10 000 Hours Malcolm Gladwell

Alexandra Kingsley was a wealthy Californian heiress who seemed to have it all. At just twenty-two, she was running her own company and was about to marry the love of her life. But just hours before the wedding, Alexandra overheard her fiancé, Albert Blackwell, plotting to kill her. With no other choice, she faked her own death and disappeared. A year later, she returned with a new identity and a single goal: destroy everyone who had betrayed her. But to reclaim her fortune and take revenge, she needed the help of the one man Albert feared—Scott Hamilton, the ruthless CEO with a terrifying reputation. He was dangerous. Cold. Unforgiving. Everyone said the same: he was a monster. But Alexandra was determined to win him over. The problem? He was a ticking time bomb, and she had a talent for setting him off every five minutes. So what would happen when he had no choice but to marry her?

When a fire destroys young Valiant's family home she finds herself hurled in a life that is attempting to destroy her. "Malcolm, please. I'm tired. It's been years and I haven't told anyone. I just want to be left alone." I pleaded with him for mercy hoping he'd been satisfied with the devilment he'd kept up for years. He grabbed my butt and hissed, "Bịtch, you don't get to say when you're tired. As long as I have access to you, you'll open up and let me fûck you. Now, where's the money I gave from the last time? Did you spend it? Do you need more? I'll stop by tonight. Since you weren't here last night....wait did you fûck him? You let him touch what is mine." My eyes widened in terror knowing that my revealing the truth to him would cause me more pain. I cry uncontrollably for minutes until I hear Roman's voice shouting! "I'm going to kill that motherfūcker!" But there appeared with Roman Driggs, his best friend and battle buddy Reece Shields, sexy, confident and dangerous. Charged with keeping an eye out for Valiant, Reece begins to fall in love with his friend's girlfriend... **** "Damnit woman! I love you! It kills me everyday that I'm not the one! He doesn't deserve you and in spite of what you think about yourself, you're the perfect girl for me. I've never wanted or needed something so bad." He had tears streaming down his face. **** "Reece, I love you and am in love with you. Please help me." "I think I'm pregnant." There's a trail of betrayal, lust and schemes that tear apart the world of two military friends and complicates the love of the remaining couple.

“Hey, Stranger… You look dangerously delicious tonight. Want to get wild?” That's what Brinda says to a handsome stranger in a club— just hours after discovering her fiancé in bed with her sister on their wedding day. The betrayal cuts deep, but nothing numbs the pain like a wild night with Las Vegas’ most notorious billionaire playboy, Jason Adam. But when a pregnancy test changes everything, Jason makes her an offer: leave behind her life as a sex worker and live under the roof. No strings… or so she thought. As Brinda struggles with secrets from her past, Jason is hiding demons of his own. When dangerous enemies resurfaces and a shocking truth about her parent's death is unconvered, Brinda must decide if the man who broke her walls down is also the one who can save her. Will love be enough to heal two broken souls? Or will lust, lies, and betrayal tear them apart forever?

After I got pregnant, my husband started driving for Uber after work to help with household expenses. He wouldn't return home until the early hours of the morning. Then, on Valentine's Day, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my belly. I called an ambulance to take me to the hospital. When I arrived, I saw my husband entangled with another woman. Both of them were being wheeled into the emergency room. "Tsk, these two really have no shame, going at it right out in public," someone muttered. "They probably wrecked the car in the process, don't you think?" another chimed in. "What's even worse," a voice added with a hint of horror, "is that guy has a wife!" The bystanders gasped in unison. "His wife must be devastated." Whether his wife is devastated or not, I don't know. But one thing is certain—he'll be going straight to hell for this!

One night. One kiss. One viral humiliation. Livia Harper built Theo Whitford’s dying company into a billion-dollar empire while carrying his child in secret. On their second anniversary, in front of two hundred cameras, Theo introduced his college sweetheart as “the woman I’ve always loved” and kissed her like Livia never existed. Twenty-four hours later Livia is Mrs. Alexander Kane (the most ruthless billionaire in America and Theo’s oldest enemy). The contract is simple: one year of fake marriage, seventy-five million dollars, and the total annihilation of Theo Whitford’s life. Rules: No feelings. The baby stays a secret. When the year ends, she disappears forever. But contracts weren’t made for the kind of fire that ignites when the woman who has nothing left to lose marries the man who’s never lost anything. Some vows are made to be broken. Others are made to burn the world down.

I died on the day I was supposed to receive the Pack’s Distinguished Service Award. Three hours after I died, my parents, my brother, and my mate were just wrapping up the graduation party they’d thrown for my sister. While my sister, Ella, was posting a cozy family photo on Instagram, I was locked in our basement, using my tongue to swipe on my phone and call for help. The only person who answered was my mate, Ryan. All he said was, "Sophie, cut the drama. Ella's graduation party is important. Enough with the tantrums!" This was the ninety-ninth time they had let me down. And the last. I lay in a pool of my own blood, my lungs still. They thought I was just throwing a fit, hiding somewhere. That if they taught me a lesson, I’d come crawling back. But they didn't know. I was home the whole time. I was already dead.

On International Women's Day, I spent twelve hours straight in a live stream, selling $5 million worth of product. When it came time to settle my commission, my aunt and boss, Sandra Holt, quietly transferred my $400,000 cut into her own account and handed me $500, labeled as a meal stipend. She took my hand with a warm, motherly smile. "Sweetheart, you're still an intern. Taking that much money at your age would hurt your career development. Let me hold onto it for you. Put it toward a car someday." I looked at the sharp calculation behind her kind eyes. I didn't argue. I took the money without a word. That night, I deleted my account and vanished, taking my entire product-sourcing system with me. The next morning, Aunt Sandra stared at a live stream with ten viewers and finally started blowing up my phone.

Yesterday she was nobody, but today she had the chance to be the queen of the town.  Yesterday she was just a normal twenty-five-year-old with a lot of responsibility and debt that was greater than the hours she worked, but today the opportunity was right in front of her that would alleviate all of her financial worries. The only thing she needed to do was to say "Yes" to her boss and the world would be on her feet. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that held the power to change her miserable fate. This was her second and last chance to say yes to happiness, life, and love. The only problem was she needed to marry her ruthless, cold, heartless billionaire CEO, whom she loathed more than the one-bedroom trash apartment she was sharing with her sister. Now the decision depends on the next word she was going to say. The next morning, either she would have another world in her palm, or she would continue to have this pathetic life. Only time will tell.

(Bxb) Eric Valence thought finding a job as an editor for a well-known author named Draven H. Malcolm was the beginning of his writing career. He had no idea that it would also be the beginning of his love story. *** "You're so clueless, it bothers me." He frowned, "What does that mean-" "You never wondered why I gave you all the best things on my floor - the closest desk, drinks from my office, my newest project. I even went to your house and picked you up to make sure you weren't late." "My portfoli-" "There are twenty three others with the same experience as yours, that was an excuse," he admitted, peering into Eric's eyes and daring him to look away. Eric didn't. Draven sighed, "The reason I got mad that day..." he paused for a moment, hesitating again but deciding to let it all out, "the reason I got mad is because I heard you kissed Jason, which I wasn't too pleased about but then seeing you and Justin together..." He never finished his sentence, and Eric raised an eyebrow, "What about Justin and I?" "I feel like you're doing this on purpose," Draven chuckled, examining Eric's confused face. "I'm not sure what you're talking about-" "I like you," Draven said clearly with his entire diaphragm, expression it as loud as he could for Eric to understand. Eric felt his throat squeeze itself shut, no oxygen coming in or out. "I like you, a lot more than I thought, Eric," he breathed. Eric was unable to believe it, shook his head and looked away for moment, before meeting his gaze again. "Why me?" he asked quietly. Draven shrugged his shoulders, eyeing Eric with adoration and admiration, "I'm not sure either, but I want you to be mine."

He was my savior. Until he became the man who sold me. I thought my brother Kian was my only protector in a neighborhood ruled by blood. Until he sold me to the Graves Triplets, the most dangerous men in the city, to save his own skin. Now, I belonged to them. Locked away in their gigantic estate, I'm no longer a girl with a future. I was the Graves' property. One to lead me, one to break me, and one to manipulate my every thought. They didn't just want my body; they wanted my surrender. The debt was $10 million. The payment was every inch of my skin. WARNING: THIS IS A DARK, HIGH-HEAT REVERSE HAREM ROMANCE. IT CONTAINS THEMES OF KIDNAPPING, FORCED PROXIMITY, AND EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT. INTENDED FOR AUDIENCES 18+ ONLY.