At her grandmother's insistence, Aurora Quan has a flash marriage with a wealthy man in order to acquire a Green Card. The only problem was, she has no idea who the man is or what he looks like. Moving on with her life, she applies for a job as a personal assistant to the rich and sophisticated billionaire Nathaniel Everleigh. What she doesn't know is that Nathaniel and her husband are the same person. CEO Nathaniel Everleigh needs to get married in order complete his inheritance. He needs a wife on paper but not in real life, where his business dealings consume all his time. When his sexy new assistant begins to linger in his mind for too long, he realizes he's caught between two women - Aurora and the wife he needs to find in order to move on with his life.
AURORA.
"You won't have to see him again for the rest of your life, Bonita." My Abuela's words rang in my ear for the hundredth time. "You just have to marry him."
If only it were that easy. I tapped my stiletto against the tiled floor, keeping my face downwards. The quicker we got this done, the quicker I could get on with my life. On a normal day, I would have run in the other direction. I mean, I still wanted to, but after my parents died a year ago, my Abuela thought starting a new life would be the best for me.
However, I did not see how marrying a man I didn't know would help me achieve that.
I tried not to think about the fact that I was seconds away from signing my life over to some stranger I'd only just met today, and instead focused on the ridiculous amount of people going in and out of the marriage registration office at City Hall. For goodness's sake, I was only twenty-five. Why was I making such a mistake? I swallowed again, my throat dryer than the freaking Sahara.
It's not real, I told myself, it's just a fake marriage-
"Mr. Quan? Miss GarcĂa?" a voice called out and I raised my head to it. "We're ready for you."
Next to me, my husband-to-be stood. Thane Quan. I hadn't even looked at his face. My Abuela had assured me that after today, I would never have to see him again so what was the point of looking at his face? It was all fine and good that he hadn't uttered a word as well or I would never get the sound out of my head.
I stood as well, my eyes firmly on the ground, staring at his well-polished shoes. I vaguely remembered Abuela saying something about how rich he was. Seemed like she had been telling the truth. He didn't look fat from the size of his torso, no pot belly either. His tan suit was pressed to perfection, his slim build impressively accentuated. Maybe he was an old man who kept fit.
Regardless, I didn't care about his money.
I only wanted the Green Card.
Being an American citizen would be the end of all my problems. At least, according to my Abuela. She was still in our little town in Mexico. Though she didn't know it yet, I was partly doing this because of her. Once I became an American citizen, I could bring her to live with me here as a dependent.
Quietly, we marched into the office. The entire ordeal was a blur actually and in a good twenty minutes, we were done.
I was officially Mrs. Quan.
Oh, God.
Shaking, I left the office, marriage certificate in hand, my cheeks hurting from how wide a smile I'd worn. I flexed my jaw, cursing. So, what now? Wham bam, thank you, ma'am? Did we just go our separate ways?
"Here, I want you to have this," my newlywed husband said, stopping in his tracks. I knew he was facing me because his shoes were pointing in my direction. His voice sounded rough, like he didn't talk much and was rusty from lack of practice. Definitely not the voice of an old man. But really, who knew?
I raised my head but only to look at his hand. He was holding out a card, a bank card. "What's that?"
"My debit card," he said, clearing his throat. "You can uh... in case you need... stuff."
Absentmindedly, I reached out and took the card, fingering the plastic. He must be really arrogant about his wealth if he didn't care that he was giving a stranger his bank card that I was sure had no limit. What if I really was a gold digger?
Come to think of it, I knew why I was doing this. But why was he?
I was about to ask when I glanced up to see that I was alone. He had left.
"Okay, then," I muttered to no one. "Goodbye, dear husband."
Does that situation sound strange? Marrying someone I'd never even seen before that day? Maybe it was... but I didn't know how strange it would get.
***
Eighteen months later...
"Lolita! I'm home!" I yelled out as I walked into the two-bedroom apartment I shared with my friend, Lola. We had lived here for the better part of a year, after meeting during one of my shifts at a restaurant I worked at months after my so-called wedding. She was only a year younger than my twenty-six years, but with her petite build, she looked much younger. Her hair was dirty blond and cropped short to her shoulders, her eyes were green like emeralds and her cheekbones stood proud on her face. With full, plump lips, she was a beauty.
People assumed we were siblings for reasons unknown to me as I'd never seen the resemblance.
Unlike her hair, mine was a sandy brown that I'd let grow for far too long that it almost got to my bum. My eyes were a dark shade of brown, my face an oval shape. My cheekbones weren't as pronounced as Lola's and my lips were thinner than hers, a pale pink color.
Lola walked into our small living room just as I plopped down on the sofa. "How was work today? Your Abuela called again. She wanted to know if you've received any word from him."
I turned my head to look at her. "Who?"
"Who else, idiota?" She said the last word in Spanish, settling down on the couch opposite me with a bowl of cereal in her hands. "Tu esposo."
For the past few months, ever since the final paperwork went through, my grandmother had been asking me relentlessly if my husband had reached out to me. Never mind that she had been the one to assure me I would never have to see him again after that dreadful day when he'd lent me his last name and his debit card and walked away.
"I don't know how else to tell her that he hasn't and I didn't expect him to. Hell, I don't even want him to. And stop calling him my husband, por favor."
She shrugged, laughing. As she'd been born in America, Lola hadn't needed to marry anyone for her Green Card. I, on the other hand, couldn't seem to forget the mysterious man from that day or the fact that I was a married woman.
I didn't know him, but for some reason I'd stayed single. I supposed I should reach out to him for a divorce or something sometime soon, but for now I was perfectly okay being single. And if I had to use him as an excuse to ward off advances from men, then so be it. I'd even bought a ring that I wore to work every day.
For what it was worth, my Abuela had been right. Coming to America and starting anew had been a good idea. It had given me a new perspective on life and helped me move on from my parent's death. While I worked on getting my papers, I'd done menial jobs to survive, one of which was where I had met Lola. I'd gotten an online degree in Business Management which helped me to get the current job I had now, as a secretary in a tech company. Nothing glamorous, but the pay was good and it catered to my needs and allowed me to save for the future. The plan was to work hard enough to bring my Abuela over here so she could live with me. Which was why I'd sent in my application for the new open position as the CEO's personal assistant.
"What time is it?" I asked, searching my handbag for my phone. "HR announced today that emails regarding the assistant role would be sent out at eight."
"Oh, it's 7:57," Lola answered. "Almost time."
"Thank God," I muttered as I found my phone and swiped it open. My heart was in my throat as I waited for the time to clock eight before opening my email.
"Give it. I'll open it for you," Lola more like commanded and against my better judgment, I handed over my phone to her.
With a serious expression, she swiped left and right, tapped about a hundred times on the screen - which I was sure was her being dramatic - before her eyes widened and she gasped.
"What?" My heart was beating through my chest. "Did I get it? Answer me, por favor, Lolita!"
Impatiently, I reached forward and snatched the device out of her hand.
'Congratulations, Mrs. Aurora Quan! You have been promoted to the role of the Personal Assistant to the CEO of Trek Tech. Please find attached your job description and you are to resume tomorrow by 9 a.m.'
In a world where werewolf packs dominate, Arya Shelby is an Omega despised by her pack and family altogether. She can't transform and she's been convinced from birth by her father that she's utterly useless. To make things worse, she gets rejected by her mate, the Alpha of her pack who accuses Arya of trying to bewitch him into marrying her. Bound for death, a twist of fate sees her escaped and she finds herself in a rogue pack, led by a man she thought was long dead. Arya has to fight against the enemies that surround her as well as confronting her demons. Now that her previous mate is back and she's torn between two Alphas who have the power to make or break her, Arya finds herself in a conundrum and the worse part is, she's not sure who to trust. Everyone wants her gone. Tyler Lockhart is the Alpha of the rogue pack. After his younger brother usurped his pack and threw him out, he left to a faraway kingdom with a promise to never return where he built another home from scratch. However, all of that calm
The night before her engagement, Valerie was tricked by her boyfriend and stepsister into spending the night with a stranger. After the night together, the man vanished. Later, her boyfriend accused her of cheating, revealing his affair with her stepsister. Pressured by her father, Valerie married an unconscious man in place of her stepsister. Valerie exposed the scheme, sabotaged her fatherâs ambitions, and transformed herself. When her husband woke and chased her to the airport, she calmly refused him, saying, "It's over between us." He held her firmly. "You married me, so you must commit."
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 a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same missionâcarrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!
For seven years, Claudia allowed herself to live under Eddie's shadow. She thought that devoting herself to him would eventually win his heart, but it turned out to be nothing more than wishful thinking on her part. When they finally cut ties, Claudia did not argue or ask for any compensation. Instead, she chose her peace and left without looking back. She never imagined that Eddie would suddenly appear on her wedding day, furious and wild-eyed. He glared at her groom and declared, "I was here first!"
Book 1 Amethyst prayed for her childhood best friend to be her mate. Everyone stares, they tease, they bully her for being an orphan but Mason was different. He protected her, he defended her. The Alpha's son loved her since they were pups. But you can't be kids forever. Everything turned sour when Mason began training to take over the Stone Heart Pack. He turned on her just like everyone else, Mason made her the target of his ruthless antics and when they turned of age - it got worse. Mason doesn't want an orphan for a mate. She has no power, no status and he wants someone with wealth to carry the Luna title. Amethyst isn't it. Everything crashes down, the humiliation and rejection too much to bare, turning Rogue was her only option. She couldn't submit any longer to the torture and living in the woods for a couple years before death seemed less painful. Until a man arrives. Claiming that Amethyst isn't an orphan. That she belongs to one of the five founding families. Amethyst thought that rejection was where her life ended. Wait till she finds out that it's only the beginning and neither her heart or life are safe. ******** Book 2 Maverick's past is a secret for a reason, there are rumors spread that he made deals with ancient witches to get the power every member longs for. But it's just a rumor....or is it? There is a reason why his mind and heart are always at war because if he claims Sage as his, hell would rip her from this earth. The best option is to stay away from her, to not have contact with her. What can he do when she shows up at his territory? Desperate to escape her grief. The problem is, Maverick made promises and with Sage in the picture - he can't keep them. There is a reason why Maverick is the Forbidden Alpha.. and Sage is about to find out what being a Fated Mate truly means. ******* Book 3 Jasmine Ravenstone gave up everything for a man who couldn't speak. Renouncing her Alpha title and fleeing with Kyson Zero, she has no idea of the past he carries or the Fated Mate curse she will endure. Being born from the first witch in existence, Kyson and Kier had to go through lifetimes to kill their father and never succeeded in their destiny. Now, the seal has been broken and they are down to their last life. If they don't kill their father then the supernatural world will cease to exist. Kyson didn't realize the ramifications of his actions. Stealing a Fated comes with consequences, a sirebond that ties Jasmine to him. He didn't expect a curse that will cause damnation. ******* Book 4 Kier Zero returns to his life as Alpha, after ultimately killing his first tormentor. But that was only his first demon, there is a second one that haunts him. Marked by Olivia Aspen, he wants as much distance away from her as possible. Until she arrives, with a mysterious power that everyone seems to want and a debt to a deadly vampire. She has no one to consult, stranded and lost in a world without a pack or home. Olivia chooses to repay her debt, but that comes with strings attached when the charming vampire has more to offer than she ever could have imagined.
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. Whatâs 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 couldnât 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 doesnât seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that heâs 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?