Peak Performance

Crystal Santiago was a woman of dual identities. By day, she was a waitress, known for her kind heart and sweet smile. By night, she became Jae, a stripper renowned for her looks and skill. Wherever she went, men would flock to her, completely under her spell. Her long, black hair cascaded over her bare shoulders, framing her seductive red lips and piercing blue eyes. She had the allure of a siren, and it was all too easy for her to trap men in her gaze. But beneath the surface, she was a sweet, down-to-earth girl. Crystal's life was going smoothly until the day she met him. He was powerful, ruthless, and dangerous. He ruled the city with an iron fist, and no one dared to cross them. He approached Crystal one night after her performance, his eyes filled with greed and lust. "You're mine now," he said, his voices dripping with malice. "You belong to me”.

I had been married to James Tennant for seven years. In that time, he had already kept twenty-nine mistresses, like pretty little canaries in gilded cages. Now, I saw the thirtieth one in our bedroom, young and draped in nothing but a bath towel, lounging across our bed. I turned to him and asked coldly, “Can’t get enough out there, huh? Did you really have to bring her home?” The girl deliberately tugged her towel lower, her pale skin showing as she sneered, “Mr. Tennant says you’re like a dead corpse in bed! He wanted me to teach you how to please a man.” That night, I was forced to watch their little performance right in front of me. The next morning, James was furious at my indifference, resenting me for not reacting. However, he seemed to forget that our marriage was nothing but a contract, and in just one week, that contract would expire.

During Black Friday, the intelligent system I develop helps the company run highly targeted ads and brings in 30 million dollars in revenue. But when I apply for the project bonus, the director rejects it. "The system is just an auxiliary tool. The performance belongs to the sales department." I hold back my frustration and pull up the system logs. "88% of the orders come from the system's targeted pushes. According to company policy, I should receive a 0.5% commission." The director glances at me, twirling his pen. "If the sales commission doesn't go to the sales department, should it go to you? And your lousy system exceeds the API limit and racks up extra fees. You still owe us a hundred thousand dollars. We'll deduct that from your salary." Three days before Christmas sales are set to begin, the system completely shuts down because of API restrictions. Late at night, the director calls me. I stare at my computer screen. "Since the system is just an auxiliary tool, why don't you start with manual targeting?"

"Kylie, this year's annual bonus is evaluated based on two factors: performance and peer reviews. "Since your team never participates in company social events, your coworkers all gave you poor ratings. That's why this is your year-end bonus." Around me, the male employees were receiving bonuses in the tens of thousands. And yet, the women I led—developers who had worked for over ten years and built every core system the company relied on—each received nothing more than a coffee gift card and a mug engraved with the company logo. I laughed out loud. Then I turned and walked into my office and submitted resignation requests for the entire technical team. The manager, Preston Alec, sneered. "Good riddance. AI can replace women like you who only know how to have children." A few days later, the very people who had mocked me were standing in front of me, begging me to come back. I smiled in return. "AI conquers everything, doesn't it?"

Deception at its peak: a love full of impurities that stem from coincidence and circumstance. Beautiful, young, and naive, Louisa falls for and warm-hearted billionaire Kingsley Wills, ignoring the precarious circumstance that forced her to approach him on the pretext of being Martha, Kingsley’s childhood sweetheart whom he can only recognize with a unique hand. Their whirlwind romance ends in a tragedy but Louisa is already pregnant. Forced to keep the pregnancy a secret, Louisa raises Liam alone, hiding the truth from Kingsley. Five years later, their paths cross again and Louisa must confront the lies and deception that binds them. Will Kingsley believe Louisa? Will their love triumph? Or will the truth keep them apart forever? Worse still, Martha, who is thought to be dead reappears and wants to have her love back. Kingsley is left between the devil and the anvil. Martha Or Louisa?

The day my father jumps to his death, I'm taken in by Scout Saccone, an influential scion. He treats me like a princess for eight years, turning me into the target of everyone's envy. However, everything changes when he walks right into a trap and has a wild night with me after being drugged. I can't stop myself from confessing my deep-seated love for him when at the peak of my flame. To my devastation, he thinks I drugged him to have my way with him. He berates me for being shameless and hedonistic. The following day, he announced his impending marriage to his childhood sweetheart. Everyone thinks I'll kick up a fuss as I've always done, but I merely take a pill to end my pregnancy. Then, I leave without a word on his wedding day.

JUST IN: Solange Raviea Cervana, Celestial Modeling Company's impeccable and certified praiseworthy model hitting sensation, has confirmed her engagement with Vernon Thobias Alejo, the viral artist of the year and the upstanding CEO of a well-known winery enterprise. The renowned prodigy and soul of elegancy, Solange Raviea Cervana caught up in a tangled situation ever since the news about her engagement, labeled as an unforeseen phenomenon, was unleashed and spread all over the media—attaining the peak of huge controversy. As her father made her engage herself in an industry that would require her to be the spotlight of greatness, she had no chance to have room for disappointments and failures, but what could be the sense of all the vengeance and hatred that has been molded into one if she happened to break the rule and made herself fall into Vernon’s trap? Will she ever call the affair an undesirable one or the other way around?

This is the age of exotics and technology! Due to the discovery of the miracle metal resource- exotics, humanity was plunged into an era of war. Kalen Drake was born into this cruel era where the ones with the biggest fist speak. As a knight who lost both his parents to the tentacles of war and its cruelty, he sought to stop all the carnage. To do this, he must step up to the daunting task of overthrowing the rule of the big 5 organizations. In a world dominated by high-grade warriors, technology that can only be dreamed of in the 21st century, and dangerous mutated exobeasts, Kalen gradually fought his way to the peak of power as a divine warrior. Referred to as the chosen one, the Divine Commanders of humanity led by the legendary Hercules looked up to him as the one to lead them in battle. Join me as we witness Kalen's meteoric rise to power and how he'll conspire against and overthrow the rule of the big 5 to stabilize the world again.

Bring something found. Find something lost. The paradise island of Foxgrove hides a secret. It is said that a fox deity lives in the island's tallest mountain, Mt. Kitsune. At the foot of the mountain is an inn where, according to legends, one can find what they have lost if they trade something they have found, as long as the fox is pleased. Vivi is the granddaughter of the owner of the Chocolate Kiss Inn. She returns to the island with her little sister in order to help her grandmother manage their family business, when her peaceful life is suddenly disturbed by the arrival of a VIP guest. Leo, the VIP of Cottage 2, is a popular idol at the peak of his career. He visits the island to spend his vacation there and ends up getting close to Vivi. In truth, he is there in search of something. Will they ever find what they are looking for? Or will they find something equally worthwhile?

Sylvester Norman, the cold unfeeling heir of Norman Holdings proposes a contract marriage to save a business partner, due to family pressures for him to get married before receiving his inheritance. Monica falls prey in the bid to save her brother's business.However, when Monica returns after separating from Sylvester for five years, she meets a totally different person. Sneak peak: Sylvester ambled close to her. His face was a few inches from hers. Monica's heart panged in her chest. His lips were close to hers, she felt she was finally going to have the kiss she craved. She closed her eyes at the feel of his hot breath on her neck. Whichever way, when Sly spoke, she felt her breath cease. "Then sign the divorce papers."