Joan is a girl who's struggling to make ends meet and to pay for her mother's medical bills. A glimmer of hope appears when she gets invited for a job interview to work as a maid for the Stonewood family. Derrick Stonewood is a name that's well known. He's a billionaire and America's most eligible bachelor. However, he has a secret to his wealth. What happens when these two cross paths? Will they be able to keep their hands off each other? More over, what's the end result when business is mixed with pleasure?
JOAN'S POV
Sadness. Confusion.
These were the emotions that filled my heart as I sat in the hospital room. My heart felt like a heavy weight in my chest, and my mind swirled with so many thoughts and emotions. I had no idea what to do.
The beeping of the heart monitor filled the room. It was a reminder of my mother's fragile state. Each beep was a signal that she was still here, but only just. I watched her, my heart breaking at the sight. Tubes and wires were attached to her limp body, her chest rising and falling shallowly. Her face, once so full of life, was now pale. Her lips were colorless, as she lay motionless in the hospital bed.
It felt like only moments ago that I was job hunting and them the call came. The panic in the nurse's voice told me everything before the words even registered. My mother had suffered a heart attack. The ambulance had rushed her here, but she had slipped into a coma.
A lump formed in my throat as I gazed at her. She had always been my rock. Now, it was my turn to be strong for her, but I didn't know how.
Tears filled my eyes as I thought about how far we had fallen. How had it come to this? I looked at the ceiling, trying to calm myself but it was no use.
Hospitals were supposed to be places of healing, yet to me, they felt like prisons. The white walls, the harsh smell, the fluorescent lights-it all seemed designed to remind you of your sadness. The colour 'white' had always been so depressing to me.
I sighed, wishing the walls could be a different color. Maybe then, this place wouldn't feel so bad.
I looked at my mom, feeling sad once more. She didn't deserve this. I wished there was something I could do to help.
I had no money, no job, no way to pay for the treatment she needed. I'd spent all my savings trying to keep up with her piling medical bills, and now, there was nothing left. I had dropped out of school to take care of her, to work any job I could find. But even that wasn't enough.
I had a stable job once, as a secretary in a good firm. It wasn't glamorous, but it paid the bills-until my boss decided that my body was part of the job description. I tried to tolerate it, to keep quiet for the sake of my paycheck, but the day his hand slipped under my skirt, I knew I couldn't stay. I walked out, knowing I would be left with nothing, but at least, my dignity would be intact. Yet there were moments, when the fear of losing everything made me question if I should have just put up with it.
I felt like a failure. My mother had always been so strong, so sure of herself, and I couldn't even protect her now. My tears fell freely as I tried to think of a way out of this nightmare.
Just then, the door opened, and I quickly wiped my eyes, trying to compose myself. A doctor entered the room with a serious expression. I noticed that the collar of his lab coat was stained with a faint smear of blood. It was almost unnoticeable, but I noticed it-just as I noticed everything. This habit of fixating on details overwhelmed me sometimes, adding to my anxiety.
He glanced at me, then at my mother's still form.
"Miss Joan?" said "I'm Dr. Williams. I wanted to talk to you about your mother's condition."
I nodded. My eyes were still glued to the blood on his coat.
Who did it belong to? Was it someone else's blood or his? Was that person still alive? I knew I should be paying attention to what Dr. Williams was saying, but my mind was desperate for any distraction.
"Miss Joan?" Dr. Williams repeated, louder this time, snapping me back to the present.
I sat up straighter, forcing myself to focus.
"I'm sorry," I whispered "Please, doctor, tell me-what can we do?"
"As you know, your mother is currently in a coma. We can try different treatments, but they come with a cost."
His words made my heart drop even further. My pulse quickened, knowing that the answer I feared was coming.
"What... what kind of cost are we talking about?" My voice trembled as I asked.
"The initial treatment will cost around fifty thousand dollars, and that's just the beginning. There will be follow-up procedures, medications, rehabilitation..."
His words blurred as the numbers swirled in my head. Fifty thousand dollars? I didn't even have fifty cents to my name. My hands trembled as I clutched the arms of the chair, trying to hold on to something.
"I... I don't have that kind of money," I murmured "What am I supposed to do?"
Dr. Williams looked at me with a sympathetic expression "I understand this is a difficult situation for you. We can explore financial assistance programs, maybe discuss payment plans, but... I won't lie to you-it won't be easy."
The tears I'd been holding back broke free again, streaming down my face.
Why did life have to be so hard? Why did everything have to come down to money?
"I'll do anything, doctor," I pleaded "Please, just help my mom. She's all I have."
Dr. Williams nodded "We'll do our best. We'll find a way."
I sniffled, wiping at my tears with the back of my hand. "Thank you, doctor,"
He gave me a small, sad smile before leaving the room, and I was alone again. I moved closer to my mother, taking her hand in mine. Her skin was cold.
I had to do something. I couldn't let money be the reason my mother didn't get the care she needed. But what could I do?
As I sat there, lost in thought, the door opened again. I turned, expecting the doctor, but instead, my best friend - Bea walked in.
"Hi, sweetie," Bea said softly. "I'm so sorry."
She crossed the room quickly and wrapped me in a hug. I held on to her tightly as I sobbed.
When she pulled away, Bea looked at my mother with a sad, empathetic expression. She knew how much my mom meant to me, how hard this was she and my mom were close too.
"How are you holding up?" she asked gently.
I sighed "It's been tough, Bea. I don't know what to do. The medical bills are piling up, and I'm completely broke."
"I may have a solution to that,"
I looked at her in confusion "What do you mean?"
"Do you remember Stephanie?"
Of course, I remembered Stephanie from College. She was one of those girls who seemed to have it all-wealth, beauty, and connections. Her father was a senator, and she had always carried herself with an air of superiority that made it clear she knew exactly how powerful she was. We had never been close; in fact, she had always looked down on me.
"What about her?" I asked.
"I talked to her, and she mentioned that there's a job opening through her connections,"
My heart leaped at the thought of a job, any job. "What is it?"
"You know the billionaire Derrick Stonewood?" Bea continued. "His household is looking for a maid. But not just any maid-their maids are elite, highly paid. I managed to get Stephanie to secure a slot for you. The interview is in two days, at his estate."
She handed me an envelope. Inside was an invitation, an golden piece of paper, inviting me to an interview at the Stonewood estate. I stared at it, hardly believing what I was seeing.
Derrick Stonewood.
The name alone was filled with wealth, power, and luxury. He was a billionaire, the kind of man whose name appeared in tabloids and magazines. He was always in the news despite his low key lifestyle.
His family had a long history of wealth, with businesses spanning everything from oil and gas to technology. And Derrick himself was famous for his good looks and his status as one of America's most eligible bachelors.
Could I really work for someone like him? Would I even be good enough?
"Are you sure I can get this?" I muttered.
"Hey," Bea said, taking my hand and squeezing it. "Stephanie put in a good word for you. And besides, they're going to love you. You've got this."
I looked down at the floor, feeling a bit doubtful. This was my chance, my one shot to change everything. I had to try, for my mom's sake.
I looked up at Bea "Thank you so much."
She smiled "Anything for you, Joan. Now, come on. We've got work to do."
And with that, I started to feel hopeful. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep going, enough to keep fighting for my mom.
And as long as there was a chance, no matter how small, I wouldn't give up.
"Have you heard about me?" he asked me. His voice was cold. There was something about it. His voice sent chills through me like it would to someone who got ice poured on them. I nodded "Yes Alpha" "Do you want love?" I didn't respond. What do I say to that? "Answer me" he growled. I slowly nodded. He laughed dryly. 'The rumours you heard about me are true so you can throw any thought of love out the window. You're mine now and there's nothing you can do about it. This means I will treat you as I see fit. Is that understood?" Rose Wilson is an omega in the pack. She's maltreated, neglected and bullied, both at home and at school. She dreams of a mate who would take her pain away. That is, until she finally meets her mate: Alpha Kyle. Alpha Kyle is cruel and cold. He has no intentions of loving Rose. Rose's world crumbles even more as they cross paths. Find out what happens in this paranormal dark romance.
Catherine Walker's world turned upside down after the tragic loss of her mother. Now, life isn't being fair to her. She's being bullied at school and abused at home. Tyler Anderson is the new kid in town. He's the Alpha of another pack and came into town for an alliance. He also turns out to be Catherine's mate. Later on, Catherine realizes that she has strange magical powers. Join Catherine on her tragic and exciting journey, from being the bullied wolf to the saviour of all. Join her as she navigates her power, unravels deep secrets and begins a story of romance with Tyler by her side. .
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.
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
Anabel found out she was pregnant and dialed her husband's number to share the good news to him. They have been married for two years without a child. Desmond's mother had been accusing her of being barren and unproductive. When the call was picked, she was flabbergasted and broken. She was hearing a loud moan of feminine voice. "Ohh! Yeah! Don't stop fucking me! Fuck me harder baby!" accompanied with sound of skins slapping against the other. She went home to confront her husband and end up receiving a divorce paper. Desmond divorced him for a lady his mother was rooting. Few months later when he found out that his ex-wife is a billionaire heiress and she is pregnant with twins, he went crazy!
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.
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."