The Tender Bar: A Memoir

---> if you are interested in my work, please check out my novel The Starving Vulture. Available on Amazon, $3.99 for the Ebook and $14.95 for the Paperback https://www.amazon.com/Starving-Vulture-Miguel-Monta%C3%B1a/dp/1951150899<---------The Pacific Capital. A product of an altered world, the legacy of the dead Philippine nation. A congested megacity holding 50 million people all huddled in what was once Metro Manila. It is the center for Pacific Maritime Trade, the world's largest Tax Haven and one of the few places in the world free from the Draconian but necessary environmental laws that saved the world since Cometfall. Ruled by Megacorporations, Corrupt Politicians, Invested Nobility and Criminals. It is one of the world's most important agricultural and pharmaceutical centers. H-6 is an Arbiter of the Court. As Judge Jury and Executioner, they maintain the essential Power Plant Canals and Massive weather controlled Dome Districts. Two elements that even the all powerful Megacorps need maximize their profits. Making Arbiter's Court the true rulers of the city. But even an all powerful Arbiter of the Court like H-6 knows, that Ambition and Greed will always find ways to ignore the rule of Law. Solus Valentine is a Security Consultant, plying her trade to anyone in need. She is a gun for hire who has the street smarts for the city's underworld. Whether in the gilded halls or the most flooded streets, she's ready for your contract. But while completing a contract, she stumbles into a vast conspiracy that just might threaten the city's fragile power balance, if not the world. She just might need an Arbiter's help for this one. One who might be someone from her past.

"The House of Mortem has taken what belongs to us. For years, they have raped our girls and women, burned our houses, and taken our brothers captive. Tonight, we take back what is ours and restore the lost glory of the House of Vagamor." If Alpha Orvyn knew better, he would have read the stars and counted the cost before going into battle against the all-powerful Alpha Kazamir of the House of Mortem. To bring down the usurper of his father's throne, Alpha Orvyn made a promise to his late father's grave stone to get back what was rightfully theirs, no matter the cost. Most of her subjects outside the castle walls thought Princess Olive lived an enviable life. But little did they know that the Princess is nothing less of a bargaining tool in the hands of her powerful father, Alpha Kazamir. He wanted to marry her off to the arrogant Alpha Cassian of the House of Stortstrand in return for his riches and ruthless mercenaries. The paths of the two lost souls cross in what seemed like a cross fire, sparking off an incandescence of forbiden love between them. Will the duo be able to navigate the forbidden route of their new found love? Wiill their secret romance bud into rainbows and rubies, or will it rain blood and hell on them?

Lucille Johnson's mother suddenly dies, and her father can't wait to welcome his mistress and her daughter into the family. Her grandfather says, "You're an ingrate and an imbecile. You don't deserve to be a member of the Johnson family!" Her father says, "How did I ever end up with you as a daughter? You heartless monster!" Her stepmother says, "Bree's always been weak, even as a child. How could you force her to the point of death over a man?" Lucille becomes the worst socialite in Whiteloop City, but she doesn't bother explaining herself. One day, a group of bigwigs start speaking up on her behalf online. Wait—isn't Lucille supposed to be a powerless socialite who's fallen from grace?

She was backed up against the tree and I took a branch, breaking it in half to reveal a sharp end, and going straight for his neck. It might not do much, or at least that's what I thought, but it should be enough to get him away from her.To my surprise, he plummeted to the floor. I looked at Illyria and walked towards her like a predator. With my bloodied hands, not sure if it was mine or his blood, I put them on Illyria's collarbone while dragging it up to her neck and ending up in her face, painting it just like the red rose in her hand, while she looked at me with panic in her eyes.“Don't fear me, little rose. I won't hurt you, but next time you decide to run away, make sure you do it without anyone noticing. I have eyes everywhere” I said in a low growl, that sounded even more dangerous than what I usually sound. ~~~~~~Illyria Abbot was meant to choose a husband on her 21st birthday. When her mansion is attacked by rebellious vampires, she barely escapes with her life. Lost in the woods she’s found by Kieran Moore, a brute vampire who will make her life hard while falling in love with her. But there are secrets who will keep testing them and their love. Will they be able to overcome it, or will it be their doom? Author’s Note: This story contains Latin Language. I am using a program that might not be accurate on the translation, so I apologize in advance if the translation is wrong. Thank you for reading this story and enjoy.

Dionysus finds sanctuary in the human realm, stowing away from the heavenly gates of Olympus. He wears the scars of defeat, melancholy, and betrayal in his heart the moment he set foot on earth, vowing never to return until he has regained his pride and honor. However, at love's playful coincidences, The wine god alias Kim Yeojoon, secret CEO of Victoire Wine Company, dreams of an unfamiliar face that had not only awakened his cold heart, but has left him chasing for more answers. With a few pulls of power in his midst, he finally was able to put a name to that face. Behind that otherworldly beauty is Charon, a famous model under the name Han Sejin, the ferryman of Styx that guides the souls of the dead to the afterlife. Will the stirring of his heart's desire be a sign of a new beginning? or will it be the cause of his misery, with an unknowable prophecy looming over him?

Sophia Blake never expected her job as a teacher to pull her into a contract marriage with Luca Moretti, a cold and calculating Mafia boss whose only weakness in this world is his only daughter, Clara. As tensions rise and a deadly rival begins to close in, Sophia becomes the unexpected support in Luca’s life, and the one person who might save his family and his heart. But in a world of betrayal and bloodshed, will their love survive? Or will they get eaten up by the turmoil?

"Marry me. I would rather spend one lifetime with you – than face all the ages of this world without you," said a green-eyed, six-year-old boy before her. "Liam, why do you want to marry me?" Scarlett asked the young boy. "I want someone to be there for me," Liam answered. "To put me to bed, bring me to school, and someone to play with when daddy is away. I want someone to make me and my daddy smile. I want someone to love me and love my daddy, too.” The boy sighed and added, "I want my daddy to be happy too.” Liam gazed up at Scarlett and asked, "Miss Scarlett, will you give me a brother and a sister too?” "Wait. Wait. It sounded more to me like… you want me to marry your daddy," Scarlett said, bemused. The boy's eyes sparkled. He replied, "Why, Miss Scarlett, I like your proposal. I'll go tell Daddy.” Scarlett, “???” *** Scarlett Barnes was abandoned by her parents and shamed by her childhood friend and lover. Being labeled as the bitter ex, she yearned for her well-deserved revenge. What better way to have it than to be in the arms of another man, one that genuinely loved her? Her future love life and happiness were supposed to be her vengeance, but after a year, her surprise marriage proposal came from a six-year-old boy. Was this her chance at happiness? Scarlett soon found out that the boy's father was a smoking hot billionaire heir to the Wright Diamond Corporation in Braeton City, Kaleb Wright. Just when she thought the boy had won her heart, will she… fall for his daddy too? *** Book 5 of the Wright Family Series. This story can be read as a standalone. Search Author_LiLhyz on IG & FB.

Rubbed off her innocence and left broken by a handsome young man at the bar she worked at, Amelia stanford discovered that she was pregnant for an unknown, since all he left behind was a wrist watch. Weeks later Amelia discovered that the wrist watch belonged to a Billionaire in the city she lived. That was when realization hit her that the owner of the wrist watch was the father of her unborn baby. Eyes opened, Amelia confronted the young man regarding her unborn but he denied it and kicked her out, nevertheless she wasn't going to give up since it was her only chance of survival. What does fate have in store for Amelia? Do you think she can win over the powerful billionaire? More importantly, do you think he will accept the baby?

I find out I'm about two months pregnant before my wedding. Luke Logan drunkenly caresses my belly and half-jokes, "I'm not ready to be a father, Summer. Can we not keep the baby?" My heart is calm. I say softly, "Sure." In my past life, I insisted on keeping the child. Meanwhile, Riley Richards had an accidental miscarriage, making it difficult for her to conceive again. Luke held a grudge against me for that and treated me coldly after we married. As for the son that I put one foot in the coffin to bring into this world, he, too, cried and fussed. He wanted Riley to be his mother. Later, I got into an accident and suffered from significant blood loss. However, Luke and our son merely hurried past me to be with Riley as she went into labor. I slowly bled to death on the floor above, while Luke and our son celebrated the birth of Riley's child on the floor below. Now that I've been reborn, I won't lose sight of myself and take the wrong path again. I call Eric Nottingham. "I'll join the expedition team to Glacia."

I felt his lips brush against my earlobe, a soft brush that suddenly made my toes curl. His breath lingered on my neck before he finally whispered, "I own you Crystal. The sooner you get to accept that the better for you. I'll make sure you submit yourself to me, be it the hard way or the easy way. And I'll break this ego of yours. I promise you" * * * * * * He was her beast and she was his beauty. He was addicted and she was his favourite drug. He was a sinner and she was his sin. In the blink of an eye, Crystal sees her entire life crumble with the death of her parents and she is forced to take a job that she would never have thought off to make ends meet for her and her sister and pay of her gambling father's debt to a crime boss-- being a stripper. Just a glance on the doe-eyed caramel skin beauty swinging her hips seductively on the pole and Leonardo already knew he had to have her as his. He had to claim her for himself. But he was everything she hated. She despised him and loathed his existence for the pain and anguish he had caused her and her sister. She swore never to succumb to him but what she didn't know was that he was also determined to show her that he would earn a place in her heart and life.