"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.
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
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.
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."