Open Board Chapter 71

Adrian Hale and Elara Calder are forced into a merger neither wants. Bound by boardrooms and buried grudges, they clash at every turn, each convinced the other is responsible for their family’s downfall. What begins as open hostility slowly fractures under late nights, sharp words, and moments of accidental intimacy, neither can ignore. As tension deepens, hidden truths threaten everything they believe. Adrian and Elara must choose between the comfort of hatred and the risk of trusting each other.

I live alone. At eleven o'clock on a rainy night, an unexpected call came through. The voice on the other end said my car window was left open and urged me to go downstairs. Cautious as a woman should be, I didn't act rashly. Instead, I called the property security office, only to discover that even the security was fake. It hit me suddenly—I was ensnared in a vast conspiracy. Someone was orchestrating all of this. But for what purpose?

“Say you love me,” he growls. “I love you,” I gasp, clutching at him. “Again. Louder.” “I love you, Cole. I love you, I love you.” My husband smirks like he’s claimed a victory. His hand grips my jaw, forcing my mouth open, kissing me so deep I can barely breathe. Then his fingers are exploring, working me open, ruthless and skilled, dragging me up fast. My body arches, desperate, already trembling. “Beg me.” His voice is harsh, guttural. “Tell me what I need to hear. Tell me you’ll never leave me. Tell me you’ll always be mine.” “I’ll never leave you,” I sob. “I’ll always love you. Always yours.” *** Then I found out that I’m nothing more than a baby incubator for him. He needs bone marrow for his son with another woman, Jade. She’s my mentor. She’s the woman who held my newborn baby and said, I’m proud of you, you’re going to be an incredible designer and mother. I swear, somehow, I will make them pay.

During spring break, my family's housekeeper's son, Ethan Shaw, steals my black card and takes the entire class on a luxury trip to Norkin. He books out an entire fireworks show to impress my girlfriend, Claire Sanders. Then, he treats everyone to first-class tickets for the cruise while basking in the spotlight. But when I discover he's using my card and confront him, he teams up with my girlfriend to twist the story. They accuse me of being jealous of him. Cornered on the deck, I'm about to pull out my phone to prove it when Ethan suddenly shoves me over the railing. I'm left hanging by one desperate hand. His voice is ice-cold. "Lucas is just picking a fight because he's after my money. I can't sleep soundly with him around." On Ethan's signal, his lackey crushes my fingers one by one until my grip fails. I fall into the open sea, ending as food for the fish. When I open my eyes, I find myself back on the day Ethan is booking the fireworks show. Watching him revel in the spotlight, I take out my phone and call the bank to cancel the card. This time, I want to see just how he plays the lavish big shot.

Curiosity isn't a bad thing... Particularly for two powerful men locked in a silent battle they refuse to acknowledge. When they allow a human to open a mysterious business between their tattoo shop and gym, they soon realize their new tenant plans to help them explore more than just surface-level issues. They're about to learn that desire isn't something you can control... and being stuck in the middle might just be the best place to start becoming more fluid in their beliefs.

To everyone, Maxim and Maxine are two books that seem the opposite. Maxim is an open book, and Maxine is a closed book. Even so, they have a lot in common. Always misunderstood by everyone, also lonely in the crowd. What Maxim is looking for is in Maxine. And vise versa. Yet the world seems reluctant to be kind to let the two meet each other in one sense, to have them together like Alpha and Luna out there. Will love find its way, as most people say?

His goon opened the door. He threw her on the passenger seat and closed the door. She didn't try to open it because his goons were out of the door. There were glaring at her as they'd brutally murder her right now as she earned him a hard slap from him. This is a story about a girl, who has no enemy in her entire life. Still, someone kidnapped her and made his house, her permanent prison.

After Sarah finds her boyfriend in the arms of another she heads to the beach to clear her thoughts. Once there, she meets Dom, who she thinks will be the perfect distraction from her broken heart. It's only for the weekend? But what if it's not? When Sarah gets home her best friend Kane is waiting for her with open arms. Kane's more than he appears and when Dom shows up, she's going to have to make a choice or will she?

Betrayal could either make someone vulnerable or impenetrable. When a billionaire businessman met an impenetrable, young, fierce and pretty lawyer; he sworn he will never back down until that time that he will find her unguarded. He will do everything until she would finally open up her heart for him. Would he finally succeed and would there be a happy ending between them? Would tragedy and mystery make them closer or would totally break them apart?

I went abroad for three years to build a lab and save my husband's company from collapse. After endless struggles, I finally cracked the technical problems and developed the core technology. When I returned home with that breakthrough, I saw the airport video board plastered with the same impossible headline—my husband was getting married. I felt a hot, furious ache and took a taxi straight to the venue. … A woman who had cared for our household for years blocked me at the gate and sneered. "Who do you think you are, showing up at the Stone family's wedding? Get out of here, or I'll get security to throw you out." For a moment, I stood rooted, but then the bride appeared, walking out of the villa in a wedding gown. It was the woman Adrian Stone had once told me was dead—his first love, Evelyn Sutton. She wore my wedding ring on her finger and looked at me with pure contempt. "You want to make a scene at my wedding?" she said. "If you do, you're really asking for trouble. My husband, Adrian, won't hesitate to take care of you." I folded my arms and let out a cold laugh. "Adrian's getting married? Funny, I don't recall getting an invitation."