Stay Close Harlan Coben Summary Novels & Stories

In which a beautiful young girl's life is forever changed and turned upside down, all because she couldn't stay away.

Story Summary: The Billionaire's Contract Wife Logline: When desperation forces a woman into a marriage contract with a ruthless billionaire, their business arrangement threatens to crumble under the weight of forbidden passion and a dangerous secret from his past. Synopsis: Facing financial ruin and her father's looming medical crisis, Elara Vance makes a devil's bargain with Kaelan Thorne—the formidable CEO whose business dealings inadvertently crushed her family. For twenty million dollars, she will become his devoted wife for one year, a beautiful facade to secure his most crucial business deal. The contract is clear: no emotional attachment, just cold, calculated performance. Moving into his sterile penthouse, Elara navigates a world of opulent deception. Publicly, they are the picture of perfect newlyweds, their manufactured chemistry dazzling the media. Privately, they engage in a tense battle of wills, their sharp exchanges crackling with suppressed heat. Elara begins seeing past Kaelan's icy exterior to the man haunted by the tragic death of his former fiancée, Genevieve—a shadow that looms over their every interaction. The line between pretense and reality shatters during a moment of undeniable passion. When Elara discovers she's pregnant, Kaelan's old wounds reopen. Consumed by past betrayal, he accuses her of trapping him, confirming his deepest fear that everyone is for sale. Months later, a corporate attack linked to the mystery of Genevieve threatens to destroy Kaelan's empire. It is Elara, armed with strength she never knew she possessed, who exposes the conspiracy and saves his company. Faced with losing her forever, a humbled Kaelan must confront his past and vulnerability. He finds her not with a new contract, but with a heartfelt confession, proving that their love was the only deal worth making. Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Billionaire Romance, Broken Hero, Strong Heroine, Fake Relationship, Pregnancy, Hidden Past.

M‍aya B‍la⁠ke doesn’t want love or po‍wer. S⁠he w⁠ants⁠ enough money t‌o keep he‌r sick mother aliv‌e. When she lands a r‌are int‍ernsh‍ip at Holt In‍du‌stries she promises herself one⁠ thing. Stay invisible, but on the top floor, invisibility is impossible.Espe‍cially when the man everyo⁠ne fears‍ starts lo‍oking at her like she⁠’s t⁠he one thing he can’t afford to lose. Ad⁠ri‌an Hol⁠t is cold, rut‌hless‌, untoucha‌ble. His employees say h‌e has no heart. They‌’re wrong. Maya see‌s what’s broken behind⁠ th‍e tailored suits and sharp‌ orders. What she⁠ doesn’‍t know is the trut⁠h Ad‍rian is hi‍din‌g. He’s the reason her fa⁠m‌ily lost everything. The man sign‍ing her checks is the same man who destroyed he⁠r li‍fe‍. Adrian k‌now⁠s the moment Maya discovers the tru‌t‍h,‍ she’ll never look at hi‌m the s‍ame way again. H‍e⁠ can‌ con‌fess and lose h‌er forever, o‌r stay silen‍t and b‍reak her twice. But love doesn’t stay⁠ quiet. And secr⁠ets never‍ stay⁠ buried. When the truth come‌s out, will love survive what betr⁠ayal began?

After the tragic death of her mother and being abandoned by her father with her new born sister. Kaleah finds out she is about to get deported; her friend comes up with a plan to get her married so she can stay in the country. Her first date with her potential date ends up in a disaster, also earning her a stalker. She thinks it is hopeless after meeting her friend’s big brother and sparks fly, enough to earn herself a rich powerful husband. The catch, it is a fraud to get her to stay in the country. But it is not, she just hadn't realized it yet.

Nikki is Chad's secretary and is half a step closer to losing her job. She is defined as clumsy and forgetful. Chad is so close to ridding her of her job. One fateful night, she texts her nude image to her boss, will this cost her job or...

Everyone knew that Damien was cursed not to have a mate by the moon goddess because of his past action, but no one knew of the prophecy that followed. Guardian spirit of the witches breath life into 3 special beings to close the broken seal for the second time and Damien's lost mate happened to be among.

The story is about a girl named Chantelle who is being controlled by her uncle. She meets a man named Delcan, and she is drawn to him, but she is also afraid of getting close to him. She is struggling to find a way to escape her uncle's control and live her own life.

Twisting her hands backward, he took her till the walls. "You did'nt leave till now?" That man questions her as he leaned to her face. "Mmm...... Mmmmm....... Please leave my hand...... Leave it..." "I won't listen to you once today. I gave you once chance." He said coming close to her in a low and bossy tone. Anna smelled the strong smell of wine. It was obvious that he was more drunk than Anna. She could strongly feel his warm breaths across her face. Her start started to beat more faster than before. "But see.... You came back to me.... Now even if you want to leave me, I won't let you leave me." Anna tried hard to leave from his grip but he pulled her towards him. He kept his lips on her lips. By this sudden kiss Anna's eyes widened. She did'nt expect something like this. That man started to kiss her wildly. She started to suffocate by his wild kiss. She tried to free herself from him but was unsuccessful. He stopped for a moment and then took her face in between his hands. Both were standing too close to each other, so close that they could hear each others heartbeat but due to the darkness in the room both were unable to see each other. "You wanted this, right? You wanted me to love you endlessly" "Yes..... Yes.... I.....wanted.... to..... but....." She was trembling as she spoke.

When Sidney travels to the mountains to attend a horror film festival, she is flattered to find that one of her followers has come to meet her. But he might not be the only one who has gone out of his way to get up close and personal with her. When Sidney is attacked on the way back to her hotel late one night, she learns that real-life horror is not a game, and being stalked isn’t flattering—it’s terrifying, and it could get her killed.Believing the incident to be a fluke, Sidney decides to forget the attack and focus on her life again. Only this might not be so easy. Because Sidney—and her loved ones—are in serious danger. This stalker isn’t just your average stalker. He knows her every movement, and he knows each step of her routine. In fact, he’s right behind her…and when he gets close enough, he won’t take no for an answer.©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Meghan's home is on the streets of New York. To stay hidden, she has to learn to trust no one and never to stay in one place for long. But they are closing in on her, and they will not rest until she stopped moving…..for good. Detective Ian Murray, received a call from an unknown source which led him into a case of 15 years ago. but it's a closed case, a man has confessed and convicted. Now, why is the mysterious caller believes the case is not solved? He wants to talk to Meghan but someone else is asking questions about her. They know she carries secrets certain powerful men want to say buried deep.