Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the dark... He was handsome and shiny, shredded and white-hot. I was attracted to him like I had never been towards anything or anyone in my life. I wanted his touch like a drug, even though I knew it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily... Gideon knew it. He had his own demons. And we would become the mirrors that would reflect the deepest wounds intimate... and the desires of each. The bonds of his love have transformed me, even if I prayed that the torments of our past would not tear us apart...
"We should go to a bar and party."
I wasn't surprised by my roommate's emphatic statement. Cary Taylor found excuses to celebrate, no matter how small and inconsequential they were. I always have considered it part of its charm. "I'm sure drinking the night before starting a new job is a bad idea."
"Come on, Eva." Cary sat on the floor of our new living room in the middle of half a dozen moving boxes and flashed his winning smile. We had undone our suitcases for days, and yet it still looked magnificent. Thin, haired black and green-eyed, Cary was a man who was rarely absolutely stunning, no matter how may be the day of his life. I could have been angry with him if he hadn't been the right person for me. most expensive in the world.
"I'm not talking about a master," he insisted. "Just a glass of wine or two.
We can
have happy hour and arrive at eight o'clock.
"I don't know if I'll be able to turn back time." I gestured to my yoga pants and my fitted workout tank top. "After timing the walk for me go to work, I'm going to go to the gym."
"Walk fast, train faster." Cary's perfectly executed arched eyebrow made me laugh. I really expected his face to be worth a million dollars one day appear on billboards and in fashion magazines around the world entire. No matter his expression, he was a knockout.
"And tomorrow after work?" I offered as a replacement. "If I succeed in passing the day, it will be worth celebrating."
"Deal. I'm going to the new kitchen for dinner.
"Um..." Cooking was one of Cary's joys, but it wasn't one of his talents.
"Great."
Pushing a stray strand of hair out of his face, he smiled at me. "We have a cuisine that most restaurants would kill for. There's no way to waste a meal in there.
Doubtful, I left with a wave, choosing to avoid a conversation about the kitchen. Taking the elevator up to the first floor, I smiled at the doorman when he let out into the street with a grand gesture.
As soon as I stepped outside, the smells and sounds of Manhattan embraced me and beckoned me
to explore. I wasn't just halfway across the country from my old home in
San
Diego, but apparently on the other side of the world. Two large metropolises, one infinitely temperate and sensually lazy, the other full of life and energy frantic. In my dreams, I imagined living in a walk-up building in Brooklyn, but being a dutiful daughter, I ended up on the Upper West Side. Without Cary alive with me, I would have been miserably alone in this sprawling apartment that cost more per month than most people earned in a year.
The doorman tipped his hat to me. "Good evening, Miss Tramell. Will you need a taxi this evening ?"No thanks, Paul." I swayed on the rounded heels of my fitness shoes.
"I'm going to walk."
He smiled. "It's been a little quieter since this afternoon. It should be nice. "I was told I should take advantage of the June weather before it gets really hot."
"Very good advice, Miss Tramell."
Emerging from under the modern overhang of the glass entrance which corresponded to a somehow given the age of the building and its neighbors, I appreciated the relative quiet of
my tree-lined street before reaching the hustle and bustle of traffic on Broadway. One day soon, I hoped to blend in, but for now, I still felt like a fraudulent New Yorker. I had the address and the position, but I
Always wary of the metro and had difficulty hailing a taxi. I tried not to wander wide-eyed and distracted, but it was difficult. There was so much to see and
experiment.
The sensory input was astonishing: the smell of vehicle exhaust mixed to the food from the vendors' carts, the cries of the street vendors mixed with the music of street artists, the impressive range of faces, styles and accents, the magnificent architectural marvels... And the cars. Jesus Christ. The frenetic flow of
Tight cars were like nothing I had ever seen.
There was always an ambulance, patrol car or fire truck trying to separate the stream of yellow taxis with the electronic wail of sirens at take your breath away. I was impressed by the heavy garbage trucks that were driving around the small one-way streets and by package delivery drivers who braved the traffic bumper to bumper while meeting strict deadlines.
True New Yorkers have been through it all, their love for the city as comfortable and familiar as their favorite pair of shoes. They didn't see the steam escaping from the nests- de-hens and sidewalk vents with romantic pleasure and they don't have blinked as the ground vibrated beneath their feet as the subway roared past, as I grinned like an idiot and flexed my toes. . New York was for me a whole new love story. I had starry eyes and it showed.
So I had to really try hard to play it cool as I headed towards the building where I was going to work. As far as my job was concerned, at least I had succeeded. I wanted to win my life based on my own merits and that meant an entry-level position.
From the
The next morning, I would be Mark Garrity's assistant at Waters Field & Leaman, one of largest advertising agencies in the United States. My father-in-law, the mega-financier
Richard Stanton, had been annoyed when I accepted this position, pointing out that if I had been less proud, I could have worked for one of his friends and reaped the rewards of this connection.
"You're as stubborn as your father," he said. "It will take forever to pay back
your student loans on a cop's salary."
It had been a major struggle, and my father didn't want to back down.
"Damn, if another
man could pay for my daughter's education," Victor Reyes said when Stanton told him had made the offer. I respected that. I suspected that Stanton did too, although he wouldn't admit it
Never. I understood the point of view of both men, because I myself had fought for repay the loans...and I had lost. It was a source of pride for my father. My mother had refused to marry her, but he never gave up his determination to be my father every possible way.Knowing there was no point getting upset over old frustrations, I focused on getting to work as quickly as possible. I had deliberately chose to make this short trip during a busy time on a Monday. So I was delighted to reach the Crossfire building, which housed Waters Field & Leaman, in less than thirty minutes.
I tilted my head back and followed the line of the building to the thin ribbon of sky.
Ana is a recent literature graduate who is beginning to explore her career as a writer or editor. Christian, for his part, is a powerful and wealthy businessman, manager of a large company in Seattle. Her profession gives her great influence and a luxurious lifestyle, which contrasts sharply with Ana's more modest world..........
Have you ever had a truly disastrous day at work? Imagine walking into an elevator with a celebrity and pretending not to recognize them, only to realize you work for them. No? It must just be me then. Now I have to try to impress them with my personality and professionalism. Funny enough, right? And guess what, it's Janus Phillips, the CEO. He has long hair and a captivating smile that's often featured in the tabloids. And I forgot to mention his model girlfriends who change all the time! I wear Doc Martens and weird clothes. Not very glamorous, huh? The problem is, I think he likes me, at least until he catches me with someone else.
Adrien Lefèvre, a poor man with a modest destiny, seizes a unique opportunity when he discovers that he bears a striking resemblance to Vincent Delacroix, a recently deceased billionaire. Impersonating Vincent, Adrien takes control of the Delacroix empire, but he is quickly plunged into a world of secrets and corruption. While enjoying his new life of luxury, Adrien discovers that Vincent was involved in complex criminal cases and dangerous conspiracies.
The plot of this novel revolves around an unexpected exchange of lives between an arrogant billionaire and a modest bartender. One evening, after humiliating the bartender in a picturesque bar, the billionaire is the subject of the latter's wish: to exchange their respective lives. The next day, the billionaire wakes up in the bartender's body, while the bartender discovers luxury and power in the billionaire's body. This reversal of the situation plunges the two men into opposing existences, giving them radically different experiences.
Elizabeth Bennet, a lively and independent young woman, faces social challenges and personnel of his time in 19th century England. The arrival of Mr. Bingley, a rich man single, and his proud friend Mr. Darcy turns the Bennets' lives upside down. While Jane, Elizabeth's older sister, bonds with Bingley, Elizabeth and Darcy clash with beginning due to mutual pride and prejudice. Their relationships evolve over time. misunderstandings, confrontations and revelations. Darcy, despite his firsts mistakes, proves himself to be an honorable man, while Elizabeth discovers the truth about the intrigues of Mr. Wickham. The two protagonists overcome their prejudices, learn the importance of understanding and forgiveness, and eventually get engaged. The marriages of Jane and Bingley, then of Elizabeth and Darcy, mark a conclusion happy, illustrating the triumph of true love and personal evolution.
Power couple Ethan and Lila build an entrepreneurial empire together while overcoming many personal and professional challenges. Their journey begins with creating a successful business, but they face economic crises, media scandals and internal betrayals. Despite these trials, their love and their determination strengthens them. Lila proposes humanitarian projects and plays a key role in the global expansion of the company, while Ethan prepares the next generation to take the reins. Their relationship is put to the test by family tensions, Lila's pregnancy and the professional pressures, but they find balance by relying on their mutual trust and commitment. Finally, after a series of successes and renovations of the company based on values of integrity and transparency, they are celebrating a decade of success. Ethan and Lila, always united and inspired, is committed to continuing to develop their business while preserving their love and family, ready for new adventures.
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called “sister”. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, “Never!”
" Don't say anymore word than you already have, don't..." I stuck a finger out at him, sauntering away on my heels when a hand wrapped itself around my arm. Breathlessly he whispered, "You know that I do love you and...fine, what exactly was I supposed to do?" "Protect me and stand up for me. That is what you do for someone who you claim you love!" ************ Out to spite her ex-boyfriend after he had broken up with her on her birthday, Daphne slept with a stranger who turned out to be his uncle while trying to rebuff his words that she was unwanted by others. Was she ready for the wild chase that followed when he found out years later that she had been pregnant with his heirs and that she had been hiding the truth all this while? Faced with the ruthless CEO, known as the beast, who wasn't ready to back down, Daphne does everything possible to make sure her kids wouldn't be taken from her, but what happens when love gets in the mix of it all? Would she be able to conquer these weird feelings and give in her all amidst her scars? And with how deadly he turned out to be? And faced with her ex who still wants her back, what choice is she going to make?
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
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."