"Watch where you're going, don't be so clumsy! This shirt cost more than your entire wardrobe!" This was the point where I should have walked off but the tigress in me had awakened. My initial nervousness turned to defensiveness. "Hey, it was an accident! No need to be rude about it." The man's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. "Rude? You think you can just spill whatever the fuck that was on me and then mouth off? You're lucky I'm not suing you for damages." My anger flared. "Well, instead of investing in a better shirt, maybe you should consider a better attitude!" Conceited. Dangerous. Sexy. Three words, one man. When single mother and writer Elena Jenson takes a job as a secretary to billionaire and CEO of Ross Globals, Gabriel Ross, she's drawn into a world of luxury, class and desire. As their forbidden attraction grows and he weaves his way into her complicated life, she learns about his past and does something to break his trust. Would they find their way back to each other? How would Lena get him to trust her again?
I sat curled up on the couch, my five-year-old son, Max, snuggled up beside me. I was staring blankly at the TV; my mind had drifted far off. Max's gentle tug on my sweater-covered hand brought me back to reality.
"Mommy, are you okay?" he asked, his big brown eyes full of concern.
I forced a smile. "Yeah, baby, I'm fine. Just a little tired; I had a lot of work to do at the office today."
Max looked uncertain but didn't press the issue. He went back to watching his favorite cartoon, his blonde hair bobbing up and down with excitement.
My gaze drifted around the small apartment, taking in the too-familiar sight. The faded couch from my ex-boyfriend's house, the hand-me-down coffee table, and the bookshelf filled with worn paperbacks and Max's school books. It wasn't much, but it was home.
My friend, Rachel, who was sitting in the armchair across from us, spoke up after some time. "Lena, maybe you should take some days off from work. You've been working so hard lately, and extra hours for that matter."
I gave her a disapproving stare before sighing, running a hand through my long, dark hair. Although Max had taken his father's salty blonde hair, his hazel-colored eyes were undeniably inherited from me.
"I know, Rach. But you know that your girl has to do what she has to do. Stacking up a bunch of manuscripts that no one is interested in reading can't put food on the table or pay his bills, you know how expensive that is," I said, whispering at the end.
"Come on Lena, don't be so hard on yourself, things will fall into place. I have a good feeling about this new year." I looked down at my son who had dozed off on my lap. "We said that last year," I muttered, struggling to hold back tears that were threatening to fall.
Rachel got up and walked over to me, giving me a gentle hug. "You're an amazing mom and an even better writer. Something will come through soon. I just know it."
I appreciated the encouragement, but it did little to douse the doubts and near-resignation I was feeling. Max was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis about two years ago, and the random hospital visits were taking a toll on us financially.
"Thank you," I mouthed to her, running my fingers through Max's curly hair.
Just then, Max jumped off the couch and ran to the kitchen. I could have sworn this boy was sleeping a few moments ago. "Mommy, Mommy! I almost forgot, I made a picture for you! You're going to love it, I pwomise," he said, gesturing for me to join him in the kitchen.
My heart swelled with love as I followed Max into the kitchen. On the fridge was a colorful drawing of our little family - there was Max, Mummy, Aunt Rachel, and even our old cat, Mr. Whiskers. The crayon marks were bold and vibrant; he must have been really excited when drawing this.
Rachel chuckled. "Looks like someone's got some artistic talent! It runs in the family apparently," she said, giving me a wink.
I smiled, feeling a sense of pride and gratitude for my little family. "This looks amazing, Max. We should get this framed in the living room so that everyone can see it."
"Or better still, an art gallery," he said in awe. I ruffled his hair, nodding in agreement. "Muuummmm, you're going to ruin my hair," he whined with a cute pout.
I could hear Rachel's voice complimenting his drawing while I slowly drifted away again. If not for anything, for Max. I had to keep going, for Max's sake.
Max climbed onto the chair behind and pointed to the drawing. "See, Mommy? We're happy!" He wrapped his arms around my neck in a bear hug. "Yes, we are, baby."
I turned around abruptly and attacked his face with kisses, making him giggle loudly, the shrill sounds filling the kitchen. Rachel blew a kiss to me before signaling that she was leaving. I mouthed a quick thank you to her in between kisses.
"Mommy, I want cereal," he said when I finally brought him down from the chair. "Cereal? It's late already baby, I can't have it giving you a stomach upset tonight. How about you take that in the morning?"
He nodded, running towards the stairs. "Race you to my room," he yelled to me. "No running on the stairs, Maxwell," I said in a dry tone, making him halt to a stop before dramatically taking one step at a time.
I rolled my eyes at him and took one last look at the depiction of our family. I am going to give my baby boy the world, but for now, our small apartment and my meager salary would have to suffice.
Picking up one of the bedtime storybooks, I placed it underneath my arm and used the other hand to clear up the living room. When I was done, I picked up my laptop from the center table and climbed up the stairs.
I heard Max's light snores before I even got to the door of his room. Pushing the door slightly, I saw that he had changed into his pajamas and was snuggled up with his stuffed donkey.
Having a son like Max really made this parenting thing a lot easier. He was so smart and responsible for his age. My colleagues at work called him my small husband.
I tiptoed to his side and planted a kiss on his forehead before going to my room and opening my laptop.
I stared at the screen for over twenty minutes, debating whether I should proceed with it or not. "See, Mommy? We're happy!" Max's voice filled my head.
Fuck it.
I clicked on enter and watched the sent notification pop up and disappear.
“Reject me then,” I said, taking a step forward to meet his eyes. There was a thick layer of emotions that I couldn't quite decipher behind his brown eyes. “Why would you keep me around if you're just going to take another woman as your mate?” I was taken aback by the confident edge my voice had. “Isabelle,” he called out softly, stretching his hand out to reach for me. I pulled away before my skin could come in contact with his, making him flinch. He gritted his teeth, turning his head away from me. “If you want me to reject you so bad then I will, a wolfless female is worth nothing to me.” I almost stumbled from the impact of his words but I set my lips in a thin line, blinking away the tears that were threatening to fall. “Look me in the eyes and do it.” “I, Luca Morales –” Luca Morales, Alpha of the Blood Moon pack. Three words, Dangerous, Conceited, Sexy. Word has it that he fought his uncle to death for the Alpha position at the age of 14. Isabella meets Luca and the mate pull is undeniable but so is her connection to a strange man that found his way to her. It's clear that Fate has a part in all of this but how?
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?"
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
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."
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.