dream on!" A few days later, Brendan ran into his ex-wife in a bar. It turned out she was celebrating her divorce. Not long after, he noticed that the damned woman seemed to have a new suitor. Brendan was starting to panic. The woman who had clung to him for three years suddenly didn't seem to give a damn about him. What was he going to do?