Bi Annual

At the annual gala, my father had me marry Asher Ziegler, a rising star in the finance industry whom he had groomed. Back then, I, Maddison Gruber, had no idea that Asher was in love with someone else. Sometime later, my father's company is investigated for product fraud, and his company's stock plummets. He even faces criminal charges. When this happens, Asher immediately brings his first love, Cora Singer, home and tells me outright that he is going to make her his legally wedded wife. My mother-in-law admonishes me. "Your family's bankrupt now, and you're completely barren! Why shouldn't my son remarry?" Asher slides a divorce agreement in front of me, his tone condescending. "Sign this, and I can let you stay here and live alongside Cora." But I say nothing. I merely quietly book a ticket to leave this place. In seven days, I will be following my father down south.

The new intern always claimed to have the company’s best interests at heart, but her actions told a different story. To cut costs, she secretly swapped the two-thousand-dollar gift basket I had prepared for a client with a knockoff version she bought online for just two dollars, shipping included. During a critical overtime session, she turned off the power to save on electricity. Then, she boldly suggested canceling the company’s annual holiday leave. With a self-righteous expression, she declared, “The company doesn’t support freeloaders. I believe the holiday season is the perfect time to boost sales. I propose everyone work unpaid overtime and dedicate themselves selflessly to the company!” While the employees grumbled in frustration, I stepped up to refute her absurd suggestion and spoke out on behalf of the team. But instead of backing down, she accused me of embezzlement in front of everyone and recommended to the boss that I be fired. The shocking part? The boss agreed. Fine. If that was how they wanted it, I couldn’t wait to see how the company would function without me.

At the Mercer family's annual dinner, I accidentally wore a couture gown that belonged to Lucian's late wife. The eight-year-old boy I had raised myself, in front of every key member of the Family, threw a glass of expensive red wine all over my pure white dress. He just stood there, his cold, condescending expression a mirror of his father's. "Don't think you can become the mistress of this house just by dressing like my Mamma." "I swear, when I'm old enough to take over the family business, I'll make you disappear for good!" The cold liquid soaked through the fabric, clinging to my skin. But I felt nothing. My heart had frozen solid the moment I signed my life away eight years ago. I looked at the child I had raised as my own for eight years. There was no anger. The faintest smile touched my lips. I leaned down and whispered in his ear, "You won't have to wait that long, my little lion. I'm leaving, and it will be very soon."

When the earthquake struck on what should have been our fourth wedding anniversary, my supposedly devoted and family-oriented husband, Lionel Brooks, abandoned me and our children, who were trapped under the rubble. Despite our children's pleas for help, Lionel left without a second thought, carrying his former flame, Fiona Smith, and her daughter to safety. While Fiona and her daughter escaped with minor injuries, my precious children had their chests pierced by steel beams, leaving this world forever. It was such a twisted fate. What was meant to be a day of celebration turned into an annual day of mourning for my beautiful children. A week later, during my children's funeral, Lionel had the audacity to call and ask which hospital the kids were in. It was laughable—after ensuring Fiona and her child were comfortable and safe, he finally found time to check on his flesh and blood. I could only say, "You finally remembered your children after a whole week? Lionel, I hope you rot in hell."

"I'm gay." My eyes grow so big as I stop breathing, but two seconds later I'm bursting with laughter. "Okay funny," I finally tone down my laugh as I bring myself to look at him again. But he is still staring at me like he had been when he told me that joke. "Wait," uhh, "Really?" He nods, "Really." "You like... guys?" "I fuck guys." Oh wow, you really can't have it all can you. When he checks all the boxes, suddenly there's this big box he doesn't. The most important box, the top on the list. "You're gay or bi?" Because there's a big difference between those two. "I'm gay." "You never fuck a woman?" "I've never fucked a woman." "Then why the hell would you want me to be your sugar baby? To watch you fuck another man's butthole?" He smirks despite my little mockery. "Oh now it's funny?" "It is," he is still smirking, "But no. It's the opposite of what I wanna do." I bring my arms across my chest as I reply in my all-business tone, "Enlighten me." *** 22 year old Estelle is one of the best sugar babies the agency has ever had. She has the whole package, no dick ever gone soft seeing how perfect she is, both her body and personality. But can she sway Owen into the heterosexual group? After being in that homo-pool all this while?

The night before the annual gala, my wife promised me a big surprise. But the very next day, she publicly quintupled the marketing manager's bonus. To me, she just gave a curt nod and a half-hearted "keep up the good work". When I questioned her decision, she brushed it off casually. "You've racked up some impressive wins in court. I'll give you that, but let's be real. Without Kevin hyping you up, you'd never have hit top-tier status. Plus, what's mine is yours. Why nitpick over a bonus?" The room buzzed with anticipation of my explosion. But I held my tongue till the gala ended. The next morning, I marched into her office and slapped my resignation letter down on her desk. "Might as well tack my salary onto Kevin's. Consider it my wedding present to you." She erupted, branding me as narrow-minded and dooming me to the unemployment line. She conveniently overlooked my track record as a powerhouse attorney. For that alone, elite firms were lining up to recruit me.

On her 16th birthday Lana’s older brother and the king of Alpha’s, a title handed down by her mother holds the annual Alpha meeting.  Lana hates all things Alpha’s having grown up under her mother’s reign and meeting plenty of Alpha’s, she longed to be normal.  When the meeting is held, she has a run in with Alpha Tate who declares she is his mate and refuses to leave without her, but little does she know things were about to get stranger when not only one Alpha declares her as his but a second from a pack that rivals Alpha Tate’s.  There is just one catch, Lana is a hybrid without a wolf and can’t recognize a mate bond and now she must choose who to believe. Lana finds herself stuck between two Alpha’s who hate each other but they have a secret of their own, one they don’t want her to find out.  Will Lana be able to navigate through their web of lies and the secrets they hide or will she walk away from both of them and find a way to break the bonds that tie her?

At Sullivan Group's annual banquet, a female university student approaches Peter Sullivan and offers herself to him. The usually cold and distant Peter suddenly freezes because this young woman looks exactly like his deceased first love. He can't help but tease, "You're asking to be my mistress in front of my wife. Are you so sure you won't be thrown out?" The young lady lifts her chin, and her stubborn expression is identical to that of his lost love. "You two got married for business reasons and mutual benefits. Does she have any say over what you do? Peter, only you can save my mom. Will you do it or not?" She's right. I'm just a pawn in a marriage of convenience. How could I possibly influence Peter's choices? But then, I catch a glint of tenderness in his eyes that I've never seen before, and a self-deprecating smile forms on my lips. Maybe, instead of clinging on and being thrown out like trash, it's better if I give up my place willingly.

She always belonged to him….and now he’s ready to claim her. Intimidating, ruthless Italian mafia boss has one motive in his life, to avenge the death of his parents. His ruthless pursuits of success and vengeance leave no room for love in his heart. He has never been emotionally involved with anyone. Ever. Until he met her. Sadie Quintin. Kidnapped. Taken away from her family. She never thought her life would take a twisted turn. Never reckoned that one decision would change her life completely. Despite her broken past, she’s adamant to see beauty in life….even in cold heart of the man she betrayed. Silvio Salvatore. She was never supposed to fall for him, but she did, not realising it was already too late. Abducted by his rival, Sadie is forced to stay with him. During an annual gala of top business tycoons of the world, Sadie was coerced to accompany her captor. She wasn’t expecting to meet those cerulean eyes again, but when she did, it unleashed secrets that could destroy them both…and everything closer to them. Even their lost relationship.

Richard Rossi, co-owner of Petals Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals gets a sexual experience that shakes his whole being from a young woman who turns out to be the youngest daughter of his partner, Peter Torres. He hides away after the incident miles away from the Torres family. His presence is not required until the sudden passing away of his partner and best friend. Jacqueline Torres is a wild child, the black sheep of the Torres family and the youngest child. On the night of her parents' annual summer party, she meets a man who evokes the female side of her which she had strived to keep buried within her. When she finds out who he is, she vows to make him pay for running out on her. When the runaway co-owner returns to take over after her father's death, Jacqueline begins to question her emotions as memories of that night plague her still. Richard is called upon to take up the responsibility of his company, putting an end to his nomadic lifestyle. He tries to play a distant, fatherly role when he meets with the lady from five years ago but when they encounter dire situations and death targets from all sides, he has a reason to stay, to protect and to love her.