Maya Banks Series Novels & Stories

Maya’s POV I sat in the dim corner of the safe house with the laptop screen glowing on my face, my fingers hovered over the keys while Damien rested on the small bed nearby. Elena stood behind me, her hand rested light on my shoulder. The hidden bank account waited on the screen, my name at the top with rows of numbers that made my stomach twist. I took a slow breath and clicked enter, the page loaded slow. “This feels wrong,” I said quiet, my voice barely above a whisper. “My name on all this money. Havisham put it here to trap me, I know it. Elena, watch the screen with me. Damien, are you awake enough to help if something pops up?”

“That’s fear.” “It’s self-preservation.” “It’s boredom.” Alessandra leaned back into the couch cushions. On-screen, someone was crying over a recoupling ceremony. She muted the television. “I am perfectly content,” she said. “I have Dr. Pepper. I have grading. I have emotionally unstable British twenty-somethings.” “You are thirty-six,” Maya said flatly. “You cannot live off voyeuristic reality television and academic validation.” “Watch me.” Maya ignored that. “Okay, listen. I met someone at a fundraiser last week. Older. Established. Corporate attorney. Divorced, but amicable. Tall. Actually handsome.”

"I’ll tell them I have the flu. Or a sudden, incurable case of social anxiety. Tell them I’ve moved to a remote village with no internet." "Nice try, but no," Maya said, marching into the room with a pair of silver heels dangling from her fingers. She looked like she was ready for a high-stakes negotiation. "You have been dodging these people for three years, Ari. Today, you walk in there and you let them see you're not the mess they want you to be."

“You need other parents to commiserate with. Helps maintain sanity.” “Do we have sanity? I wasn’t aware.” “残念ながら we maintain the appearance of sanity. Close enough.” That evening, Film Maya called with big news. “I booked the lead in a limited series. Six episodes, shooting in New York, starts in June. It’s the biggest role I’ve gotten since having kids.” She sounded thrilled and terrified simultaneously. “But it’s a four-month commitment. Nathan will be two and a half, Henry will be almost a year. Can I actually do this?”

“This isn’t over.” Lady Esther grins with shark-like teeth. “Oh, Maya. It never is.” Maya turns on her heel and storms back to the car, her blood boiling and her mind racing. I’ll find out what you did, you old hag. One way or another.’

He turned and walked back into the house, the glass door sliding shut with a heavy thud. Maya stood alone, the phone heavy in her hand. She scrolled through the banking app, the numbers blurring. She had the money. She had her phone. She had the safety she’d traded her soul for. But as she looked out over the estate, she realized the cage hadn't disappeared. It had just been gold-plated.

"Back off, Barbie. Don't you have a soul to sell somewhere?" Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Just a warning. Professor Black is strict. He eats girls like you for breakfast." She bumped her shoulder against mine as she walked away, her heels clicking like a ticking clock. "Witch," Larry muttered. He turned back to me. "Ignore her. But seriously, Maya. Fix this. Whatever it is, fix it. You need this degree." "I know," I said, my voice shaking. "I know." The bus ride home took forty minutes. It was enough time for my panic to turn into dread.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” She shook her head, still giggling. “Come on, girl. You look good. It’s only fair everyone else gets to see you.” I shook my head, leaning back against the seat and letting out a long breath. “I just want to lay low, Lily. Open my own hospital and… you know, take things up from there. I don’t have time for any drama.” Lily nodded, her expression softening a little. “Well, I understand that, Mai Mai. But you know if you really wanted to rest… you shouldn’t have come back, right?”

In Love With The Maid Onyido, Joy Ijeoma THE MAID SERIES (Book 1) This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, to real people, living or dead; or to real locales are intended to give the fiction a sense of reality and authenticity. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and their resemblance, if any, to real-life counterparts is entirely coincidental. DEDICATION

“Okay! Let’s Maya arrives-----“ William was talking while the door opened and Maya entered. “Oh! Talk of the devil!” Maya’s father giggled. Maya was looking dull and deeply unhappy. “Welcome back, my daughter. How’s did it go?” William asked. “Fine, Daddy!” Maya replied in dull tone. She didn’t stop walking. “Maya, Wait. One minutes please” William stopped her. Maya obeyed and took some steps backward. “Contact my bank Manager and send one hundred million to Prey’s account” The sad expression on Maya’s face suppressed a bit and she looked at her father with an expression.