Novels by Emelda Martins

Lily's POV"Oh my God, Lily, this place is amazing!" Sophia squealed as she slid into the booth across from me, taking the modest Italian restaurant. "So fancy!"I almost choked on my laughter, "Sophia, this is Mario's. We've eaten here a dozen times.""Yes, but now you're a billionaire CEO! Everything's different!" She grabbed my hands across the table, squeezing tight. "I still can't believe this is real. Tell me everything. And I mean everything."The waiter appeared with menus, but Sophia waved him off. "We'll have our usual. And wine. Definitely wine."Once we were alone, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Soph, I don't even know where to start. It's been the most insane three days of my entire life.""Start with the hot nephew. Alexander Thompson." Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Is he really as gorgeous as his photos online?"My cheeks felt hot now, "Oh my gosh, you looked him up?"“Why not? Lily, the man is on Miami's most eligible bachelor list. That

Chapter 0008Alexander's POVThe investigation report landed on my desk at 9 PM. It was forty pages of Lily Rose's life reduced to bullet points and documentation.I should have gone home hours ago. The office was empty except for security and the cleaning crew. But I'd been waiting for this. I'd been unable to focus on anything else until I understood who she really was.James had been thorough. Too thorough, maybe.I opened a folder and scanned the executive summary first.Subject: Lily Rose, DOB: March 15, 1995Current Employment: Martinez Art Supplies, $28,000 annual salaryEducation: Miami Dade College, BA in Fine Arts, graduated with honors despite working three part-time jobsFamily: Mother, Elena Rose, missing since 1999, declared legally dead in 2003. Father unknown. No siblings.The next section made me pause.Foster Care History: Entered the system at age 8 following the mother's disappearance. Six different placements over ten years. Aged out at 18 with no family support

Lily's POVMy second day as CEO was not any better than the first. It started with a crisis before I'd even finished my coffee."Miss Rose?" Janet poked her head into my office at 7:47 AM. "The CFO needs to see you immediately. Something about quarterly projections and—I'm not sure I understood correctly—a potential audit?"I nearly choked on my latte. "Potential audit? Already?""Apparently it's routine, but Mr. Hartley is concerned about... timing," Janet said. Of course, he was. Nothing said "confidence in new leadership" like an immediate audit.Twenty minutes later, I was sitting in a conference room with five executives whose combined experience probably summed up to two hundred years, trying desperately not to look as lost as I felt."The issue, Miss Rose," said Bruno Sterling, our CFO, "is that we're required to submit quarterly projections to the board by Friday. These projections inform our investors about expected growth, guide our strategic planning, and—""And if they're

Alexander’s POV I slammed the door to my new, significantly smaller office shut behind me. President of Operations. Tasted like acid in my mouth. I'd been groomed for this position for as long as I could remember. CEO of Thompson Enterprises.I'd sacrificed a lot; old man Richard didn't know the half of it. Relationships, my own dreams. Fuck! I'd moulded myself into exactly who Richard wanted. All for what?To be replaced by a woman who couldn't tell a balance sheet from a grocery list. “Alexander. I saw you storm past. Thought you might need …this, ”James Patel’s voice came through the doorway, “He raised a bottle of scotch. “It's ten in the morning,” I said, dipping my hands in my pocket."And you just had your inheritance stolen by a stranger. I'd say that warrants breaking protocol." James stepped in and shut the door behind him. He poured two glasses without waiting for my permission. Then he extended one to me, “If you want to talk about it, I'm done. Or we can just dr

Lily's POV My knees nearly gave out when the boardroom doors slammed shut behind me.I leaned against the wall as I tried to grasp what was going on in my life right now. Alexander Thompson, the man who had made me forget my own name in that hotel suite, was the same man whose inheritance I’d ‘stolen’? “Miss Rose?” I heard Janet call from behind, “Are you okay? Should I get some water?”Shaking my head, I pushed myself off the wall.“I'm fine. I just need a moment,”“Okay,”Seconds later, we made our way back to my office. Well, I'd barely made it. My legs were like jelly as I walked past ten rows of curious faces watching through glass-walled offices. They'd definitely heard. Janet closed the door behind us, giving us some privacy from prying eyes. “That was quite an introduction,” Janet said as I settled in my chair, “ but don't let Alexander intimidate you. Trust me, his bark is worse than his bite,”In other circumstances, I would have laughed, but right now, that provided

Lily's POV I stood at the base of the Thompson Enterprises tower, craning my neck to take in the sixty storey building. My hands trembled as I clutched the leather portfolio that Willis had given me. It was filled with documents I barely understood despite studying them and keys to offices I’d never seen.The blazer I had borrowed from Sophia felt foreign on my shoulder and my feet ached from standing in these pointy heels for long. You can do this, I whispered to myself, it's just a building. Just a job. They're just people…Oh God.The lobby was exquisite with high ceilings and a waterfall that probably cost more than okay people's houses. Employees moved around in expensive suits, having conversations in low tones.“Miss Lily Rose?” A woman approached me with a warm but professional smile, “I'm Janet Morrison. Mr Thompson’s – I mean, your executive assistant. Welcome to Thompson Enterprises,”It all felt surreal. I have an executive assistant now. “Thank you,” I breathed as I