Random Thoughts

On my birthday, the dining table was loaded with all my favorites. My mom had been cooking and baking the entire afternoon, insisting everything be perfect for when Mike got home from work so we could celebrate together. But then, he called and said his first love had been drugged at a bar, and he had to go help her. I stopped him and begged him not to go. Mike snapped at me. "Jesus, Em, don’t pull this jealous wife crap. She’s alone, defenseless, and unconscious—I can't let some random dude take advantage of her!" My mother heard those words and was so enraged that she had a heart attack. She died on the spot. Just like that, my mom died on my birthday. I called Mike, asking him to attend my mom's funeral. But before he could reply, I saw Cathy Miller's latest Instagram post, captioned: [Mikey… after all these years, it was always you.] Mike had liked it. My thumb moved before my brain caught up, typing out the only words that mattered: [A homewrecker and a lying bastard. Hope you rot together.]

Athena Foster never ever thought that her life would go off track by just one mistake. As a respected fertility specialist, she prided herself with always been very accurate with all her patients, that is until a mix-up at the clinic left her pregnant with a stranger's child. Xander Knight a ruthless billionaire isn't the kind of man to accept accidents, so when he learns his sperm was wrongfully implanted into a random woman, he is more than just angry... He is furious, demanding answers, the baby and worse... 'her'. But Athena isn’t the weak, submissive, batting eyelash kind of women he’s used to throwing orders to. She refuses to be bullied by him but Xander turns out to be more stubborn than the horrible germs in the incubator trash bin. As Athena fights over with the 'no good' billionaire, she finds out that her pregnancy is more than a mistake. With strange things happening around her; pregnancy hormones, constant horny feelings, weird cravings and the strange attraction that keeps pulling her to the self centered man that keeps her within his eye sight ... She wonders how on earth she would escape this mess.

One day, in the school's group chat, I accidentally revealed that I was the daughter of Sanfiric Inc.'s chairman. Out of nowhere, Sally jumped in with a scathing remark: [Do you have no shame? Clinging to some random man and calling him ‘Dad' just because you're desperate to be an heiress. Have you lost your mind?] Her accusation left me completely baffled. I didn't even bother responding, but she wasn't about to let it go. She bombarded the chat with photos and videos, all claiming to prove that she was the real heiress. In a video she shared, she was clinging to my father's arm, acting sweet and coy. I stared at the screen in shock, my mind reeling. Before I could even process what I was seeing, the school advisor kicked me out of the group chat entirely. "How could we have such a vain and shameless student? You're a disgrace to the school!" Furious, I whipped out my phone and called my dad. The moment he picked up, I exploded, "Roger Burberry, do you have another daughter I don't know about?!"

I brought my son, who was around a year old, to visit my parents’ graves, only to run into my childhood friend’s mother. She asked me whether I had returned because I was no longer angry. “Yelena, you’re finally back! You must’ve returned to marry Niel. “I’ll make sure your wedding goes smoothly this time. I won’t allow any random person to ruin it!” Niel Stalner was my childhood friend and ex-fiance. During my engagement party, Cloud Stalner, his foster sister, had barged in while wearing the same gown as I did. She also said that she would kill herself if Niel refused to leave with her. The guests burst into a ruckus, and in the end, I was left alone in the venue. Everyone criticized me, and Niel’s family abandoned me. Eventually, I left the country like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs. I smiled at Neil’s mother, Iris, and pushed the baby stroller forward. “Iris, are you seriously telling me that Niel hasn’t married Cloud yet? Anyway, Michael, say hello.”

On her 18th birthday Athena Diamante Castellanos met and had a unforgettable night with a mysterious stranger left her longing for more. Five years later, the memory of their encounter still haunts her dreams and fuels her fantasies, even though she never learned his last name. Cassian Lemaire Covington, a celebrated artist, has spent those same years haunted by the elusive woman who became his muse. She has inspired his work and consumed his thoughts, making her a shadow in every stroke of his brush. When fate brings them together again, their reunion is as intense and unexpected as their first meeting—but this time, the stakes are higher. Athena is on a date with Cassian’s brother, and their families are locked in a bitter feud. As passion reignites between Athena and Cassian, they must navigate a web of rivalry and deception that threatens to tear them apart. Will their forbidden connection survive the obstacles between them, or will family loyalties and past grievances eclipse their chance at true love?

Shaina Dela Cruz only wanted a decent job to help her struggling family in Cebu. Becoming the secretary of Lukas Vergara—the arrogant, perfectionist CEO—was never part of her plans. Their first encounter was a disaster, and her first day at work proved he was every bit the impossible boss she imagined. But fate has a cruel sense of humor. Sharing the same office with him meant sharing the same air, the same silence, and—much to her dismay—the same intoxicating scent that made her pulse race against her will. Lukas was cold, demanding, and annoyingly unreadable… until one slip of her fingers on the keyboard revealed her thoughts in the most embarrassing way. For the first time, she saw him smile. Now, stuck between her pride and her growing attraction, Shaina must decide: is babysitting the boss worth the chaos in her heart? Or will this impossible man become the one mistake she’ll never regret?

“What’s wrong, doctor?” Elena’s worry etched onto her face and various thoughts roamed her mind while her chest tightened and became heavier. “Do you believe in God and miracles?” The doctor’s smile softened his words as he looked at Elena. Elena narrowed her eyes, shaking her head dumbfoundedly. “No, I don’t believe in anything like that.” The loss of her parents had shattered her faith long ago. “Then maybe you should, because a miracle just happened,” the doctor’s grin widened. “What do you mean?” Elena’s confusion mingled with the lump forming in her throat, tears pooling in her eyes. Her chest felt both relieved and heavy with emotion and the bright and shallow ambiance of the lights added to her tension. “You’re not dying anymore,” the doctor announced, his excitement changing the aura in the room.

This is a two in one Christmas holiday story. PLOT ONE: HIRED FOR CHRISTMAS Blair is a reporter who had been dating her childhood sweetheart, she is asked to come home for Christmas but her boyfriend Zade suddenly breaks up with. To pay her boyfriend back and make sure no one in her family feels pity for her, she decided to hire a boyfriend for Christmas. Hiring a boyfriend for Christmas isn't a problem but what happens when Blair, her hired boyfriend and her ex- boyfriend are to stay under one roof for Christmas? How is she going to survive Christmas with her ex boyfriend she still loves and her hired boyfriend under one roof!!? Who was this stranger and why did he agree to be a random girl's boyfriend for Christmas?! PLOT TWO: OH! WHAT A CHRISTMAS Avery, a medical doctor who loses her license due to a misunderstanding, returns to her hometown for Christmas to clear her head and hide from everyone but returns with her rich boyfriend Jared. On returning, she meets her ex boyfriend and childhood friend Tyse of over ten years. I don't think she would be clearing her head as the three of them stay under the same roof. What's the worst that could happen with the three of them under the same roof? Could feelings be rekindled or nahh?

PSA: This book has high smut intensity, intoxicating chemistry and compelling family and sibling rivalry. Aanoni Adukolapo was raised to lead. He is disciplined, charismatic, egoistic, and heir to a fortune. At twenty-eight, he has carved his name into a perfume empire, a revolt against his father’s tight reins. But power has never unsettled him the way Ere does. Ereadurami is thirty-five: elegant and dangerously alluring. The kind of woman who should be sacred, a taboo, and off-limits in Yoruba culture. Her boutique displays her clothing artistry, work of a master. She is sweet, refined, but behind that subtle demeanor lies a hungry succubus. What begins as a random suggestion inside her boutique soon spirals into a hunger neither of them can resist. Every glance, every stare, every breath is calculated, meant not to seem weak. She is older, forbidden, and everything his father would use to destroy him. But the closer Aanoni gets to Ere, the harder it becomes to care about consequences. Desire is intoxicating, hypnotic and surrendering to her might be the most reckless, irresistible rebellion of all. Ere’s Scent is a sensual and erotic tale of age-gap temptation, power, and passion where legacy clashes with lust, where rebellion clashes with passion , and one forbidden woman could bring an empire to its knees.

"It's just for a few hours. Please, help me out." Lilian said. Her voice pleading, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears but she didn't break down in front of a random stranger. "Why would I?" Shane said coldly. Helping a stranger wasn't one of his virtues. "I will pay the price." Lilian said desperately. "Please, do me the favour." Shane stared at the girl standing in front of him. She really didn't seem to know him otherwise she wouldn't have mentioned about paying him. And looking at her, what possibly could she pay him! As if reading his mind, Lilian spoke up, "I will do whatever you ask me to do after this." Shane gave her an impassive expression before he asked, "Do I have your words on this?" "It's a deal." Lilian said not thinking much about what she was binding herself to. She never had a clear sky and was already at the dead end anyway. So, what worse possibly be awaiting her! Little did she know how Shane would be taking her up on that offer!