Bonus Game

"You guys know what the situation is like in this industry this year. I need to cut our end-of-the-year bonus by half in order to overcome this difficult period." My boss, Peter Hurley, claims that things are difficult in the industry right now, yet his wrist still showcases the luxury watch that he's just bought. My 20,000-dollar bonus is reduced to 700 dollars. In addition, I also received a plaque that says "Award for Outstanding Contribution". "This plaque is worth a lot, Soren. It represents the acknowledgement this company has for you. Don't be so petty when it comes to money." As I stare at the plaque in my hand, I can't help but scoff furiously. "Fine. I won't be that petty when it comes to money. I hope you won't be that petty either when you're paying next month's rent." Peter is stunned momentarily. "What do you mean by that?" I toss the plaque into the trash can. "What I mean is, I'm the landlord of this building. From next month onward, the rent will be increased ten times. If you refuse to accept the new rent, you can pack up and scram."

During the Thanksgiving gathering, I win first prize and get a bonus of 500 dollars. My boss, Michelle Wagner, generously doubles it. In the end, I get one thousand dollars. Then, my coworker, Caleb Clinton, and Michelle start egging me on to treat everyone to a meal. They basically force me to pay for the company's Thanksgiving gathering. If I refuse, Caleb says he will cut ties with me, and Michelle threatens to fire me. I have no choice but to agree under their pressuring. In the end, I pay an extra 100 thousand dollars out of my own pocket. After I settle the bill, they abandon the drunken me on the roadside, where I freeze to death. When I open my eyes again, I return to the day of the Thanksgiving gathering.

Blurb;    Reena Walters was possibly the worst spy to have ever existed. Recruited by the FBI to infiltrate the stronghold of a dangerous man, Reena decided that seduction was the way to go. Dressed in the ridiculous yet most alluring way possible, Reena Walters succeeded in infiltrating the dungeon like mansion for the biggest and most exclusive ball of the year. Armed with her glittery mask that helped her blend in with several others, Reena finally got her hands on a Thorne brother and did what she knew how to do best, seduction, and charmed the secrets out of him by winning a game of wits. Unknowingly to her that the dominant and ridiculously attractive silver eyed man beneath her was none other than the younger Thorne rumored to be crazy and volatile, and worse, he was playing a game with her, a game she was not aware of. Charming the secret codes and location out of him, Reena continued on her mission, shaking off the nagging feeling that it had all been too easy. Finally getting her hands on the highly sought after flash drive, Reena could not resist the urge to blow an obnoxious kiss to the face of the startled yet crazy eyes that stared at her in the dark. And that split second was all it took for a dangerous obsession to take root and grow in the mind of the older Thorne. Caught like a bird between two dangerous men, Reena must place all her stakes in one game by recklessly choosing the one she deemed lesser of the two evils, but what she did not know yet, and what she would soon learn was that hell was not hot at all, it was freezing cold, and yet burned hotter and brighter than an inferno.

Andrea Laurence had it all, the glamour the perfect fiance, and her dream job that was until her fall from grace. Now she is untouchable no one in the corporate world will hire her. Those are the rules. Corbyn Emerson has never been one to follow the rules, especially when he plays the game. He needs Andrea to take down his enemy who just so happens to be Andrea's ex-fiance and doesn't expect to be so enthralled by her fiery no-nonsense personality. Soon he finds out that she knows how to play the game just as well as him, there is danger, blackmail lies galore, and maybe before they realise it a forbidden sort of love they both decided to ignore. As they play with each other's hearts, from unwilling co-conspirators to something more, are you willing to play the game?

Theodore Thatcher is a man used to getting what he wants—money, power, control. As a self-made billionaire, There's one thing he can't easily claim—his inheritance. To secure it, he must marry before turning 30. With no interest in commitment, Theodore decides to solve the problem his way—by making a deal with Nadia Vaccaro. Nadia, desperate to help her sick brother and pay off mounting medical bills, has no choice but to agree when Theodore offers her a proposition she can’t refuse: pretend to be his wife, and in return, he’ll cover her brother’s medical expenses. It’s a cold, transactional arrangement. No emotions. No complications. Just a game. But as their lives intertwine, the lines between what’s real and what’s fake begin to blur. Nadia finds herself drawn to Theodore, the man who holds her fate in his hands, while Theodore discovers that his feelings toward Nadia might not be as indifferent as he thought. With everything at stake, Nadia must decide: will she remain in Theodore’s game, or will she walk away before it consumes her? And Theodore, for all his wealth and control, must face the truth of what he’s willing to sacrifice to keep the woman who has become more than just a pawn in his game.

"A Game of Mirrors. A World of Nightmares." When a group of high school friends hears about “The Reflection Game,” a supposed urban legend said to reveal one’s true destiny, they can’t resist the temptation to try it. The rules seem innocent enough: light a candle, stand in front of a mirror, and chant a mysterious incantation. What starts as a fun dare quickly turns into a nightmare when the mirror fractures, pulling them into a dark and twisted version of their reality. In this sinister mirror world, nothing is as it seems. Their reflections are no longer harmless—they’ve come to life, embodying their worst fears, regrets, and buried secrets. The friends soon realize the reflections are not just malevolent; they are determined to replace them in the real world. As they navigate this dangerous realm, the lines between reality and illusion blur, testing their sanity and relationships. Trapped in an escalating fight for survival, the group must unravel the mirror’s dark origins and uncover the truth about its curse. But every step forward reveals another horrifying revelation, and escaping may require them to sacrifice more than they’re willing to give. Will they outsmart their reflections, or will they lose themselves in the shadows forever? The Reflection Game is a gripping supernatural thriller that delves into the fragility of trust, the weight of secrets, and the consequences of crossing boundaries best left untouched. Filled with spine-chilling twists, heart-pounding suspense, and a touch of psychological horror, this tale will keep readers on the edge of their seats, questioning what’s real and what lurks beyond the mirror. In this distorted reality, every crack in the mirror reveals dark truths about their deepest fears and buried secrets. As the friends struggle to survive, they must confront it.