**DO:** - Attend business events together - Maintain a professional image - Support each other's career goals - Keep up appearances for the public and our investors **DON'T:** - Expect emotional support or intimacy - Try to change each other's habits or beliefs - Bring up past relationships or personal issues - Engage in any public displays of affection (besides hand-holding or brief kisses) Jane Steve doesn't have a dad, just her single mom who raised her. Things weren't too tough for Jane because her mom gave her everything she needed. She doesn't do love and doesn't want to get married. Because all the guys she's met only care about her looks. Max Blackwoods runs Blackwoods Industry, one of the top companies in New York City. He's not really into women and doesn't believe in love either. Being single is his thing, and he never thought he'd get married. So we've got a girl who doesn't believe in love and a guy who feels the same way. Will they end up catching feelings for each other? Maybe they'll change their minds about love being a good thing? Could they have a happy ending together?
Chapter One
JANE POV
I was stuck in a rut, big time. It was a Saturday afternoon, and I had nothing to do. My friends were all busy with their husbands, and I was solo. Again.
I'm Jane, by the way. I'm 24, single, and not exactly thrilled about it. Don't get me wrong, I love my independence, but sometimes it feels like I'm the only one not living the dream.
As I lounged on my couch, my phone rang. Mom. I let it go to voicemail. I wasn't in the mood for a lecture about finding a nice guy and settling down.
I grabbed my jacket and headed out to the mart. I needed some fresh air and a snack. As I strolled in, I bumped into someone at the entrance. Literally.
"Watch where you're going, clumsy!" a voice growled.
I looked up to see a rugged, charming guy with messy dark hair and piercing blue eyes. He had a strong build, like he worked out regularly, but his scowl made him look intimidating. But for some reason he looks familiar.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," I said, feeling a bit taken aback by his tone.
"Well, maybe you should be," he snapped. "You almost took me down."
I bristled at his attitude. "Hey, I said I was sorry. No need to be rude."
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm being rude? You're the one who bumped into me."
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. Sorry again, okay?"
He snorted. "Save it. But hey, since you're so sorry, how about you buy me a coffee to make up for it?" he said with an annoying smirk on his face.
I hesitated for a moment, then agreed. We walked to a nearby cafe, his silence making me feel uncomfortable, like really really uncomfortable.
As we sipped our coffee, he finally spoke up. "So, what's your name? And what makes you so clumsy?" he said with an annoying smile.
I bristled at his tone, but answered anyway. "I'm Jane Williams and I'm not clumsy. I'm just a little distracted, that's all. I'm just...adventurous."
He snorted. "Adventurous? That's one way to put it. I'd say you're just plain reckless."
I felt a surge of anger, but tried to keep my cool. "Well, maybe I am. But at least I'm not a grumpy, rude stranger who can't even be polite," I said and stole a little glance at his beautiful blue eyes.
He smirked. "Oh, I'm polite. I'm just not afraid to speak my mind. And if you can't handle a little bit of honesty, then maybe you're not as adventurous as you think you are," he said with no emotions.
And with that, he finished his coffee and walked out, leaving me feeling both annoyed and intrigued. Who was this guy, anyway? He really seems familiar for some reason.
I shifted my thoughts and stormed out of the coffee shop, still fuming from my encounter with his rude behavior. I was used to guys being so nice to me, not insulting me. And it was all because of my pretty face.
I'd always been the one to dish out the sass, to play hard to get. Guys would fawn over me, trying to get my attention, and I'd revel in the power it gave me. But for once, someone had turned the tables on me. And I didn't like it one bit. Or does he think he is that handsome?
As I drove home, I couldn't shake off the annoyance. Who was that guy? And why did he have to be so...rude? Why does he seem like I've met him somewhere but I can't remember or probably he is a celebrity I've seen on TV?
I pulled into my driveway, still seething. I needed a shower and a nap to get over this awful day.
.
.
.
.
.
The next day, I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world. Or so I thought. As I was getting dressed, my phone rang. It was my best friend, Emily.
"Hey, girl! I'm having a party tonight, and you have to come!" "No" is never an option she squealed.
I hesitated for a moment but then agreed. Maybe a night out was just what I needed to forget about the rude stranger. Besides Emily must want me to be there.
I quickly ordered a black diamond gown that would suit tonight's party, 'cause Emily's husband flows with celebrities.
As I arrived at Emily's party, I was greeted by the usual crowd of admirers. But as I made my way through the throng of people, I noticed a familiar face. The rude stranger from the coffee shop was standing by the bar, sipping a drink. Why is he here?
My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met. And for once, I was speechless. I just stood looking at him as he walked towards me.
He walked over to me, a smirk on his face. "Well, well, well. Look what we have here. The queen of mean herself," he said as he got so close to me.
I rolled my eyes, distracting myself that I find this rude guy attractive, like this is the first time I have found someone attractive. "What do you want? Why are you even here?" I asked.
"It's a party, or am I not allowed to be here?" he said. I was about to reply when his mood changed and he said, "I want to talk to you," his voice low and serious. "Outside," he said and started walking outside. What is his deal this time? I thought but then followed him out to the balcony. The cool night air was a welcome respite from the crowded party.
"What do you want?" I repeated, my arms crossed.
"I want to propose a contract marriage," he said, his eyes gleaming in the dim light.
I laughed. "You've got to be kidding me." Anyway what is the contract about?
But he wasn't smiling. "I'm dead serious, Jane. I need a wife, and you need a husband. Let's make a deal."
I was taken aback. Who told him I need a husband? No one had ever asked me to marry them before, "because I was not ready to marry" my subconscious mind tells me. "Who told you I need a husband?" I yelled at him and turned to go.
He held my hand and I turned to him. "Because if you had a husband you wouldn't be here alone," he said.
There was something about him that intrigued me. Maybe it was the way he didn't fawn over me, or the way he seemed to see right through me. Whatever it was, I couldn't deny that I was curious.
"I remember my mom and her wish for me to get married," So tell me about this contract I said, my voice softer than I intended.
"Let's go to my car," he said and I followed him behind.
And with that, he began to lay out his proposal. A contract marriage, with terms and conditions. It was crazy, but...
I couldn't help but be tempted. He is every girl's dream man, most especially my type. I thought and smiled in my head.
"Since this is all what the contract marriage is, I will think about it and get back to you in two days," I said, avoiding eye contact with him.
"Okay, here's my number," he gave me a card and walked away.
I looked at the card and my eyes widened in shock. He is the Blackwoods son!!!!!!
Amy didn't expect that her husband whom she had loved and trusted earnestly for many years would be cheating on her by having sex with his secretary. When she confronted him, he and his secretary mocked and ridiculed her, they called her barren to her face, afterall, she had not conceived for the past three years that she had been married to her husband, Callan. Terribly Heartbroken, she filed for divorce and left to the club, she picked a random gigolo, had a hot one night stand with him, paid him and dissapeared to a small city. She came back to the country six years later with three identical cute boys and three identical cute girls of the same age. She settled and got a job but soon find out that her CEO was the gigolo she had sex with six years back at the club. Will she be able to hide her six little cuties from her CEO, who happens to be the most powerful man in NorthHill and beleived to be infertile? Can Amy and the most powerful man in NorthHill get along considering the social gap between them.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
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.
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are 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 in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. 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 who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.