Novel & Cerita The Smiling Titan

Celia Johnson, my boss's sister-in-law, joined the company as the finance director and announced that all reimbursements must strictly follow the standards. I spent an entire week running around for the company and finally closed a five-hundred-thousand-dollar deal. Because the client had used two extra packs of paper towels, the per-person amount for their meal ended up eight dollars over the limit. Celia folded her arms, glanced at the reimbursement form on my desk, and sneered. "Five hundred and eight dollars?" "Yes. Last night at The Peak Restaurant, where we closed Richard's deal. Zack was there too," I explained patiently. "Eight dollars over the per-person limit. Not reimbursable," Celia said coldly. I tried to reason with her. "This was a special case. The client is high-level, and the deal amount is large, and Zack personally said it would be fully reimbursed last night." She returned the reimbursement form to me. "I don't care who said that. Don't think closing a five-hundred-thousand-dollar contract lets you ignore company rules. Reimbursements must all follow policies. Everyone will follow them to the letter." I took a deep breath. I knew arguing with her head-on would get me nowhere, so I called Zack directly. Zack said, "I did say it would be reimbursed, but I never said company rules could be ignored. It's just five hundred. And you still get commission from closing the deal. You young people need to have perspective." I stopped arguing. I turned around and refused the delivery containing the hard copy of the five-hundred-thousand-dollar cooperation contract, smiling as I explained, "Company rules say all cash on delivery packages must be refused. "Also, today is my last day here. Starting tomorrow, I work for Richard's company. As the client, I will be setting the rules this time."

What’s worse than catching your boyfriend cheating? Falling into bed with a billionaire to get revenge… and ending up pregnant. ***** Daphne thought the worst part of her week was walking in on her boyfriend tangled up with someone else. she was wrong. The real humiliation? Facing them both the very next day at her art exhibition—with the other woman on his arm. As if curating the biggest show of her career wasn’t stressful enough, now she’s stuck smiling through the pain while her ex flaunts betrayal in front of billionaires and buyers who could make or break her future. But when her ex gets a little too smug, and the crowd watches a little too closely, Daphne makes a snap decision. She grabs the nearest man. Kisses him like she means it. And pretends she didn’t just burn every bridge behind her. Only… the man she uses to deliver her revenge? He’s pasha. Reclusive billionaire. Art-world kingmaker. And the man about to drop five million dollars at the auction. One night with him was supposed to be reckless and forgettable. It turns out to be unforgettable—for all the wrong reasons. Because weeks later, Daphne’s world tilts again. She’s pregnant. And the baby’s father is a man who’s never let anyone close… and isn’t used to losing control. Now she’s caught in a dangerous game of secrets, desire, and consequences—where love was never part of the plan, but fate has other ideas. And the closer Pasha gets, the harder it becomes to remember who used who first. He gave her one night. She gave him an heir. But what happens when the fallout costs more than they’re both willing to pay?

When Maya's world is turned upside down by a surprise pregnancy, she's forced to make a choice: marry the father, Elijah, a mysterious and powerful man with secrets of his own, or face the dangers that have been lurking in the shadows of her life. As Maya navigates the treacherous landscape of her new marriage, she begins to uncover the truth about Elijah's past and the reasons behind his proposal. But the more she learns, the more she realizes that Elijah might actually be the evil she has been running away from, all her life ... An evil that had already stole her heart. Will Maya be able to uncover the secrets that Elijah keeps, or will she become the latest casualty of his ruthless ambition? Dive into this gripping tale of love, power, and deception to find out. “What are you doing?” I asked, my body shaking in fright. “That's not me” he said, smirking. “They are here for you, Maya. Your past have finally caught up to you. You move one inch, your beloved best friend goes down for you… another innocent blood smeared on your dainty hands” he said smiling wickedly. Slowly I walked towards him. I couldn't let Tiffany go down for me. I couldn't let another innocent soul die for me. This was my fate. My happy ever after was all a fairy tale after all. I took the pen, signing my name across the thin black line. Tears went down my cheek, dripping on the contract, the ink smudged on the paper. I could feel his warmth spread over me, his nose trailed delicately on my ear, wet sparks over it. “Welcome to your hell, Astrid Grey” he said, my real name rolling out of his lips like a curse.

"No offense but you are always so grumpy, it's actually kind of cute." I bluntly say to him and watch him throw me a nasty glare, I just giggle at that. "I'm not." he defends himself in a calm yet stern voice keeping his face emotionless. "sure." I find myself saying sarcastically. I think I'm too drunk  because there is no way a sober River will have the courage to hold a conversation with a very grumpy Killian. I expect another scary glare to come towards me but instead I meet with a soft gaze that stares at me with an unreadable expression. "I'm not." This time he says softly, I see him biting back a small smile and , he smiles. I've never seen him smiling before, not this way. Standing on the edge of life, River breathes in and lets himself adjust into a new life, into a new family. After a horrifying past he finds his life wrapped around a shaggy orphanage and several foster homes which makes it hard to believe that he is actually being adopted. Having a family was always a desire of him but to his burnt luck, he doesn't feel like he belongs in his adoptive family. Everyone and everything around him make it clear that he wasn't born to be happy. River is waiting for another push, one last push to end it all and fall from the edge and that's when a grumpy looking Killian Price steps into his life. River can't decide if Killian is the saviour or the devil himself. River's life meets with unexpected secrets mixed with burning desire, adorning the melancholic attire. Soon, he finds out he isn't the only one standing on the edge of the cliff, or he realises he is far from the edge.

Eric Clapton never expected his ex-wife would move on overnight, and be living her best life. His friends have always mocked him for marrying such an ugly woman. When his mistress showed up, he couldn't exercise the smallest patience to stay married to Liana. "My mind is made up, Liana. Let's get a divorce. $90 million and the penthouse in Rochester will be compensation for your mental damage. Is that enough?" Eric put down the envelope and pen on the pillow beside her. Liana sat up, eyes glued to the man she has dedicated three years of her life to. "Is that all you have to say and offer?" She asked, her eyes holding a trace of detachment. Eric was stuck in thoughts. This was unlike the fragile and indecisive woman he married. Liana smiled as she gazed at his unreadable expression. "I can see you're really prepared for this, you know. This is obviously the first time in three years since you returned home before 11:00 pm, Eric." She added, her lips curling up into an enigmatic smile as she decisively scribbled her signature on the papers. The next morning at the courthouse, she held the divorce papers, her fragile heart tearing apart as she watched her ex husband smiling when he walked away, his hands carefully wrapped around another woman's waist while they strode to his car. Seeing him replace her so quickly was really heart wrenching, but right there, she saw another man who just got dumbed by his fiancee at the crucial hour, and without hesitation, she walked up to him and proposed to replace his fiancee. Now, what will Eric do when at the moment of his regret, he realised that she didn't only move on, but she's now his boss's wife?

Connie Reid doesn't date athletes. She doesn't talk about her past. And she definitely doesn't play hockey anymore. She built her new life at Crestfield University carefully — warm smile, sharp instincts, a matchmaking reputation that keeps everyone else's love lives running smoothly while her own heart stays locked away. It works perfectly. Until the university board decides her skills belong to them. The deal is simple and non-negotiable: fake a relationship with Kyrian Maddox — Crestfield's most controversial hockey recruit — on a live reality dating show, or watch her most painful secret broadcast to every student on campus. Kyrian Maddox doesn't explain himself to anyone. He arrived at Crestfield already carrying a scandal he didn't cause and a reputation he can't escape. The PR arrangement forced on him is just another thing he has no choice but to endure. The girl they've paired him with is warm, clever and reads people like open books. He finds that deeply suspicious. Off camera they're strangers who tolerate each other in cold silence. On camera they're convincing enough to trend. But the longer they share a house, an ice rink and the weight of secrets neither will speak aloud, the harder it becomes to remember where the performance ends. Then the boy who destroyed Connie's life walks into the show house smiling like no time has passed. And everything she buried starts clawing its way back to the surface. Kyrian notices the shift in her before she can hide it. What he doesn't know yet is that protecting her might cost him everything he came to Crestfield to rebuild. Some performances become real. Some secrets refuse to stay buried. And some people are worth burning everything down for.

"Well done." He claps as he took a few steps behind me. "I didn't think you have it in you. I must say I'm impressed." I got up from the lifeless body as blood dripped from my palms and mouth. With my sleeve I brushed the blood of my mouth. "Well that's what you get for doubting me." "Amazing work. And I'm a man of my word. You're the rightful Luna of this pack." He smiled as he spreads his arms widely. "And you being the Alpha I suppose." He smirked in agreement. "I'm the one who killed the Alpha!" The other werewolves whined, backing away as I reminded them about the excruciating death of their Alpha. "And I'm very proud of you." Perfectly smiling he took another steps closer. "You should, you trained me after all. But let's not forget the rules, who ever kills an Alpha becomes an Alpha." I took steps of my own closer to him. " Angelina? We talked about this. The deal was if you kill him... I become the Alpha and you will be my Luna." " Change of plans cute face. I killed him, I have his blood in my hands. " I bluntly showed my hands covered with blood. " Meaning I'm the rightful Alpha." At my words he blasted out laughing, then his face grew set seeing how serious I was. " You're a women. You can't be an Alpha. Like I said you'll be my Luna." " Like I said change of plans. I'll be the Alpha of this pack! You can call me the Alpha-Luna." *************************************************** Angelina, who got chased away from her pack and left to die after rejecting the Alpha. In the big city she learns new ways to survive. Forgets about her past. But happens when the past comes crawling back?

 "Why?" Skylar muttered shivering in tears,her leg were weak and she was barely holding up,her heart was pounding and beads of sweat form on her hair She was looking at the people she lived with for years,her family,he everything "Why do this?I thought we are family,why do this to me?? "hahahaha you still think we are family huh?" Her so called father said "Guess she's still don't know" her angelic sister said smiling sinisterly "We are not your family you are a bastard father picked up to take care of" every word said sank in,she grasp She look at them all and saw a mocking look "This….this can't be" she muttered and felt a warm liquid on her lap,it went down to her leg she look at her leg and her face turn ghastly "My....my baby" she cried out All she heard around her was their laughter She cried out,clutch her tummy but she knows her baby was gone that killed her baby Her's and Leon's baby,and she lost it at that moment,she felt an undefeatable energy,her eye turn red  "I will kill you all!" She yelled and rushed toward her sister "Mom!!" Her sister screamed in horror "You bastard" her father dragged her hard from her sister and she lose energy from her leg,she was pushed "Ahhhhhh!!" She screamed in horror,she felt unexplainable pain,her body rolled down the stairs at that moment she knew she was gone She tried to fight her eyes open but it not working and after a while she black out        Skylar woke up from comma with no memories She suddenly got a husband and family what happens when her family is not what she thought they are

EZREN: Kiss or kill. Those were always the two options left.. until the past walks back into my life in the form of blue eyes, ginger curls, and a tattoo he swears I should remember. Knox Graye. A diagnosed psychopath. Says he was my brother’s boyfriend. That I left him to die and that I hold the only truth to his death. He is everywhere. Digging up my lies. Ruining what’s left of my life. Call me ‘Cherry’ like it means something. I swear I hate it. I hate him. I don’t know if he wants closure, revenge, or just someone to break. Either way, I’m his target and his third option. KNOX: Everyone thinks I’ve got a loose screw in the head but they're wrong. I lost the whole damn toolbox, buried six feet under with the only person I ever loved. I've spent six years grieving. Dying in pieces while he rots away in a grave but now? Now someone else walk around in his bones, smiling with his lips like he fuckin’ owns it. Like I wouldn’t recognize my own goddamn Cherry. Except now he calls himself Ezren. Cute. He thinks he has been hiding behind top grades and golden-boy charm, but I built his whole damn maze. And now that he's close? I’m done with subtlety. I want chaos in his veins, his secrets peeled off like skin. I want to crawl into the part of his head where he still hears his brother’s laugh and whisper: “You were always mine." He doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to dismantle him. Brick by fucking brick. And when he finally breaks, I’ll be there to offer him a choice. “Kiss or kill, Cherry?”

Zack clears his throat. "We have been dreaming about Brandon Snow." "Ahhh," Lucille says, smiling and nodding her head. "The future Beta. And a white wolf to boot. Your future pups will be quite beautiful with Charlie's chocolate coloring and Zak's reddish hue. The three of you will make wonderful parents." Zak's mouth drops open and Charlie squeaks out, "Our future... pups!" "What do you know of Selene and her mates?" Lucille asks. "Mates? I only know of one mate. Pan," Charlie says. "As the god of the wild and the goddess of the moon, Pan and Selene's children became werewolves. Wild creatures who were controlled by the moon." "Ahhh. Is that what they are teaching the young pups now? That Selene only had one mate? I knew that they didn't want mate trios any longer, but I didn't know that they would attempt to change even Selene's story," Lucille chuckles. "Alpha, Luna, do you truly believe that if there was no humanity in their coupling that we would be human at all?" "Wait. What?" Zak says. "If we were only children of Pan and Selene, we would always be wild creatures. Nymphs, satyrs, centaurs. But we aren't. Of course, we could remain in our wolf form all the time if we wish, but we always have the ability to shift into human form. No, young ones, Selene had two mates. One, the god Pan. The other, a human man named Endymion. We get our wolves from Pan, our pull to the moon from Selene, and our human selves from Endymion," Lucille says. "Why..." Zak licks his lips and starts again. "Why weren't we told this?" "Ahhh," Lucille breathes out, taking a sip of her coffee. "Because not every wolf has two mates, as Selene did. As you two do."