Lauren Shoemaker Novels & Stories

She has beautiful olive skin and amazing, yellow-brown eyes that are almost translucent. Unlike the dark witches with their malevolent auras, hers is light and comforting. “I’ve been waiting for you to come back, Kaiya” she says with a wide smile. “I am Lauren,” she introduces herself. “A light witch, in case you couldn't tell.” I glance at Deborah. “They’ve been here for a week,” she says. “That’s right,” Lauren agrees in a husky, melodic voice. “We found a way to fix the gift.”

Lauren’s voice boomed through the speakers, as laughter followed. Lauren waved nervously to the crowd, trying to calm the situation. “I’m being set up! We won’t let our enemy win!” She all but shouted through the mic. Amara smiled, the harder she tried the more stupid she was going to make her look. She pressed on a remote and a series of projected images suddenly appeared on the large screen behind Lauren — pictures of her at exclusive private events, suspiciously cozy with businessmen linked to scandals, and damning footage of a younger Lauren arguing with Amara’s father outside a hotel when Amara’s mother was still alive.

This is how far he could go and taste the boundaries. Lauren Miller was the most beautiful girl in the college. Every guy wanted her, but it wasn’t that easy. She was an impossible game. It wasn’t just about the outer appearance. Other than being breathtakingly beautiful, Lauren Miller was known as a strong and confident girl. Her kind persona made her everybody’s friend. She wasn’t one of those who believed in groups. Her mind was broad and invited whoever needed her help. Every teacher praises her for her fantastic assignments and excellent grades.

Thin, but with curves in all the right places, she wore Daisy Duke denim-blue shorts, showing off her long legs, and a stretchy, lightweight sweatshirt-like top, along with tall cowboy boots. "I'm Lauren. Thank you so much for the coffee. I sure need it." She held out her hand to shake Edie's, but it was ignored. "Do you need anything else?" Edie placed the tray on the bed. "No, thanks. I'm good." Lauren covered a yawn. "How long have you worked for Chase?"

Not only that, the woman had offered to handle the entire process even if it escalated to court, refusing to charge me a single dollar upfront. It felt weird…almost suspicious. At first, I thought it was a pity. Now, sitting here with the papers in my hands, I wondered if even a complete stranger could see how badly I needed an escape. “You're here for Mr. Laurent too?” My head lifted at the feminine voice beside me. Another secretary, really? A tall brunette stood there holding a stack of documents against her chest, her eyes flickering briefly toward Hayes’ office before returning to me knowingly. I forced a smile.

“She forgot this at my place. Lauren’s diary.” Ethan glanced at it. “And?” “Read it if you want. You’ll notice something—Lauren only moves toward her true goals when you’re out of the picture. Remember those three years you pretended to be dead? She built her fashion house from nothing. When she lost her child and left you again, she started her tech project. She’s been researching tech her whole life, but no one believed in her. Not even you. That’s why you were blindsided when you discovered what she was building—you thought she knew less than Amy Grant.”

Lauren instantly stood up from her chair, marched towards me, bent a little, and hugged me tightly. "Oh, Shanaya, I don't know why you never had time for enjoying your life. But don't worry, I am here and I'll teach you everything." She let go of me and stood straight. "Lauren you are mistaken, I...." Before I could complete my sentence she cut me off.

she greets warmly. “Are you our new Luna?” Liam asks, blinking up at her. Bold kid. Serena’s smile fades, her eyes going wide and jaw going slack, like she doesn’t know how to respond. I grin, sidestepping to reach out for Liam and ruffling the top of his flaxen hair. “Yeah, buddy, she is,” I say quietly, winking. Serena’s eyes dart to mine, her mouth still hanging open. She looks a bit like a deer caught in the headlights.

"And yet you claim you don't know him. You seem quite eager to steer clear of him, Mrs. Jamison." Lauren realized that she'd walked right into Liora's trap. Liora sat beside Rhea and drawled, "Oh, seeing you reminded me of something… My friend, Maeve Corbin, is also based in Colburn. She says she's met you before, Mrs. Jamison. Do you remember her?" Maeve Corbin? Lauren didn't know who that was. With everyone's eyes on her, she furrowed her brows and forced out a response. "Vaguely. I've been so busy lately that it's hard to keep track."

She wore large rectangular glasses that covered her eyes as well as framed a delicate face. "Hi," I said as she stopped beside me. "It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Lauren Shayla Gray, an art director and current artist in New York City." My mouth fell open a little bit as I heard the title, not quite believing what I had just heard. Lauren smiled and tilted her head slightly. "What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. I shook myself out of my thoughts, "Oh, no. It's just that... I haven't met anyone like that here."