Lace Code

"Kylie, this year's annual bonus is evaluated based on two factors: performance and peer reviews. "Since your team never participates in company social events, your coworkers all gave you poor ratings. That's why this is your year-end bonus." Around me, the male employees were receiving bonuses in the tens of thousands. And yet, the women I led—developers who had worked for over ten years and built every core system the company relied on—each received nothing more than a coffee gift card and a mug engraved with the company logo. I laughed out loud. Then I turned and walked into my office and submitted resignation requests for the entire technical team. The manager, Preston Alec, sneered. "Good riddance. AI can replace women like you who only know how to have children." A few days later, the very people who had mocked me were standing in front of me, begging me to come back. I smiled in return. "AI conquers everything, doesn't it?"

During a project review meeting, the new Gen Z intern, Jake Wilson, suddenly acts up by cutting to the server's backend logs on the projector. With a sneer, he says, "Mr. Miller, there's been an ongoing traffic anomaly in the server for the past few months. After conducting a quick investigation, it appears that the operations director, Ms. Chapman, has been secretly using the server to run her website just to accept private gigs and make quick bucks on the side." After the boss, Martin Miller, listens to Jake's report, his expression becomes stormy. "Ms. Chapman's actions have greatly infringed on the company's interests! In fact, the risks of her leaking the company's core secrets are extremely high! I suggest that we call the police on her!" Jake continued. As I look at how hostile Jake and Martin are acting, all I feel is bitter disappointment. Back when the company has first started out, it doesn't have the funds to afford a high-specs server. I'm the one who has carried my million-dollar workstation to the company and constructed a server there. Heck, I'm the one who has been paying the power bills for the server the whole time. To think that this company will backstab me in the end… Fine. Since everyone treats me like an enemy, I might as well give them a taste of the consequences for offending me!

Iris Hartley has spent her entire life as the spare daughter, invisible in the shadow of her beautiful half-sister Felicity. So when Felicity disappears two hours before her wedding to billionaire CEO Dominic Laurent, Iris does what she's always done: she steps in to clean up the mess. The plan is simple. Walk down the aisle, say the vows, save her family's company. Three years of marriage on paper, then freedom for everyone. But Dominic Laurent didn't build an empire by missing details. He knows his bride isn't who she claims to be. And when he discovers the truth, he gives Iris an ultimatum: prove she can be useful to him, or he'll expose the fraud and destroy both their families. What Dominic doesn't expect is that the replacement wife is brilliant, brave, and nothing like the woman he agreed to marry. And Iris never imagined that being chosen second could feel like being chosen first. Sometimes the wrong bride is exactly right.

Amelia Earhart is an executive from the British colony. Tasked to find out about a mysterious island, known for it's disappearance and missing subjects. Hundreds of Executives, scientist and researchers had gone for the job but known survived to bring out a tale. Amelia as courageous she was, decided to embark on the journey but who knew what will lie in wait for her. Will she come out free? What happens when the Alpha only lust for her body? Will the mystery of the island be solved?

Matt & Nicole have been married for 7 years, but during that time they have not had a child. It's not without reason that it all happened. They both knew that Nicole was infertile and the doctor had sentenced her to not being able to get pregnant. They love each other, of course, but love alone will never be enough, as an Alpha, pride comes first. Even though he never said it, deep down in Matt's heart he really wanted a child, who could later become his successor. But everything changed when Kate came into their lives, Kate worked as a maid in the big mansion. Not only Kate but there are two other maids working there, Mona and Raya. They are all Omegas, but the condition for being able to work there is that they do not work to serve the Alpha, but to accompany and fulfill the needs of Luna, Nicole. As time went on, Kate and Nicole became the closest, they spent more time together and made their two friends Mona and Raya a little jealous of that closeness. Until one day, Nicole deliberately brought Matt and Kate together somewhere. To both of them' surprise, Matt had seen Kate before but for Kate this was her first time seeing the Alpha. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss something very important, about children. Nicole wanted to rent Kate's womb so they could have children, the selfish attitude shown by Nicole was of course opposed by the Alpha, Matt. But Nicole was willing to pay, and give anything to Kate in exchange, Kate, who was silent at that time, finally agreed. She wanted to be pregnant with their child on one condition, they had to pay for her mother's cancer treatment and it was an easy request for Nicole.

Descended from two lines of assassins, Alina Istrati is one of the most prolific assassins in the world. Always taking pride in her work, the cold nature of her crimes paired with her modus operandi earned her the alias, Blackheart. A new contract that should have been a simple job proves to be more than she bargained for when she finds herself the target of the person who hired her. On top of that, she's stuck babysitting her former target, who intrigues her at every turn. Alina will be put to the test as she fights to uncover diabolical plots and uphold obligations in the assassin underworld while trying to maintain her Blackheart status around the man she was assigned to kill. Follow ADB_Stories on IG for series updates. Codename: Blackheart is the first book in the Codename trilogy.

One second, I was getting completely soaked by the rain, and the next… nothing. It was still pouring all around me, but somehow, I was dry. Confused, I looked up—and there he was. A stranger. He stood just behind me, holding an umbrella over us both. Tall, ridiculously good-looking, and wearing an Armani suit that fit like a dream. Like, seriously—who even looks that put together in a storm? And just like that, I was curious. Who was this guy? Read on to uncover the mystery. P.S. This is my first book on here, so if you enjoy it, show me a little love! Thanks for being here.

After the human race loses the war, the beastfolk rule over the human lands. As crown princess, my sister Amber Whitaker is born beautiful and is handed over to the Beast King, Theron Olson, as his concubine. Compared to her, I'm plain, so they send me to the breeding quarters, where beastmen fight over me and use me like a breeding machine. However, Amber doesn't fare well either. She's too gentle for palace schemes. Before long, the other women frame her, and she dies. As for me, pregnancy after pregnancy wears my body down until it's too weak to go on, and I die filled with hatred. Then, everything blurs. When Amber and I open our eyes, we stare at each other in shock and realize we're back on the very day the human race falls. This time, I hold her hand tightly and say firmly, "Let me serve the Beast King instead!" On the night, Theron takes me to his bed. "You look so slim, yet you're surprisingly full. Are you afraid?" With that, he strips away my clothes and casts off his own. One glance makes my breath hitch. I've seen beastmen's packages before, but I never expected Theron to have two!

In a world where werewolves adhere strictly to their social ranks, Conrad Rosser, the daughter of a Beta, knows her place. Werewolves are creatures of habit, after all, comfortable within the confines of their own kind. But when fate intervenes, everything Conrad thought she knew is turned upside down. Carlos, an incredibly attractive and formidable Alpha who is determined to challenge the status quo. Breaking tradition is not something he takes lightly, but there's something about Conrad that captivates him, defying all expectations. As fate takes control, Conrad finds herself unexpectedly paired with Carlos. Their partnership is a force to be reckoned with, pushing the boundaries of their world and stirring up hidden desires. Conrad's once-complacent outlook is shattered, and she's left questioning everything she thought she wanted. In this gripping tale of love, loyalty, and breaking free from societal norms, Conrad must navigate the tumultuous path fate has set before her. Will she embrace the unpredictable journey or fight against it? The answer lies in the electrifying connection she shares with Carlos, as they embark on an adventure that will redefine their lives and the destiny of their kind.

"We'll exchange your blood with your sister's. From now on, Jenna will have your scent. She'll go to the Blood Shadow Pack in your place and become Lionel's Luna." Mom said. At this moment I was tightened in a surgery bed. My face filled with disbelief. That was ridiculous! Jenna would replace me to marry my mate?! "No! Lionel is MY MATE!" I screamed. "What about me? What will happen to me?!" "Your father has made his decision. There's no room for backing out now," Mom said, "You're too ordinary, too quiet, my dear, you can't be a good Luna. Lionel will eventually get bored of you and abandon you, and it will also break the relationship between our two Packs. But Jenna is different. She's born a rightful Luna." Mod touched my face but I couldn't feel any warmth from her hand. "No!!!" Tears welled up in my eyes. "No... mom, please..." Mom sighed. She turned around and told the doctor to start the operation. No matter how much I cried or begged, she never looked back at me again. I felt the thick, cold needle piercing my veins, my blood was also draining out ... From now on, I lost my scent, my mate, and even my name...