Desperation clings to me like a second skin. At twenty-five, I'm doing everything I can to keep my life from falling apart. My mother's medical bills are piling up, and each day feels like I'm sinking deeper into a pit I can't crawl out of. The job market hasn't been kind. I've gone from one dead-end interview to another until the Pression group interview. Everything started falling apart when he came into my life. He was a drug, I was willing to risk it all for. "You're mine now, Amelia," he growled, his breath hot against her skin. "And I don't let go of what's mine." Her heart pounded as his fingers grazed her lips, his dark eyes burning into her. "You can try to run," he whispered, "but I'll always catch you." "Say it," he demanded, his hand tightening around her wrist. "Say you belong to me." His lips brushed against her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "I'll break you, Amelia. Piece by piece, until you beg for me to put you back together." He came as a surprise to my world, a package with lots of dark secrets will they make his or is it all going to drive me away from him?
Amelia's POV
Desperation clings to me like a second skin, suffocating and heavy. Every waking moment is a reminder of my mom's frailty, of the medical bills piling higher than I can see over, threatening to crush me.
I'm 25, clinging to the shards of a life that feels like it's breaking apart faster than I can patch it up. Job after job slips through my fingers, leaving me frustrated and angry at a world that seems to want nothing from me but my appearance and my body.
Being beautiful isn't the gift people think it is, it's a curse. It means what people see first is your face and not what you can offer. A curse that's followed me into every interview where the panel looks at me like I'm decoration, not someone with potential.
Their eyes always linger a second too long, their questions veiled in innuendo. None of it has helped me find steady work, and the weight of it all has me spiraling and having a mental breakdown that I can't afford.
But today, my phone holds a lifeline. Or at least, I hope it does. The job offer seems unreal: "Personal Secretary to Christopher Russell. Salary: $100,000 per month."
I've reread the email a dozen times, waiting for the fine print to reveal itself, for some sign that this is a scam. It has to be, doesn't it? But even if it is, I don't have the luxury of walking away or even doubting anything.
One hundred thousand dollars. That kind of money could fix everything. It could cover my mom's hospital bills, settle every last debt, maybe even give us a shot at a real future. But the uneasy knot in my stomach tightens every time I think about it. Opportunities like this don't fall into your lap without strings attached.
I smooth the fabric of my dress and glance at my reflection. The girl staring back at me looks pale and worn, her brown eyes shadowed with exhaustion. My long black curly hair is neatly styled in a ponytail.
My makeup subtle, but none of it hides the anxiety etched into my face. "You've got this," I whisper, though the words feel hollow. My hands tremble as I pick up my bag and step out of the apartment.
The building where Christopher Russell's office is housed gleams like a monument to power. The glass doors shimmer under the sun, and the marble floors inside shine like they've never been walked on. My heels echo sharply as I cross the lobby, feeling smaller with every step. The receptionist doesn't even glance up at me as I approach the desk, which somehow makes me feel more insignificant.
I reach the elevator, and my palms sweat as the doors slide shut behind me. My nerves threaten to spill over, but I force myself to breathe. The hum of the elevator feels unnaturally loud in the silence, and I can't stop my thoughts from racing. This is it. This is my shot.
When I step into his office, the air shifts. It's cold, suffocating, and something I can't name settles over me. The man seated at the desk exudes authority, his sharp suit molding perfectly to his broad frame. His dark amber eyes lock on me the moment I enter, and I feel stripped bare under his gaze.
He doesn't say anything at first, just studies me with an intensity that makes my skin crawl and heat rise to my face at the same time. His silence stretches until I want to scream just to break it.
"You're Amelia, right?" His voice is deep, with a smoothness that almost distracts me from the sharp undertone laced through it.
"Yes," I manage to whisper.
His lips curve into a smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "You're here for the secretary job. What makes you think you're qualified?"
The question catches me off guard, and I stumble over my words as I explain my experience. My voice feels small in the vastness of the room, and I can't tell if he's even listening. He leans back in his chair, his eyes never leaving me.
"A hundred thousand dollars a month is a lot of money, Miss James," he says, his tone light but with an edge that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. "Are you sure you can handle it?"
The way he says it makes my stomach twist. There's something unspoken in his words, something darker.
"I-I'm willing to do whatever it takes," I say, though the tremor in my voice betrays my fear.
His smile widens, and the air in the room grows heavier. "I believe you," he says, rising from his seat with a calculated grace. He rounds the desk slowly, each step deliberate, until he's standing so close I can feel the warmth of his presence.
"And I'll make sure your mom's medical bills are taken care of," he adds " it will be different from your salary, as well." his voice was softer but no less commanding as he said this.
My breath catches. How does he know about my mom? I didn't mention her to anyone, not even in the application. My heart races as his hand lifts, hovering near my face without touching me. The proximity is suffocating, and I fight the urge to step back.
"I take care of what's mine, Amelia," he murmurs, his tone low and dangerous. It doesn't feel like an offer. It feels like a claim.
I want to say something, to push back, but the words won't come. I can only stare at him, frozen under the weight of his electrifying gaze and presence.
"Let's start tomorrow," he says, stepping back as if the moment never happened. "I'll send a car for you."
Before I can respond, he's gone, leaving me alone in the oppressive silence of his office.
Outside, the crisp air does little to calm my nerves. My hands won't stop shaking as I clutch my bag, replaying his words in my mind. 'I take care of what's mine.'
The thought sends a shiver through me as I quicken my pace, desperate to put distance between myself and that office. This job could save my mom's life, but I know it comes at a price. And Christopher Russell doesn't seem like the kind of man who gives anything for free.
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
My family was on the poverty line and had no way to support me in college. I had to work part-time every day just to make ends meet and afford to get into the university. That was when I met herâthe pretty girl in my class that every boy dreamt of asking out. I was well aware she was out of my league. Nevertheless, I mustered all my courage and bravely told her that I had fallen for her. To my surprise, she agreed to be my girlfriend. With the sweetest smile I had ever seen, she told me that she wanted my first gift for her to be the latest and top-of-the-line iPhone. I worked like a dog and even did my classmatesâ laundry to save up. My hard work eventually paid off after a month. I finally got to buy what she wanted. But as I was wrapping my gift, I saw her in the dressing room, making out with the captain of the basketball team. She then heartlessly made fun of my inadequacy and made a fool out of me. To make things worse, the guy whom she cheated on me with even punched me in the face. Desperation washed over me, but there was nothing I could do but lie on the floor as they trampled on my feelings. But then, my father called me out of the blue, and my life turned upside down. It turned out that I was a billionaire's son.
âGabriel Bryce, how can you stand being so shameless?â Leonica asked, staring daggers at her atrocious husband and his mistress. âThis is the house gifted to my by grandmother, yet you dare bring another woman into it? Arenât you afraid that grandmother would be disappointed with you actionsâŠ?â Leonicaâs words remained unfinished as an enraged Gabriel swung his hand through the air, smacking his palm clean on her left cheek. Leonica held her throbbing cheek, eyes wide and teary as she stared at her husband who glared down at her ferociously. âThe nerves of you to mention my grandmother. You have no right to do so!â He spat, taking a step forward and jabbing his index finger painfully into her shoulder, making her take several steps back. âBare this in mind, Leonica Romero, if not for the wishes of my late grandmother, Iâd much rather be dead than associate myself with somebody like you.â *~*~* *~*~* Leonica Romero has always had a long time crush on Gabriel Bryce, CEO of Bryce Empire and Norwayâs Business tyrant. Fortunately, at the request of his Ill grandmother, her familyâs long time friend, Leonica gets the chance to marry her beloved. Feeling elated, she abandoned her position and dream job in the Romero household and becomes a humble housewife for Gabriel. However, Three years later, on the day of Gabrielâs grandmotherâs funeral, Leonica is stunned speechless when he demands for a divorce, as his ex girlfriend Angelina Fernandez had suddenly returned, proclaiming her undying love for him. But that wasnât the only shock Leonica received that day. Hours after Gabrielâs declaration for a divorce, Leonica wakes up in the hospital to a shocking news. She was two months pregnant. And Gabriel knew nothing about this!
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!"
RATED 18+ (WARNING) - EXPLICIT SCENES. "Strip for me" the beastly alpha called, his voice echoed from his dark cell, causing a shiver to go down her body. She couldn't fight the way her body reacts to him. Her nipples harden from his touch. "I can smell your wetness omega" he mutters, his hands tracing under her skirt till he feels up her wet jeweled folds, causing a hiss from her lips as his fingers push in. He whispers to he ears, a voice filled the dangerous promise "you are mine" .******. Elise Aldermen is the daughter of the Silvernight Pack's chief alpha. She has waited her whole life for her marriage ceremony, hoping it would be the best day of her life. However, she gets the shock of a lifetime when her betrothed coldly rejects her and makes her a slave after finding out her true origins, even though they were already bound. Not Not only is she claimed to be a bastard on her mating day, but she is also disowned and rejected by her pack and mate. Elise's life turns into a nightmare as she is thrown into the dungeons as the cruel alpha's slave, only to be handed off to his greatest beastly champion, who dwells in the dark cells. Elise soon discovers that the beast she is now forced to be marked and bound to is more than a monster; this beastly alpha could also be her fated mate.
She was hurt. She was bullied and made fun of. And the only hope that kept her going was finding her mate. She has always been weak. Weak to the world. Why? Because she was a lantern. She didn't have a wolf. That's what everyone thought about her. When she found her mate, he wanted her to be his slut and not a wife. She might be an omega, but it doesn't mean she will take disloyalty and betrayal lightly. So she did something that no one in history ever did. She rejected an Alpha. "I, Alexis Clark, reject Brandon Sterling, the alpha of Black mist pack, and consider myself a free soul until I decide so."; Were her last words before she left that torturous place and became a rogue. A rogue that everyone was fearing and finding. Why? Because she was the rogue that has become one of the biggest problems of almost all the packs in the country. She was Alexis Clark. A rogue that rejected an Alpha, stealth food, kill other rogues, and more than that was living with humans and studying with them. What will happen when her case is given to the world's most dangerous alpha, Sebastian Sinclair, who has taken it upon himself to punish this rogue. The one who hated rogues and omega to a level that was beyond understanding. Why? Because his mate was an omega, who betrayed him with a rogue before dying. How will Alexis tackle this alpha, in whose College she was studying and living under hiding for almost a year? What will Sebastian do when he finds out the new girl he had been talking to is none other than the rogue omega that he had decided to kill? "To love you with all my might was my only wish, but you were the only one who gave me endless suffering. So today, I promise myself to not fall for anyone."; A simple saying that both Alexis and Sebastian had vowed upon. Will they be able to find their love amidst all these problems?