Social Intelligence

Layla Xander was gravely ill, with little time left. From that day forward, she had a revelation—when confronted with life and death, nothing else mattered. Selfish, leeching family members? She cut them off. A fiancé who proposed one day and cozied up to her 'good sister' the next? Out of her life. With nothing holding her back, she was finally free. Rumors about her slowly began to spread through her social circle. “Miss Xander has landed herself a wealthy benefactor.” “Miss Xander was seen vacationing with a young heartthrob.” “Miss Xander’s fortune has skyrocketed. She’s throwing around millions like it’s nothing.” Later, when the truth came to light, those who had abandoned her were left in tears, begging for forgiveness. Her leeching parents wept, “You’ll always be our sweet daughter. Come back home, won’t you?” Her scumbag ex-fiancé pleaded, “You’re the only one I’ve ever loved. Please, give me another chance.” But it was too late! A man stepped in, blocking everyone from getting near her. His face was cold and menacing as he growled, “Anyone who dares disturb Miss Xander again will leave here with broken legs.” And then, later still, that same man—once so untouchable and feared—knelt on one knee before her. His voice was deep and unwavering. “Whether in life or death, you’ll always be mine.” … William Lucas never claimed to be a good man. As the head of an elite and powerful family, his path had been paved with blood, and his decisiveness struck fear into anyone who dared cross him. No one could have guessed that this untouchable figure, feared by all, had been hiding away a tender place in his heart—for a girl. A secret he had carried for eight long years. Every ounce of gentleness he had was reserved solely for her.

"Dont- DON'T TOUCH ME!" His frantic voice rang out through the store. Why now? Why did his heat have to come NOW?! Rayan Neel is a mistake of nature, a male omega. Omegas make up less than 5% of the world's population, and only about 1% of them are born male. Omegas in general are looked down upon as the lowest social class, and have only recently, as far as political timelines go, been given rights as citizens. The collar he wears both labels him and keeps him safe, but it doesn't make life easier. He doesn't need any help. He's perfectly capable of supporting himself, in spite of what he is. Sure, there's not much room for luxuries, but it's an okay life. No time for romance. Well, maybe just a little...

In the seventh year of our marriage, I caught Nolan Garrison kissing his secretary at a bar. He called me shortly after I walked away. "It was just a friendly kiss! What’s with the attitude?" he snapped through the phone. I could hear his friends in the background teasing him and saying that I would be madly jealous while pleading for him not to leave me tonight as usual. Before hanging up, Nolan warned me that he wouldn’t come home if I didn’t apologize. However, I wasn’t bothered by his threat. I didn’t care if he decided to come home or get a divorce. Three minutes later, I posted an update on my social media: “Prioritize self-love and grant others the freedom they seek.”

Julianna Macey, or Juls for short, is desperate to leave her parents' home. Living at home for her undergrad degree is ruining her social life and making it difficult for her to keep in touch with friends. So when her friend Carlo offers her the chance to move into a student apartment, she jumps at the chance. The only problem is that the available room is shared by his three friends Kyle, Mark, and Kent. As if living with three boys she's never met wasn't bad enough, Kent appears to despise her. When she's around, he makes a mess in the kitchen, never puts his laundry in the dryer, and acts as if she doesn't exist. Despite being good looking, Kent and Juls develop a fierce hatred for one another, and she begins to regret her decision to move in with them. However, because her lease still has a year to run, she is unable to leave. Juls begins to question whether living with boys has any benefits or if she acted prematurely. More importantly, she questions whether or not she and Kent will ever get along as well as why he despises her so much.

I was an orphan being adopted by a simple family. My dad was a driver of a very powerful businessman. My mom was one of their maids. She was in fact their lady butler. This family with gazillion bank accounts had an only heir, drop dead gorgeous young billionaire, Albert Michaels. He was always the talk of the news both in mainstream and social media along with either a popular pop star diva or a hubristic socialite with voluptuous body and kittenish voice. I, Samantha Reynolds, one of their servants had been stealthily trailing him since the day that I stepped in their grand top of a kind living room. His stone cold aloof aura as he stared at me everytime he caught me gawking at him made him even more attractive and charming than he already was. Till one rainy night, a magical or should I say disaster happened. Arriving at home late and intoxicated while I was busy wiping the glass tea table, he was almost dropping himself on the cold marble floor. Guiding him towards his room, his heaviness was weighing up my petite body. Till we both dropped on his king sized bed with me under him. His glassy eyes tingling my long time desire. His warm rims made me want to wrap them with mine. Till time stood still as the rain continued pouring engulfing the atmosphere with its coldness while him covering me with his burning libido. As we both reached the top, he called a name, ''Madeline!'' D*mn!

Alexis was your typical everyday good girl with excellent grades, a single best friend, an annoying elder brother and a family that loved her to no end. When senior year rolled up, Alexis wasn't looking to expand her small social circle of friends or put herself out there but things are meant to change, after all, change is the only constant thing in life. Paired to do a group assignment with the school's three new mysterious gorgeous looking guys at the start of the term, Alexis is tested in more ways than one. Cheesy pick up lines, rude guys, charming smiles, motorcycle rides, coffee dates and long hours together is all it takes to make her question everything she ever thought she knew. But what happens when she falls for one of them? The one with the dark hair and green eyes? What will she do when he finds out about the secret she's been harbouring all her life? She begins to regret her decision and wish she'd met him long before, but life has its own way of playing with one's feelings. Will her secret break their newly found relationship or will it make it grow stronger?

Since childhood, Natasha Diaz and Liam Cameron were destined to be husband and wife. Their grandfathers were best friends despite their differing social statuses. Natasha's grandfather is an ordinary citizen, while Liam's grandfather came from a wealthy and influential family. Because of their friendship, the two grandfathers decided to arrange a marriage between their grandchildren. After marrying Liam, Natasha entered a wealthy family, but that was not what she truly wanted. She had always had a crush on him. However, Liam was not the type to accept an arranged marriage easily. He viewed Natasha as an ambitious woman seeking his status. Ultimately, Liam felt he had no choice but to marry Natasha for the sake of his dying grandfather. Natasha finally got what she had always wanted, and she was very happy, even though Liam's condition was to end their marriage after two years. Will Natasha be able to make Liam love her the way she loves him before their contract marriage comes to an end?

Elena sacrificed everything for her marriage-only to be betrayed by the man who swore to love her. Just because Elena couldn't bear a son as an heir. When Damian, the arrogant billionaire she used to call husband, brings another woman home, Elena doesn't cry or beg. She immediately filed for divorce and disappeared from Damian's life. Five years later, Elena reappeared as the queen of business. With her intelligence, she built her own business empire. Damian regretted it when he found out that the fourth child Elena gave birth to was a boy. So, will Elena give her ex-husband a second chance?

Tori Williams has always had the reputation of an aloof, bored to death melancholic since her father died . On her sixteenth birthday she gets a birthday letter her dad had wrote her before his death, urging her to "live a normal teenage life, make friends, create memories and fall in love", Tori decides to ammend her already bleeding social life and win the heart of the charming and popular Rex Holland but his incredibly and devilishly handsome best friend, Nate McClain - who she absolutely despises, has some plans for her. Would she be able to get Rex to date her despite her former reputation and how possible would that be with Nate McClain always getting in her way?

My boyfriend was considered a prince charming in our social circle, but during my birthday celebration on a yacht, he pushed me into the sea just to impress another girl from our university, making fun of my fear of water. Little did he know, I suffered from aquaphobia. As a result, I ended up in the ICU while he managed to win over the heart of the campus belle. When I finally woke up, he was by my side apologizing, but I had no clue who he was. "Excuse me, do I know you?" I asked, completely baffled. The doctor explained that I had lost part of my memory. However, he kept insisting he was my boyfriend. I couldn't help but argue back, "No way! My boyfriend is Raleigh Landon!" Everyone knew Raleigh Landon was his sworn enemy.