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"Come back here, Olivia", Christian roared behind her, while Olivia kept walking forward. This angered him so much, he rushed to her and pulled her back. "You're hurting me, Christian!", Olivia grimaced as she struggled to pull herself back from him. "I'm your wife, not your housemaid, Mr. Mason". Framed and discarded by her former employers, Olivia is trying to start set up a new beginning. She soon finds herself in a fort of power and ambition after she gets hired to be the live-in nanny and personal maid of four-year-old Eunice Mason. Her path crosses with that of Christian Mason, Eunice's mysterious guardian, a man heavily guarded in the heart. As they forge a strangely strong, and almost impossible alliance to protect Eunice, they uncover a hidden world of corporate greed and family secrets. Amidst the commotion, a forbidden attraction ignites between them, a spark that could consume them both. Can love conquer the darkness that threatens to destroy their fragile world?
CHAPTER 1
"Can we confirm that these are indeed the bodies of Matthew and Rosemary Mason?" the morgue attendant inquired ofthe young man standing before him. "Yes," the young man affirmed with a heavy heart. "Mr. Mason," another man called out as he entered the room. "There's a social worker outside. She's here regarding Eunice."
The young man hurriedly exited to meet the social worker. "Good afternoon. I'm Izzy Parker, the social worker assigned to Miss Eunice Mason," she introduced herself.
"Good morning. I'm Christian Mason, Eunice's uncle," he replied tersely. "The family records indicate that you are Eunice's sole remaining relative. I just needed to confirm this with you," the social worker stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "Yes, that's correct. But where is Eunice?" Christian inquired urgently."I will be bringing Eunice on the day of the funeral, once you have set a date," she assured him.
"The funeral will take place in two days. Will I be able to see her then?" Christian pressed. "Yes, you will. You can take her home with you then" she confirmed. The social worker discussed further details with Christian before departing.
As Christian prepared to leave, his assistant called out to him. "Mr. Mason." Christian turned, his eyes brimming with unshed tears.
"The company's PR director wants to know if we should confirm the death of the chairman. The media have been inquiring," the assistant informed him, his voice strained.
"Announce it," Christian said flatly. "Also, state that the funeral will be in two days and request privacy, free from media disruptions."
"Understood, sir," the assistant replied, quickly dialing the company's number to relay the message.
The rest of the day passed in a haze as news channels rapidly began broadcasting the tragic news of Matthew and Rosemary Mason's deaths.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred on River Road while the couple was on their way home. The truck that collided with them suffered brake failure, making it impossible to avoid the crash in such a short time. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Mason family during this difficult period," one of the news anchors reported, before Christian switched off the television in despair.
The day of the funeral arrived, just two days after the tragic deaths of Matthew and Rosemary. To those around him, it appeared that Christian had no intention of shedding tears.
Standing at the gravesite, Christian's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the caskets being lowered into the earth. The stark reality that his elder brother, Matthew, and his wife, Rosemary, were gone struck him with the force of a freight train. A shiver coursed through his body as he bid farewell to the most significant people in his life, knowing that nothing would ever be the same again.
Eunice, Matthew and Rosemary's four-year-old daughter sat nearby, her round, hazel eyes stained with tears. Christian kneeled down beside her, trying to offer whatever little comfort he could manage.
"Hey, baby," he whispered, trying hard to attempt a smile. "Are you okay?" However, the child only stared at him, not answering his question.
Christian looked at the social worker behind her, puzzled. "The doctor said she had developed aphaasia. Witnessing the accident must have really disturbed her", the woman said with a grave voice. He sighed before replying, "Thank you very much." I'll handle it from here." "I'll be coming once a month to check on her for the next three months", the social worker said before leaving.
As the mourners began to disperse, Christian couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility wash over him. He not only had to handle the company, but he's now Eunice's guardian and caregiver. "I need a nanny for this girl," he said after realizing that he knew nothing about childcare.
"After reviewing the reports we received from your colleagues, and the evidence found on your work computer, we have found you guilty of sharing inside information about the company with outsiders. Therefore, you are terminated from work with immediate effect", the head of HR announced coldly to Olivia.
"I don't know anything about the inside information. Please investigate this properly. I did not send anything over to anybody", Olivia cried as she heard the conclusion from HR. All of her pleas fell on deaf ears as she was asked to pack up and leave the company in no time.
Olivia's mind kept bringing her back to that particular image in her head. The day she got fired from her job. Olivia sat at her small kitchen table, sipping her lukewarm coffee and staring blankly at the stack of unpaid bills in front of her. The water would be cut off tomorrow, and her landlord had promised to evict her if she didn't make a payment by the end of the week. It's been more than five months since Olivia was fired from her job at Acquire Assets Co., and despite her constant trial, she couldn't seem to catch a break. The memory of that unfortunate day is still imprinted in her mind-the shame, anger and sense of betrayal that washed over her.
With a sigh, she pushed the bills aside and opened her laptop. She had applied to several jobs, but was always either waitlisted or just rejected. Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. It was her best friend Ruth. "Hey, Liv", her usual cheerful voice sounded so... neutral.
Olivia hesitated, not sure how to answer her question. She didn't want to burden her with her problems anymore. "I'm trying to pull everything together, I will make do somehow".
"Then, if you're not employed yet, there is some good news!" The usual cheer in her voice resurfaced. "I just saw an ad for a nanny position at a wealthy family's estate, and I immediately thought of you."
She raised her eyebrows for a while. "A Nanny? I'm not sure, Ruth. I don't think I'm very qualified."
"But I think you are", Ruth said firmly. "You are kind, responsible, patient and very good at kids. Besides, it's a live-in position, you'll get a room. It even says that if you serve as a maid, they will pay double. That way, you can earn some money, and have a roof over your head. This will do until you get back on your feet.
She thought about Ruth's suggestion for a while, before agreeing with her. "Send me the details".
Minutes later, a message popped up on Olivia's phone. 'The person hiring is Christian Mason. Why does this name sound so familiar though?', she thought to herself as she quickly applied for the job. A reply came in about thirty minutes later, asking her to come to the Mason house for an interview.
"Hey, Ruth. I've got an interview fixed for the next two days", she sent a text to her friend to notify her that she had applied.
"Very good." Remember to wear warm clothes to the interview. That way you will feel more friendly and kind", Ruth advised before ending their conversation.
"Olivia Benjamin. This is your chance to start afresh, so you might as well start from the bottom. I hope I get this job at least", Olivia whispered to herself as she picked up her phone to continue checking on places she applied to.
'The Chairman of Rock Technology dies in a ghastly accident, alongside his wife', Olivia read on the news app. "Oh! That must have been painful for their family members", she said as she closed the news.
Olivia dropped her phone to think about the direction of her life if she ever got the live-in nanny position. She opened her locker, sighing as she sighted the people in the locker.
"Everything will be alright, right? Mom, dad, I hope everything goes well."
Olivia opened her YouTube app to watch common questions nannies get asked and how to answer them.
The next day, Christian just arrived at work. The company's gate was filled with reporters trying to get first hand news on the predicament of the family that the Chairman, Matthew and his wife, Rosemary left behind.
"Mr. Mason, can you tell us how you feel? Will you be resuming as the new chairman of the company? What will happen to your niece? Will you adopt your niece or send her to a facility?" These barrage of questions came from reporters who only cared about getting first hand news from Christian himself.
He managed to get inside the company and hurried to the elevator. "This is why I hate the media. They don't have sentiments at all. All they care about is some hot news", Christian expressed grimly as he got inside the elevator.
"Sir, reports came from the police about the truck driver", his assistant stated. "The truck driver was indeed drunk driving.The brakes failed. They said it seemed very coincidental. The truck driver also succumbed to his injuries this morning", he continued as he watched Christians' facial expressions. "An application also came for the position of live-in nanny. I've fixed the interview for tomorrow in the afternoon.
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."