Jim Halpert Smile

All my memories are the same for as long as I can remember. Pain, abuse, and being torn down by those who were supposed to care for me the most. All them intermingle and stab at my heart and self-esteem, attempting to turn my very soul to ice. However, amongst all the pain and suffering, there is a moment in time when I truly felt like maybe I wasn't such a wretched existence. And in those memories, it is always the same person that is by my side. The boy with the dark hair that is just a bit too long and stormy gray eyes that take me in as if I'm the most precious existence he has ever laid eyes on. Maybe if this boy hadn't reached out a hand that day I wouldn't have survived, but now I can't even consider looking him in the eye if we ever meet again as I fear seeing that smile and that look of complete and utter devotion being given to someone like me who no longer deserves it.

I don't know what caught me first, was it his beautiful eyes that shines like sparkling light when he looks at me, or was it that smile he gives that sends shivers down my spine or his deep voice that did wonders to my body? All I knew was that I was trapped from the moment I saw him and there was nothing saving me. ***** Odessa has always lived a life controlled by her mother and then when she finally found love in a man that made her feel things she has never felt before, for the first time in her life she's determined to make her own decision, fall in love and be with the man she loves. But once again her mother wants her to marry another man but she's already trapped in the heart of another. The question now is will she follow her own heart and marry the man she loves or would she do what her mother wants once again? Find out.

"It's over, Nicholas. I'm not your property anymore," Reyna said firmly, backing away from his tightening grip. Nicholas smiled that familiar smile that still sent a chill down her spine. "But you'll always be mine. No matter who you try to slip into your bed at night, I'm the one who truly knows you." ************ Reyna Collins thought she left her abusive past behind when she escaped her husband and billionaire Nicholas Reed five years ago. Now a successful winemaker, she's focused on building her brand and moving on. But when Nicholas sees her flourishing without him, dark secrets from their marriage come to light in the most sinister of ways. As suspicious events threaten to destroy all Reyna has worked for, she realizes Nicholas will stop at nothing to reclaim the power and control he once held. Even relying on help from a newcomer, outwitting her manipulative ex seems impossible.

From a stall in the office restroom, I overhear someone badmouthing me. Henry Fielder, the intern I've been mentoring for three months, grumbles, "The guy's got zero people skills. He's a total fossil, like a robot stuck in one mode." I'm about to push the door open and jump in when someone laughs and piles on. "The paperwork is incomplete. The receipts aren't compliant. I can't reimburse it without a manager's signature. We could recite his canned empathy lines in our sleep!" Once they're gone, I quietly head back to my office. Later, Henry drops a thick stack of expense reports onto my desk. "Quit waving the rulebook and rejecting everyone's reimbursements." I skim the fake receipts, and for once, I don't call him out. Instead, I give a thin smile and say, "I have a headache. I can't make out the words."

I suffer from extreme mental illness. My sister, Ava Monroe, became a facial model to earn money for my expensive medical treatment. She was 5’3” tall but was noticed because of her beauty by a wealthy young man by the name of Dominic Pierce with a leg obsession. He imprisoned her. “This is the most beautiful face I’ve ever seen. If only your legs were a bit longer, I’d die with a smile.” Ava was forced to have leg-lengthening surgery. After the operation, her legs began to rot. Dominic found her disgusting and locked her in the basement. He tortured her until she died. I got kicked out of the mental health institute because I could not pay the medical fees. I found Dominic surrounded by beautiful women with long legs. “Those are the prettiest legs I’ve ever seen. If only your face were a little cuter, I’d die with a smile!” I pointed to the painting of Ava and scoffed, “What if I become her?”

The day before the semester began, my childhood friend Daniel Carter asked if he could borrow my private jet. Thinking he'd finally changed his ways, I agreed without a second thought. A moment later, he transferred a single dollar, calling it rent because he couldn't stand the thought of freeloading. The quirky amount said more than words ever could. I smiled and accepted it. On the first day of school, I kept things low-key, taking a cab back to campus. But when I arrived, there it was, my private jet parked right in the middle of the quad. The jet had been decked out in bubblegum pink, and students crowded around, their eyes shining with envy. My heart leapt. For once, I thought Daniel had finally figured it out. Beaming, I braced myself for his surprise. But as I drew closer, my smile froze. Sitting barefoot in the pilot's seat, my seat, was Clara West, the campus' queen bee.

The eighth time I proposed to Jason, he shut me down cold and indifferent, just like all the times before. He said he needed more time, and I was ready to keep waiting. However, out of nowhere, I saw a post on social media. He and my sister went and got their marriage certificate. When I confronted him, Jason was perfectly calm. "Tessa is pregnant and needs to avoid stress. Stop causing trouble for no reason!” Both were wearing wedding rings in the photo. Her baby bump was already starting to show. Something inside me just went quiet. I gave the post a like and left a comment. [Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and love!] A year later, Jason came to see me. He looked tired and defeated, asking to get back together. By then, I was already visibly pregnant. Before I could say a word, his best friend stepped forward with a smile and pushed him back. “Come on, man. The baby’s almost here. My wife already has a husband. She does not need a backup.”

JULIAN "You are mine. Every part of you is mine. Your body, your smile, your kisses, your love and your soul. I own you, even if I am not here now, you will be mine forever. fetch my young lady, I beg you to wait for me." -With all my love, Julian. "Even without being by my side, you occupy my thoughts, my days, my weeks, my life. It's as if every 'I love you' was little close to what I felt. Since the day I met you, the days gray and rainy became my favorites. I've always been yours..." -Yours, Eloíse. BONUS AGNELO After a heartbreak, Olivia falls in love again, but this time, it's different from anything she's ever felt, because it was from the first look. However, Agnelo is a cold man who does not believe in love. However, after an unusual and very hot encounter in a car, the two can no longer think of anything but to do it again.

"Every person has their own unique desires, Lexie," he says, his voice low and seductive. "Some are easily satisfied, while others crave more... intense experiences."As he speaks, my mind races with possibilities, each one more exhilarating than the last."Tell me," I urge, my heart pounding in anticipation."Are you sure you want to know?" he teases, his eyes dancing with mischief. "It might be more than you bargained for.""But what if,” I start, locking my eyes with his. “What if I am the one who ends up being on the top?” And my smile becomes wicked.----Lexie meant only to visit her best friend to reorganize her life. It was a simple plan, until her old time crush Noland, her best friend’s dad, showed up. He has unique tastes, but will he be ready for what Lexie has to show him?Surrendering to my Best Friend’s Dad is created by Amelie Bergen, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

When a war between political gangs and mafia groups breaks up in fort canon city, Blake Walker an upcoming business man is forced to relocate to his in-laws to take shelter and recover from losing everything he has worked hard for. Muddled in this misfortune, his loving wife Tessa Wallace and her family would however turn on him and treat him worse than a street dog in the Wallace manor. None of their offence changes the love he has for Tessa until she decides to divorce him, beaten to a pulp and shot to the brink of death, Blake finally signs the divorce papers and gets thrown out of the manor. But the gods of luck would smile on him when it turns out he is a long lost Heir to one of the richest and most dangerous Mafia groups in the city. After taking his rightful place at the high table, revenge is inevitable and tables turn. He serves it hot with his guardian angel by his side. Anita Baker former employee at the manor and the only person who stood by him when he needed help the most.