Sword Staff

On the day we receive our bonus, one of the staff members of the finance department gives me 500 dollars worth of vouchers for the fast food restaurant downstairs. He tells me that my wife, Jillian Dunn, who is also the company's president, specifically ordered him to do so. In utter disbelief, I seek out Jillian and question her. "Didn't we agree that whoever secures the project will get a 50,000-dollar bonus? Stop messing around! I still need to pay for Freya's cochlear implant!" "I'm not messing around with you," Jillian answers seriously. "These vouchers can last you for a whole month. I wouldn't even give them to you if you were anyone else. "Money is tight right now at the company. Besides, Freya has been deaf for more than a decade now. She can survive being deaf for another decade." The next day, Jillian gives one of the interns a sports car that's worth 50,000 dollars. I look at the photo she uploads of her and the intern grinning widely as they sit in the car and give it a like. Jillian must assume that everything is proceeding smoothly since she has signed the contract. However, she misses the additional condition that's printed on the last page of the contract. I dial her rival's number, asking, "Ms. Swan, are you interested in Project Charlie?"

Aaron Hale has survived on grit, secrets, and nightlife shifts in an East L.A. club—never knowing the owner watching him from the shadows is Zayden Blackwell, a powerful man whose obsession runs deeper than lust. Months before Aaron ever notices him, Zayden secretly buys the club, manipulates shifts and tips, and even pays Bianca—Aaron’s first love—to break his heart, all to push him into accepting a mysterious job at his mansion. But Zayden isn’t the only shadow tied to Aaron. Slate, Zayden’s cold half-brother, once saved Aaron’s life during a kidnapping attempt Zayden himself orchestrated years ago. Slate was meant to “manage” Aaron in the mansion, not fall for him, but his forbidden desire grows uncontrollably. Inside the mansion, Aaron discovers a locked room filled with photos and belongings of himself—Zayden’s collection—and a drawer of secret notes from Slate, revealing his own obsession. A staff member reports Aaron’s every move to an unknown enemy, while a hidden safe shows Zayden prepared legal documents to control Aaron’s entire future. A mysterious texter warns: “He’s lying to you. Both of them are.” At the mansion’s deadly climax event, Aaron flips the psychological game—forcing Zayden to surrender the control he’s never given anyone.

Sanay si Dominic Villaruel, isang gwapong bilyonaryo at may-ari ng kilalang hotel chain, na habulin at pagsilbihan ng mga babaeng halos mag-unahan para lamang mapansin siya. Dahil sa tingin niya’y pare-pareho lang ang lahat—nahuhulog sa kanyang yaman at sa kinang ng kanyang kagwapuhan—hindi niya kailanman sineseryoso ang pag-ibig. Mayabang, arogante, at sarado ang puso; iyon ang mundong matagal na niyang nakasanayan. Ngunit biglang nag-iba ang lahat nang makilala niya si Mira Santos, isang tahimik at introvert na staff sa kanyang hotel. Sa unang pagkikita, ni hindi siya nito binigyan ng tingin—para bang ang kinang ng kanyang itsura ay wala lang. Sa halip na ikababa ng kanyang ego, mas lalo siyang naiintriga. Unti-unti, natuklasan ni Dominic na sa likod ng pagiging mahiyain ni Mira ay may matatag at matalinong babaeng kayang suwayin ang kanyang kayabangan. At sa bawat saglit na magkasama sila, tila isang pana ng kupido ang muling bumuhay sa pusong matagal nang naniniwala na hindi na muling iibig. Hindi niya akalain—ang babaeng hindi man lang siya pinapansin ang siya palang dahilan ng pagbagsak ng kanyang pusong matagal nang sarado sa pag-ibig.

After I hand over my five-million-dollar commission to my departmental colleagues, they drag me to a hotel and celebrate with me for three days straight. But when I walk past the bathroom, I overhear a conversation between two of my colleagues that stops me cold. "Have the results of the vote been released yet?" What vote? Confused, I check my phone and find that I've been removed from the Project Department's group chat. "Who else could it be? Our hero, Zane Carter, received 11 votes. It was unanimous, and the motion was passed." "Serves him right. I've never liked him anyway." I freeze. I can't believe that my colleagues would betray me after what I've done for them. After taking a moment to calm down, I immediately decide to resign. The next thing I know, I receive a call from the company chairman, Wilson Smith. "Have you made up your mind? Quitting now would breach your contract. As a result, your five-million-dollar commission would be revoked. "You're also a key technical staff member. If you leave, your entire department would most likely be dismissed. Once that happens, your colleagues will end up unemployed. Are you sure about this?" I lower my gaze and let out a cold laugh. "Absolutely."

Adira lives in a place where there are many so-called gangsters, and she belongs there. She is an orphan with her sister, but her sister does not treat her well, so she decides to leave to go off on her own. Now she lives alone in an old warehouse ever since their parents passed away. The only thing she makes a living from is accepting missions from those who can afford her services. Adira does not accept a mission if the price is life. The king, King Stephen, has been receiving threats on his son's life. He doesn't trust his companions inside the palace except for his son and General Agustin. Even though it was against Adira's rules that she would not accept a mission similar to that of the prince, she accepted it because of the king and his love for his son, agreeing to train him with the sword and keep him safe. Now, with her rules compromised, she's committed to the family. Will she be able to keep her emotions in check? How can she explain the sudden beating of her heart every time the prince is around her? Is she prepared to risk her life for this man?

I sighed again. "I understand. I'm sorry for using the tone I used before." I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. "Why didnt you tell me about your problem on day one? I would have spoken louder. I wou-" She shook her head. "That's not necessary." "Why isn't it?" "T-t-there's something about your voice," she stammered nervously as she gently tugged at her fingers. "My voice?" She nodded again. "It's hard to ignore." "I don't understand where you're going with this." "Your voice," she looked down as a light blush stained her cheeks, "is the only voice that I can hear perfectly." ~ Alexia Dawson is a partially deaf woman who struggles to fit in with the other staff at her workplace. Being heterochromic as well, she is the main target for gossip and this makes her very insecure. One night, she is humiliated during a party by one of her coworkers and leaves the building in tears. In the parking lot, she meets a stranger who listens to her troubles and this man later turns out to be the boss' son who happens to be taking over the company the following week! As these two come together in this beautiful romance, a jealous younger brother and ex fiancée get thrown into the mix! What will become of this pair of lovers?

"Brother, please spare my life!" Sera cried out. She kneeled and bowed down to show sincerity but her brother's eyes did not show any emotion. "There is no mercy for traitors, Sera. That's the family motto, remember?" Xander's voice was stern and filled with contempt. "I didn't do it! I don't even know what the Duchess looked like!" She was desperate but none of her family members even tried to listen to her. "We shouldn't have accepted you. The prophecy was true when it said that you will only bring tragedy to this family!" Her father's voice was filled with rage. All her life, all she asked was to be acknowledged. All she wanted was to feel the warmth of a family. Was it too much to ask for? "I wish I was never born," she mumbled. "Prepare to die, Seraphina. This is the punishment for taking my mother's life." Xander lifted his sword and drops of blood splattered when the blade cut through Sera's head. "Sera!" Seraphina jolted when she heard her mother's voice. Her eyes grew wide when she saw the familiar small room and she immediately touched her neck to confirm that her head was not severed. What happened? Why am I back to my ten-year-old self?

Seven years ago, my husband, the King of the Humans, banished me to the Everfrost Plains, where my life came to a tragic end. Seven years later, a grave illness befalls the Queen of the Humans, and blood spills endlessly from her lips. The clerics claim that I have cursed her. Only the blood taken from my heart can cure her fully. Gareth Lancaster, my former husband, comforts his new wife, the queen, and says, "You have nothing to fear. To think she's still trying to harm you, her older sister, even when she has been exiled! "I'll march to the Everfrost Plains right away and carve her heart out to use as your cure. Then, I'll have her soul sent to hell to suffer in torment for all eternity." Sword in hand, Gareth heads to the Everfrost Plains. He finds a Serpentkin, one who should've died in the Great War of the Beasts and Men seven years ago. The Serpentkin has frozen solid, standing before my grave with his hands clasped together as if in prayer. In front of my grave sits a young girl. She says, "You won't be able to take my mother's heart. She died many years ago. I stayed here to let the truth be known to all…"

“Stay with me this time. Forever!"She is breathtaking. She is his fated mate. He adores her, craves her, desperately wants to keep her with him.But for some reason, she remains mysterious and elusive.Alpha King Enrick has asked her this question several times over the past five years. But every time he woke up after a blissful night together, he was alone in bed.He never knows in advance the time and day when she returns. His beautiful goddess, she suddenly appears before him, more often at night. Then her intoxicating scent fades all his worries and those lonely nights without her.She is his, given to him by the Moon Goddess.“One day we will be together for the rest of our lives. I swear!" she promised once. Just that one time. But he's still eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of her promise.And then one day, when he faces the most critical battle in his life, she shows up in broad daylight, supreme and confident, with her sword aloft. She publicly claims her position as the Luna Queen next to him. But when he catches sight of her, the surprise is too extensive for him to comprehend.

* The fourth book in the Love and Other Sorcery Series - Book One, The Mage's Heart, Book Two, The Golden Dragon's Princess, Book Three, Akyran's Folly * Love's Sacrifice Will Make You Stronger Tarragon, the first-born child of Queen Diandreliera of Uyan Taesil and her dragon husband, Aurien, is the child of prophecy in every way. She is beautiful, talented, well-learned, and a master of the sword she was born to wield. She is also as magnificent a golden dragon as her father when in dragon-form. Daethie loves and adores her older sister and envies her for all that Tarragon is and Daethie isn't. Short, small, dark haired, and unable to shift into a dragon, Daethie is fondly known as "the runt of the dragon litter." Whilst her siblings excel at Prince Akyran and Princess Ecaeris' Monster Hunting training, Daethie is a disaster more likely to harm herself than any monster that she encounters. When Prince Akyran brings Aien, the son of a local warlock who is well known for his villainy, to the castle as his hostage, Aien singles out Daethie to befriend, and Daethie falls hard and fast for the enigmatic warlock's son. With the increasing danger of monsters roaming their land, Tarragon leads an expedition to locate the portal that is allowing the creatures to cross from their world, but it is a dangerous, testing journey and one that not all will complete alive. What sacrifice will be made for love and the rescue of their world?