Lena had been infatuated with Ethan for almost a year, admiring him quietly from the sidelines. They worked in the same building, but their paths rarely intersected. Ethan was the kind of man who effortlessly commanded attention-confident, striking, and possessing a grin that could leave anyone speechless. Despite her constant daydreams, Lena had never mustered the courage to speak to him. But today was different, she told herself. Today, she would finally make a move. Or at least, try not to embarrass herself like usual. As she hurried into the bustling café, determined to be bold, her nerves began to unravel. She spotted Ethan standing at the counter, casually scrolling through his phone as he waited for his order, exuding that effortless charm she found so magnetic. "Alright, Lena," she muttered under her breath. "You've got this." Unfortunately, she didn't. ---
Lena Matthews had been quietly nursing her crush on Ethan Turner for almost a year. Every day she'd see him in the office, and every day her heart did a little flip. Ethan worked in marketing while Lena was tucked away in the finance department, buried in spreadsheets and numbers. They worked on separate floors, had no reason to interact, and yet, every time she spotted him in the company café, her pulse raced.
Ethan was the kind of guy who made it impossible not to notice him. He was confident, tall, and annoyingly good-looking. His dark hair was always styled just right, his tailored suits fit him perfectly, and that smile-God, that smile-had melted Lena's heart more times than she cared to admit.
But there was one problem. He didn't even know she existed.
Lena had resigned herself to the fact that she was invisible to him, just another face in the crowd. And yet, every morning, when she made her way to the café for her daily dose of caffeine, she hoped-no, *prayed*-that today would be the day he'd notice her.
Today, however, was already shaping up to be a disaster. She'd overslept, missed her train, and had to practically run to the office. Her hair was still damp from her quick shower, and in her rush, she'd grabbed mismatched shoes-one black, one navy. To top it off, she had a massive stain on her blouse from the bagel she'd tried to eat while sprinting down the street.
Not exactly the way she wanted to look when she finally *did* speak to Ethan.
Pushing open the door to the café, Lena took a deep breath and reminded herself why she was here. Coffee. Just coffee. No expectations. No hope of bumping into Ethan. He was probably upstairs already, working on some big, important marketing deal, blissfully unaware that she even existed.
But then she saw him.
Ethan stood at the counter, casually scrolling through his phone while waiting for his order. Lena's breath caught in her throat. He was right there, looking as perfect as ever, completely unaware that he was the reason her heart was about to explode out of her chest.
This was it. Her moment. She could feel it.
Lena swallowed hard and forced herself to move forward. Her palms were sweaty, her heart hammering in her chest. She quickly rehearsed her lines in her head-something casual, something flirty but not *too* flirty.
"Hey, I think we work in the same building," she whispered under her breath, practicing. "No, no. How about, 'Morning, I see you around here a lot'? No, that sounds creepy. Ugh!"
As she debated her approach, the barista called Ethan's name. He picked up his coffee and turned to leave, and before Lena knew what she was doing, she stepped directly into his path.
It all happened so fast. One moment she was standing there, trying to look confident, and the next-*crash*.
Her coffee cup hit the floor, exploding like a grenade. Dark liquid splattered everywhere, including on Ethan's pristine shoes. The café went silent as everyone turned to stare at the source of the commotion.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" Lena blurted, her voice an octave higher than normal. Her hands flew to her face as she watched in horror while the coffee dripped off Ethan's shoes.
Ethan looked down at his shoes, then up at her. For a split second, Lena was certain he was about to yell, or worse, give her that pitying look people reserved for clumsy idiots. Instead, he smiled. A soft, amused smile that made her stomach twist in knots.
"No problem. Happens to the best of us," Ethan said, bending down to pick up her now-empty cup.
Lena's face flushed a deep shade of red. "I-uh-I didn't mean to-uh-I can buy you new shoes? Or get them cleaned! Oh my God, I'm so clumsy. I swear I don't usually-"
He held up a hand to stop her, still smiling. "Really, it's fine. I promise, I've spilled worse on myself."
Lena's brain was struggling to catch up. Was this really happening? Was she actually talking to Ethan? And he wasn't mad?
"I'm Ethan, by the way," he said, offering her a hand.
She stared at his hand for a beat too long before finally shaking it. "Lena. I'm Lena. We work in the same building, I think."
Smooth. So smooth, Lena.
"Yeah, I think I've seen you around," he said, his smile never faltering. "So, what's your department?"
"Finance," Lena answered, trying her best not to sound too eager. "You're in marketing, right?"
"Yep," he replied, taking a sip of his coffee. "Big numbers and big ideas. Quite the combo."
Lena let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, I'm more of a numbers girl myself. I don't do well with the 'big ideas' part."
Ethan chuckled. "We all have our strengths. So, Lena, aside from making a memorable first impression," he said, glancing down at his stained shoes, "what else do you do around here?"
Lena's heart was racing. Was he... was he flirting with her? No, that couldn't be. He was just being polite. Right?
"Oh, you know, the usual," she said, trying to play it cool. "Crunch numbers, balance budgets, spill coffee on unsuspecting coworkers. It's a full-time job."
Ethan laughed, and the sound of it sent a wave of warmth through her. "Well, you certainly made my morning more interesting."
Lena bit her lip, feeling both exhilarated and mortified. She couldn't believe she'd managed to have an actual conversation with him-after spilling coffee on him, no less.
"Let me at least get you a replacement coffee," Lena offered, desperate to make up for her clumsiness.
Ethan shook his head, his smile softening. "I appreciate it, but really, it's no big deal. Plus, I've got a meeting in a few minutes. Rain check?"
Rain check? Did that mean he actually wanted to talk to her again? Lena nodded, her heart doing cartwheels in her chest.
"Sure. Rain check."
As Ethan left the café, Lena stood there, still clutching her empty cup, trying to process what had just happened. She'd spilled coffee on him. He hadn't been angry. He'd smiled. He'd flirted. And now there was the promise of a "rain check."
Maybe-just maybe-she wasn't as invisible to him as she thought.
---
Lena spent the rest of the day floating on cloud nine. Her coworkers noticed her goofy smile, but she waved off their questions. She couldn't stop thinking about the way Ethan had smiled at her, the way he'd said her name. It had been the best-and worst-first impression she could've ever imagined, but somehow, it worked.
Later that afternoon, as she sat at her desk pretending to work, her phone buzzed. It was a message from a number she didn't recognize.
**Ethan**: So... when's our rain check?
Lena's heart skipped a beat.
Maybe her crush wasn't as hopeless as she'd thought.
---
Mia Lawson, a graphic designer leading a routine life, unexpectedly becomes roommates with Liam Carter, an enigmatic stranger who reveals himself as a time traveler from the future. What begins as an ordinary apartment-sharing arrangement swiftly turns into an extraordinary adventure through various eras. As Mia is drawn into Liam's high-stakes mission to prevent a future catastrophe, she encounters a series of hilarious mishaps and historical escapades. Amidst the chaos, sparks fly between the unlikely pair, leading to a romance as thrilling and unpredictable as their time-traveling escapades. Their journey not only tests their wits but also uncovers secrets that could alter the course of history. -
Ever fallen for someone who have never noticed you or your love Ever suffered having to hear him call you My friend when you wish he would call you My love Ever watched him flock around with a lot of girls in your face Ever felt so broken all because your love was never returned Well that's what happen with Alexia Davies, She is from an average family,plain and kind hearted Meet Nick Marshall,the son of the a rich minister, He is handsome,Rich and sought after by a lot of girls. You might probably be wondering how these two meet,Well Alexia mother happen to be working in Nick house as their housekeeper Alexia always accompanied her mom at each opportunity she gets, She met Nick and ever since then their friendship grew with no strings attached It wasn't until till she reached the age of puberty and could understand what love means that she started viewing Nick in another way He became her fantasy,Her dream man,Her only love but to him she was just a friend For years she had to watch him flock his girlfriend around and though it hurt,she hid it well Sometimes she wonder if she should tell him or to live in silence forever But suddenly his interest in Stella brown her mortal enemy at school made her determined to make him see how much she loves him Now will she succeed in her plan? Will the rich, Handsome Nick fall for plain Alexia? You don't want to miss Alexia and Nick love story
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
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!
"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?"
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”