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Cassie Monroe never imagined she'd find herself in a high-stakes game of power and money - or that she'd be the one for sale. When her struggling boutique faces bankruptcy, Cassie has no choice but to accept a once-in-a-lifetime offer: a marriage of convenience with Dominic Blackwell, a ruthless billionaire who could save her business with a single signature. The deal is simple: a year-long marriage to help Dominic secure a vital business merger, and in return, financial freedom for Cassie. But there's nothing simple about the magnetic, enigmatic Dominic. Beneath his cool exterior lies a man with secrets as deep as his pockets, and Cassie can't decide if she's his savior or his pawn. As their arrangement blurs the line between business and pleasure, Cassie finds herself falling for the man she's supposed to be pretending to love. Just when she thinks she's seen beyond Dominic's façade, a hidden truth shatters her trust: Dominic orchestrated their entire meeting, knowing more about her past than she could have ever guessed. Was she chosen for this arrangement because of fate, or because of a carefully plotted plan?
The rain beat against the glass windows of Cassie Monroe's boutique like an uninvited guest demanding entry. Inside, the shop was quiet, save for the rhythmic tick of an antique clock that Cassie had found at a flea market in Brooklyn. It was supposed to be a good-luck charm - a reminder of the early days when she first opened her little store on a shoestring budget. Now it only seemed to mock her with every tick, counting down the minutes to the inevitable end.
Cassie swept her fingers through her long, damp hair, pulling it into a loose bun as she looked at the shop floor. The racks of dresses and tailored blazers, once proudly displayed in bright, colorful arrangements, now seemed like ghosts of a dream she was no longer sure she believed in. She'd built this place from scratch, pouring in every dollar she had and countless hours of work. But it wasn't enough. The bank's warning letter was still crumpled in her purse, the ink smeared from the rain she had walked through earlier.
The sound of the front door creaking open pulled her from her thoughts. Cassie turned, expecting a rare customer on such a stormy afternoon. Instead, a tall man stepped inside, shaking raindrops from his dark, tailored coat. His presence was commanding, as if the very air in the room shifted to accommodate him. He wasn't someone she recognized, but there was an air about him - the kind of man who seemed out of place anywhere but the boardroom of a Manhattan skyscraper.
"Can I help you?" Cassie's voice was even, professional, masking the unease she felt.
He met her eyes with an intensity that almost made her flinch. His hair was slicked back, dark with rainwater, and his jaw was covered in a slight shadow of stubble, as though he'd been too busy conquering the world to bother shaving that morning. She couldn't place his age - early thirties, perhaps. He was handsome, but it was the cold sharpness in his gaze that caught her off guard. He was looking at her as if he already knew her, as if he'd been searching for her.
"I'm here for you, actually," he said, his voice smooth, like expensive whiskey.
Cassie's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly masked her surprise with a raised eyebrow. "For me? I think you have the wrong shop."
He stepped closer, pulling a card from his coat pocket and placing it on the counter between them. She glanced down at the name embossed in gold: Dominic Blackwell. The name struck a distant chord, something she'd seen on the news or in a magazine, tied to business deals and billion-dollar investments.
"Cassie Monroe," he said, more a statement than a question.
She met his gaze again, trying to decipher what he wanted from her. "That's right. And you are...?"
"Someone who can offer you a solution to your problem," Dominic replied, the corner of his mouth lifting in a slight, almost predatory smile.
Cassie felt a flash of irritation. She didn't like being cornered in her own space, especially by a man who looked at her like she was just another acquisition. "I don't have a problem," she lied.
"Is that so?" He leaned against the counter, his eyes never leaving hers. "You owe the bank two hundred thousand dollars. Your landlord has given you notice to vacate unless you come up with the back rent in the next thirty days. And your last sales report showed a thirty percent drop in revenue compared to this time last year."
Cassie's stomach twisted, her carefully constructed mask cracking just a bit. How did he know all this? And why was he telling her?
"You've done your homework," she said, her voice colder now. "But that doesn't explain why you're here."
Dominic straightened, brushing a raindrop from the sleeve of his coat. "I have a proposition for you. One that could solve all your financial issues."
Cassie crossed her arms, trying to keep her expression neutral. "I'm not interested in whatever you're selling."
He laughed then, a low, rich sound that seemed to fill the entire room. "I'm not selling anything, Ms. Monroe. I'm offering you a deal."
"And what kind of deal requires you to dig into my personal life?" She hated how defensive she sounded, but the walls were closing in on her, and she didn't know how to stop them.
Dominic moved closer, lowering his voice as if they were sharing a secret. "The kind that could change your life. Marry me, Cassie."
Cassie's breath caught in her throat. She stared at him, expecting a punchline that never came. He wasn't joking. His eyes held hers, serious and unyielding.
"Excuse me?" She finally managed, the word coming out like a hiss.
"It's a business arrangement," he continued, his tone calm, like he was discussing the weather. "A marriage of convenience. In exchange, I'll clear your debts, pay off your landlord, and provide you with a financial cushion to rebuild your business."
Cassie's laugh was sharp and humorless. "You can't be serious."
"I am," Dominic said simply. "And you should be too. You're drowning, Cassie. I'm offering you a lifeline."
"A lifeline that comes with strings," she snapped back. "Why would I ever agree to something like this? You don't even know me."
Dominic's smile faded, replaced by something darker, almost haunted. For a brief second, Cassie thought she saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "On the contrary, Ms. Monroe, I know more about you than you think. I've watched you fight to keep this business afloat, seen the sacrifices you've made. I know you're strong, resilient, and that's exactly why I chose you."
"Chose me?" The words felt wrong, like she was an item picked off a shelf.
"Yes," he said, taking a step closer. "Because I don't want just any woman standing beside me. I want someone who won't break under pressure. Someone who can play the part and hold her own in my world."
Cassie shook her head, the reality of the situation sinking in like a stone in her chest. "This is insane."
"It's practical," Dominic countered. "We both get what we need. You get financial freedom. I get the stability I need for a crucial merger."
Cassie opened her mouth to argue, but the words wouldn't come. Because as much as she hated it, he was right about one thing: she was drowning. The bills were piling up, and the future she'd worked so hard for was slipping through her fingers.
"You have one week to decide," Dominic said, turning to leave. "Think about it, Cassie. And when you realize you don't have a better option, you know where to find me."
With that, he was gone, leaving her standing alone in the silence of her empty boutique, her heart racing and her mind spinning.
What kind of man walks into a woman's life and offers marriage like it's a business deal?
And what kind of woman would ever say yes?
Cassie didn't know the answer. But as she looked around her beloved shop, the one she'd built with her own two hands, she realized she might not have the luxury of saying no.
Tessa Maddox never imagined she'd trade her passion for social work for the cold, ruthless world of corporate finance. But when a scandal forces her to leave everything behind, she takes a job as the personal assistant to Adrian Steele New York's most feared and untouchable billionaire. Adrian is a man who controls everything and trusts no one. He built his empire with ruthless precision, hiding his secret philanthropic work behind an ironclad reputation. Love is a distraction he can't afford until Tessa storms into his life with her fiery defiance and a body that tempts him to break all his rules. Their chemistry is undeniable. Their connection? Forbidden. But when Adrian's vengeful ex-fiancée, Bianca Castello, sets out to destroy him, and Tessa discovers a shocking truth that could cost him everything, she's forced to make an impossible choice protect the man she's falling for or walk away before she loses herself in his world. He claimed her with a single touch. But in a world where power is everything, will love be enough to keep them together?
A prophecy foretold his rise to power. A dark witch vowed to claim him. A seer with untapped magic held the key to his fate. Talon Wildshadow was born to rule an alpha with unmatched strength, haunted by a destiny that could either make him the most powerful werewolf in history or lead to his downfall. Cold, ruthless, and unyielding, he has spent his life resisting fate... until her. Serena Evermore has always been different. Raised among humans, she never understood the visions that haunted her dreams or the strange pull she felt toward the moonlit forest. When she crosses paths with Talon, she sees flashes of a future she cannot escape a love as fierce as it is dangerous, a war between packs, and a dark force that seeks to tear them apart. But they are not the only ones bound by destiny. Helena Darkmoon, a powerful and cunning witch, has spent years plotting to make Talon hers. She will stop at nothing to eliminate Serena and ensure the prophecy unfolds in her favor even if it means using forbidden magic to bind Talon to her forever. As passion ignites and betrayals unfold, Serena and Talon must fight against fate itself. But when a deadly truth is revealed one that could destroy them both will their love be strong enough to rewrite destiny, or will they become pawns in a game designed to break them?
In the shadowed canals of Venice, where power and betrayal go hand in hand, Isabella Frost is forced into a dangerous pact to save her family from ruin. An arranged marriage to the infamous Noah Bennett, the ruthless mafia king, is her only salvation and her greatest curse. Noah is as lethal as he is captivating, a man who holds the city in his iron grip and hides his pain behind a mask of control. To him, Isabella is a pawn in a high stakes game of vengeance and dominance. But the more he tries to keep her at arm's length, the more she unravels the man beneath the monster. As passion ignites between them, secrets long buried rise to the surface. Isabella discovers her family's dark connection to the tragic past that fuels Noah's thirst for revenge, forcing her to choose between loyalty and the dangerous love she can't deny. But in a world ruled by blood and betrayal, love is a double edged sword, and the lines between savior and destroyer blur. When the truth comes to light, will Isabella and Noah survive the ultimate betrayal or will their love burn them both to ashes?
Raven Dark has spent years clawing her way to the top in the cutthroat world of tech, but her ultimate goal has always been revenge. Matt Hank-the arrogant billionaire CEO of Hank Tech Industries-is the man she blames for her family's ruin. Ruthless, charming, and infuriatingly handsome, Matt is everything she despises... and everything she secretly desires. When a high-stakes project forces Raven and Matt to work together for 365 days, their explosive rivalry takes an unexpected turn. Heated boardroom battles give way to smoldering stolen moments, and the line between enemies and lovers blurs dangerously. But as Raven uncovers a shocking truth about her past, her carefully constructed plans begin to unravel. With both their careers and hearts on the line, can Raven and Matt trust each other enough to survive the betrayals threatening to destroy them
When high-powered attorney Bella Castillo crosses paths with ruthless billionaire Damon Westwood at a glittering charity gala, the sparks are instant and undeniable. Bella knows better than to fall for a man like Damon, he's everything she despises: arrogant, entitled, and used to getting whatever he wants. But when a lucrative deal forces them to work together, their steamy chemistry becomes impossible to resist, blurring the lines between business and pleasure. Bella is determined to keep her heart locked away, but Damon is a man with secrets, and one slip could shatter the illusion of his perfect life. As Bella uncovers the cracks in Damon's empire, she faces an impossible choice: expose the truth and risk losing the only man who's ever made her feel this alive, or protect his darkest secret at the cost of everything she's built. In a world where money can buy almost anything, can love survive when the lies come crashing down?
Blurb: The Villainess In a world ruled by moonlight and dominance, Caroline Lockwood was born a noblewoman but became nothing more than a pawn in a ruthless game of power. Trapped as the unwilling lover of Kai Alexander, the alpha who despises her, she endures his cruelty and hatred, her heart broken time and time again. When she finds herself pregnant, she clings to a fragile hope that the child might thaw his icy heart. Instead, her hopes are shattered as Kai beats her until she loses the baby, leaving her with nothing but an unquenchable thirst for revenge. But Caroline is not as weak as she once seemed. Faking her death, she vanishes into the shadowy depths of the forest, emerging as a vengeful specter. She builds her own rogue army, transforming from a submissive victim into a feared predator. Her new mission? To hunt and destroy the very male werewolves who once hunted her. Now, she is the villainess in her own story, and the hunt has begun. As she returns to confront Kai, secrets unravel and truths long buried come to light. The alpha who once hated her might have hidden his true feelings behind a mask of cruelty. But is it too late for love when blood has already been spilled?
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
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."
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.