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
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?"
"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?"
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
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.
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."