Nine Syllable Words

All her life, Peach Salinger has always played by the rules. She's 23 and graduating college in a few months. She also just landed an internship with Acker Investments which can secure her a permanent job after graduation. But she's determined to get some sexual experiences before stepping into the professional world. In a bid to loose her virginity before she graduates, she hooks up with a hot stranger from a dating app. But that hot stranger turns out to be her new boss, Rhys Van Acker. An arrogant multi-billionaire who's nine years older than her. They both clash at first but Rhys cannot deny the mutual sexual tension between them. Rhys Van Acker wants Peach Salinger in his bed again, but Peach is determined not to succumb to the temptation. But how long can she be able to control herself when all she can think about is the one night stand she had with the older man?

It has always been him, he was my first love, and so, I had to let him go. He wasn't made for this life. He, was made for greater things. He was too much of a tornado for this small town, that doesn't mean I miss him any less. It's been 9 years since we last saw each other. Nine years of hatred on his part and self-loathing on mine, why did I let him go? Now, he is a successful billionaire, living the life one could only dream of. I wish things were different now that he's back but that just seems like a foreign concept to him. He doesn't want me anymore, but I can't blame him either. It was me who broke us and it is going to be me who will put all the pieces back together. Even if it is the last thing I do before death comes knocking at my door.

Maynard Hansen planned a luxury birthday cruise for Darlene Thompson, but the cruise ship capsized when a violent storm swept in without warning. Without hesitation, Maynard gave the last seat on the lifeboat to Darlene. As I struggled in the water, my son, Waldo Hansen—whom I carried for nine months and gave birth to—cried out, "Don't let Mom up! She'll push Ms. Thompson off." Clutching nothing but a broken plank, I somehow made it to shore. By the time I collapsed on the sand, I was frozen, exhausted, and done. I had never felt so alone. Shortly after, I found myself clutching a diagnosis of severe depression in my hand. I was ready to bring this wretched life to a quiet end. But when my husband and son realized I truly didn't want to live anymore, they collapsed into tears. They wrapped their arms around me as they sobbed, "Please don't leave us. We really can't live without you."

Hillary Gate had it all: wealth, prestige, and a future mapped straight to the top of the legal world. Until everything collapsed. Her parents are sent to prison. Her education is ripped away. And one reckless night leaves her pregnant for Lester Dale, the Alpha King of the Crescent Pack. Lester is a rare and powerful breed of wolf, bound by duty and legacy, and unaware of the devastation he leaves behind. Nine years later, Hillary rises from ruin to become a renowned lawyer. Fate, or cruelty, throws her back into Lester’s path inside a courtroom. But while Hillary remembers everything, Lester remembers nothing. Drawn to her, Lester demands a secret relationship. When she refuses, he threatens to expose her secret—never realizing he is the very reason it exists. When the truth finally surfaces, will Lester fight for redemption, or power? And can Hillary forgive the man who shattered her life, especially when he holds her past, her present, and her heart in his hands?

"Ma'am, you have dengue," Keisha felt extremely weak upon hearing the news from the doctor. She didn't know how she contracted dengue and why. "Doctor, what are you injecting? Is it necessary?" the doctor replied, assuring her that he knew what he was doing. She trusted the doctor and believed she would recover. She allowed him to administer the injection in her sensitive area. In less than a week, she was discharged, and indeed the doctor had done a great job. But as time went by, she felt changes in her body. She often vomited in the morning and felt abdominal discomfort. These were signs that she was pregnant! How could this happen? She was still a virgin! Until she remembered the injection administered by the doctor. She realized that what was injected into her was worse than Dengvaxia, as she now had to endure nine months until she gave birth. But the big problem was, who was the father of her unborn child? She didn't know that she was bearing the Billionaire Heir.

“I, Rhys Blackford, reject you, Felza Blackford, as my chosen mate.” His words felt like sharp blades slicing through my body, and I couldn't seem to stop those knives or the words from penetrating me. “Rhy…Rhys! Don't do this,” I croaked out shamelessly, even after catching him with his destined mate. I know this all seems confusing, but yeah, I caught my mate and husband with his destined mate in our bedroom, and he chose the cowardly way of punishing me for his sins by rejecting me. “We vowed to never hurt each other, Rhys! Even if we meet our destined mates,” I reminded him, standing up straight and looking into his eyes. “It was before meeting her, but now that I know the feeling of a real mate bond, I don't want you anymore,” he threw the words carelessly with indifference. I know the Moon goddess paired mates to have a symphony in packs, but sometimes bonds and destiny didn't stand a chance in front of true love and soulmates. But now I know it's bullshit because the so-called true love and soulmate kicked me to the ground and ruined me.

“Let him go right now.” Wait a second, did he just call me him? And then it hit again! Over here, I am a HE, not a SHE. Idris, not Irish. Before you roll your eyes and use the F words, this is my story, not yours. They said when life throws you lemons, you make lemonade, but I made a whole juice. Being in this college with not just a different name, but a different sex, is chaos on its own, one I’m fully embarked on. “Desperate times require drastic decisions.” I took those words way too seriously. How I plan to survive this journey is totally up to me. Will I be caught? That’s up to you to find out.

“Be my woman... ...it’s only going to be for a month.” Those were the words Hailey heard. And those words were about to change the direction of her life. After losing her job, she bemoans by getting wasted on drinks that night. Only for her to wake up the next morning in the room of the stranger she had a bit of a time with the night before. The stranger turns out to be the owner of one of the biggest technology companies and he proposes a deal with her to be in a pretense relationship with her. She becomes divided. Should she agree to it or protect her fragile heart? Even if she agrees, is she sure of whom she wants to be with? Especially after the stranger turns out to be a man with a lot of secrets...

“ You lied to me! You weren’t who you showed yourself to be! I hate-“ before she could say those three words, I sealed her mouth shut with a rough kiss.

Bethany Carter CEO of Carter Group is powerful, beautiful, confident, dedicated, and a competent leader who was indestructive until her brother Nathanial Carter went into the world of drugs and different scandals that destroyed their family's reputation and pushed the family corporate empire to bankruptcy. For her to get back on her feet and be the best in the business after the scandals she has to partner up with someone in the shadows but of great caliber, then she meets Levi Gomez, he is everything she needs for her company, a man of few words but when he he did choose to utter words it carried power As they worked together love, betrayal, and hard choices got in the way. Love In The Shadows is a story of love, navigating love and betrayal, revenge, power, family bonds, and secrets.