"Marry me," he said, his deep voice with a hint of command. "Are you talking to me?" Mia asked, her eyes darting around the exclusive office, then back at him, and 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 hers, 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. ******** Mia Lopez, a 24-year old aspiring actress, will do anything to get into the entertainment industry, without using her body. Her plans were simple, "Get famous, rich 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, she'll help him take over his family's empire, the wealthiest conglomerate in California. Will this one-year marriage contract signed with no strings attached become a love story? *********** "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 low chuckle. "You should get a mirror, you do not attract a man, like me."
"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, Tammy?"
"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?
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
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.
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.
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”