Livia Dumont, a hardworking girl grappling with financial burdens and coupled with the workload of her new job, stumbles into Xavier Lexington in a complicated way. She is unaware that Xavier, is her aloof and seemingly indifferent boss who holds the key to both her professional fate and an unexpected twist in her personal life. Their initial interaction is marked with misunderstanding, and Livia unwittingly finds herself on the wrong foot with the enigmatic figure who signs her paychecks. In this accident of chance, Livia and Xavier learn that sometimes, starting off on the wrong foot can lead to the right kind of love. But is their right kind of love enough to withstand all the drama, secrets, controversies and betrayal that comes with it? Will it be enough to give them a fairy tale ending or will it crash into a tragic ending?
I walked briskly out of the hotel lobby after I finished helping my Head of Department drop off the papers he had forgotten at the office and picked up some extra ones from him. I walked with the intensity of a child late for school as I made my way down the stairs without even looking down, completely buried in my thoughts, when I missed a step. I tripped and was falling onto a man who was about to climb up the stairs and he could have caught me, but instead, he shifted out of the way and with vigorous force, I came crashing down to the ground.
The documents flew out of my hand and scattered around me like autumn leaves in the wind.
He observed the scene before him with a subtle smirk. He chose not to extend a helping hand, enjoying the sight of me groaning in pain and embarrassment. It was as if he found amusement in watching me fall. I looked up, ready to express my annoyance, but before I could say anything, he walked off without saying a word
I muttered to myself, "wow, how rude and heartless can someone be? What kind of person just watches someone fall and does nothing?"
Feeling indignant, I got up from the ground and knelt to gather my documents. The man overhearing my remark, stopped in his tracks and turned back to face me.
"Heartless? That's quite an assumption to make."
"Well, your actions speak volumes. You didn't even bother to apologize!" I said irritatedly as I stood up to him.
"Apologies are overrated, don't you think?" He responded nonchalantly as his guards tried to step in but he dismissed them.
"No, common courtesy is not overrated and it's basic human decency to help someone in need. Maybe you should learn that!"
"Decency is subjective. Besides, in the grand scheme of things, a little fall caused by your clumsiness is hardly worth getting upset over."
He walked a bit forward in my direction with his left hand tucked in his trouser's pocket, demonstrating with his right. "I prefer observing the world from a distance. It saves me from unnecessary complications."
"It's not just about the fall. It's about respect for others, something you clearly lack. Humanity is not a weakness."
"Now if you don't mind, I have a meeting to-"
"Whoa! Actually I do mind" I cut him off.
"You know, it's considered rude to interrupt someone when they're speaking."
My eyes widened in disbelief as I caught my breath with an open mouth.
"Excuse me? You let me fall earlier without apologizing, and now you're lecturing me on manners? How hypocritical."
The man chuckled, finding my audacity oddly refreshing.
He smirked, "you're quite bold, aren't you? I find your determination amusing."
I got furious, "this is not amusing! It's infuriating! People like you think you can get away with anything just because you're rich and powerful."
"Power is relative, my dear. Some wield it wisely, others not so much." He played it cool.
Realizing I was getting nowhere with the conversation, I shot a glare at him and decided it was best to walk away.
"You might have wealth, but you lack basic kindness. I hope someday you learn the value of treating people with respect. Empathy and kindness makes the world a better place." I turned and walked right away after saying that.
The man smiled at me while watching me walk away.
"Such an interesting lady!" He commented and then continued his walk into the hotel.
***
My shoulders were slumped with exhaustion as I stepped into my apartment. I knew what to expect when I took the job, but the workload was overwhelming. I couldn't understand why I felt deflated. As much as my work was demanding, and as stupid as it might sound, I liked to work. That was the only thing that distracted me from everything else piling on in my life.
I had to endure not only the lack of sleep but also the added burden that comes with it.
I threw my bag onto the bed, realizing I needed to take a shower and find what to eat. I groaned at the thought of that.
As soon as I undressed and almost got into the shower, I heard a sharp knock on my door. I rushed to open the door, I saw my Landlord, Mr Jacob, an elderly man in his fifties, standing right in front of me, a stern expression took over his face.
"As your former landlord. I hate to do this..." his voice was firm.
"Former?" I was surprised. Not possible.
"Yes, that's what I'm here to talk about. I noticed your rent is due."
"About that, I'm working on it." My voice was polite.
"Since you're making plans to pay, note that the rent has been increased since it's not according to today's rent standard. So to fit in the current times, I went ahead and raised it accordingly."
"You can't just raise my rent out of nowhere," my tiredness turned into a blaze of anger.
"If you have an issue with that, feel free to move out. The truth of the matter is that you shouldn't even be here by now. Your rent is already expired."
"Huh?" I gasped. I couldn't believe his choice of words.
"I know a lot of people who will be dying to live here. I'm doing you a favor because we've never had any issues and you've been a good tenant."
"Do you honestly think I'll let you get away with this? I'll make sure I let everyone living in these apartments know exactly what you're trying to do! We don't deserve to be treated this way!"
There was no way I could pay for my new rent. Fuck! I was barely able to pay for my old one. One of the reasons that contributed to me working so hard.
Mr Jacob and I were locked in the battle of will for a moment.
"It's within my right to do that. Like I said, if you're unhappy, find another place to live.
With that, I slammed the door shut.
"Urrgh! As if the day couldn't get any worse." I mumbled in frustration.
"It is already unholy, why try to make it abominable and nefarious?" When a runaway bride leaves her groom at the altar, her younger sister, Yenisse, is forced to step in and save the day. How will she navigate her unexpected union with Jude Wellington, the charming billionaire, when they are married in name only and their hearts beat for different souls. Will they find a love that's a once-in-a-lifetime chance or will it remain a cold and calculated arrangement where love is a forgotten melody and disdain is the only truth? What will be the fate of a loveless union when a war is waged upon them?
Wealth and Power. Betse Walter is determined to climb the society's highest ladder. As her path intertwined with Kini Belmont, a mysterious billionaire in the realm of a glamorous yet controversial circle of elites, she is faced with love, scandals, betrayal, lies and deception. Will Kini's love for her survive in such a toxic world? Will Betse be able to let go of her desires for love? And will Betse be able to climb to the top of society's ladder?
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
"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.
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
"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!
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.