Synonym For Strangers

She thought that their story would be the typical secretary and boss romance and boy was she wrong. Niklaus Rogers not only let himself into her life but also hurt her in more ways than she could explain. Would she be able to let go of the pain and accept him back?

All because of Leo Cullen’s words, I gave up a place at a top-tier university in Ceres and stayed behind to retake the entrance exams with him—three times. By the fourth year, a girl arrived at our cram school, and Leo forgot the promise we made. He started skipping class, picking fights, smoking—doing everything but studying. One day, I stood at the school gate, blocking his path with a textbook in hand as he tried to ditch class. He smirked, unimpressed, and blew a bubble with his gum, letting it stick to the ends of my hair. “Naomi…,” he began, “who still cares about studying these days?” So I stopped caring and avoided him entirely. When he fooled around in the classroom, I went to the library. When he played basketball, I sat in a quiet corner with my books. Even when I craved noodles from my favorite shop, I’d scan the room first to make sure he wasn’t there. “Are you avoiding me, Naomi?” he asked later, his face in a frown. I shook my head. “Why would you think that?”

__________________ Ivy Reed, a twenty year old with a haunting past. Ace Romano, the Italian mafia boss and also Ivy's brother's best friend who instantly takes a liking in Ivy when he first sees her.

Mom always said my entire life ran on luck. When I ranked first in my class, she said, "You just guessed really well." When I won a gold medal, she said, "The judges must've been blind." When I got into Westridge University, she told everyone, "This kid has no real ability, just good luck!" So on my first day of college, she tossed me a book of scratch cards. "Since your luck's so good anyway, might as well let it handle your living expenses too. "You get one book per semester. However much you scratch off is all you get. "And just so you can't come crying to me about being broke, I'm blocking you now. I'll add you back next semester." With that, she ignored every one of my desperate pleas and blocked me on every single platform. I wanted to cry but could not even manage tears. All I could do was scratch two cards every day. On good days, I would win 20 to 50 dollars. Most days, I won absolutely nothing. I survived by sneaking expired cookies out of my roommates' trash. By the last week of the semester, I had developed severe anemia. As I used every ounce of strength to scratch the final card, I laughed. Mom was right. My luck really was incredible.

(Cerita untuk dewasa, mengandung adegan 21+ dan plot twist) Semula Maura hanya ingin mendapatkan uang yang sangat banyak. Ia ingin pergi dan menjauh dari ayahnya yang sering memukulnya, karena membenci wajahnya yang terlalu mirip dengan sang ibu. Ibu yang pergi meninggalkan suami dan putrinya begitu saja, karena terpikat dengan rayuan pria yang lebih kaya. Ia pun nekat mendaftarkan diri ke sebuah situs terlarang yang memperjualbelikan gadis-gadis perawan dengan harga yang tinggi, dengan nama Virginity For Sale. Situs yang kemudian menghubungkannya dengan para pria kalangan atas yang akan membeli keperawanannya dengan harga yang sesuai. Kesepakatan pun terjadi. Maura dijemput dengan helikopter pribadi menuju ke sebuah pulau terpencil. Pulau yang hanya memiliki satu mansion mewah, dengan pemiliknya seorang pria misterius yang ternyata bukan hanya akan membeli keperawanannya, namun ternyata juga telah membeli... seluruh hidupnya. ***

Felix, the youngest son of a billionaire, conducted a secret audition, not to look for talents, but to look for a woman who he can marry on paper. His family pressure him that he should get married in order for him to get what he wants. Meanwhile, Marianne needed a huge amount of money for her mother’s hospital bill. After she heard about the auditioned, she didn’t hesitate to apply without knowing it’s true purpose. Will Marianne’s decision change her life forever as she becomes the “Bride for Rent”?

Si Tyronia Gonzales ay anak sa labas ng kanyang ama. Namatay ang ina niya dahil sa panganganak sa kanya kaya naman sa bahay ng ama niya siya nakatira, at lumaki. Kahit pa mayaman ang ama niya ay kahit kailan ay hindi siya naging buhay prinsesa dahil galit sa kanya ang asawa ng ama niya. Walang araw na sinasabi nito na anak lang siya sa labas, at malandi ang ina niya kahit hindi naman totoo. Isang araw dahil nalulugi na ang kompanya ng ama niya ay nakaisip ng paraan ang asawa nito. Nabalitaan nito na naghahanap ng mapapangasawa si Grey Del Rosario. Bibili ito ng mapapangasawa dahil walang gustong magpakasal dito dahil sa sunog nitong itsura. Binenta si Tyronia ng asawa ng ama niya, at wala siyang nagawa. Naging madali din naman kay Tyronia na mahalin ang binata lalo na't mabait ito sa kanya, at binibigay ang lahat ng gusto niya. Pero natatakot siya na baka magbago ang pakikitungo ng binata sa kanya kapag nalaman nitong isa lang siyang bastardo. Pero ang mas malaking tanong ay handa ba siyang makita ang mukha ng asawa na nakatago sa maskara? Handa kaya niya itong tanggapin kapag nalaman niya ang malaki nitong lihim sa kanya?

Limang buwan na ang nakalilipas ay ibinenta ni Hanna ang katawan at naiwala niya ang pinakaiingatang puri. Isang malaking pagkakamali ngunit kailangan niya ng pera upang maipagamot ang kapatid. Namasukan siya bilang dyanitres sa pinakamalaking kumpanya sa kanilang bayan. Hindi niya akalain na ang lalaking naka-one night stand at ang CEO, ang bilyonaryong si Charles Ethan Rodriguez ay iisa! Inalok siya nitong magpanggap bilang girlfriend. Pumayag siya dahil bukod sa sobrang gwapo at matipuno nito ay babayaran siya ng malaking halaga. Paano kung sa kasunduan nila ay umibig siya sa mayamang binata? Ngunit parausan lamang ang tingin nito sa kanya habang hinihintay nitong bumalik ang babaeng tunay na minamahal. Hanggang saan siya magtitiis para sa lalaking walang pagtingin sa kanya? Hanapin kaya siya nito kung isang araw ay bigla na lamang siyang maglahong parang bula?

Mateo Morales has been missing for two months. He disappeared with no sign left behind; no hints, and no clue as to where he went and why he disappeared. Eva Morales has been searching religiously for her brother. Being a lone wolf, her family is all she has and she will do anything for her brother. When all her clues lead to Laurence Baxter, she can't help but follow the breadcrumbs, but what she discovers might be more than what she bargained for.Laurence Baxter is wild, untamed, and spontaneous. He lives the life he wants and does what he wants; it works for him. But when his PI disappears, he can't help but feel responsible and he jumps right into a long search. When Mateo's sister, Eva, shows up and Laurence discovers her as his mate, he is thrilled to be so lucky. However, this prickly woman wants nothing to do with mates, nevermind a playboy like himself.Searching for Mateo and unraveling the Morales family secrets soon turns out to be more than he bargained for and Laurence finds more answers than he was hoping to find. After his mate runs from him, he has to make a decision: chase after her and rush into danger or let her be alone like she wants.*This is the third book in the Baxter Brothers series, though it can be read as a standalone novel*

Mia tidak pernah mengira hidupnya yang tenang dan damai akan berubah total ketika Jason Marshall, sosok yang paling dia benci, orang yang telah membuat hari-hari terakhirnya di SMU dulu seperti neraka, kini kembali muncul di hadapannya. Dapatkah ia menarik dirinya sejauh mungkin dari Jason sebelum dirinya semakin terluka? Ataukah justru sebaliknya, dia akan menemukan dirinya terjatuh makin dalam karena Jason? Ini adalah kisah yang diceritakan dari sudut pandang Mia Summers, sang tokoh utama wanita.