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Alexandra Thompson, a self-made tech billionaire, and Julian Saint Clair, a charismatic real estate heir, agree to a 6-month fake marriage to secure a lucrative business deal. As they navigate their growing attraction amidst deception, they face complications from rival CEOs, past lovers, and family pressures. Will they choose love or business when the truth threatens to expose their ruse?
Standing confidently in my sleek, modern office, overlooking the city skyline, the only thing I could think about was my parents.
It's been 5 years since my parents passed away, and my life hasn't remained the same. I wish they were here to see my tech company evolving into a multi-billion dollar empire. It has always been their dream to see me become this successful. They were alive when I started the company, now they're no more.
"Your parents just died in an auto crash," the news about their death still lives rent-free in my head.
At 28, I've accomplished more than I inte KOnded, but the absence of my parents still finds its way to haunting me.
What more could I have asked for? I am a rich, successful, beautiful, independent, and courageous woman. If I had the opportunity to turn back the hands of time, I would have stopped my parents from embarking on that trip that ended their lives.
My thoughts were, however, ruined by a knock on my door. It was a bad time for me to receive visitors, not when my head wasn't stable. I can't even think straight about saving my life right now. I feel like my whole world is crumbling right in front of me and I can't even do anything to save it.
I ignored the knock at my door and continued to wallow in grief. The more I ignored the knock, the more it kept coming. That was the moment I figured out that it might be important for me to get to the door.
"Come in already," I answered and rushed to get seated. From what I know, it might be a prospective client and I wouldn't want to be caught in an awkward state.
The best I could do was to put up a smiling face, regardless of what I might be growing through.
A moment later, the visitor walked inside my office. I frowned. I thought it would be an entirely different person.
"What do you want, Rachael?"
I rolled my eyes and looked away.
I indicated the chair across from my desk, which had a neat little row of pens and a framed picture of my parents on it. A soothing background noise that reduces pain is produced by the gentle hum of the air conditioner. I felt relieved for the first time in a very long time.
"Hello, ma'am?" Rachel waved at me. I got engrossed by the photo frame and forgot that Rachel was still in my office. I quickly focused my glance on her.
"What do you want, Rachael?" I frowned, my face pretending to be tough, but deep inside of me what I felt was a burning furnace.
"Ma'am, is anything the matter? You don't seem happy to me. If you don't mind sharing, I might be of help," Rachael asked. It was a nice gesture, but I didn't think it was ideal for me to share my private matters with anyone, let alone Rachel, who's just my assistant. We might share a cordial relationship, but certainly not to that extent.
"Is that what you came here for, Rachel? To spy on my private affairs?" I clapped back at Rachel as she shivered like a hen drenched by the rain.
" No, ma'am," she nodded her head in response and handed me a folder filled with documents. I knew that was what she came for, but I wanted her to say it and stop beating around the bush like a lost soul.
"Great! Drop it on the desk and shut the door after you," I authorized her.
Rachel didn't make a move. She stood in front of me with her hands buried behind her.
"Okay? What are you still doing here? I thought I asked you to leave?'"
" Yes, you did.
I just needed to be certain if you would want me to do anything for you," she asked me with a shaky voice.
I observed something fishy in her utterances. It wasn't just about her loyalty; I was convinced that she had something to say but found it difficult to navigate through.
I didn't make a move to speak to Rachel anymore. It was a Monday morning, and the only thing that mattered to me was to focus on work and avoid distractions. The thought of my parents played some role in making my day miserable. It would be completely unacceptable to allow Rachel to add to that.
"Rachel, please get out."
I spoke softly and placed my hands beneath my jawline.
"But."
"I said leave immediately.
What's wrong with you?" I yelled at Rachel and immediately she left.
A few minutes after her departure, I heard another knock on the door.
I was furious and devastated that Rachel had returned. This time, she isn't going to find it lightly with me.
I rushed down to the door and opened it, waiting to yell at Rachel when I spotted a different person.
"Hi, Xander?
You don't seem too excited. From your disposition, I could tell that someone had gotten on your last nerve," Julian asked me. He was my ex. The sight of him made everything worse. I would have preferred to still have Rachel show up and not him.
"What do you want from me, Julian? I thought you said you were never going to have anything to do with me ever again?" I fumed.
I looked away to avoid establishing eye contact with him. He is excellent at manipulating humans with his cute face.
He's tall, light-skinned, and has a blonde air with his attractive blue eyes.
Unlike me, who started from scratch, Julian inherited his family's real estate empire.
"Relax, boo.
Is that how you treated an ex-lover?" He winked at me and tried flirting, and I pushed him away.
"Ex-lover that cheated on me with some girl who was supposed to be his cousin. Oh, you thought I had forgotten about that? At 30, you still act like a child." I clapped back and went back inside my office to get seated. Instead of leaving, knowing that his presence wasn't needed, he followed me immediately.
"You might want to put this beef aside because we are going to be spending quality time together soon," he revealed to me.
"What are you talking about? And what makes you think I'll ever want you close to me after what you did to me?" I stood up in curiosity. He was starting to speak in parables that I find difficult to understand.
"Julian, I'm talking to you. What do you mean by that?' I raised my voice at him. I hate to be kept in suspense, and that's precisely what he was doing to me.
"Relax your nerves, girl. What I am about to say is going to benefit your company for good, and trust me, you will love it!" He assured me. It sounded like a good plan to
me.
"Okay? So what's this about?"
I widened my ears to be certain I didn't miss any information
Although it is everyone's destiny to mate, Amanda's situation was made worse when her partner, the Alpha of the New Moon pack, rejected and hated her despite being sexually attracted to her. She eventually got pregnant and eloped after uncovering a strange mystery about the Alpha. Suddenly, he desires her return. Is she going to be found? Will she be able to forgive him? Find out in this captivating story.
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."
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?"
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?"
"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!
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."