Novels by bamgbeluadetutu

Emma spent an hour exploring the penthouse, trying to wrap her head around the fact that this was now her life. Every room was more intimidating than the last, a library with floor-to-ceiling books, a wine cellar that looked like it belonged in a castle, a gym that was better equipped than most professional facilities.How does one person need all this space? she wondered, standing in what appeared to be a formal dining room with a table that could seat twenty people.And how lonely must he be, living here all by himself?The thought made her chest tight in ways she didn't want to examine.Emma ended up in the kitchen, staring at the takeout menus Adrian had mentioned. Italian, Thai, Japanese, French restaurants she'd heard of but could never afford.I could order anything I want, she realized. Money isn't an issue anymore.The thought was both liberating and terrifying.She was still s

"Jessica will drive you to collect your things", Adrian said, already back to business mode as he filed the signed contract on his desk. "The penthouse is ready for you."Emma blinked, still trying to process everything that had just happened. "Wait, I'm moving in today?""Tonight," Adrian corrected. "I need you available starting tomorrow morning."He's not wasting any time, Emma thought, panic rising in her chest. "I have to give my landlord notice, pack properly, arrange""Your landlord has been contacted," Adrian interrupted smoothly. "Jessica has the details."Emma stared at him. "You contacted my landlord before I even signed the contract?""I was confident in the outcome." Adrian's golden eyes met hers without a hint of apology.Confident or arrogant? Emma felt her temper flare. "What if I had said no?""You didn't."The calm certainty in his voic

"Right now?" Emma repeated, staring at Adrian like he'd lost his mind. "I haven't even signed anything yet.""Details," Adrian said dismissively, walking back to his desk. "Jessica will handle the paperwork."Details? Emma followed him, anger flaring again. "No, no details. I need to know what I'm agreeing to. What exactly does 'personal assistant' mean?"Adrian pulled out a thick folder from his desk drawer. "Everything is outlined in the contract."Emma took the folder with trembling hands. It was heavy, way heavier than any normal employment agreement should be."This is like fifty pages," she said, flipping through it. The legal language made her head spin. "Most job contracts are five pages, maybe ten.""Most jobs don't pay two hundred thousand a year," Adrian pointed out, settling back in his chair to watch her. The way he's looking at me, Emma thought, her skin heating unde

Emma stood outside the gleaming glass tower of Cross Industries, staring up at fifty floors of pure intimidation. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking.Two hundred thousand dollars, she reminded herself. Mom dies without this money. Focus.But that text message kept echoing in her head: I told you I'd find you, Emma. See you at 9. - AIt's just a coincidence, she told herself. Some weirdo playing games. Adrian is a common name.So why did her entire body feel like it was vibrating with electricity?Get your shit together, Emma. One interview. Don't screw this up.The lobby made her feel like an imposter - all marble and chrome, filled with beautiful people who probably spent more on coffee than she made in a week. Emma tugged at her thrift store blazer and tried not to feel like everyone could smell the desperation on her."Emma Parker?" A woman approached, a perfectly polished, expensive dress, the kind of con

Fifteen years ago... Found you, weirdo! Tyler Morrison's voice made Emma's stomach twist into knots. She looked up to see him and his two friends walking toward her, grinning like hungry wolves. Why can't they just leave me alone? Emma thought desperately, pressing herself against the brick wall. Her cheek still throbbed from where Tyler had shoved her into the fence yesterday. "Heard your daddy's a thief," Tyler said, stopping right in front of her. "My dad says you're getting kicked out of town. Finally." Emma's face burned with shame. The eviction notice was folded up in her backpack, but it felt like everyone could see it. Three days. We only have three days left, and then what? We'll be sleeping in our car again. "Please just go away," she whispered. "I didn't do anything wrong." But it doesn't matter, she thought bitterly. Nothing I say ever matters. Dad says we might have