Grayslake Public Library

PLEASE DON'T READ (Under major editing*) He stepped closer if that was even possible at this point. "I want you, Melanie." He rasped beneath his breath, his gaze falling to mouth. I hated the way I shivered visibly at his words. "So much." He ran his thumb along the inside of my elbow, closing his lips over mine again. One minute we were trying to kiss slowly. The next he was parting my lips and we were back to devouring each other. Our lips stayed locked even as he moved his fingers higher and higher. **** Melanie Steele and Damon Trent were practically the two opposite poles of a magnet. They had almost nothing in common. She liked her solitude, he liked being in the spotlight. She loved living for herself and being comfortable. He was in a constant competition with nobody. She hated attention, he craved it like the oxygen he breathed. They could never work... Or could they? When Damon finds out that he had to be married to get possession of his late father's properties, he let his friends talk him into putting up an ad in the News Paper and making a public spectacle to look for his future wife. What he didn't see coming was Melanie signing up for the competition. Somehow along the way, lines are not just crossed they're being completely erased. He's broken all his rules with her and she's thrown way her sanity when it comes to him. They find themselves battling an attraction that was slowly becoming something more. What happens when Damon's secret gets out? Would Melanie be able to forgive him? Or will their story end before it even has a chance to begin?

Evelyn Melgren is a CEO, living in Seattle with her lovable dog. She spends most of her days at her workplace, trying to make her company reach the corners of the city. One evening she meets the person from her past who owns a whole book in her library of memories. The person she'd tried to let go of, but couldn't. The person she loved with her whole being, and then lost herself for. Warren Archer is the CEO of a multi-million dollar empire. The guy who's been battling the memories that are in the shape of the girl he's loved since high school. The girl he never wanted to hurt, but ended up doing that. The girl he's loved with every corner of his heart. Ten years later when Evelyn and Warren cross paths. The universe plays with their heart strings, and the feelings that have died begin to resurrect. The dead love in one's heart starts to kindle due to the blazing heart of the other. A series of circumstances set in, and they get to have a second-chance at their story.

.." Miss Davis, how long have you and Mr Ashton known each other?" Someone asked from the crowd and Elisa's eyes widened in shock. " How long have you been dating?" Another reporter asked. " Was it your idea to keep your relationship a secret from the public?" Relationship? " How is Mr Ashton treating you as his lover? Is he as romantic as many of the ladies think he is?" Elisa, a young girl whose passion was acting and dream for bigger platform even though her dreams seemed impossible but something happened, a scandal that binded her fate to that of the richest billionaire in the city, a scandal that changed her life and made her dreams reachable. Love and passion, power struggle, betrayal, secrets and truths. Will Elisa have a happy ending especially with a man like Noah Ashton who didn't believe in love?

Nadia Wilde, the once docile daughter of a wealthy and famous pastor who is loved by the public, has her life turned upside down when she’s sent to prevent her hidden and rebellious step sister from showing up at a one-night stand that could jeopardize her father’s reputation. But in the process, Nadia ends up on the hotel bed instead of Ava and is unable to stop what happens next because, deep down, she’s never been the good girl everyone has always adored. Six years later, Russell Lane, a young CEO whose automobile company is taking over the industry, develops the need for a contract wife, and Nadia, the perfect candidate, falls prey to his trap. With only flaming eyes to remember each other since that fateful day, Nadia recollects who he is, and Russell can’t seem to take his mind off the mysteriously familiar woman. Oblivious to the fact that he’s the father of Nadia’s twins, Russell wants her as his contract wife, and he plans to get her by any means, regardless of what she wants. Can Nadia keep up with a powerful family that tramples down on the likes of her and use this god-given opportunity to climb back up the social ladder? Will Russell be able to overcome the obstacles and keep his company away from the hands of his overambitious brothers and sisters? Most importantly… Will Nadia and Russell make what started as an accidental one-night stand thrive into something much more real, or will their contract marriage, along with everything else, end just as it was supposed to?

After my financial reports were replaced with blank pages, the company was thrown into a legal and financial crisis. As the accountant, I was accused of falsifying records. I was charged, convicted, and sent to prison. Three years later, I was finally released. My CEO husband and our son came to pick me up in person. Just when I was touched by their loyalty, believing they had stood by me through it all, I overheard their conversation. "Dad, Winona wanted that villa in the suburbs, so you used company funds to buy it. But Mom was the one who got blamed for the falsified accounts. She spent three years behind bars, shunned by everyone. Even I got teased by my friends because of her." Hank took our son's hand, his tone grave. "We agreed never to bring this up again. Back then, Winona needed a place to live. I had no choice but to use the company's money, and your mom had to take the fall." That was the moment I realized—my years in prison, the public disgrace, the humiliation… had all been part of a plan. A plan crafted by the very man I trusted with my life.

Five years ago, when my boyfriend's small company was on the brink of bankruptcy I stepped in to save him, quietly supporting him from the shadows. Without revealing my identity, I became the company’s largest shareholder. Five years later, the night before his company was set to go public, he held me in his arms and said, "Emma, after the company goes public tomorrow, don’t leave. I have a surprise for you." At that moment, I was swept away by the idea of his "surprise," my mind racing with the hopeful thought that he might propose. I didn’t notice the cold glint of malice lurking in his eyes. The next day, as his company went public, he slapped me across the face and sneered, "Do you even see what kind of person you are? Did you really think someone like you could marry me?" He grabbed me by the hair and dragged both me and my best friend in front of a crowd of thugs and beggars he’d gathered. “These worthless cast-offs aren’t good enough for me anymore. Consider them my gift to you. Do whatever you like with them!”

They say that marriage is a happy ending to everyone's life. However, not all fairy tales end happily ever after. Charlotte Hayes, a top model in Los Angeles, married actor Jake Hayes for two years. He was as delightful as sweets in public, but he was abusive at home. "Have an affair with me," she told Damien Yves Étienne, a billionaire, after discovering his hidden identity as a mafia boss. "Don't you want me to keep quiet about your secret? Have an affair with me in exchange for silence." Sentimental tempers flare. A woman fleeing an abusive marriage and meeting the billionaire boss of her husband. Charlotte grows to love, and her husband discovers the valuable lesson that abusers do not win. With that, milady's affair begins.

Ethan Leo, CEO of the Leo Empire, was infamous for his cold-hearted nature, shaped by the loss of his mother at a tender age. Love was a foreign concept to him until Sasha unexpectedly entered his life, igniting a passion he couldn't ignore. Determined to possess her, Ethan found an opportunity to make Sasha his, when she crossed paths with his Mafia cartel. Unbeknownst to all, Ethan's public facade masked a darker identity: Hades, the mastermind behind the world's most notorious criminal syndicate.

During my wedding reception, I make a toast to my wife's true love. He smashes his wine glass in retaliation and snaps, "I lost to you and allowed you to marry Isabel, but you shouldn't have humiliated me in public!" My wife, Isabel Eaton, is furious. She calls me petty and says she's disgusted by men like me, who get jealous over the smallest things. She rips her veil off and runs after her true love. I chase her, wanting to explain myself. However, a car rams into me. Isabel turns to glance at me but doesn't stop as she goes after her true love. I'm taken to the hospital to be rescued. However, my heart dies despite my body recovering. Upon regaining consciousness, I call my father. I've cut off contact with him for the past three years, but it's time to cave. "I'll go ahead with the marriage alliance, Dad."