The Alfonso series✓ Book 2✓ He just regarded me, I suddenly felt self-conscious. What does he see me as now, did I change from the person he knew? "Why am I still here, you just terminated my employment." I broke the silence, for me, it was uncomfortable to stay under his dark gaze. "I dismissed you from that job because you will be my personal assistant now." He said. I stare at him like he has lost his mind, personal assistant? Why would that be me, considering our past it will be awkward between us to work directly together? "You are kidding, right?" He must be kidding because been his personal assistant? What for? I have planned out how I was going to survive in this company, by staying out of each other way and not crossing parts. Only for him to wake up this morning and decide that should be his personal assistant. "Am I?" No, he doesn't look like he's kidding. His expression is as serious as that of an ugly rock.
"As the darkness passes to a glorious morning, dear God goes with me everywhere and let your blessings be upon me. Amen." I tell a quick prayer and did the cross sign.
I picked up my phone from the nightstand and unlocked it. As always, there is a message waiting to be read.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE. It reads. From a hidden number.
This always happens on my birthday every year, for a couple of years now. I have stopped letting it disturb my peace of mind.
I pick myself up from my bed and head to the restroom to get ready for work. It's still early I might as well take my time while getting ready.
"Good morning, mom." I greet my mother as I entered the kitchen, I kissed her on both cheeks.
"Good morning my dear." I bend down a little for her to place a kiss on my head. "Do you have to go to the office today?" Mom whines, childishly pouting her lips.
"Of course, mom. If it was up to me, I would stay home and spend the day with you. But I'm helpless." I shrugged and picked up the mug of hot chocolate I always drink in the morning. To say I have the best mom in the world, would be an understatement. She is the best of the best.
She is both my protector, my confidant, and my best friend. Always making sure I have everything I need to start my day.
"But it's your birthday today, can't those bosses of yours grant you a day off." She pressed, I rolled my eyes and made my way to the tiny dining table at the side of the kitchen.
My food is already on the table waiting for me to come and devour it.
"You haven't asked for leave once since you started this job, and it has been a year now. Why can't your boss be reasonable." Mom grumbled, she grumpily drops onto the seat opposite mine.
"Mom, it's not their fault either. A direct order was made from the top that everyone, irrespective of your position must be present today as the owner of the company is coming." I cut a big piece of pancake in my mouth, eyeing my mom as she is still not satisfied with the reason.
"So what? You can skip and nobody will notice with over a hundred employees." I gave my mom a are you serious look, which she dismissed.
"This is the first time the big boss is coming to our company since he bought this company. That should be a year ago as well when I was still an intern. Today's event will determine if many of us will stay or not."
"Okay, fine I understand. You can stop defending them." She reluctantly agree, I was about to jump for joy when she cuts me off.
"But..." My smile dimmed.
She stare at my face for a moment before she continued.
"You must be back before six." She said with a smile.
"Okay, mom." I went around the table and hugged her.
"I should get going, don't want to be late today of all days," I said while I packed up my bag.
"But you didn't even eat enough to last you for the day." She complained.
"Knowing you mom, my lunch flask is in my bag." I grinned at the look on her face, skipped my way to the front door, and out of the house.
I quickly made my way to the office, escaping the morning sun. Though the sun is not yet harsh it still left my skin dried. Luckily, I don't have to hail a cab to work every day, the company building is a ten minutes walk from my home.
Soon, I found myself in front of the building, I stare up at the twenty-story building. It still manages to steal my breath away, every time I stare at it. I'm always amazed.
"Good morning Brett." I greet the security man at the door.
"Good morning miss Zoey." He replied with his signature boyish grin. I have repeatedly told him to call me Zoey, instead of miss Zoey but he just won't stop.
Putting a miss on my name, makes me feel old. Especially when someone my age or a few years older calls me that. I stopped correcting him.
"Hi, Zoey." Sophia, the receptionist waved at me.
"Hi." I slumped against the marble counter, catching my breath.
"You should try using a cab, maybe you won't be panting like a winter Chicken," Sophia smirked, offering me a glass of cold water.
"Thanks," I muttered before I gulped the entire content in one go.
"But seriously Zoey you should hail a cab at times." Sophia frowned in concern. We've grown close over the year, with me always going limp on her station and her offering me water.
"Are you kidding? It's a ten minutes walk. I can't be wasteful." I remark.
"Really? Wasteful? If there is anyone that loves fashion more than me is you, Zoey. You save up all the monthly money you could use in hailing a cab to buy fancy bags, shoes, clothes, and giving yourself baby treats at the spa every week." Sophia gawk at me.
"If that is not wasteful, then I don't know what is." She shook her head.
"I need to look nice and beautiful, if I don't compromise you won't be eyeing the heels you've stolen from me." I scoffed. "And have you seen yourself? You dress like you own this whole building, not just you though. Everyone here dresses like the boss of this place, so it is only natural that I try to fit in." With these words I turn around and walked away leaving a speechless Sophia, who I'm sure is sending death glares my way.
I entered the elevator, the door opened and I walked into the sales department. Surprisingly, everyone is already at their desk busy.
I checked the time to see if I'm late, but damn I'm not. The time reads 7:30 and work was supposed to start by 8.
I'm sure this is the effect of today's event.
I greeted those that were not gazing locked on the computer and made my way to my desk.
We are an interior design decor company, we deal in decor for homes, offices, hotels, restaurants, clubs, etc. Under the sales department are three units, unit one deals with taking orders from clients, which also happens to the unit I'm in.
Unit two schedule and arranges delivery dates and packaging, while unit three are the delivery team.
I am not stationed in the department I wanted, that is the production department. But I love this part of the job, I love attending to clients and showing them new designs. And also give them my opinions on the designs.
There are sometimes when I do hate this job, that is coming across rude clients.
I sat on my seat and turn on my computer, immediately, tons of emails flooded my screen. I grinned, rubbing my hand on each other and ready to get to work.
I didn't know how much time have passed too engrossed in work until Mrs. Rose came out of her office.
Mrs. Rose is the head of the sales department, she is a strict woman but if there is one thing I like about her is that she praises someone when they deserved it.
"The boss will be here soon, everyone please find your way to the main conference room." She walked out with Jane, her assistant.
I sighed, turned off the computer, picked up my bag, and follow the crowd out to the elevator.
The conference hall is considering large and could accommodate a large number of people. But with the number of employees, the hall is packed.
I quietly stood aside, at the very end of the hall with my three friends. Away from any attention that most people seek.
Lucy, a red-haired beauty with glassy green eyes over paled skin. While Maya is a black-haired beauty with outstanding blue eyes and a tan skin.
And Sophia, is a brunette, with her honey-drop eyes over a perfect combination of pale and tan skin. And that leads to me, I'm a brunette too, with a beautiful set of grey eyes on tan skin.
We all are average in height.
"Why does it seem like they are overly dressed today," Maya commented, gesturing towards the set at the very front. Standing proudly and confidently beside the stage.
I eyed the set of people, well-groomed and ready to be noticed by our big boss. Funny enough, these people are the head of a department, technically they will be noticed.
"Who wouldn't want to have the favor of the big boss." Sophia scoffed, crossing her arms.
"I heard the mysterious boss has an announcement to make," Lucy added, I frown at that.
"Where did you get that, from your manager boyfriend?" Sophia teased. Lucy glared at Sophia but replied.
"Yeah, from my manager boyfriend." Lucy hissed at Sophia's face, which isn't intimidated. Even I wasn't intimidated, she came out like a harmless cat rather than the tigress demeanor she hoped for.
"I don't care if he has an announcement or not, I just want this whole thing to be done and over with." Maya jumps in before they could get into their usual bickering.
Just then the double door to the hall swung open, immediately catching everyone's attention. The whole place went pin-dropped silent as everyone held their breath, anticipating the arrival of our boss.
Two men walked in first, then parted to create a way for the boss.
He walked inside the hall, and the sound of his heavy footsteps echoes in the hall. My eyes traced from his expensive-looking shoes up to his trouser, from there to his muscular upper body clasped in a three-piece suit.
Merely staring at his strong body already had me swallowing the sudden lump in my throat. I didn't dwell on his body as was eager to see the face that owes such a wonderful body.
The minute my gaze found the face, I froze. A pair of dark eyes were already locked on me. I felt my breath leave my lungs, and my entire being paralyzed.
The Alfonso's series✓ Book 1✓ A King is incomplete without his Queen. Just as Vincenzo Isaac Alfonso is incomplete without his little, innocent girl. Ava Sophie Marcus. Vincenzo Isaac Alfonso, a name that made everyone on earth shiver in fear. He's a second God. Vincenzo is a thirty years old ruthless Mafia boss, he's labelled, Death. He kills ruthlessly. He always got what he wants and no one is able to question or stop him. Even the government respects him, the FBI steer clear of him because everyone is under him. What happened when the almighty Vincenzo Isaac Alfonso became attracted to the timid, gentle, and fragile Ava Sophie Marcus and will stop at nothing to make her his wife? Will he have his way? The answer is, yes of course. without a fight, I might add. Join Ava on her rollercoaster journey of being the Mafia Don's wife.
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"
Sequel to chasing my estranged wife; I want you back. ******** " You promised me!'' I screamed. "You promised that you wouldn't hurt me, you made the vows that you would stand beside me, Ryan, and what did you do? You broke me into smithereens. I don't want anything to do with you anymore. When I said we were done. I meant it!" Falling in love with him had come in a whirlwind, she couldn't account for how exactly it had happened but what she knew was that she didn't want to let go once she was in. For Ryan, when he made a vow, he had meant it, but nothing had told him about marriage, that it wasn't just a bed of roses, but it had thorns in it as well. When secrets piled up between them and vows broken, they had no choice but to let go of each other, but years later, he wanted her back. Like the air he breathed, he chased after her, but she was gone. Left with the remnants of his actions, he is torn between getting her back and damning all consequences or letting go of her and his children, which would it be?
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
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."
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!”
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.