When a marriage is the only option left for Alexandro Rodrigo to gain custody of his son, he presents a deal to Aurora Dobre; a broke writer trying to keep a roof over her head in the large city of New York, with one important rule, she disappears after 2 years. But things take a unique turn when the years draw closer, and too much has already gone on for either of them to leave. However a threat to her life and that of the people that she holds close to her heart, forces Aurora to make a choice.
AURORA'S PoV
I chewed slowly at my finger nails while my legs kept bouncing of its own accord while I waited for the assistant to usher me in. I've been here for what feels like hours but actually was just a few minutes. Being here does that to you.
My eyes roamed around the hallway again and I swallowed hard. Each time I let my eyes wander and take in my environment, I make myself even smaller on my chair. The hallway was twice the size of the apartment I could barely afford the rent to, the realization of my predicament washed over me and I bit down hard on my bottom lips.
I was one of those people that never really has a plan for themselves, and just let love and their passions take them to wherever, and while I'd seen it work out for some, it led me into piles and piles of debt, is about to make me homeless, and somehow has made me a fraud, and if this goes well, I might as well have duped the richest CEO in New York.
"Miss Aurora Dobre" a tight high-pitched voice called out, and I immediately sprang to my feet.
"Yes?" My voice came out squeaky and I hated it.
"You can go in now, Mr Rodrigo is ready to see you" The sleek back haired girl, with lips as red as blood said, pointing towards a door. I immediately nodded and walked up to the door.
I grabbed the handle and took a deep breath before I knocked and walked right in. "Good day, Mr Rodrigo" I greeted without looking up from the floor, afraid to realize how small and insignificant I would seem in the room, and most importantly, I was scared to look into the eyes of the man I'm about to lie to.
"Miss Dobre" His rich baritone called out, and my stomach knotted painfully. "Are you greeting me or the floor?" He asked and I immediately rose my head.
"You, sir." I finally dared to look at him, and I was not in the least bit surprised at the Greek god that stared back at me. His hazel eyes looked daunting as they stared at me, and I guess that's why my heart wouldn't stop thumping.
"Take a seat" I dragged my feet to the chair and sat down.
Silence immediately shrouded the room, and while I did everything possible to avoid looking at him, I could feel his gaze boring into me.
"For someone that works with children and has been to quite a number of interviews, you are rather awkward."
"Well..." I started, trying to find the right words to say. "Well..." I dragged my head up, careful to avoid his gaze as I spoke, "I've been to a number of interviews but not to one this big, so.. yeah, and working with children and adults are two different things"
"Fair point" he said and I gave myself a pat on the back. "Let's get down to business then, shall we?"
I bobbed my head immediately, eager to end the meeting as quick as possible.
"Miss Dobre, I understand that you are an excellent babysitter from your profile, and I guess you believe you already know why I called you here, right?" I nodded and he tsked. "Use your words, Miss Dobre"
"Yes sir, I have a guess as to why you requested for me"
"Good, I have a job offer for you." I immediately gulped as the realization of what I was about to do set in. The richest CEO in New York was about to offer me a job, a job I had very little experience in. I swallowed hard and contemplated on backing out.
I could stay with a friend for a while, sleeping in the streets doesn't sound as bad as what would happen to me if he finds out I lied about my experience.
"The job offer comes with a pay of $50,000 per month, of course your living expenses and other necessities excluded." I felt myself freeze on the chair.
"Just to babysit your child?" I asked when I got my voice back, and he let out a laugh.
"No, not really" I raised a brow, and he placed two envelopes before me. "I want you to be my pretend wife for 2 years, babysitting is of course an important part of the job"
"What?"
"You heard me, Miss Dobre. I'm offering you a job as my pretend wife for 2 years. Terms and conditions apply of course"
"I'm sorry, Mr Rodrigo, but I'm confused. Why exactly are you offering me this?"
He pretends to think for a while before he shrugged, "I need a wife to gain custody of my child. I'm sure you have seen the news about the charge" I absolutely have not, I've been too busy trying to keep a roof over my head to care about celebrity gossips. "And your profile is something that will buy the court. Does that answer your question?"
I stiffly bobbed my head. "Good, so what is your answer?"
I took a very long and dragging breath before I met his gaze. It all sounds too good to be true. "Can I take some time to think about this?"
"No." I drew back in surprise. "There are two envelopes before you, one contains the contract, the other NDA form. You'll sign the form either ways to ensure what happens here stays here, but you have to decide now if you're going to sign both contracts or not. My time is ticking and the day for the trial is drawing closer, I do not have the time to give you to think, Miss Dobre, you are either in or out"
Lowering my gaze, I intertwined my fingers and began fiddling with them as I let myself weigh my options. Finally, I looked at him. "I accept"
For the first time since I walked in, what appeared to be a smile spread on his face and he passed me a pen. "Good choice. Read through the contract and engrave the rules into your head. You have 30 minutes to do so because we have a long day ahead of us."
Right as I was about to probe him about his statement, the door creaked open and a young boy of about 8 walked into the office with his backpack. He bore an uncanny resemblance to Mr Rodrigo, and i had no doubt he was the one his father was doing all this for.
He ran up to his father and quickly latched unto his laps, and after exchanging warm pleasantries he turned to me, and our eyes widened simultaneously and we quickly pointed at each other, while our voices echoed, "You!"
After being betrayed and exploited by her ex-husband, Jenna is left helpless and thirsty for revenge. She however stumbles upon Xavier, the richest man in the state, and In a bold move, she offers to buy him and his services for a year. Intrigued by the strange woman's boldness, Xavier agrees to her deal, but in exchange, he wants her to be his bride instead. Blinded by the need for revenge, she agrees, but little did she know she had walked into a trap laid by the devil.
After her sister ran away, Lily Morgan is set up as a replacement and is married off to Asher Allard to be a token of a successful contract. Blinded by her love for him, she goes through 5 years of an unrequited love marriage, where she is as good as invisible to her husband. However, her sister returns 5 years later, hooked to the arms of the man she has loved by the side for years, this breaks her heart and forces to accept the truth she has long denied. She serves him divorce papers, and only then does Asher realize he wants her to remain by his side forever. He blackmails her with the marriage contract she signed, and demands she stays for one more year as stated in the contract. Lily's heart runs cold at the selfishness of his actions, and she gives in with the intentions of making him pay, but he is determined to find a way to keep her beside him forever. Will Asher Allard, a billionaire known to be capable of anything be successful in warming up the icy heart of the woman who once loved him?
Signing her life away for her goals seemed easy at first for Sophia Crux, but she soon gets entangled in a web of complications, and as unwanted feelings start arising for a man meant to be nothing but a step closer to her goals, she has to find a way out. But things take a turn when Alexander Black refuses to let her go.
In a world of werewolves, where Alphas marry into Alpha families to form alliances and grow their strength, Annha Selene has to shove her feelings aside and get married to a Beta, Drystan, after being rejected by his Alpha,just for the sake of her pack. But she soon begins to question her choice when realizes she got married to an unusual Werewolf. A breed that even the werewolves call a beast. In her quest of accepting her new fate and falling in love, she discovers tales and secrets she never thought existed.
Zale Harris, the inscrutable and powerful CEO of the Harris empire is put in a state of crisis when he was told he had only one year left to live. Determined to have an heir to his empire and fulfil his parents' wish of having a grandchild, he sets out in the search of a bride. But his motives take a different turn when his Ex, Aria Smith, shows up to the interview with a child in her arms. Stuck between fulfilling his dying wishes and getting the answers to the question he's held inside him for years, he eembarks on a marriage of many possibilities with his EX..
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
Daisy is the illegitimate daughter of Mr. Hubert. His company went bankrupt, so he asked for help from Drkov's house. They agreed to help Mr. Hubert but with one condition. One of his two daughters must marry their nephew - Atlas Drkov. Atlas Drkov is a billionaire but he is disabled and uses a wheelchair. Yaretzi - daughter of Mr. Hubert's official wife - does not accept marrying a disabled man. She and her parents made a plan. They kidnapped Daisy's mother, threatened her, and forced her to marry Atlas. To save her mother, she accepted. However, after getting married, she fell in love with this man, and so did he. Difficulties start from here.
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
She was a diamond covered by ashes.... King Dakota was known as the most Powerful Alpha King of all times - more powerful than any other King that had ruled from his lineage. He was cold hearted, introverted and dangerous in anger. Cursed by the Moon goddess, King Dakota had to get married to three wives all in search of a male child that would become his heir, but it was impossible as the curse would only let his wives bear she -wolves. But on a different day, the King meets a lady who offends him and as a punishment, he took her home as his fourth wife. Her name was Shilah. Shilah was a powerless wolf and as a result, was disregarded and intimidated by all. But, when she begins to do things that the King had never felt for years, he began to wonder who she really was. Slowly, she crawled her way into his icy heart and turned out to be something nobody ever expected - a storm.