So Close But Yet So Far

Secretary of a Mafia (Vasileios #1) Agasher Dame Reyes only wanted a decent job to stand on her own feet. But her interview as Sandro Salvador’s secretary was far from ordinary, it was a test of pride, strength, and determination. Insulted yet unshaken, she proved herself in front of an intimidating recruiter and unexpectedly landed the position no one dared to take. Sandro Salvador is a man known for his ruthless discipline and merciless standards. To work under him means sleepless nights, unending pressure, and surviving a world where power rules over everything. With a salary too tempting to refuse, Agasher steps into a life that is far more complicated than she ever imagined. But being Sandro’s secretary is not just about schedules and documents. It’s about standing her ground, facing hidden dangers, and keeping her identity intact in a world full of secrets. What began as a simple job soon pulls her into a deeper battle between survival and ambition. Caught between her dignity and her growing entanglement with Sandro, Agasher must decide; will this opportunity lead her to the independence she longs for, or will it trap her in a world that could break her completely?

Aidan, a billionaire and CEO of Empire is known for the title 'Top 5 Hottest Bachelor' for two reasons. His extremely good-looks and for not wanting to get married, at least until he reaches forty but his mother keeps on setting him with unwanted dates, leaving him frustrated. Kenna, Aidan's best friend, is a doctor who has never found the right time for love. She has always been busy with work to an extent that she forgets about her own personal life. Both of them has always been close ever since they were kids, after a single incident that happened, instantly making them inseparable. As they grew older, things began to change yet best friends are forever . . . no matter the circumstances. What happens when Aidan sets up a contract and wants Kenna to be a part of it?

Parting his lips, Jordan placed the burning cigarette on his mouth and stood up from his seat before walking towards his shelves containing all his important documents related business, but soon there a light tug on his arm stopped his actions. It was her, he knew it cause no one other than her had the audacity to enter and exit his cabin without his permission. His wife, Hattiea. Or maybe the woman pretending to be his wife? Jordan's dark eyes landed on the culprit immediately with darkness but as soon as he found her behind him close to him... He got lost for a moment or so... The proximity rose slight tension between them. Raising her fingers up, Hattiea pulled the burning cigarette out from his mouth which was still resting on his lips. Her delicate fingers brushed his chin and lips softly. Following by the smoke, he released his minty breath in slight awe, her breath taking face was so close to his face. They both never came so close to one another actually. Even though it had been quite of time getting married with one another, they minded their boundaries well. As it was not any marriage of love for them but a marriage full of compromises. Hattiea's eyes soon travelled up from his lips back to his eyes, which were still staring at her ditching their shame. "It's dangerous for your health." Hattiea exclaimed hinting his smoking habit, while looking right into his eyes. Her hazel eyes were blank yet they held millions of emotions. "So are you!" Jordan's smoky breath caressed her face. The deepness of his voice solely made Hattiea's heart race million times faster. It was true... she was dangerous for him. Way too dangerous to handle.

He is close yet so far! He was right, he is not mine. How can he be when he is going to marry her in a few minutes ? Why did it felt like we were meant to be ? Why wasn't I able to stop myself from loving him ? Why is it paining so much ?! My heart is tearing apart and he is not even fazed by my tears. What an irony ?! The man who wiped my worries, my tears away is the reason for my heartache now. Why can't he love me back ? Why ? “It’s okay. He is not meant to be yours. What's yours will find you. My brother doesn't deserve you. Don't waste your precious tears on him. Allah knows everything. . Trust him.” his sister and my cousin whispers passing a sad smile. It's time for his marriage. Asmara had given her consent, now it's his turn to accept her, his wife. “Mir Mustafa Ahwaan son of Aqib Ahwaan, do you accept Asmara Ahmed daughter of Yousuf Ahmed as your wife ?” he looked up, his dark brown orbs clashed with mine. There was some uncertainty and sadness looming inside them, just like mine. I pleaded him to say no, but looked like he won’t falter from his decision. Looking into my eyes he replied, ‘I do’, three times, taking her as his wife. He accepted her as his, but his gaze is not faltering from my face. He took his decision and now it's my turn. I will go from here and free myself from pain. I smiled at him as a treacherous tear leaked out of my eye but I quickly wiped it and stood up to leave. It's not over for Maria Ahwaan. It's just the beginning of new chapter in my life!

Camilla walks into my study, and the air shifts. She's a distraction I can't afford, but fuck if I can resist her. Her fingers trace the edge of my desk, her eyes locked onto mine. "What are you doing, Camilla?" I growl, my control already fraying. She's a walking temptation, and she knows it. She smirks, her voice a sultry whisper, already undoing me. "Pushing your buttons, Zeke. Seeing how far I can go before you snap." My control falters. I spin her around, pressing her against the desk. My hands roam over her body, and I can feel her submitting. "You want this?" I ask, my voice a low growl. "You want to see the beast you're unleashing?" *** Camilla Dawson never expected to see the sinfully hot stranger she once hooked up with in a public washroom ever again. But fate—or rather, a father she never knew existed—has other plans. Now, she's bound and delivered as payment for a debt, straight into the hands of none other than Zeke Russell—the ruthless kingpin who always gets what he wants. Zeke built his empire on power and control, and he never takes no for an answer. Business or pleasure, the rules are his. It’s been years, but he’s never forgotten the woman who left him wanting more. Now, with Camilla thrust into his world as a replacement for his promised bride, everything spirals into chaos. She was never supposed to matter. Yet somehow, she’s slipping past his defenses, unearthing secrets he’s buried deep—and igniting a dangerous obsession. And when enemies close in, there’s nothing he won’t do to keep her. After all, what’s one more crime in the name of love?

Silvia was taken aback when her boss, Ralph, confessed, “I am in love with you, Silvia. I want us to start our love story together.” She was shocked, especially since Ralph had been a cruel supervisor, and he was engaged to her friend, Rebecca. Silvia, born and raised in New York City, formed a close friendship with Rebecca during high school. After her father's death, she sought a job to help her mother and found a position as a cleaner at The Royal Association, where she met Ralph. Living in Ralph's mansion as a maid was challenging, but it ultimately became the backdrop for their unexpected love story. Ralph's harsh upbringing with a violent father made him brilliant yet emotionally troubled, and his realization of love for Silvia changed everything.

A never-ending lie starts with a desire for something. How far can you go for the person you treasure the most? How deep can you dig to make everything go according to your plan? Solana Stone was deprived of love and yet her heart never seeks for revenge. She was forced to marry the illegitimate son of the Evans family, replacing her adoptive sister who stole her boyfriend. Her life with her husband was simple. She learned to live a comfortable life in a small house with him and later found herself falling in love with her husband. It was like magic, she was enchanted. But how can she be happy with the life she has when she’s been living in a lie?

When Riley Monroe's mother vanishes overseas, she’s left alone in a penthouse with her powerful stepfather, Ethan Carter, and his arrogant son, Nathan. The two men have always been untouchable—wealthy, ruthless, and far out of her reach. But as the household balance shifts, so does the tension between them. Ethan is strict, dominant, and impossible to defy. Nathan is reckless, teasing, and utterly irresistible. Both men have dark desires lurking beneath their polished exteriors, and Riley is dangerously close to uncovering them. One night at an underground club changes everything. When Ethan bails Riley from a bad situation, his control over her becomes absolute. Now, the rules have changed. Now, she belongs to him. And Nathan also wants her. She should be afraid. She should resist. But when two powerful men want to claim her… how can she possibly say no?

"I welcome the bride and groom onto the stage!" A pastor said on the mic when the guest and the family members started clapping their hands while welcoming our beautiful couples. Julian grabbed Merry's wrist when she shared a look with him with a smile on his lips. Both of the couples are the center of attention in the hallway—they start walking on the stage while waving their hands at guests. Merry looked at her family members. The family members are smiling at her, but there is a mask behind those smiling faces. They are the monsters in the human-form, she knew very well. "Smile as you can because now the bad time has started for all of you—you people will cry day and night. "I am going to take everything from you guys!" Merry YELLED IN MIND while passing a fake smile to her members. Merry's parents have been separated by her own family. She has been far from her father for decades and missed the love. Merry came to take revenge on her family. "Now, the bride and groom can kiss each other!" The pastor said this after completing the rituals. Merry turned to Julian while biting her lips to kiss him. She was so shy, but Julian stepped close and didn't hesitate to kiss her on the lips. Her eyes widened as soon as his lips touched hers—his lips were so warm, and her body shivered to the spine, making her eyes close in response. This story is not just about revenge but also about a beautiful love story.

In the shadowed swamps of the South, where ancient cypress roots drink deep from the earth, something older and far more dangerous stirs. Rio never asked to be reborn into darkness, but as a fledgling vampire trained by the ruthless and alluring Odessa, he’s learned quickly that survival demands both strength and sacrifice. Haunted by the family he left behind, Rio carries the weight of his choices—yet he can’t ignore the fragile bond forming with Junie Elowen, a newly turned vampire whose bright green eyes hide grief, fear, and an untapped power that could change everything. Odessa’s control slips as her complicated attachment to Rio deepens, forcing him to question where loyalty ends and obsession begins. But greater threats rise when Cassian—an ancient vampire and Junie’s sire—emerges from the shadows, determined to claim what he believes is his. Power struggles ignite, alliances fracture, and the swamp itself seems to whisper warnings of blood yet to be spilled. A story of forbidden bonds, found family, and the price of power, Blood Beneath the Cypress is a dark, atmospheric tale where love and loyalty are as dangerous as the monsters lurking in the night.