Charles never expected to fall for Maria. She was just a challenge-a bet to win. But a vacation meant to bring them closer turns into something deeper, something real. When love, secrets, and betrayal collide, Maria is left questioning everything, especially when she finds out she's pregnant. Can Charles prove his love, or will their story end before it truly begins?
Maria
"My girlfriend is pregnant." I heard my brother Jack said when I happily was sleeping on my bed. Sleeping is the best thing in the world but this statement was way more important than my sleep.
"What?" I quickly got up from my bed and saw him near my bed sitting like nothing has happened. Did he really get the girl knocked up? I know he loved her so he wouldn't leave her but this is one big thing.
"Yeah your up. Mom she is up." My brother informed my mother who was downstairs cooking breakfast for us. My brother is a devil. He did all this to wake me up.
Asshole.
What is their problem with my sleep?
"You have to tell me how to wake that sleepyhead up." My mom yelled back at him and he only chuckled.
Great!Now my entire family was making plans to wake me up. I looked at the clock and saw it was only 10 in the morning.
Who wakes up at ten in the morning on a Sunday?
"You are a devil in the name of a brother." I said and threw glares at him for disturbing me from doing the only thing I love doing.
"Come down. Mom is waiting for breakfast." He was still laughing and I really wanted to punch him to stop his laughter.
You see, I am not a morning person so if you wake me up in the morning all these violent thoughts are tend to come.
"Please can you let me sleep for sometime. Pleaseeee Jake. Your the best brother in the world. I'll do any one thing you want. Please."
"No way Maria. Your favourite breakfast is being cooked and mom has been working on it since morning." As soon as I heard that I quickly got up to get dressed.
My mother is the most important woman in my life. She has taken huge efforts in raising Ja and me since my father was gone. She never showed us how much she struggled or the kind of pain she was in.
I threw a pillow at him and he finally left my room. I quickly got dressed and went downstairs. Today was my last day at London. I was leaving for College today and I was so excited.
"Honey I still don't think that you should go there and live by yourself." My mom said as soon as I entered the dinning. I was tired of having this argument. I am a eighteen year old and I can handle myself but my mother still thinks I am a kid.
"Mom, I am not a kid anymore. I can live by myself and handle myself really well. Please just let me go to, this is my dream college, I got into the college when I lost all my hopes." I said showing my puppy dog eyes. I could do anything to convince her, even cry if I was required to.
"Baby girl I am understanding everything that you say but tell me how will you live all alone by yourself, you haven't even searched for an apartment, please just go and live with Uncle Ezekiel and Aunt Olivia." She was pleading almost as if she was about to cry. I didn't want to make her upset or worried when I was about to leave.
It had taken me a month to convince my mother to allow me to move to New York city and attend the W.M College of Economics. Being a 18 year old I found it comfortable to live all by myself but my mother insisted on my staying with uncle and aunt. Maybe she knew I was lazy to do my work in life.
Yeah, my mother knew that.
"Fine, mom. But I have to leave tomorrow itself, Iaa am already a month late and college has already started. I would live with uncle and aunt for a week and if I find myself wanting to move to an apartment, I will." I said with a strong confident smile.
My mother sighed. She was definitely not happy with the fact that I was moving to New York. I was her only daughter. I was lucky enough that my brother lived with her. If he did not live with her she .would never let me go.
"Okay fine. But you promise to call me everyday and come back home for all the holidays?" She asked.
"Yes Mom. How would I spend vacations without your tasty food and this devil?" That was true. My mother made the tastiest food in the world.
"Hey, just because I do not show does not mean I am not hurt." He said showing fake tears. All the people in my house are drama queens. Well, my brother is the biggest one.
"Oh please, you and emotions. Its like Clara having a good step mother." I laughed at my own joke. I can't believe that I was so lame in life. One of the few reasons why I don't have many friends.
"Kiddo if you continue these type of jokes then I am not sure if you will be able to make many friends." He laughed loud and so did my mom. She said something like crazy kids and went to her room. This was my sweet little family and I was so proud of it.
I really need to start packing because there was only one day and so much to pack. There was a part of me that was extremely happy and a part not
that was tearing my heart as I had to leave my mother and brother.
"Maria, Leonardo is here." I heard my mother scream from downstairs.
"Oh fuck, he is going to kill me." I literally was about to die. Please God save me.
For all those who are thinking something else, Leonardo is not some serial killer or rapist or anything else.
He is my best friend. He went to Las Vegas a week before for vacations. Apparently I have not told him I was leaving because I knew he would leave his trip and come to meet me.
"You son of a bitch. Why didn't you tell me that you are leaving today?" He yelled barging into my room.
"Hello to you too Leonardo." I smiled sarcastically.
I knew he was very angry because he came marching into my room and slammed the door shut. He is a total chill person until you get on his bad side and right now, I am on the bad side. I should definitely be worried.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked completely ignoring my polite hello to him. Why would he be polite to you Maria? You're leaving the town without informing him.
"I knew you would come running from your trip and I did not want to do that. You deserved a break after Kimberly and I wanted to give you one." I told him and I could see his anger subside.
Kimberly was his ex girlfriend who broke his heart. He had cried hours for her and it broke my heart to see him like that. Honestly, he was a playboy and I was shocked when he told me that he was serious for Kimberly. When he cried I knew his feelings were genuine. I hadn't seen him cry for anybody like that.
"You are the bestest friend anybody could have." He said and hugged me tightly. He was my only friend here. He was really protective about me. Many times he would beat up any guy who came near me. He was the reason I had such difficulty to find a boyfriend but why do you need one when you have such an amazing friend by your side. Always.
"I am going to miss you ass, who am I going to call at 2 am when I am hungry, whose food am I going to steal, from whom am I going to borrow money to buy condoms-" I interrupted him mid sentence when I heard him say the last sentence.
"You use my money to buy condoms?" My mouth was wide open in shock. I am not lending him money anymore. I am not here to lend him money so that he goes whoring around.
"Oh shit that was not supposed to come out this way." He said and I took a pillow and started hitting him with him. He threw the pillow back and in no time there was a pillow fight in my room.
"Enough enough, now come give me a hug." He said opening his arms. I went and hugged him back. Life without him is going to be scary. Very scary.
I am going to miss this life. I was always pampered at home. When I was in school, I wasn't popular but I was adored I was often complimented that my dressing sense was amazing which made my beautiful face shine in the dark. I had a best friend who would be there for me no matter what. What else could you need?
Leonardo and I had been friends since the 4th grade. He was really hot, but he was as I said he was those playboy types. That did not mean that he was insensitive. He was the most sensitive guy I had ever seen. In school there was a time when people thought we were dating because he was so protective about me. We even thought about dating once but then laughed at our own idea.
Its pretty simple you know, there is something different about friendship. Love gives you an adrenaline rush but friendship gives you comfort.
"Okay okay little boy, now do not cry and help me pack." I pulled out of the hug mainly because I needed air to breath. Leonardo is a hugger and it is really tough to get out of his hugs.
As I was about to pick up my laptop I saw the screen and a big poster of W.M college of Economics. I wonder how my new college life would be.
"I love you Ver and I am not losing you just because you are miles away." He said and hugged me again.
Told you, hugs all the time.
He sucks at expressing his feelings and I could see the pain in his eyes. He left early because he couldn't see me go. I had tears in my eyes. It seemed more tough than I thought it would be and to make it worst Jake had to suddenly be all sweet to me.
"Hey kiddo listen, if there is anything that bothers you just remember I am a call away? Okay?" He said and pulled me into a hug and kissed me one the forehead.
"The devil has gone all soft on me. I can't believe it." I was just trying to lighten the mood and as expected he just laughed.
"I am going to miss you and don't worry about mom. Okay?"
"I am going to miss you too. I love you." I said that and left for the airport.
New York here I come. I hope you will be nice to me.
Charles.
"One burger and a small coke would be fine." I ordered as I walked back to the small table in the cafeteria when a text on my phone caught my eye .
Hi honey , you remember we have a date tonight? I miss you.
I smirked at the message.
Of course honey, I'll see you tonight , I miss you moreeee.
I was waiting for my order when I saw Carlos and Denzel enter. They are my childhood friends. They know me in and out. Though there are certain things which I am not going to tell anybody but you can say that they know me the most.
"Which one was it?" Carlos asked. He was talking about which girl I was talking to. They knew about my past history with girls and never had any problems with it. Although they have always been the one woman man types.
"Oh come on even he doesn't remember how many he dates he could just go there and see which girl is sitting on the table." Denzel laughed and I joined him in it.
"Guys please we are at a age where we can date and have fun. Besides this is the generation where everyone knows that relationships are not going to reach marriage so why commit to one girl instead I love each one equally." I winked.
I really did believe what I said. I had a good body, a good face and obviously all the words that could get any girls attention. I was basically with three at the moment. Natasha from college , Stella from a call center where I called last week for work and Rose who I met on a social networking site. They knew it was like a no strings attached thing so it was always fun.
"Guys I am kind of thinking to stop it with these girls. I feel they are starting to get emotions and you know I cannot deal with them." I told them.
"But Rose is hot dude!" Denzel said.
"I will find hotter ones" I said and left.
Dr. William Smith's career is on the line-his anger issues and playboy reputation threaten his chance of becoming CEO. To fix his image, he hires Olivia Star, a struggling musician, to be his fake girlfriend. Olivia needs the money, and William needs the perfect partner. It's strictly business-until undeniable chemistry turns their act into something dangerously real. But when secrets surface and feelings get in the way, their arrangement spirals out of control. Will their love survive the lies, or will they lose each other forever?
Jaden Finn, an arrogant billionaire heir, and Chloe Anderson, his smart, gorgeous assistant, are stuck in a contract marriage. Sparks fly as they clash and connect, all while battling a sneaky rival. Can their fake marriage turn into real love? Find out in this sizzling billionaire office romance!
(Sex scenes. 18+ rated)What happens when two individuals have to get married to satisfy their family's need? Kendal Doyle who recently got heartbroken by her boyfriend by cheating on her with her best friend, has to get into a contractual marriage with one of New York's youngest billionaire, Trey Dennis, to save her father's company. Trey isn't one who has interest in love and romance, but Kendal is one who is nasty and a hopeless romantic, and she knows how to have her way into anyone's heart. To see how this romantic journey unfolds between these two individuals with different traits, Click on Chapter One.
Joanna was sabotaged by her sister and ended up in a stranger’s bed. Despised by her boyfriend and pressured by her family, she was forced to marry a wealthy scoundrel, Rhys. Rhys’ young adoptive father was the richest man in town, but was also said to be violent. Everyone thought Joanna was doomed, but Owen favored her and condemned her bullies. Joanna secretly loved Owen, but after a night of passion, he began to withdraw from her. Heartbroken, she entertained other men. She was on a date when Owen suddenly barged in. "You said you loved me!" Joanna smirked. "Too late. You’ll have to get in line."
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."
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
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."
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"