Blank Staring

" I....I don't have anything else left with me, except my heart with love." She said crying her heart out with a pained expression in her black orbs. Staring at her vulnerable state, I went near her pulling her into my embrace and hugging her tightly preventing her from crumbling into pieces. Tears well up in my eyes too, but I blinked back squeezing my eyes shut. I didn't lie to her saying that everything will be okay and false promises that everything will be better. I stood there hugging her that would say enough for her that I'm there for her no matter what! Athena is a broken girl with only the memories of the horrible past which she hides it from everyone. She always smiles to heal her broken heart. Liam Knight is one hell of a successful and ruthless billionaire who owns Knight Industries. No one stands when it comes to business. To him, love means nothing but a trash and has no sympathy or kindness towards anyone. But she changes him at first sight. What happens when Athena is appointed as the Personal Secretary of Liam in which Liam tends to find the mystery about her that catches him off-guard. Will he protect her with all his life? Content/Trigger Warning: this story contains sexual content and deals explicitly with sexual assault and violence.

The Draghi Brothers Feared, Revered. Monsters. Those were the words papa had always used to describe them. Worthless, useless, good for nothing-those had been reserved for me. After my little stunt at 16, my papa had made sure I was under lock and key. He knew how to manipulate me, spin his lies and I had no say in whatever he did. When he informed me about my marriage to the second son of the Donovan Family, I knew I had no choice. After all, he was my father. Most girls in our family including my sisters had already been married. I stood at the aisle, looking into the eyes of my husband to be, my mind detached. Just before I could say I do, brain matter splattered on my face, his empty eyes staring at me. The culprits— The brothers I had heard so much about. The brothers that marked me when I was 16. In the heat of the struggle, I found myself tied and captured by them—a price for my family's survival. I knew my father would come save me. Yet, I couldn't help but surrender to the sin they showed me daily. I have a choice to make. A captured bride or a willing slave.

My fiancé's older brother was into girls with tiny waists. He wanted to marry my foster sister—the one with the twenty-one-inch waist. Their wedding? Same day Eric and I were supposed to get hitched. When he found out, Eric begged me to swap with Briana. "Lena, it's always been Briana. If your family hadn't found you, she wouldn't have had to play fake heiress, and I wouldn't be stuck with you." I stayed quiet. He kept digging. "Chill. My brother won't even touch you. Once the dust settles, I'll bring you back—as my side piece." Staring at that fake, slimy smile, I felt a little out of it. Last time, I told him no—and still ended up married to him, beaten until I died. Then I woke up. Same day. Same plea from Eric. This time, I handed them exactly what they wanted. "Fine. I'll marry him." Eric lit up like he'd won. Didn't last long. Next thing I knew, he was out in the rain, on his knees, clutching his head, sobbing, begging me to leave his brother and come back.

As I head to see my boyfriend, Howard Schultz, who is working late, I get into a car accident. I call him dozens of times for help, but he doesn't answer a single one. Staring at his brightly lit office building not far away, I sink into despair. When I wake up in the hospital, I see a post from his subordinate. It's a picture showing the reflection of the two of them in the glass door, standing far closer than they should, with the caption, "What do I do when my boss is scolding me late at night?" Unwilling to believe it, I call him again. This time, he finally answers. My voice trembles. "Howard, I got into a car accident…" "Celine, I'm still working. I'll send my assistant to take care of it, okay? Be good. I'll see you after I come back from my business trip." I try to say more, but his angry shout suddenly cuts through the line. "Crystal Jennings! You're only allowed to bring one suitcase for this trip. Why do you have three? Do you think we're going on vacation?" Crystal Jennings—the new intern Howard just hired. I stare at the disconnected call, tears drying on my cheeks. I then call my parents instead. "I agree to the engagement you arranged."

"Rolling my eyes, I turn to see an extremely handsome man with short, styled, black hair staring back at me. His eyes are so dark brown that it appears that they are black. Even though I usually don't like men with a beard and mustache, he looks so hot with it, that I would melt in his hands if he touched me. This man oozes sex from every pore of his body. So much so, that when he accidently brushes my cheek with his hand, goosebumps instantly form on my arms. When I continue to stare at him, I notice that he glances down at my dress and just stares. Realizing why, I try to fold my arms across my chest, but he is standing so close, I can’t move without touching him." Dani as her family calls her lovingly, has always been the quiet mousy type.  She lives her life through books, while everyone else lives their lives to the fullest.  Always watching the world around her, she never quite is able to command the attention of anyone except for her friends and family.  When she finds out that she has to get a job to survive, she goes to the city and ends up working under Mr. knight.  Getting more than she bargains for, in the end is she naughty or nice?

BLURB Ava Carter has one dream: play elite hockey. But the Falcons Academy doesn’t recruit girls. So when her twin brother Noah walks away from his scholarship, Ava makes a reckless choice. She steals his identity, his jersey, his future. Now she’s living as Noah Carter, training, competing, and sleeping in the same dorm as Kai Bennett, her brother’s ruthless rival. Kai has spent years trying to defeat Noah. Now they’re roommates. And Kai is starting to notice something is wrong. The way Noah moves. The way he looks at him. The way his pulse changes when they collide on the ice. Then there’s Liam Brooks, captain of the Eagles. Noah’s best friend. The boy who knows her better than anyone. And the only one who might recognize the truth. Caught between her brother’s rival and her brother’s best friend, Ava is playing the most dangerous game of her life. Because the more she wins on the ice, the closer she gets to losing everything: her dream, her secret, her heart. And when her helmet falls in front of a packed arena and her hair spills free… The silence is louder than any crowd. Now the whole world is watching. And no one feels more betrayed than the two boys staring at her from opposite ends of the ice.

He strides closer, his eyes focused intently on her. She found herself backing away until her back came hit the wall. Even then he didn't stop, closing the distance between them until he was standing directly in front of her. His palms slammed against the wall beside her head. He had successfully trapped her, preventing her from leaving. They were inches apart, staring into each other's eyes. Amelia felt her heartbeat speeding up as she stared up at him, having no other choice. She felt her breath hitch. "You are unfa..." "Always, baby." Adrian smirked sexily. "Welcome to your new workplace." ..... Adrian Black is the perfect example of a monster without feelings. A monster that will never let anyone in. He has everything a person dreams of. He is egoistic, merciless and arrogant. He's meticulous and calculative with his every step. The type to pay back what has been given to him. Amelia Hayes was married to Ethan Cavendish. For her this was one of the best things that had happened to her life. But everything was just an illusion. Two people, a man with possessive desires and a woman who have been hurt by love. Two paths that were certainly never meant to collide had crashed into each other in the most unexpected of ways. Is it just the destiny? Danger and seduction has its own part in their journey.

Looking up I see a boy I had never seen before, a cocky smirk graced his features. "Here you go" he said handing me the pencil I just nodded my head confused as to where he came from since the hallway was dead silent just moments before. Looking over his shoulder I see six other guy's watching the situation. Looking them all up and down I can't deny that their all definitely attractive. Looking back at the guy infront of me I look into his brown eyes a light spark of pink shinning in them. I smiled slightly not being able to find my voice so I begin nodding my head a little in thanks. Turning to walk away I begin to exit the hallway "what no thank you?" a voice called out causing me to turn around. Looking back I see the guy that handed me my pencil his arms lightly spread out with shock across his features. "Right, thanks" I started staring at him before looking at the other six as they all stared at me expectantly, at this moment I guess I really had no idea why. "Oh, right" I started causing them all to perk up "welcome to our hell hole new kids" I continued with a smirk opening my arms up, just like the guy did when he called out to me.

"I love you, Nate." My head was bent and I was staring at my feet, nervous like a child who had done something wrong and was waiting to be scolded. The man in my embrace froze. He broke the embrace and took three steps backwards. "We are ending this relationship." I finally heard him say after a few minutes of awkward silence. "Huh,why? I thought I still have a month left?" "Why? you breached the contract, that's why." *********************** Aviva Alexander who has just turned twenty-three crossed paths with the arrogant, dominant CEO of Dove's enterprises, Nathan Lewis. Love at first sight? That's what you may call it in Ava's case. Determined, she chases the hot Nathan Lewis and Nathan who had developed feelings for her gives her the privilege of being his contracted girlfriend after she had seen him break up with Camille that night in the garage. “ I knew you were the one when I saw you at the garage” They're writing their love story but will there ever be an happy ever after when Caryn Jones is hellbent on getting her one-time lover, Nathan? “ I love you Ava, I really do. Everything about you drives me insane... Allow me love you, please. Let me love you tonight, princess.” ” There can be no happy ever after... or maybe there is. ” - Ava & Nate

Jada prayed and asked God to provide a miracle that would be a solution to her family’s problems. They had always been poor, but this was the worst situation they had ever been in. Her father had to be taken to the hospital two weeks ago, and she had become the sole provider for their home. Marilou had given them what money she had that she could to help, but she wasn’t exactly rolling in money herself. The young girl had a huge responsibility placed upon her shoulders, but she was determined not to lose their home or have the children sent to foster care. She had been waiting tables and using her tips to buy gas and groceries, but it was barely enough most days. Her paycheck had not been enough to pay all the bills since her father had let them get so far behind. Mrs. DeRoya cleared her throat, signaling that she would answer the girl. “Miss Pence, I only had one child, my son Brayden here. My husband was also an only child. So, unless Brayden produces an heir, our bloodline here in the United States is lost. What we need is a surrogate to carry the child. If you sign the contract, when the child is born you will receive one million dollars to take your siblings and go have a good life,” she said, staring at her without emotion.