Reluctantly Yours Novels & Stories

“We can reschedule, Bri. Just say the word.” The seconds seem longer than they are as Brianna contemplates her reply. Moments later, she shakes her head. “No.” Her words are still slurred like she’s learning how to pronounce them but we are used to it. Brianna twirls a strand of hair around her index finger and releases a heavy sigh. “I think I’m ready.” I think she’s lying. “Okay.”

I was busy thinking of ways to escape from this shit but failed miserably. “So.. Do you accept the deal, Ms. Hayes?” Dad asked. “I- I don’t know, Mr. Russell.” She said. “If you want you can take some time to think. Two days, maybe?” Dad offered. I heard a soft sigh. “I will take my leave, then.” She stood up and hung a bag around her shoulder. “I have ways to contact you, Ms. Hayes. If you think you can run away without giving me a ‘positive’ answer, you are wrong.” Dad threatened her. Very politely, I must add.

MAREN I am not angry anymore, I will just like for us to respect each other Mr Patton. I hope we maintain a good relationship before our contract ends. Thanks for the shopping, I really do appreciate it. I had messed up badly.

Not long after, he replied: [Since it went so smoothly, let’s celebrate. I’ll take you to dinner.] She instinctively wanted to refuse. However, remembering that he had given her a referral for her second interview, she felt obliged to accept. She deleted the initial response: [That’d be too much trouble for you] and replaced it with [I should treat you instead.] Then sent it without a second thought. [Then I’ll gladly accept. Where are you? I’ll come pick you up. Send me your address. Take a moment to think about what you’d like to eat tonight.]

What happens when those scary stories start to become real? As an added note, The Reluctant Alpha, including these bonus chapters, is now available in paperback.

After I rejected her dinner invitation. Guilt crashes into me hard. “This is too much,” I say quietly. I start packing everything back. “I can’t accept this,” I say quietly. “I'm returning this back.”

“We leave when the meeting ends. That is all.” I wanted to argue further. The look he gave me,steady, patient, completely unyielding,made it clear the decision had already been made long before he knocked on my door. Reluctance still sat heavy in my chest, tangled with nerves and a flicker of something sharper and more complicated I refused to name, but arguing felt suddenly exhausting. I nodded once, short and resigned. “Fine.”

╭───────────────╮ Unknown: I’ll see you at closing. Don’t make me come find you. ╰───────────────╯

"They were politely clear. There's a difference. Politely clear means the door is not locked. It's just closed. Rebook it." He makes the note. The second decline comes three weeks later. Same signatory. Different wording. Same outcome. Bellamy Inc is not currently seeking external collaboration arrangements. We appreciate your persistence and wish you well. We appreciate your persistence. I look at that sentence for a long time. Persistence. Not interest. Not inquiry. Persistence, which is a word that acknowledges I have tried more than once and has decided to acknowledge it with something that is not quite a smile but is in the same neighbourhood.

" The words sent a chill through Abigail. Her fingers clenched around the paper, her knuckles white. Her pulse pounded in her ears. What happens next? Her voice barely carried over the diner's low bustle. Moore met her gaze, unreadable. These people don't send reminders, they collect. I don't have this kind of money!! She almost yelled at Moore . Then you need to find a way. A sharp knock on the counter made her flinch. Abby? We have an order. Theodore’s voice cut through the tension. She rose to her feet, her hand shaking, I have to work. Moore didn't move. Miss Carter? I can't do this right now. She pushed the paper at him. I don't have a penny for anything. For the first time his expressi