International Professional Practices Framework

With a shift, I let my dress slip from my shoulders and fall to the floor, revealing the lingerie beneath. Nathan's eyes darkened, as closing the small distance between us, his lips claimed mine in a possessive kiss. His tongue tangled with mine, both hungry and tender. Then, slowly, oh so tantalizingly slowly, he backed me toward the bed, his kisses travelling down my neck, across my collarbone, before they moved lower still… ~~~ FBI Agent Brianna Hart had always wanted Nathan Pierce, her stepbrother, and for several years they had been lovers, but circumstances forced them apart. When Brianna returns to her former job within the FBI, she finds Nathan married. When he once again becomes her team leader, Brianna tries to maintain a professional relationship with Nathan. But after a tragic accident takes the life of Nathan’s wife and unborn child, Nathan seeks solace within Brianna’s arms. Old feelings flare to life between them, and both struggle with the undeniable sexual attraction between them. Brianna's heart is torn over her love and need for the newly widowed Nathan, while he grapples with the loss of his family and his re-awakened feelings for a woman he never quite let go of.

I knock on the door, heart pounding like it always does when I’m about to see him. “Come in,” Justin’s voice calls—cool, smooth, and frustratingly calm. I take a deep breath and walk in, holding the folder tightly. “Here’s the report you requested, sir.” He doesn’t even glance at me. Just keeps typing, his expression unreadable. “You’re late,” he says without missing a beat. I clench my jaw. “There was a delay at the printer—” “No excuses, Joanna. Just do better next time.” Ouch. Professional and cold. As always. I nod, ignoring the sting in my chest. “Yes, sir.” I turn to leave, gripping the doorknob—just one more second and I’ll be out of this weird tension-filled office— “Wait.” I freeze. I turn around slowly. “Yes?” Justin stands now, walking toward me. In his hand, a familiar brown paper bag. He holds it out. “You didn’t have lunch.” I blink. “I’m fine.” “You skipped breakfast too. Eat.” I hesitate. “What is it?” “Chicken pesto. No onions.” My breath catches. He still remembers? “Why are you doing this?” I ask quietly. He shrugs, not meeting my eyes. “I just… remember things.” My fingers brush his as I take the bag. Warmth. Stupid warmth that shouldn’t still feel this familiar. Then, he looks at me—really looks at me. “You shouldn’t skip meals… wife.” Silence. My chest tightens. “Don’t call me that.” But my voice is too soft to sound convincing. I walk out before I say something I’ll regret. His words echo in my mind like a dangerous lullaby. Cold one second. Kilig the next. God… he’s still him. And that’s exactly the problem.

After a relentless climb in the financial world, Isabelle Wakefield is on the brink of a monumental merger that could cement her as a Wall Street icon. However, the deal hinges on her being married. Enter Damien Blackwood, a ruthless billionaire known for his unyielding negotiations. He agrees to a short-term marriage contract, seeing a chance to expand his empire. Their intense chemistry and clashing personalities spark a passionate bond, challenging their views on love and authority. Isabelle's tenacity captivates Damien, while she is drawn to the empathy beneath his arrogant exterior. As their professional and personal lives intertwine, they must decide if their temporary agreement can evolve into a lasting relationship, overcoming their fears to embrace a shared future.

-Kehlani,  an avid writer who spends most of her time publishing bestselling romance novels wants to write a new whole genre for a change and to this effect she decides to embark on writing a fantasy based fictional romance which she had never done before, mostly to honour her late grandmother who was a fan of such a genre. Kehlani embarks on a journey to her grandmother’s hometown for various reason: firstly as a form of reflection due to her grandmother’s one year anniversary and secondly because she needed a sabbatical in a quiet place which was in tune with nature to enable her work on this said Manuscript and possibly gather inspirations. - Kehlani arrives at Woodbine only to discover that this town is cut away from, the world in every sense of it. It seemed like their town was stuck in time as even the little stories her grandmother had told her and it's landmark still remained. Kehlani takes advantage of this and decides to take an interest in the townspeople who only farmed and jollied  as she felt that it might form an inspirational framework for her new Fantasy Manuscript.

Olivia Cadell, an ambitious and dedicated secretary at Pierce Enterprises, finds herself entangled in a web of lies spun by her boss, Dawson Pierce- during a crucial business negotiation, Dawson claims to be in a relationship with Olivia to get an investor who is committed to only working with married businessmen. Struggling with her daughter's medical bills, Olivia who has been repeatedly denied advance pay by the HR, reluctantly agrees to Dawson's proposal of marriage contract. As they navigate their false relationship, and professional challenges and confront their growing attraction and true feelings for each other and the complexities of their pasts

"Real men don’t fall in love. Love is for the weak and foolish, and I, Don Alessandro, will never raise a fool as a son." Kai Alessandro learned those words the hard way. Groomed by his father to be the mafia leader, Kai’s life is built on power, fear, and control. Love? That’s a weakness he can’t af-ford. Amelia Carrington is all about survival. By day, she’s a college senior juggling classes. By night, she’s a hacker-for-hire and part-time stripper, desperate to pay her mother’s medical bills. Men? They’re just wallets waiting to be emptied. Their worlds collide when Amelia hacks into Kai’s account, stealing $5,000,000 to save her mother’s life. Kai hunts her down, and instead of exacting revenge, he gives her an offer: work for him to repay the debt or face a fate worse than death. The agreement was to keep things strictly professional; work only. But they eventually had a one-night stand which was supposed to be a mistake since they were both drunk, what was a mistake eventually turned into an regular affair, blurring the lines between their hatred and a passion neither of them could control. Romantic feelings begin to intertwine with their shared hatred, feelings that they both weren't ready to admit to. But what happens when Amelia eventually realizes that she was pregnant for kai Alessandro, one of the most dangerous gang leader in the world and a man who was supposed to be her enemy?

Natalie Harper leads a simple life. A trained professional secretary, she had always been diligent, organized, and committed to staying out of trouble. Her uneventful life is upended when her gruff boss, Alexander Hayes-a wealthy CEO-makes her an offer she can't refuse: a marriage contract. Alexander needs a fiancée to save his reputation and to get that crucial business contract, and Natalie fits perfectly. From the beginning, it would seem pretty easy: she gets financial security, and he saves his company. But getting into Alexander's glittering world is far from simple. Thrown into a whirlwind of lavish parties, prying socialites, and Alexander's guarded past, Natalie quickly realizes she is in over her head. Things get even more complicated when Alexander's ex-fiancée resurfaces, determined to wreak havoc. As old secrets start to unravel, Natalie begins to question everything-especially her own feelings. The more time she spends by Alexander's side, the more impossible it is not to feel the emotions she was so determined to keep out of their deal. Is this a game he is playing, or is there really something genuine behind those cold and remote eyes? Can Natalie navigate his world of deceit and power, or will she lose herself in the process?

Power struggles are a big problem in the Burg family. Theodor, the family's first grandson, has been appointed CEO and heir to his grandfather, the owner of the Burg Corporation. However, his uncle, who is the owner's youngest son, does not accept this and tries hard to usurp the heirship. While the internal conflict rages, Johnny Knight, the owner of Knight Corporation, sees an opportunity to take advantage. He plans to push Burg Corporation out of the international market and make his company number one in the world. In the midst of this chaos, Theodor, who has never tasted love, meets Frisilia, a beautiful and cheerful woman who teaches him about love. But Theodor's happiness is short-lived when his first love is threatened by Jason Knight, the only son of Johnny Knight. Will Theodor be able to overcome all these problems? And will he lose his rights as heir to the Burg Corporation?

Cora’s life takes an unexpected turn and she finds herself torn between survival and betrayal. Devastated but determined to navigate back her life, she colluded with Keith, her once childhood crush and now a successful billionaire. In order to bring down Elliot, Keith's father, she got entangled with Keith in an arranged marriage. However, as their relationship develops, she must navigate her growing feelings for Keith while also protecting herself from the dangers that surround them. Will she be able to protect herself and her developing relationship with Keith while also solving the mysteries laid in front of her. Cora noticed the difference in how Keith acts towards her and that made her set a trap. She discovers he has a twin who lives in the basement of his house and impersonates him. She was in love with Keith but now she has to discern who she is truly in love with. Keith or his twin, Ted. The day Keith was to confess his love to her, she was stopped by Elliot who told her Keith was adopted and that he was the son of that former international smuggling ring who he killed. He also told her he found out who sent the assassins to her before the wedding and that it was Keith himself. He had the whole scene staged. Ted on the other hand also fell in love with Cora and wanted her for himself. Seeing as she chose Keith, he decided to rape her and make her pregnant with his child. That way, she would be stuck with him. Cora got a strange call from her mother. Denouement Cora's mother called to inform her of her father's death. Keith confronted Elliot and told him he knew he was adopted and that he was aware he killed

It was just another morning commute—until he happened. Across the train aisle sat a man who looked like he’d stepped out of a high-end magazine and straight into a power struggle. His voice sliced through the air, sharp and commanding, as he chewed someone out over the phone like he ran the damn universe. Arrogant. Entitled. Dressed like a Wall Street god. Correction: he looked like a god. That’s where the charm ended—or so I thought. When the train screeched to a stop, he stood up in a hurry, stormed off… and left his phone behind. Did I pick it up? Yep. Did I snoop? Absolutely. Photos, contacts, a few mysterious texts—I couldn’t help myself. Did I keep it longer than I should’ve, building stories in my head about the man behind the voice? Yeah… I did that too. When I finally gathered enough nerve to return it, I marched into the glass-and-steel fortress he called an office. He wouldn’t even come out to meet me. So I dropped his phone on the desk outside his office door. And maybe—I left a photo on it first. Not exactly the professional kind. What I didn’t expect? A message. From him. What followed were late-night texts that burned hotter than anything I’d ever known. Words became whispers. Whispers turned into fantasies. I was falling—for someone I hadn’t even really met. He and I? Total opposites. Fire and ice. Chaos and control. But when we finally came face to face, it wasn’t just sparks. It was an inferno. What happened next? Let’s just say… falling for him was the easy part. Surviving what came after? That’s where the real story began.