/0/73197/coverbig.jpg?v=3afac276b5e9e787f6ce55e278fe4720)
When Sophia Carter's father Alexander was brutally murdered, she was left with a burning desire for justice. The police ruled it a robbery gone wrong, but Sophia knew the truth: the Blackwood family, with their ruthless business tactics and corrupt empire, were responsible. Now Sophia is determined to take them down. Posing as a new assistant to Damian Blackwood, the cunning head of the family empire, she gathers evidence of their wrongdoings. But as she gets close to her target, she finds herself torn between her quest for revenge and her growing feelings for the man she's supposed to destroy. As Sophia navigates the treacherous world of the Blackwoods, she must contend with Damian's powerful family members, including his ruthless father Richard, his cunning mother Catherine,his manipulative uncle Victor and sister Alexandra. Each one will stop at nothing to protect the family's empire and reputation. Meanwhile, Marcus, Damian's business partner, is secretly plotting to overthrow him, and Rachel, Sophia's friend and confidant, is hiding a shocking secret that could destroy Sophia's trust forever. Will Sophia's desire for justice consume her, or will she find a way to forgive and move on? As the stakes grow higher, Sophia must decide how far she's willing to go to bring down the Blackwood empire and find the truth about her father's murder.
CHAPTER 1: THE ART OF DECEPTION
Sophia Carter stood outside the towering glass-and-steel headquarters of Blackwood Enterprises, her eyes fixed on the name etched in silver across the entrance. The building seemed to pierce the sky, its sleek design exuding power and sophistication. But Sophia wasn't intimidated. She had a mission.
For years, she had been perfecting the delicate touch required to restore priceless works of art. The patience, the precision, the ability to see beyond the surface-these were the skills that made her a brilliant art conservator. But tonight, she was using them for something else entirely.
She adjusted the navy blue blazer she had borrowed for the occasion, smoothing out the creases as she walked inside. The lobby was exactly what she expected-luxurious, polished, and impersonal. A receptionist, poised and professional, barely glanced at her before directing her to the 30th floor, where her interview was scheduled to take place.
Sophia forced a polite smile and stepped into the elevator, her heart pounding. This wasn't just a job interview. It was a chance to infiltrate the Blackwood empire and uncover the truth about her father's death.
A once-respected art dealer, her father had been ruined by a scandal involving forged paintings-paintings that had mysteriously disappeared into the hands of Blackwood Enterprises before he died under suspicious circumstances. His downfall had destroyed their family, and Sophia had sworn to uncover the truth, no matter what it took.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and Sophia stepped into a sleek, modern office space. The receptionist directed her to a waiting area, where sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows over the polished marble floors.
Her pulse quickened as she glanced around the office. Damian Blackwood's office was just beyond those glass doors. Sophia took a deep breath and reminded herself of her role-she wasn't here as a grieving daughter or a woman seeking revenge. She was Sophia Carter, a skilled art conservator, and she needed this job.
Once she was inside the Blackwood empire, she would finally find the truth. And then, she would bring them down.
Sophia's eyes wandered to the artwork on the walls, a mix of modern and contemporary pieces that seemed to be worth a small fortune. She recognized a few of the artists, but there were others she had never seen before. Her trained eye picked out the subtle details, the brushstrokes, the textures.
As she waited, Sophia's mind began to wander back to her father. She remembered the way he used to smile when he talked about art, the way his eyes lit up when he discovered a new piece. He had been a good man, a man who had loved his family and his art with equal passion.
She recalled the countless hours she had spent in his gallery, watching him work, learning from him. He had taught her everything she knew, from the basics of art history to the intricacies of restoration. He had been her mentor, her friend, and her father.
But the Blackwoods had destroyed him, and had taken everything from him. And now, Sophia was determined to take them down.
As she waited, Sophia's thoughts turned to her father's last days. She remembered the way he had become increasingly paranoid, the way he had started to suspect that someone was watching him. She had dismissed it as mere paranoia at the time, but now she wondered if he had been right.
The receptionist's voice interrupted her thoughts, and Sophia stood up, smoothing out her blazer. "Ms. Carter, Mr. Blackwood will see you now."
Sophia took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. This was it. This was her chance to get inside the Blackwood empire, to find the truth, and to bring them down.
She walked towards the glass doors, her eyes fixed on the man standing behind the desk. Damian Blackwood. The heir to the Blackwood empire. The man who held the key to her father's secrets.
As she entered the office, Sophia felt a shiver run down her spine. She was walking into the lion's den, and she knew it. But she was ready. She was ready to face whatever lay ahead, to uncover the truth, and to bring the Blackwoods to their knees.
Sophia's eyes locked onto Damian's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. She could see the calculation in his eyes, the hint of curiosity. He was sizing her up, wondering what she was doing here.
But Sophia wasn't intimidated. She was here for a reason, and she was determined to see it through. She smiled, a cool, confident smile, and walked towards him, her heart pounding in her chest.
The game was on.
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.”
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
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."
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."
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?