Paternoster Elevator

Sofia Russo dashed into the elevator, running late for work. But as soon as the doors closed, she found herself face-to-face with the notorious mafia don, Luca Greco. Her heart raced as he pulled her closer, his smoldering gaze sending shivers down her spine. Suddenly, he whispered in her ear, "Two minutes before the elevator stops. Enough time for a quickie." Sofia was taken aback, disgusted by his brazen proposition. She tried to push him away, but he was too powerful. “Disgusting” she blurted. "Sofia Russo," the words rolled off the tongue of the infamous mafia don, Luca Greco, as he pulled her closer, his smoldering gaze locked onto hers. "Ex-husband Tony Moretti. Has a seven-year-old daughter, Isabella." Sofia's heart raced as she realized this man knew more about her than she'd ever imagined. "Give me a chance, sweetheart," Luca demanded, his voice silky smooth. "Let me take care of you and your princess." Sofia was lost in the intensity of his gaze, but she knew better than to fall for a man like him. She'd been burned before and had no intention of repeating the same mistake.

THE NOVEL'S SYNOPSIS: Winnie's life goes up in flames when her dream of owning a bakery turns into a complete nightmare. She has just escaped being taken to jail and now has a steep debt on her shoulders. Her life is officially a mess. Until she gets stuck in an elevator with Ares Masters, an unfeeling billionaire who offers her a million dollars to be his wife. Out of options and desperate, Winnie agrees to the scheme, after all, what could go wrong? She never plans to fall for the cold man and she knows only heartbreak waits for her at the end of the road.

Kyla Adams is a workaholic. I mean, who wouldn't be when you're working your dream job? She is one of the many writers for a startup business in North Carolina called "Clicked," where the focus is writing about hot gossip, new trends, and out of the ordinary experiences. Think of this social media app as an online magazine, where the workers are gossip hungry millennials and Gen Z'ers all trying to top one another. And the best part- Dakota Kramer; the hot young CEO at the top floor of the office building. Kyla is the job. She thrives on gossip and is a phenomenal writer, but lately her articles have been dryer than her dating life. After Dakota threatens to fire her if she doesn't step out of her comfort zone, Kyla and her friends drunkenly email Dakota an exciting new article proposal titled "EleDATE." What does the hell does this mean? Kyla must ride the elevator every morning, starting from floor 1 up to floor 50-the top floor- with a hand picked single guy from the office. The catch? She's blindfolded. She must rely on her instincts about the "bachelors" and the impressions they make during their limited time riding together- and they must remain anonymous. With over 100 employees in the building, 50 floors, and 20 single men willing to participate, this will sure make for an intriguing article and a literal make or break career moment. And let's face it... there's just something about elevators.

Isang kasambahay na walang pake sa pag-ibig. Isang bilyonaryong sanay sa kontrol. At isang gabing ‘di nila inaasahan... na hahantong sa kasalan?! Si Roxane Hermenez ay simpleng babae: trabaho, uwi, tulog, ulit. Ang pangarap niya? Makaipon, makaalis sa pagiging katulong, at mabigyan ng maayos na buhay ang pamilya. Walang oras sa landi-landi lalo na’t ang amo niya ay si Dark Nathaniel Villamonte — mayaman, suplado, at ubod ng arte. Pero isang gabi, dahil sa kakaibang pagkakataon, isang basong alak, at isang sira ang elevator… may nangyari. At noong malaman ni Dark Nathaniel na may “posibleng bunga” ang gabing iyon, hindi siya nagtago— Siya pa ang nagpumilit magpakasal! “Hindi puwedeng wala akong responsibilidad. Puwede na ang kasal sa Huwes!” Ngayon, si Roxane ang natataranta. Sino ba’ng babae ang pinipikot ng sariling amo?! Pero teka… kung responsibilidad lang ang dahilan, bakit parang nagiging possessive, sweet, at seloso si Dark? May pag-ibig na ba talagang nabubuo? O baka naman… trip lang talaga siya ng bilyonaryo? Saan hahantong ang damdamin ni Roxane sa kanyang gwapong apo kung patuloy siyang susuyin nito kahit alam niyang may mga kontra barata sa ginagawang iyon ni Dark Nathaniel?!!!!

Nakulong sa elevator sa loob ng kalahating oras ang kababata ng asawa ko. Sa galit niya, ipinasok niya ako sa loob ng isang maleta at ikinulong ako sa loob. “Doble ang pagbabayaran mo sa lahat ng pagdurusang pinagdaanan ni Grace.” Napilitang mamaluktot ang katawan ko. Nahirapan akong huminga. Umiyak ako habang humihingi ng tawad, pero ang napala ko lang ay ang malamig na tugon ng asawa ko. “Pagdaraanan mo ang buong parusang ‘to. Kapag natutunan mo na ang leksyon mo, magtatanda ka na.” Pagkatapos ay kinandado niya ang maleta sa aparador. Sumigaw ako sa desperasyon at nagpumiglas para makawala. Tumagos ang dugo ko sa maleta at bumaha ang sahig. Makalipas ang limang araw, naawa siya sa akin at nagpasyang wakasan ang parusa. “Hayaan mong maging babala sa’yo ang parusang ‘to. Sa pagkakataong ito, pakakawalan na kita.” Hindi niya alam na inaagnas na ang katawan ko sa loob ng maleta.

Isang Ambisyosang Janitress ang patay na patay sa kanyang cold hearted na boss. Buong akala niya talaga ay hanggang imaginary boyfriend nalang niya ito ngunit, nag iba ang tadhana, simula ng mailigtas niya ang ginang sa elevator sa bingit ng kamatayan, to surprise ay ang ina pala ng kanyang crush na boss. Tinanggap niya ang offer na maging private nurse sa ina nito, at dito nagsimula ang pagbabago ng kanyang simple na buhay. Mapa-ibig niya kaya ang isang Thiago Jaxx na ubod ng sungit? Oh magiging fantasya na lamang? At babalik sa pagiging Janitress kapag natapos na ang kanyang contrata.