Romans de Authouress Debbie

ATLASHours earlierI stared blankly at the document sitting open on the desk in front of me. More like I stared right through it.I couldn’t remember how long I’ve sat like this for, but my ass was starting to ache. That was my only reminder that I’ve sat here too long, completely zoned out.My secretary had left a proposal on my desk ever since I came into work this morning, and I’d also arrived to find a pile of other documents waiting to be reviewed and signed.But all I’d successfully done was stare a hole into the document I was supposed to be reviewing.I’d been like this all week. A total mess…Never in a million years would I believe that not seeing a woman for a couple of days would get me this messed up. But in this case, it wasn’t just any woman.It was Elena, the woman that had captured me and my fucking heart, my entire being, and kept me in chokehold.Running on the treadmill, I saw her face. Pulling the fucking weights, I saw her face. Driving to work, I saw her face.

ELENATo my surprise, this man unabashedly put a palm on my thigh.He didn’t stop there. He’d gone ahead to trace a finger on my skin, and it frustrated me that I could not raise my hand and slap the silliness out of him.Uncomfortable as hell, but having to comport myself, I’d tried my best to give him everything I knew about the work dealers did in a casino.I was grappling at some point, but at least I gave it a try, right?By the time I was done with my explanation, I’d managed to scoot away from his grizzly hand.“So, how old are you?” He ran his eyes over my body in a leery manner, watching me like a hawk did its prey as I slowly got to my feet.What did my age have to do with anything? I clearly looked young, wasn’t that what mattered?“You don’t want to keep me hanging with the answers, sweetheart,” the man’s voice interrupted my thoughts, dark eyes taking in every inch of me, “trust me.”I swallowed hard, folding my palms together in front of me. “27, sir.”He nodded, seeming

ELENADays have gradually turned to a week, and I wouldn’t say life has been any better. Generally.Las Vegas was nothing like Manhattan.I was always cooped up in Lordy’s apartment unit, staring out her floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the bustling nightlife of Vegas.“I need to find a job, Lordy.” Once again, I stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, my back turned to my friend from one of the foster homes I was juggled around.Over the years, we’ve grown into the kind of friends that only reached out to each other on special holidays, just for courtesy’s sake. I bet she was surprised when I called her out of the blue, so randomly.But I wouldn’t deny the fact that Lordy was a real one.A real one would let me stay over at their place without any prior heads-up.I’d arrived in Vegas to an already boiling, relaxing hot-tub, and like, the most heartwarming meal ever.So yeah, Lordy is a real one.But when I say Vegas is nothing like Manhattan, I mean it sincerely. Achingly.This

ATLASWhat truly did catch my heart, was the way this caregiver with bouncy blonde hair and hazel green eyes handled my mother with absolute care and gentleness, like she was hers.She washed my mother’s hands and feet with tender movements, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled up at my mother, who was as mesmerized as I was.She had so much graceful energy, her movements as equally gracious as her curves. Causing a thrill to race through my chest.I reached for the door handle. “I’ll see her now,” I said to Keelan without looking at him, then I twisted the handle and walked into the room.The blonde-haired, gorgeous-eyed caregiver and my mother, seemed so deep in thought they hardly noticed a third presence in my room. Until I cleared my throat.“You must be the new caregiver.”She whirled around, her eyes widening. “Oh,” she mumbled, hazel green eyes gleaming with mischief, “and you must be the son. Our beautiful Olandria here, hasn’t stopped speaking about her son whom s

ATLASAll I could think of behind the wheel, driving down the highway, was Elena.She filled every thought of mine, every corner in my head.Her irresistible face, the way she smelt, that smile of hers I only got to see on rare occasions. Those eyes of hers…I was filled with an immerse aggravation at her sudden disappearance and impromptu quitting. She didn’t even give a heads-up.Why would she? I’d wronged her…and to her, it would be more like betrayal.With a heavy heart, I thought back to the first time I saw her. And fell. The day I swore to myself that I’d never let her go.Well, until it became exactly what I had to.It was mid-summer, right after my late brother, Braden, got married to her.************A few years agoI sat on the hood of my car, which sat in front of my penthouse.I’d just arrived from an official assignment that deterred me from attending my favored brother’s wedding. Braden was the nicest of the Grants, and he always made sure he carried me along the famil

ATLASThe elevator dinged on the ground floor, and I tried as much as I could to stride out casually, adjusting my tie and smoothening a hand over it.I couldn’t let everyone know that I was worked up. That I was enraged to my bones.Of course, I never wear my emotions on my sleeves that way. I have to act coordinated. I have to be coordinated, if I want to get anything done.And I have a whole fucking lot to get done.I didn’t even bother going in search of my asshole of a brother anymore. I was fuming about how low my father had spoken of Elena.I mean, even if he didn’t like her, how could he call her a deadweight?Oh the itch that had so begged to be scratched. The itch to make it clear to my father in a tone as stern as his, that Elena, this woman I was completely mesmerized by, was nowhere near a deadweight, and was actually a woman to die for, if they at least try to get to know her.Instead of all this bullying…The only reason I didn’t scratch that itch, however, the only rea

ALANNAStanding at the back of the church, the soft melody of the wedding march echoing through the air. Who would have thought that after everything—after all the pain, the heartbreak, and the betrayal—I would find myself here, about to marry Nolan Westbrook, the man I once believed was the source of all my suffering? Life has a strange way of leading you exactly where you need to be, even when you fight it every step of the way.Pedro, my rock, my father in every way that mattered, stood beside me. He looked at me with pride, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "You ready, Dear?" His voice was steady, but I could hear the emotion behind it.I nodded, feeling my heart swell with gratitude. This was the man who had taken me in, loved me unconditionally, and gave me the family I had always longed for. And now, he was about to walk me down the aisle to start a new chapter of my life.As we began to move forward, the sight before me took my breath away. The church was filled with the peop

NOLAN"Closure doesn't come from forgetting the past but from facing it head-on."The wind blew softly as we stood at Chloe's grave, the air filled with the scent of freshly turned earth and the distant hum of the city. It had taken us a long time to get here, to stand at this place with a sense of peace instead of anger or regret. I looked down at the headstone, its cold surface a stark reminder of all that had happened, all that we had lost and gained.In my arms, little Chloe stirred, her tiny hands grasping at the air. She was so innocent, unaware of the twisted history that brought her into this world. But that was how it would stay. Alanna and I had promised each other that this child, this beautiful little girl, would never know the darkness that shadowed her birth. She would be loved, cherished, and protected from the truth that could shatter her world.Alanna knelt beside the grave, placing a single white rose on the headstone. Her voice was soft, but there was strength in it

ALANNAWhen Lucas stepped out of the shadows, gun in hand, my heart clenched with a fear I hadn’t felt in years. The happiness of moments before—Nolan’s proposal, the promises of a future together—seemed to shatter like glass around us. All I could see was Lucas, his face twisted with rage and pain, his eyes filled with a darkness that sent chills down my spine.It was as if everything we’d gone through, every battle we’d fought, was leading up to this moment. But instead of feeling strong, I felt vulnerable, exposed. Lucas was no longer the boy I once knew. He was a man consumed by hatred, and that hatred was directed at me.“You came into my life and took everything,” Lucas snarled, his voice trembling with barely suppressed anger. “You took my family, you took the only love I had ever known, and now you’ve ruined everything!”I tried to find the right words, something that could reach him, something that could make him see reason. But nothing came. All I could do was stand there, f

ALANNA"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."Shopping with Angela was just the distraction I needed. The weight of everything—Nolan’s court case, the uncertainty of our future—had been pressing down on me like a storm cloud. But here, in the brightly lit aisles, surrounded by the scent of fresh clothes and the chatter of happy customers, I felt lighter. Angela had a way of making even the most mundane tasks feel like an adventure.We wandered through racks of dresses, holding up options and debating the merits of each one. Angela was in the middle of showing me a deep red dress when she suddenly paused, a small smile playing on her lips.“Jake asked me to move in with him.”The words hung in the air between us, and I felt a surge of happiness for her. “He did? That’s amazing, Angela! How do you feel about it?”Angela looked thoughtful, her fingers brushing the fabric of the dress she was holding. “I don’t know. I mean, I love him, and I can see a future with him.

Nolan"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."The courthouse loomed before me, a symbol of the justice I’d been seeking ever since that fateful day. The memories of what Brad had done—of what he’d put my family through—played on a loop in my mind. There was no forgetting the fear in Alanna’s eyes, the sound of the gunshot, the moment when everything nearly ended for us. Today was about more than just a verdict; it was about setting things right, about reclaiming the peace that Brad had stolen from us.As I sat in the courtroom, the weight of the moment settled heavily on my shoulders. This wasn’t just about me. It was about Alanna, about our children, about the future we’d almost lost. I glanced over at Alanna, who was seated beside me. Her hand rested in mine, her grip tight and unyielding. We had come this far together, and we were going to see it through to the end.Mr. Collins, my lawyer, stood and approached the stand where I was seated. He was calm, composed, the

ALANNA“Family isn't just about blood; it's about who stands by you when the world falls apart."As we walked into the restaurant, the warm glow of the lights and the soft hum of conversation made me feel at ease. This place, with its cozy ambiance and inviting atmosphere, was perfect for the first dinner we’d have together as a family—one that finally felt whole. I glanced around at everyone, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. It had been a whirlwind of emotions since discovering the truth about my past, and now, here we were, trying to create something new from the ashes of what once was.Nolan squeezed my hand gently as we approached our table. He could sense my nerves and, as always, knew exactly what I needed—a reminder that I wasn’t alone in this. The kids ran ahead, excited to see the menu and all the possibilities it promised. Mrs. Westbrook, who had become such a steady presence in our lives, followed behind them, her eyes twinkling with affection as she watched