Blurb: Ava Monroe's life changes forever after one night with Damon Blackwood, the ruthless billionaire hiding a painful past and a secret child. As their worlds collide, Ava uncovers lies that threaten to tear them apart. Caught between her family's troubled history and Damon's dark secrets, she must decide if love is worth the price. But in a world of betrayal, power plays, and hidden truths, will Ava risk everything for love; or is redemption too far out of reach?
Chapter 1
The sound of high heels tapping on the marble floor was ringing in the empty and clinical lobby, every step was confident and determined. Ava did not pay much attention to the richness of the interior; she was too practical to be impressed by the upper class. Her eyes were fixed on the road ahead but her mind was still with the text message she had received in the morning.
Her mother's health was not very good.
She took a breath, holding herself together. There was no time for weakness. Her job demanded that she remain calm and that she not let any emotion get in the way of her professionalism no matter what was going on inside her. She got to the elevator and her fingers paused for a moment before pushing the button that went to the top floor.
This meeting could change everything.
The doors closed slowly and quietly behind her, leaving her alone in the shiny metal cage. She felt dwarfed in here, but she did not want anyone to know this. This was the chance she had been waiting for. The opportunity to work with Blackwood Enterprises could help her advance her career and give her family the financial stability they require. And yet, the name Blackwood carried a weight she couldn't quite shake. She'd heard stories-rumors of the man who sat at the top, hidden from the public eye, his empire casting a shadow over every competitor.
But stories were just that, stories. People said many things about those they jealous especially billionaires. Ava tried to take a deep breath, to calm herself down as the nerves crawled up her spine like a cold hand.
The elevator decelerated and stopped smoothly at the top floor. The doors parted and the room that was revealed could only be described as opulent – modern and simple with large windows that showcased the view of New York City. She felt her heart racing and assumed a more upright position, leaning forward.
Waiting was not an option. Not today.
A man was standing by the window, a man of large presence, his outline clear and distinct against the city light. He didn't look around as she neared him, but his silhouette was unmistakable. She sensed it in the atmosphere, how it grew dense as if there was an electricity, a tension, a threat.
She stood a few steps away from him, gripping her bag tightly. They didn't even say hello or introduce themselves. Just silence. And then his voice was low, controlled, but with a razor-sharp edge.
"Miss Monroe."
Just the sound of her name, coming from him, made her feel a knot in her stomach. It was not fear that I felt but something akin to it, a realization of the dominance he possessed, the command he had even when he did not raise his voice. She forced herself to respond, her voice steady but softer than she'd intended.
"Mr. Blackwood. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."
Damon Blackwood didn't move. He stood still with his eyes focused outside the window, his hands idly resting in the pockets of his perfectly tailored tuxedo. Ava turned her eyes towards the back of his head, looking for some sign, some indication of the man who would determine her destiny. The stories hadn't done him justice. The cold businessman, the ruthless shark. He was all of those things, she realized, but there was something else. Something darker.
"You come highly recommended," he said finally, turning just enough for her to see the sharpness in his blue eyes. "But recommendations aren't enough. That is why I do not waste my time on the mediocre."
His words were bitter but Ava did not turn around, she would not let him dominate her, make her feel like he was making her feel. He was teasing her, she understood. This was part of the game. She tilted her head up, looking straight into his eyes as much as she could muster.
"I do not like wasting time as well, Mr. Blackwood."
And then, for a second, there was a look of something like surprise in his eyes. But it was as fleeting as the light, and he was back to that impassive face that suited him so well. He gazed into her eyes and she felt that he was looking right into her soul, that he was undressing her and she had no clue. They stared at each other for a while, a rather uncomfortable one, but Ava did not flinch. She couldn't. This wasn't just about her job. It was about survival-for her, for her mother. She needed this.
Damon moved away from the window, his actions sluggish and measured. He approached her like a predator, standing close enough that she could feel the heat coming off from him but maintaining professionalism.
"You're not what I expected," he said, sounding more thoughtful than harsh. He gazed at her but it was not a lecherous look. He could have been looking for something different in her, something which has nothing to do with her resume, her reputation.
She glanced into his eyes once more and then stared into them. "And what did you expect?"
A small, almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained cold. "Someone I could intimidate."
Ava however suppressed the cold feeling that went through her when he said that she did not let her facial expression show it. Damon Blackwood was a man who enjoyed manipulation, who made people go through the ropes to see if they would crack. But she wouldn't break. Not today.
"Is that why you agreed to meet me?" she asked, her voice cool, matching his calm intensity. "To see if you could intimidate me?"
He hesitated for a response and for a brief moment, she felt she went too far with him. But then he gave a slight nod, a gesture that wasn't quite approval but something close enough to it.
"Maybe," he replied, his voice emotionless. "Or maybe I was curious."
Curious. That wasn't a word she'd expected from him. It suggested something more-something deeper. She sensed that something had changed, the atmosphere in the room was different. It was not only business anymore; it was not a simple interview between a CEO and a candidate. It was something else, something that was not said, something that was felt but not expressed.
Ava forced herself to remain calm and composed, as Damon walked back to the window and stood facing away from her again. His voice, when he spoke next, was low, almost too quiet.
"Let's see if you can handle what's coming, Miss Monroe."
"Let's see if you can take what is coming, Miss Monroe." She did not answer immediately, her head reeling at the implication of his statement. Handle what's coming. A threat, maybe, or a dare. She couldn't be sure. The only thing she was sure of was that whatever was in store for her, she had to confront it squarely.
"I'm ready, Mr. Blackwood," she said, her tone clear and strong, though she felt like a whirlpool of emotions was raging within her.
Still, Damon said nothing to her, and that was all she needed from him. From this, she learned that this was only the beginning and that whatever else would befall her would be even far worse than what she had thought.
Blurb/Synopsis: "Please marry me, i promise to compensate you in whatever way I can," Marina said to the man staring at her with confidence. "Alright, I will." After the wedding, "I want to get a divorce. Let me go Aiden." "No, you are my compensation for marrying you," Aiden remarked, on his lips hanging a cocky smile.
Chloe was the second daughter of the Bishop family, she was the girl who had it all breathtaking looks, a foster father who loved her as much as his own biological daughter, and a fiance who was handsome and rich. But nothing was perfect in this world. It turned out she also had a foster mother and sister who could ruin everything she had. The night before the engagement party, her foster mother drugged her and plotted to send her to hooligans. Fortunately, Chloe went to the wrong room and spent a night with a stranger. It turned out that man was the CEO of America's top multinational group, who was only 29 but on the Forbes List. After having a one-night stand with her, he proposed, "Marry me, I will help you to take revenge."
A story about a young girl becoming the greatest obsession of her stepsiblings.
Sophia Drake braced herself for the worst when she was forced to move across the country in the middle of her junior year. Desperate to escape her shattered home as soon as she turns eighteen, her plans are disrupted by the enigmatic and captivating Ashford twins. Sophia can't fathom the intense attraction she feels for the twins and tries to avoid them at every turn. As she's thrust into an unfamiliar world, her past demons resurface, making her question her true identity. Will Sophia flee from her past's secrets, or will she embrace her destiny and take control of her future?
For two years, Bryan only saw Eileen as an assistant. She needed money for her mother's treatment, and he thought she'd never leave because of it. To him, it seemed fair to offer her financial help in exchange for sex. However, Bryan didn't expect to fall for her. Eileen confronted him, "You love someone else, yet you always sleep with me? You're despicable!" The moment she slammed the divorce papers down, he realized she was the the mysterious wife he married six years ago. Determined to win her back, Bryan lavished her with affection. When others mocked her origins, he gave her all his wealth, happy to be the supportive husband. Now a celebrated CEO, Eileen had everything, but Bryan found himself lost in another whirlwind...
Frederick Winston wakes up in a messy room with a woman after a night of heavy drinking. Realizing the events of the previous night were real, he notices red stains on the bedsheet and discovers that the woman was a virgin. Despite a brief desire to see her face, Frederick decides to leave, but a necklace falls off the woman and gets caught on his suit. While on his way to work, Frederick recalls the sweet scent from the night before, which surprises him since he lost his sense of smell three years ago. His assistant, Chuck, informs him of a resident causing issues on Cedarbrook Street, and Frederick decides to handle the matter personally. As Frederick is on his way, he finds the dropped pendant with a stunning sapphire, realizing it might belong to the woman he spent the night with. Intrigued and determined to find her, he instructs Chuck to track down someone based on the information about the Regal Haven Hotel between 11 PM and 10 AM. Frederick reminisces about a little girl who had saved him fifteen years ago and gave him a necklace, promising to marry him in the future. He is now driven to find her, despite being the successful CEO of the Winston Group. The story ends with Frederick's determination to fulfill the promise made to the little girl...
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self—a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison’s hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."