BLURB: As if Lena's day couldn't be any worse, a car sped past her, sending filthy water over her, and the driver didn't even have the courtesy to stop and apologize! One thing Lena knew was that the driver was related to the Josh family and that she despised him. Upon returning home, Lena gets news that her fiance is cheating on her and when she confronts him, he doesn't deny it. Heartbroken, Lena goes to a club to quell her emotions and ends up having a one-night stand with a stranger who happens to be the driver. It wasn't until a week later that Lena got to realize the stranger was Asher Josh, a friend of her fiance. On the day of Lena's wedding, she discovers her fiance eloped with another woman. Lena is once again heartbroken and she is about to call off the wedding when Asher offers to take her fiance's place. Lena is adamant but agrees and when she marries Asher, she receives shocking news. Will this news cause loopholes in their married life or will it be the very thing that breaks off their hatred for one another and bring them closer to each other?
Author's POV
The blaring horns of New York City's late-night traffic hammered against Lena's skull, intensifying the ache already gnawing at her temples. Rain drizzled down relentlessly, drenching the crowded streets in a damp, miserable haze.
"Hey! Some of us need some rest after a long day of work! What's with all this hold-up about?" a man hollered from his luxury Audi, his voice lost in the chaos.
Lena exhaled sharply and held her knee, trying to stop her head from aching.
Five months. Five whole months of relentless job hunting, yet nothing.
It didn't make sense. She had graduated at the top of her class, valedictorian of her Master's program in accounting with a stellar 4.2 GPA. That should have opened doors. Instead, she was stuck balancing jobs three jobs as a waitress, salonist, and daycare teacher just to get by.
But in a city ruled by the elite, academic achievements meant nothing compared to wealth, connections- and curves.
"Big boobs and a fat ass," she muttered, mocking herself. "Not my fault I was born flat."
She grimaced, clutching her knee tighter where the pain of standing too long had settled deep in the joint.
Earlier that day, she'd finally scored an interview with Luca Josh-the youngest heir of the infamous Josh dynasty. His early-morning email had been oddly direct, summoning her for a personal meeting after scanning her résumé and liking the photo on her ID.
It had all gone to hell the moment she entered his sleek, soulless office.
Luca had barely masked his disappointment when she walked in, but that hadn't stopped him from making vile, suggestive remarks under the guise of "friendly conversation." When she politely mentioned being engaged, he'd shrugged, leaning closer, his voice low with mockery:
"Well, sweetheart, unless you're willing to really impress me tonight, that ring won't help you get this job."
Disgust had turned her stomach, but she'd kept her composure-until he body-shamed her outright, picking at her appearance like she was nothing more than an object. She'd snapped back, venom sharp on her tongue, and the next thing she knew, she was being thrown out of the building.
Literally.
Lena shivered, blinking back the sting of tears.
'Why didn't I see the red flags sooner?' She asked herself.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Fumbling it out, she squinted at the screen.
Abby:
Girl, no time for calls. About to dominate a sexy Italian stranger (insert blushing emoji). Hope you nailed that interview! Also... I just saw Drake checking into The Josh's Hotel with some chick wearing basically lingerie. Maybe you should come to check it out? Love you! (insert 20 heart emojis).
Lena frowned, running a shaky hand through her damp hair before replying to her best friend's message.
Lena:
Love you too, Abs. Drake said he had therapy at that hotel tonight. Don't overthink it. I'm sure it's nothing.
She hesitated before adding:
Also... use protection.
When the message was sent, Lena barely had time to process anything else before-
SPLASH!
A sleek silver Porsche sped through a puddle, sending a wave of filthy rainwater cascading over her, drenching her completely.
Gasps echoed around her as she stood there, stunned, rainwater dripping from her hair and face.
Lena's wide eyes locked on the car as it came to a smooth stop in front of the massive glass building-Josh's main enterprise.
Her humiliation quickly twisted into rage.
'You've got to be kidding me.'
Teeth clenched, she stormed after the car, fists balled.
"Mommy, look! A witch!" a toddler whispered loudly, pointing at her dripping figure.
Lena ignored the sting of the words, her heels clicking hard against the pavement as the Porsche's door opened.
Out stepped a man who screamed power-dressed in a sharp, tailored black suit with a silver cross tattoo peeking from beneath the collar of his shirt. Before Lena could confront him, a sea of paparazzi and reporters swarmed in.
"Mr. Josh! Is it true your mother has been diagnosed with cancer?"
"Are you finally ready to take over your family's empire?"
The questions flew relentlessly, but the man-clearly another member of the Josh dynasty-stood unbothered, his jaw tight, his gaze hard.
' Arrogant prick!' Lena squirmed inwardly.
She shoved through the crowd, determined to give him a piece of her mind, but a wall of muscle blocked her path.
"Step back," A towering bodyguard barked, his scowl making her feel microscopic.
Lena scowled right back. "I need to see that asshole who didn't have the courtesy to stop his freaking car and say sorry to me after driving his car at an unlawful speed limit and sending shit water over me!"
The bodyguard's face twisted in horror. He glanced over at his boss, who had noticeably heard what Lena had said since he had come to a complete halt.
The guard turned to Lena rapidly, trembling with anxiety that his boss would make a commotion if he saw the woman who had ridiculed his name...
"You've got two seconds to leave before I make you." He growled a hint of fear in his eyes.
Lena opened her mouth to argue-only for the brute to shove her hard, sending her stumbling to the ground.
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Paparazzi barely spared her a glance, their focus glued to the Josh heir.
"Attention-seeking much?"
"Elites, don't date the oppressed; go find someone in your class and stop embarrassing yourself!"
"Petty little thing."
Lena's chest tightened. She scrambled to her feet, clutching her muddy briefcase as humiliation crushed her like a weight.
Tears blurred her vision as she staggered away from the scene, cold and soaked to the bone.
The towering skyscrapers loomed above, symbols of the life she'd once dreamed of. The life she had worked so damn hard for.
She'd sacrificed so much-missed parties, pushed away romance throughout her high school and college years-all for this? For a city that refused to see her worth?
Her hands trembled as she flipped both middle fingers at the Josh building, voice cracking as she cried out,
"Screw you. You just lost the best accountant you'll ever get."
'Who am I kidding?'
By the time Lena reached her apartment, her feet were blistered, and her spirit felt just as battered. She kicked off her mud-streaked heels, tossed them aside, and collapsed onto the couch, the dampness of her clothes seeping into the beige rug.
Hot tears welled again. She forced herself up, cleaned the mess, showered, and curled back up on the couch in a fresh set of clothes.
She returned to the living room, turned on the television, and was greeted with a commercial from the Joshes' company.
" If I ever get to see that asshole, I'll give him a piece of my mind." Lena scowled and turned off the television.
Her gaze flicked to the door, waiting for Drake. He always knew how to comfort her after bad days like this. But midnight passed. Then 1 a.m.
'The therapy should've ended hours ago.' Lena reckoned, worriedly.
Just as she was about to call him, her phone lit up with a call from Drake.
"Happy, she sat up and answered the call immediately.
" It's past midnight and you haven't returned. You owe me a lot for getting me so worried."
" I think you have to wait a little bit longer because your fiance here can't get enough of me." A female voice came through.
Lena raised a brow in confusion. She was about to ask who was speaking when the female spoke again.
" Look, I'm aware Drake has a fiancee. It's my job as a sex worker to bang him, but I don't want you to continue getting deceived by him."
Lena's heart started to beat fast. She rose to her feet and gripped the phone tightly.
" I don't understand what-"
" Thought I heard my phone ringing." Drake's voice came through, and after a second, Lena heard the sound of something crashing into a bed.
" Must be your imagination."
" Or maybe I'm too high from making love with you." Drake laughed so loud it shattered Lena's heart into pieces. " Stand on the bed and bend for me, would you? Be a nasty little prostitute, and don't scream till I tell you to."
" What about your fiancee? She'd get worried if you don't get home soon."
Drake chuckled ludicrously. " She will believe any false story I tell her like the naive little slut she is. If not for the money she's giving me, I would have taken you as my bride in her place."
BOOK 1- BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE BOOK. MATURE THEMES 18+ The book may contain s!xual scenes, sudden instances of possessiveness, mild violence. Sydney Morgan and Gavin Reed, high school sweethearts, had been married for over a decade. Five years of their relationship were filled with unconditional love; however, in the next six years, this changes drastically between them when Sydney takes advice from her best friend, Gavin's first love. When Sydney loses her baby, Gavin is left broken and vulnerable in the hands of his first love. She convinces him to divorce Sydney, and when he does, Sydney loses it and nearly gets hit by a car, but then the talk of the town, Gavin's rival, and CEO's son, hiding behind a facàde, comes to her rescue.
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."
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
After spending a night with a strange man on the day before her wedding, Arianna left the country to start her life afresh. The 22-year-old Arianna Jason lived her life pleasing those she loved the most, without knowing that she was simply a prey being nurtured for the day of her ruin. Her life has tasted the butter pill of betrayal. She wants to give back to the world what she's got but how can she change her good, innocent personality to fit into a cruel society and world? Can her sweet nature be contaminated, or will she make it through, paddling on the right path?
22-year-old Evelyn Carter is attempting to start over in California while avoiding her past. She will be embarking on a new career path as a private school teacher. She is smart, attractive, and doesn't put up with nonsense. Who wouldn't notice her? However, what happens when she attracts the attention of someone unwilling to let her go? Who wants her and nothing else after falling in love at first sight? A 25-year-old billionaire CEO and single father, Lucian Carrington. He takes what he wants and he is also a very dangerous man. All it needed was one look at a stunning woman to realize she was HIS, even though he doesn't believe in relationships because they always end. Preview: Miss Carter, you will be mine. I say firmly. "Release my arm, Mr. Carrington, before I force you to." She says, seeming to smile at me. I give her a sly smile. Squeezing my wrist with her other hand, she twists it uncomfortably. I gave a painful hiss. "Don't underestimate me, Mr. Carrington." "This is the only time I will allow you to walk away from me, Miss Carter." She glared at me as she turned. "Mr. Carrington, I am no possession of yours." I was left standing there when she opened the classroom door and left.