Strictly Business Carrie Elks

Lara Austen is the CEO of SignaBook, and the only daughter of James and Tola Austen. Her parents' only concern is for her to get married but that is the least of Lara’s concern. At the age of 24 she is one of the youngest leading business women in Yula and she has her eyes set on being one of the top among businessmen in Yula. Clark Rique the CEO of Dames and the best friend of Lai Austen, Lara’s brother. He is the next in line to succeed the number one company in all of Yula, Dames. A mobile phone company that not only sells phones but also produces apps. Clark and Lara have a bittersweet relationship, mostly filled with dislike for one another as they can’t bear each other's behaviour though they are linked through their relationship with Lai. Due to a family betrayal Clark is forced to get married in the span of less than two months, causing him to propose a marriage of convenience to Lara. Will Lara be able to bear Clark cold and domineering behaviour? Will Clark be able to survive Lara’s stubborn and sassy behaviour? Would they be able to put their differences aside and make this marriage work? Would this marriage evolve from a marriage of convenience into a love marriage? Theme: Arranged marriage, Romance, Business, Love

Amber is a simple, kind, and brave girl. She’s the eldest among three siblings. Despite having a complete family, they lack one thing that is essential for survival—money. Her father works as a security guard in a well-known construction firm while her mother is an online seller of thrifty clothes. At a young age, she saw how her parents worked hard to provide the needs of their family. That is why she promised herself that she will do everything to help her parents once she graduated—but things won’t be that easy for her. Amber is a third-year college student in a well-known university, but unlike most of the students, she got in because of her scholarship. She was never the type of student to ace her academics, but her marks are enough to lessen her school fees by 50%. In order to pay for the remaining half, she applied as a student assistant in their university. William James Walton, he's one of the most sought after business man in his generation. He's young, good-looking and smart. Many of his business opponents envy the his charm and strategies. Will these two people from two different world be able to find happiness in each others arms? Or will their differences hinder the chance of a happy ending?

At her friend's wedding, Amelia meets Maximiliano Miller, a mysterious man who tries to strike up a conversation with her. What Amelia least expected, was that days later, that man began to pursue and harass her. From appearances at her work, to having a chase with her in the middle of the street. It all came to an end when she mustered enough courage to confront him and ask him what he wanted from her. Amelia expected any answer, except Maximiliano proposing to be his fake wife. "It will be a short business of a few months, you will have a good remuneration; you only have to pretend to be my wife, you only have to pretend that we are a happy couple... then you will leave with your money and we will never see each other again". What started out as a particular business deal ended up making way for feelings that Amelia refused to feel. She knew it was just a deal that would soon be broken, she knew it was all a lie, she was afraid of falling in love with him... because in the end, she was just the fake wife of a millionaire who would never reciprocate her feelings... Or maybe he would? PIC BY: KATE BRANCH. THANKS, BEAUTIFUL!

Belle Li was betrayed by her husband Bruce Wang. He stole her family's company, causing her grandfather to commit suicide, killed her parents, and made her uncle disappear. He did it all for vengeance against her grandfather's betrayal. He believed that her grandfather left with the secret formula thus making his company successful in business and finance, while he left his grandfather in a failing business and debt. Due to that he lived a life of misery, poverty, and abuse. Bruce's beautiful wife Belle was just a casualty in his war to get the secret formula. While they were married, she was humiliated, bullied, and tortured by his mistress. She was left with scars on her face, burn marks, whiplash, dried blood, and a starved woman. On her last dying breath, she made a wish to be reborn to correct her mistake. However, the goddess who granted her wish warned her that Bruce is her destiny, and she cannot escape him. If she accepts that fate, she will grant her her wish. Belle, full of rage, anger, resentment, and hatred didn't care. She will deal with him, as long as she can go back and save her family. As her wish is granted, nothing happened like she expected. She was once again under the man whom she hated.

When her hot, overbearing, but charming boss gets a hold of her diary, and offers to grant her greatest wish for a child, Twenty-two-year-old Felicity Graham is furious, and hesitant. For one, he's her employer. Two, she wonders if he truly loves her, or if his offer is just based on his father's pressure on him to produce a heir. — Cold, reclusive Shawn Colby has hit a dead end. Undeniably New York's most eligible bachelor and a well-known business tycoon, he could have anything his heart desired. Women, cars, numerous houses if he wanted. When his overbearing father demands that he settle down and produce an heir, Shawn can't think of anyone else but Felicity — his calm, sweet personal assistant. When he gets hold of Felicity's diary, and finds out that her greatest dream is to have a child of her own, he propositions her. But Felicity is furious, and hesitant. Besides being Shawn's assistant, she's close to his family as well, and is aware of the pressure he's under to bring forth a heir. What happens when a business trip up-turns their lives? Can Shawn prove that he truly loves her for her, pressure aside?

I'd rather die. That's what Lauresse San Forte words. She was taken to a prison cell and had not eaten for days. She was taken with the other girls as a means of a business, bought with a price in a life she did not know. Ashton Sid Del Aveiro was in pursuit of finding his only sister when Lauresse met him in a situation they didn't expect. In a world Lauresse has never been, she was brought with a price for the price. The price that needed her to act as his wife in the eyes of his rivalry, elite families, the organization, and his business associate. For Lauresse's safety. He had a goal, and she had her to be free again. But it won't make an easy way when she needs to dive into his world and into his life. In a game she joined, they were dancing in the system that Ashton would surely be his greatest fall if he let feelings rule him over his mind. His life was nothing but about the organization and as part of the family. He needs to keep it safe even if it's too risky. Life has one meaning, his family. His only sister. His father's happiness. His mother's sanity. But her, his greatest mistake yet his most significant happiness.

"Shadows of the Past" is a story about *Natasha Fernandez* (26),the daughter of a billionaire who never enjoyed her childhood due to the loss of her mother and her father's busy schedule. She struggles with health issues and finding true love until she meets *Jamal smith* (29) who rescues her from a robber and becomes her friend, and eventually her husband. Years later, Natasha hires her childhood friend *Imade Martins*(25) a home tutor for her adopted daughter *Tessa* (3). However, Natasha is heartbroken when she discovers Jamal's affair with Imade, and she uses her power to frustrate Imade's business life. Unbeknownst to them all, Jamal is the biological father of Imade's daughter, whom she lost in the hands of a matron to an orphanage some years back. Imade leaves for another city where she falls in love with her boss, Mr. *George Henry,*(34) an influential business tycoon and a single father. Twenty years later, *Roy Henry,* George's son, falls in love with Tessa, Natasha's daughter. However, their love is jeopardized after a family introduction takes place, and complicated truths unravel, putting Tessa's life at stake. The story explores the drama and chaos that ensue as the characters confront their past and navigate their present relationships.

Leena and Zack are two best friends from childhood. The modern day Bonnie and Clyde, their relationship was the envy of many. Especially, that of her Stepmother Lily and step sister, Kara. Both children of Billionaires, their relationship is threatened when their parents suggest a union between the two of them. Zack's family ran an oil company which wanted to divert into raw materials trade. Leena's father's Company is involved in the refining of raw materials like crude oil and other resources for factories as well as other businesses. The oil business is good, but they see the need to expand, and Leena's Father, Mr. Davis thinks it would be a great idea to link up with them. That is when the idea to get married comes up. The idea to set up a relationship between Zack and Leena surfaces. After years of maintaining a civil and loving relationship, Leena is surprised at how much Zack's attitude changes towards her after their engagement. He treats her with contempt and swears to make her life miserable. Leena's fatehr had pleaded with her to accept the marriage proposal for the sake of saving the Company, even though she knew it was a terrible idea and did not want to go ahead with the marriage. Not until she returns from a business trip, and Zack proposes to her.

Asher and Malachi Wild, identical twin Vampire Princes, and second in line for the throne, are having some minor business troubles. Mystery crates are being moved using their import-export business, in shipments both into and out of the country. They don't know who, or why, or how it's happening. They get frustrated and go for a drive to clear their heads, and end up at a pub. A mysterious red-headed bartender catches their eye, for more than one reason. She's impressive, in all the right ways. Curves for days, strong, mysterious, and able to kill a nearly seven foot tall man while barely breaking a sweat. Now if they could just get her to talk to them and give them her name... Eliza Wellsong, Head of the Assassin's Guild for England. There are one and a half-thousand people under her command, and she's half-forced to take a night off by her second in command. She goes to the local pub to help out her friend, the owner of the pub, Molly, instead. Then the two princes walk in, and they just can't keep their eyes off her. She's confused, she's fat, and not that pretty, what the fuck is up with them? But then they're kind to her, and honest. It's a nice change of pace, and they're handsome enough, maybe she should let them in?

Third in series. Jake is Midnight Forest Pack's Beta, incredibly popular and handsome, always surrounded by friends, and is successful in business and as his role in pack as Beta. Yet part of his life feels incomplete. Seeing all of his friends settled down with their mates and now having children, Jake can't help but wonder where he went wrong or think if he will forever be alone. Avoidance seems to be the best tactic, and Jake pushes himself harder into work, where an unexpected encounter at a business meeting gets his heart racing and turns his life upside down. Rose, this seemingly perfect, beautiful fated mate of his, has somewhat of an unusual reaction to meeting her mate. Are you meant to be doing your best to avoid your new mate? Or be keeping secrets from him? Not to mention Rose comes from the other side of the world and plans to head home as soon as she can, with promises of keeping in touch, and working things out with time and space. Jake is just happy to finally have his mate, and willing to do all he can to have her by his side. Would Jake be willing to leave all he knows for fate? Or could it be the moon goddess made a mistake, and Jake is better off alone? Or is there a better match out there for him?