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"Do not fall in love with me." "Don't try touching me also, pervert," Mia fired back, and he raised an eyebrow, letting out a chuckle. "You should get a mirror. You do not attract a man, like me." **************** 24-year-old aspiring actress, Mia Lopez will do anything to get into the entertainment industry without using her body. Her plans were simple, "Get rich, famous and save my sick mom." After an hate-at-first meet with Xavier Singh, CEO of X-World Entertainment, Mia will get married to the arrogant billionaire. In exchange for her mother's surgery and the damages she caused, she'll help him take over his family's empire, the wealthiest conglomerate in California. Will this one-year contractual marriage signed with no strings attached become a love story? ************** "Marry me," he said, his voice with a hint of command. "Are you talking to me?" Mia asked, her eyes darting around the exclusive office, then her nose flared up in disbelief. "You're sick! The nerves you have to abduct me here. And this?" "You owe me," his grey eyes bore into her, his hands tucked in his suit pants. Mia glared at him, "I'll never marry you, Xavier Singh. You're arrogant! And rude! And grum..." "Your mother's surgery bills," he cut her off, "I'll take care of it." Her lips clamped shut at his words, and her eyes widened.
"Nothing comes without a price, Ms Lopez." He said in a low voice, flashing her a cocky grin.
"Are you willing to do anything to get the lead role?"
"Yes, I am."
Mia hoped he wouldn't say the words she had been familiar with over the years.
She chewed on her bottom lips nervously, and watched as the man leaned back on his plush chair, and Mia could feel his hungry gaze feeding on her delicate curves.
"Just one night with me.. Mia Lopez."
He dropped the words she had been scared of, and her head banged.
Not again!
"A night with you?" she spat, disgusted. "You're sick!"
The man's annoying laughter filled her ears, and she grabbed her bag, feeling suffocated in his office.
After trying so hard to show him what she got during the audition, this was all he could ask for, just like others.
"This is a lifetime opportunity. You won't want to miss it."
Mia glared at the slightly older man and he pushed a written piece of note to her.
Her eyes darted to the note and the steamy coffee on his desk.
"Sure, I won't want to miss this opportunity, Mr... Martinez." That was the name his assistant had called him earlier.
However, she picked up the piece of note, and shredded it to pieces.
"What the..." His eyes flashed with anger and his lips pursed in a thin line. "Bitch!"
Bitch? Mia lost it.
She threw her leg over the table and grabbed his collar forcefully.
"I am not some whore you can mess with, you dirty pig!"
"Let me go!" he grunted, struggling with her grip, but Mia wasn't done yet.
Picking up the cup of coffee, she emptied the hot liquid on his face and Mr Martinez let out a loud scream, piercing the walls of his spacious office.
She pushed him off when his assistant ran in, and she stormed out of his office hurriedly.
Just when she thought this time will be different.
"Shit!" she cursed, rage ripping through her body.
She hurried into an exclusive elevator, ignoring the warning that read, "Out of Limits".
Mia tapped her feet impatiently, desperate to leave here as soon as possible.
Her mind raced over all that happened.
X-World Entertainment has always been her dream over the years and no one could explain how excited she was, when she walked in through the large glassy door for this audition.
She had felt like one of her favorite celebrity, Harper Hernandez. The image of her appearing on TV and receiving the award for the best actress of the year had played in her head.
She wanted to make her sick mother proud. Her hopes of paying for her mother's surgery bills had been high but now, her dreams were shattered once again.
The elevator dinged open and Mia bumped into a hard wall, but there was no wall.
Wincing in pain and frustration, she slammed her fists on the hard and sturdy chest of the masculine figure.
"Watch where you're going!" she snapped, but he didn't bulge.
Immediately sensing the powerful aura around him, Mia raised her hazel eyes to meet a pair of piercing grey eyes boring into hers.
"You trespassed," his deep voice made her shiver.
"Excuse me?"
"How dare you?"
He looked at her with disdain and his voice laced with arrogance.
Mia twitched her lips, recognizing the CEO of X-World Entertainment, Xavier Singh. Heir of the Singh family, the wealthiest in California.
"How dare you bump into me?" Mia blurted, surprised at her own outburst.
His blank eyes flickered with something unreadable, then with a snap of his long and slender fingers, men in suits advanced toward Mia, grabbing hold of her.
"Take her away."
"Who the hell do you think you are? Let go of me!" Mia shrieked, struggling to wriggle out of their strong grip.
With her shrill voice piercing the air and attracting stares, the bodyguards threw Mia out of the huge, magnificent building.
Mia cursed and yelled, scrambling to pick her bag and other contents strewn on the floor.
Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, as she glanced around. All attention fixed on her and she could hear the murmurs and giggles.
"What are y'all looking at?" she barked, and they diverted their gazes away from her.
Mia sighed exasperatedly and ruffled her disheveled chestnut brown hair.
Hastening her steps, she flagged down a taxi. "How can he be so mean?" She bit her lips, trying to fight back her tears.
She would never shed a tear for assholes like Xavier Singh and Mr Martinez.
*
The taxi stopped in front of her house and Mia paid the driver, taking slow steps into the house.
Her eyes locked with her mother's when she pushed the door open.
"Mia."
"Mom."
She quickened her steps, wrapping her arms around her mother in a tight embrace.
"What happened to you?"
"I guess this didn't go well," Tammy said from the couch, watching Mrs Lopez caress Mia's hair fondly.
"He wanted to sleep with me."
Mia sat down beside Tammy, "And I can't.." her voice croaked and Tammy pulled her sister into a hug.
"It's okay, big sis."
"Why aren't you in school, Tam?"
"Mom had a seizure, I had to stay with her." Tammy said and Mia sighed softly, looking up at her mother.
"It wasn't serious, Mia. I'm fine." Mrs Lopez assured her, entering into the kitchen.
"Mom isn't fine!" Tammy cut in. "And she's running out of medication."
Mia bit her lips hard, and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Mrs Lopez walked out of the kitchen, her voice soft and worried.
"I'll be back, mom. Tammy, stay with her."
Tammy nodded, and Mia walked out, slamming the door behind her.
*
[X-World Entertainment]
Xavier's sharp jawline hardened for the umpteenth time.
"What did you find about her?"
"She was part of the selected list for the audition, Sir," Silas said, dropping a file in front of his boss. "L-Galaxy Entertainment released a movie, just the same date as ours."
Xavier's lips curled into a dark smirk. What was in that fucking head of Lucas? His brother will always be his shadow in everything, no matter how hard he tries.
"Get me my coffee."
"Yes, Sir," Silas bowed, and strutted out of the office.
Xavier leaned back on his chair and shut his eyes, his mind blank.
Then, her fierce words replayed in his mind. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
Feisty. He thought.
His eyes fluttered open when his phone rang and his gaze darkened.
"Father," he breathed out.
"Come to the mansion,tomorrow,"Mateo Singh's voice boomed and Xavier's brow furrowed.
Why does his father want to see him?
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
Anabel found out she was pregnant and dialed her husband's number to share the good news to him. They have been married for two years without a child. Desmond's mother had been accusing her of being barren and unproductive. When the call was picked, she was flabbergasted and broken. She was hearing a loud moan of feminine voice. "Ohh! Yeah! Don't stop fucking me! Fuck me harder baby!" accompanied with sound of skins slapping against the other. She went home to confront her husband and end up receiving a divorce paper. Desmond divorced him for a lady his mother was rooting. Few months later when he found out that his ex-wife is a billionaire heiress and she is pregnant with twins, he went crazy!
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
Elisa watched as the most important people in her life showered the evil imposter-The fake heiress, with love. Elisa, the lost daughter of one of the most wealthiest family was found 18 years later and was brought back to her rightful home. However, someone had already taken her place. A fake heiress, the pampered little princess. Her coy acting and innocent façade made Elisa's real mother love her more than Elisa, her real daughter. That made Elisa, though, the true daughter end up as an adopted child. "Elisa, could you try not to appear in front of her too much as it could trigger her insecurities." Her parents had told her because of the fake heiress. "Elisa, You've taken everything away from her. Why can't you give her a little more?" Her fiancé had ordered her. Because of an unfortunate accident plotted by Isabelle-The fake heiress, Elisa was sent to prison and her family cut ties with her without a second thought. Four years, after much torture which led to her being crippled and blind on one eye, she was released, but got hit by a truck. While laying on the pool of her blood, she wanted to question, Why? Why had they all treated her so cruelly, while they love Isabelle unconditionally? She badly wanted to rip off Isabelle's mask of innocence, to reveal the fake, manipulative woman beneath. She was full of hatred. But after her death, she woke up back to when she was 18 years like all that happened were all nightmare. She was elated. She was reborn to re-live all that had happened in her last life, but now, her mission was to reveal mask beneath that woman and make everyone that made her suffer in her past life pay. It was her time for revenge! And definitely, she won't mess this up!
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.