When Elena Thunder finds the most perfect man to kiss at midnight on New Year's Eve, she thinks its fate. But little does she know that Knight Blaze isn't as simple as he seems and that the only reason he spends the night with her is because he has something entirely different on his mind. Come morning, Knight leaves Elena feeling hurt and betrayed and with something she'd have never anticipated from a one-night stand with a stranger, a baby conceived on New Year's Eve. But Elena isn't weak and she doesn't let heartbreak bring her down. She decides to raise her child without a father. But fate has other plans for her as she accidentally bumps into Blaze once more during a fashion show and this time, he's determined to make her stay.
Prologue: Deal?
Elena's P.O.V
"Come on, Elle! Don't go with the boring purple dress, it looks like a bunch of lavender puked all over you!" Risa, my best friend for the past three years wrinkled her nose at the dress I currently held in front of me.
"Why?" I frowned. "It looks cute! I like this dress." I told her as I looked into the mirror and found nothing wrong with it, but Risa shook her head vigorously.
"Honey that dress screams safe! I mean, look at it! High neckline, knee length and full sleeves!" Risa whined. "It's New Year's Eve for God's sake! There's no point in being safe and all saintly! Bring out the little black dress, pair it with those killer fuck me heels and we'll be good to go!"
I turned my gaze towards the long red devil stilettos that Risa was pointing at and winced. Those were the kind of heels that we wore on the runway, six inches and ready to kill. My feet were already sore from wearing heels all the time to fashion shows but to wear them at a bar? I shook my head instantly.
"Nope! Not wearing them!" I told Risa straight away. "You can borrow them if you like but I'm sticking to comfort."
"Fine, go with the wedge." Risa shook her head disapprovingly at me. "But I'm finding you a little black dress."
And so, Risa and I dug around in my closet until we came upon this really cute black dress that was made completely out of lace and had a full sleeve and hugged my figure to the T. I had to wear a black slip under the dress but once I had the dress on, I have to admit, it looked fabulous on me.
I let my naturally wavy dark brown hair down my back and curled it further to add more bounce. I had a few natural blonde highlights in my hair that made it unique; it was why I never dyed my hair, in fear that it would ruin the natural highlights. Next up was the makeup. Risa helped me don a smoky eye and blood red lips and with a pair of black crystal danglers, I was ready to rock the party.
Risa had chosen a shimmering green number to match her eyes and I helped her with her statement over-the-top eye makeup and red lips. She looked gorgeous with her wild curly red hair and a slight dusting of freckles on her nose. No wonder she was one of the best models in our company and an equally great friend.
When we were both done and ready, we took a couple pictures to post on social media and then opened a bottle of wine to take a few sips while our cab arrived to take us to one of the most happening parties of Hollywood. There would be a lot of familiar faces today and lot of people who I could only ever hope to get close to. The highlight of my fashion career had been this November during a show for Louis Vuitton when I had the opportunity to escort Rita Ora on the runway. That's as close to a high ranking celebrity that I'd ever gotten to but Risa keeps assuring me that it was only the start. After all, I'm only twenty three and have a long career ahead of me.
"We look good, girlfriend." Risa told me as she tucked a stray hair behind my ear. "Make sure to have fun tonight."
"You know I'll have fun," I told her as I leaned my head against hers. "It's one of the biggest parties of Hollywood! And I'll have you there with me."
"That's not the kind of fun I'm talking about, Elle." Risa turned me to face her. "Go ahead, live a little! It's been three years."
I sighed. This has been a reoccurring conversation between us for a while now. "Risa, I will when I think I'm ready."
"You are ready!" Risa shook my shoulders. "You've just been holding back thinking that he-who-shouldn't-be-named will change his mind and come back to you. It's been three years, Elle, if he wanted to come, then he would've by now."
"I know, Risa, but it's not because of him!" I shook my head. "I just haven't found the right guy yet!"
I had once thought that he-who-shouldn't-be-named was the right guy for me, the one as people call it. He had been my first everything, my first crush, my first love, my first kiss...and then my first and most devastating heartbreak. It wasn't my fault that the incident had left me a bit weary of men. But maybe Risa was right, maybe I was holding back in hopes that he'd realize his mistake and come back to me. But Risa was also right that it's already been three years now. If he wanted to, he would be here by now. It was my time to move on.
"Then how about this, if you find the right guy tonight," I made a face at her but she held up her fingers to my lips. "If you find the right guy tonight, you won't hold back, if you want to take things further."
"Eww, Risa! I don't like the whole one night stand thingy." I whined.
"No one said it has to be for one night!" She rolled her eyes at me. "But at least get started!"
"Alright, let's just say that I do find some hot guy tonight who is a gentleman and the loving and caring type," I air quoted with my fingers while mentally rolling my eyes. "Only then will I decide if I want to go ahead with this crazy theory of yours."
"Deal?"
I sighed. Was I really making such a stupid deal? After that devastating breakup three years ago, my life had turned completely upside down. Even with my big brother as an example, I couldn't help but think twice even before exchanging phone numbers with a male colleague and dates had been completely out of the question. I'd shut myself in this tiny bubble where no one could get to me and I didn't let anyone close.
Risa had been with me since the day I arrived at Los Angeles, and I trusted her with every breath I took, but she had a wild streak in her that I couldn't understand sometimes. Regardless, the deal was more of a dare. She had helped me come out of my shell for good in a lot of cases and she's helped me face so many of my problems head on. What could go wrong with this one deal?
"Deal." I told her, placing my hand in her outstretched one and shook on it.
If I had only known then how my life was about to turn upside down within the next few hours, I would've never made the deal. I would've just stuck with my broken heart and waited for a man who I knew was never coming back.
Kai Hunter is H University’s biggest player and heartbreaker. Known for his good looks and for being one of the brightest students on campus, he is one of the most eligible bachelors that everyone wants to ‘tame’. However, everything changes when freshman Night Winters becomes his new dorm mate. Kai is instantly attracted to the hot, young freshman who he had caught having a one-night stand at a bar and hasn’t been able to get out of his mind ever since. Night is openly gay, but Kai has been into girls his whole life…or so he thought. Can he let go of his pride and accept Night for who he is? Or will Night forever be forced to be just his dirty little secret, under the sheets, inside the closed doors to their dorm? However, Night is hiding secrets that can break the fragile foundation of their relationship at any time, and if Kai waits any longer…he just might end up losing the only person precious to him.
Kimhan, Kim, needs to produce an heir in order to rule over the empire that his father built from scratch, but since he can’t change what’s in his heart, he will need to change ways to produce an heir. So the only option left is to ask his best friend, Kanya, to become his surrogate. She’s the only one who had always understood him and accepted him for who he was. However, when Kanya’s younger brother Kit decides to follow her to the mafia household for her protection, Kim is instantly drawn to the boy at first sight. From the moment both of them laid eyes on each other, it’s the beginning of their endgame. But being a part of the criminal world is full of dangers. Is Kim willing to let Kit enter his world despite the fear that he could lose his life at any moment? Or will he let go of the only ray of light he has left in his dark, dark world.
After running away from home seven years ago to escape a loveless arranged marriage, Karina Wilder has finally mastered up the courage to be back in her small town of Ruthwell in Washington DC. She’s ready for a second chance with her parents and the people who used to be her friends back in High School and most of all, she’s ready to tell her parents that she’s about to become a bride. But the small town hasn’t changed as much in the past seven years and no one seems to have forgotten her betrayal or seem anywhere near ready to forgive her for her past mistakes. Everywhere she goes, she’s met with hostility and anger and it’s thinning out her chances of redemption ever second. Now, how does she tell her parents and her friends that not only has she moved on in her life, further than anyone had ever anticipated, but she’s happy and successful in what she does? Most of all, how does she tell everyone that she isn’t marrying a man, but the woman of her dreams?
Mikalya Carnell, a woman born into a cursed pack where women are nothing but birthing machines. The first female alpha in the world. But to become the Alpha, she had to commit a crime that haunts her an eternity later. Now she a lone wolf, a rogue that has no place but the one she made on her own and she’s happy being left alone. But an Alpha can’t stay alone forever without forming a pack and inevitably, she begins drawing wolves to her. Abhay Raichand is a photographer who meets this mysterious woman in the deserts of Rajasthan, who looks like a foreigner and is instantly drawn to her. But whenever he is around her, he feel the chill of the mountains and a reoccurring dream of his impending death. However, despite the sense of danger, he cannot help but continue to fall in love with her. Will Mikalya finally settle down and let Abhay into her life? And will Abhay be able to convince her that she was chosen as the Alpha for a reason?
Miaka Von Speltsper, the myth, the legend and the daughter of two Gods. Miaka, the Demon King and the head of the Dark Council is the most powerful demon ever known to mankind, but she has a secret. She’s a hybrid. And the world she lives in has hunted down and eliminated every single hybrid in all the dimensions. But now…someone knows her secret, someone who has the power to destroy her. However, the world is changing and one of those changes is Kaleb Takeshi, the man with extraordinary eyes who has stolen Miaka’s heart with just one glance. But there is something about Kaleb that Miaka can sense but can’t describe. And not only is he human, he’s an enemy who has decided to give his loyalty to her. In this world of lies, deceit and betrayal; can Miaka trust her heart or will she have to choose century’s old traditions to stay alive? Because if she dies, it will truly be the end of the world.
No one can escape the Moon Goddesses wrath…and Clay and Flora had been no exception. Torn apart and their memories completely erased, Clay and Flora are now living separate lives, completely unaware of each other. But things have changed drastically. Clay is no longer the Alpha apparent to the ReedStone pack, but a Rogue Alpha, while Flora is at Lindersay, working as a healer and a worshipper of the Moon Goddess. But even though fate isn’t on their side, destiny has tied them together forever as they meet once again, but this time as enemies. Will Clay and Flora be able to go back to the way they were and fall in love all over again? Or will the power of the Moon Goddess prevail over their undying love?
Maria took her sister’s place and was engaged to Anthony, a disabled man who had lost his status as the family heir. At first, they were just a nominal couple. However, things changed when things about Maria were gradually exposed. It turned out she was a professional hacker, a mysterious composer, and the sole successor to an international jade sculpting master… The more that was revealed about her, the less Anthony could rest easy. A famous singer, an award-winning actor, an heir of a rich family—so many excellent men were chasing after his fiancee, Maria. What should Anthony do?
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
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?"
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
"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."