"Everyone has secrets in the glitzy world of the elite, but his could cost her everything." Emily Chase, a struggling writer, never anticipates being thrown into the perilous orbit of elusive tech magnate and billionaire Damien Blackwood once she discovers a clue about him. Damien, who has a reputation for charm and cool control, has defended his kingdom and his emotions from the outside world for many years. However, Emily finds herself torn between telling the truth and falling in love with the man behind the mask after learning of rumors of a past argument that could ruin him. Emily discovers that Damien's secrets are more complex than she initially thought, drawing her into a web of treachery, passion, and peril as enemies press in and her inquiry reveals even more sinister facts. Their unquestionable chemistry creates a bond that has the potential to either break her determination or bring about her redemption. However, each step she takes toward Damien puts her own weaknesses in jeopardy and forces her to face her worst fears. Emily has to choose how far she will go for love as the stakes are high and her allegiances are put to the test. Will she be freed by discovering the truth, or will everything she has battled to defend be destroyed?
As Emily Chase stared at her laptop's glowing cursor, the hubbub of the newsroom faded into the background. She could only hear the terrible silence of her blank screen, despite the bustle of keyboards and whispered voices. She understood the irony that a journalist without a story was as worthless as a painter without a brush. The pressure of the impending deadline caused her to rub her temples. She still had nothing after two hours.
"Chase!" Margaret Hart's piercing voice sliced like a whip across the clamor. Emily turned to see her editor standing over her desk, her sharp features etched with a familiar frown. Even the most seasoned reporters were made to feel like interns by Margaret. "Is there anything you can give me?" Margaret snapped, impatient in her tone.
"Not yet, but I-"
"Please don't hurt me. This is your tale." Margaret, looking as icy and uncompromising as usual, thumped a document onto Emily's desk. Emily paused, lingering on the folder with her fingers. Her stomach roiled when she eventually opened it. She was surprised to find the name Damien Blackwood at the top of the first page, bolded. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she cautiously stated, "I thought he was off-limits."
A tiny, sardonic smirk curved Margaret's lips. "No longer. The superiors want him to do something. Something significant. Something to sell papers. The golden goose of journalism was Damien Blackwood, a mysterious tech billionaire. In addition to having a Midas touch for business, he was plagued by a litany of scandals. However, nobody had ever been able to break through the curtain of secrecy that surrounded his life.
Emily scowled as she perused the folder's information. "I don't know-"
Margaret cut you off, saying, "I don't care about your doubts."
"Split the narrative. How you do it doesn't matter to me. Please deliver anything to me by next week."
Emily was left staring at the packet as Margaret pivoted on her heel and went back to her office before Emily could object. She sat transfixed, the illumination of her computer screen seeming to mock her. A cursory search turned up the same rehashed headlines: Tech Giant Damien Blackwood Strikes Again and The Billionaire No One Can Touch. Nothing fresh.
Then she noticed a passing reference to a ten-year-old whistleblower scandal. The tale had been buried nearly as soon as it came to light, and the details were hazy. Nevertheless, there was a break in Blackwood's unbreakable exterior. With her fingers poised over the keyboard, Emily paused. At last, she composed a brief email:
Mr. Blackwood,
For an article about the most important people in the computer industry, I would want to interview you. Please let me know when you are available.
Her chest constricted with a mixture of fear and excitement as she pressed "send." Her phone buzzed hours later as the city lights flickered outside and the newsroom emptied. When she saw the sender's name, Damien Blackwood, her breath caught. The message was succinct and to the point:
I don't give interviews. Don't meddle with my business.
Her curiosity was aroused, yet her stomach roiled. Blackwood's answer simply strengthened her determination. She had no intention of giving up.
Later in the evening, the uneasiness started. Emily saw a shadow outside the window as she sat at her desk, her mind racing. With her heart racing, she froze. "Who is present?" She called out, trying to sound steady but her voice was shaking. The city below hummed faintly, but there was no answer.
The shadow changed as she got closer to the window, now clearly visible. Just outside the glass, a man was silhouetted against the dim streetlight glow. As Emily closed the blinds, her heartbeat accelerated. She mumbled, attempting to get rid of the nagging paranoia, "Get a grip, Emily."
As she walked home from the workplace, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being followed. Every sound appeared to be heightened in the silence as her footsteps reverberated through the still streets. She kept looking over her shoulder, but there was nobody on the walkways.
Upon arriving at her flat, she fell onto the couch with a wave of fatigue. However, the uneasiness persisted. Her phone then buzzed once more. It was an unidentified number this time.
Give up on the story. Otherwise.
Her blood froze. "Who is this?" she typed in answer. Almost immediately, the response was:
This is your only warning.
She put down the phone with trembling hands. She thought about phoning the cops for a second. What could she say, though? That an unknown source had sent her a mysterious text message? They would write her off as insane or, worse, paranoid. Rather, she turned her laptop on. She was only onto anything if someone was attempting to frighten her away.
Emily searched through previous interviews, newspapers, and public documents to learn more about Blackwood's past. She discovered a mysterious investment that had turned Blackwood's faltering startup into a billion-dollar empire almost overnight, tales of a whistleblower who disappeared after accusing his company of fraud, and reports of a falling out with his family. She had created a list of possible sources before morning, including old coworkers, business associates, and even rival companies. In the hopes that someone would be open to speaking, she sent out a barrage of emails.
Once more, her phone buzzed. It was Margaret this time.
Chase. Arrive at the workplace. Right now.
Emily's heart pounded as she snatched up her coat and hurried to the newsroom, mentally reliving the events of the previous evening. Margaret was pacing her office when she got there, her face strained and pallid.
"What's happening?" As she entered, Emily inquired.
Grinning, Margaret turned and gave Emily a manila envelope. Emily's breath caught as she opened it. Pictures were showing her walking to the metro, sitting at her desk, and leaving her apartment. Every picture was taken within the last 24 hours.
"What is this?" Emily's voice was unsteady as she whispered.
Margaret crossed her arms. "I hoped you could let me know. This morning, these were delivered to the front desk. No return address, no note."
Emily's mind was racing. Not only was someone alerting her, they were also keeping an eye on her. Margaret's voice was low and solemn as she drew closer.
"Chase, you could have pricked the wrong bear. Do you really want to continue?"
Emily's determination solidified as she gazed at the pictures. Her stomach twisted with fear, but she forced it out of her mind. The only indication that the narrative was worthwhile was if someone wanted her to stop.
The rich Alexander Grayson has a son, which Natalie Reed has been keeping a huge secret for the past six years. After their brief affair ended abruptly, Natalie was devastated and made the decision to raise their child alone, away from Alexander's cruel world of betrayal and power. However, Alexander learns the truth-he has an heir-when fate brings their paths together once more. He desires a place in his son's life because he feels deceived and angry, but there are restrictions and issues attached. Secrets are revealed and old emotions are rekindled as Natalie and Alexander manage co-parenting. Although the barriers Alexander erected around his heart start to come down, Natalie is aware that danger still exists in his world. Can she risk her heart once more to defend her son? Natalie and Alexander must choose whether their family is worth fighting for or if their pasts will permanently separate them in this story of love, redemption, and second chances.
Powerful, unyielding, and cold-hearted, billionaire heiress Isabella Hamilton has never trusted a man-especially not after her father's tragic betrayal took her mother's life. Her life is a fortress, guarded by disdain for the opposite sex, and she shows no mercy to those who try to cross her. But when she humiliates a rich and arrogant businessman in front of the world, little does she know that her life is about to change forever. Devastated by the public embarrassment, Dominic West vows revenge. He hires a charming, attractive man, the perfect weapon to break Isabella's walls, steal her fortune, and crush her heart. But as the plan unfolds, things go awry. The hired man, Lucas Hart, finds himself falling for the very woman he's meant to destroy. Torn between duty and love, Lucas must make an impossible choice: complete his mission and break Isabella's heart, or risk everything to protect her from the vengeance that has already claimed so much. In a world of power, deception, and broken trust, will love survive? Or will revenge and regret tear them apart forever?
Her perfect life crumbled the moment she discovered her husband's betrayal. Fueled by heartbreak and rage, she sets her sights on revenge, determined to destroy the woman who shattered her marriage. But her plan takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Nicholas, the woman's fiercely protective brother. Drawn together by a volatile mix of passion and animosity, she finds herself questioning everything she thought she wanted. As secrets unravel and danger looms, their connection deepens, challenging her desire for vengeance. Torn between love and retribution, she must make an impossible choice: risk everything for a chance at happiness or let the past consume her forever. Sweet Vengeance is a sizzling tale of betrayal, redemption, and love that defies all odds.
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?