Zero is a fiery assassin contracted to kill Alex, a billionaire scientist, but on her way, she has a ghastly accident. In a twist of fate, same man she was sent to kill, champions the cause for her survival by paying her hospital bills and bringing her into his home to look after her. A series of events take place which lead to their getting emotionally close -so close that sparks begin to fly. Question that keeps popping up in zero's mind is who is she and why does she feel this type of way for the man who says he's her boss. You see, Zero has lost her memory, she doesn't remember a thing. That's probably where the problem lies. A whole lot of drama later and she finds out things are not as they seem. Someone has been yanking her chains. That someone has to pay!
Z E R O
Even before I opened the swing doors, the smell of liquor hit me like a force. I stood for a bit taking in the scenery before me. Men and women from different works of life crowded the chairs and the dance floor. Some chatted amongst themselves, while others rocked to the beats from the live band playing on the stage.
The bar, however, seemed to be in a different world of its own. All around it sitting on stools were men jostling for beer or whisky, while others threw back the contents from their bottles down their throats.
It looked like a war-zone, except the prize was alcohol and there would be no prisoners.
I smiled to myself. It was stampede night. All the stools around the bar had been occupied, but I needed to be close to the beer, so I headed there. I sashayed forward, my hips taking up a rhythm of their own.
"Hi!" I flapped my eyelashes at this guy with a port belly that could rival King Kong's. "Can I have a seat, please, kind sir?"
He looked at me long enough to know I had a b sized-cup and full hips, and then he made the mistake of leering. "Yeah, sweetheart, you can seat on my lap and I'll give you some of my beer."
Poor man.
I knew he was going to try to draw me to him, and I sighed tiredly.
I gave him a chance. I even stepped back, but he was such a pig-headed son of a gun, so I tried telepathy instead. Maybe that was his thing.
Don't do it, mister, it'll only end in sorrow for you.
But when do men ever listen?
As his hand rose to curl around my waist, I fisted my right hand and hung it in the air as a warning. He flashed his upper missing teeth at me instead of taking heed, stood and walked close to me.
Maybe he thought I was some helpless woman that didn't know how to defend herself, or it could have been because I had red hair and wore a leather mini skirt. Whatever the case was, he didn't see it coming.
My hand landed on his jaw, hot and heavy, giving him and upper cut and making sure to rearrange it. Yeah, he wouldn't be able to talk to anyone for awhile, that's for sure.
For a big man, he went down pretty quickly. He was out like a light at my feet. Make that a beer-filled light.
"Hi, Z!" Ron smiled at me from behind the counter. He didn't so much as blink as he set a green bottle in front of me.
I opened it, about to tip it into my mouth when from the corner of my eyes, I saw him. It had to be him. He stood out like a sore thumb in stark comparison to the other guys around. What with his cold demeanor and all black leather get up, he was a poster boy for dangerous, and he wore it well. He sauntered over to me and with a piercing look at the guy sitting beside me, that one fled, and he took his place.
"I can see you've already made yourself at home." He glanced meaningfully at the unconscious man lying not far from my feet. One of the bouncers was already dragging him away by his legs.
"What can I say, I'm a regular." I shrugged, tipping back my head and gulping the contents of my bottle and smacking my lips after.
"I'll have what she just downed." He indicated to Ron, who had anticipated his request and set before him an identical green bottle.
The man removed a long brown envelope from inside his coat and slid it on the table towards me. I caught it, just before it could get away. As I brought out a 12 by 14 black and white picture of a man from the envelope, I became mesmerized. The man in the picture could have been mistaken for a model by all and any standards. His black hair framed an oval face and a square jaw, while his eyes were grey, hooded and smoldering.
I had never seen a man with such arresting features before. And his eyes, they were so beautiful.
The man I stared at was hot, make that drop dead hot, by any standards.
Pity he had to die.
I looked up to see leather guy quirking a brow at me. "There a problem?"
I shrugged. "Just wondering when you want him gone."
"Tomorrow!" He arched a brow, as if daring me to refuse.
I tried not to look surprised but I couldn't not. That was almost impossible.
"I heard you're the best, so why look so shocked?" His brows arched cockily as he stared at me.
I knew what he was trying to do and I was over that male ego bullshit. I've had to prove myself time without number in this business, and I'll be damned if some man thinks he can swing by and cast aspersions on my reputation.
"For two million quid, I'll do it now if you want." I jutted my chin, daring him to back down. I wasn't just the best, I didn't come cheap either.
He nodded. "My boss will pay you five million. Two and a half million upfront in an untraceable account to be accessed immediately you sign here. . . " He pointed to a form he had whipped out, ". . .and the rest once the job is done."
I struggled not to widen my eyes. Five million was a whole lot of dough. Chito could be made whole again, and I could start a good business with the rest of the money and leave this kind of life I was presently in.
"What's the problem?" The man's gaze settled on me penetratingly. "Money too small for you? My boss is very generous, he can up it if you do a good clean job."
"No problem, mister, except I don't accept transfers upfront. For me, cash is king. Cash advance first, and then a transfer for the balance. I must be paid in full."
The man's eyes glistened dangerously as he leaned forward. "Do you except me to walk around with that amount of money?"
My lips curled in a smile and I also leaned forward. My face was only two inches from his as I replied. "You should have thought about that before contacting me. That's my policy."
Our eyes locked. This wasn't about money, it was a battle of dominance. Who would capitulate first. I didn't blink, neither did I flinch. And then his upper lip tugged up in a smile and he nodded. He drew the briefcase on the floor up to the bar and slid it across to me.
I caught it and looked at him. "What's this?"
"Open it and see."
Without taking my eyes off him, I opened the briefcase slightly. It was stacked with neat-looking one hundred dollar bills. I brought out one and sniffed it before putting it back. I looked up to see the man watching me closely.
"Hi, my name is Zero, glad to make your acquaintance."
I lifted a hand towards him in a hand shake and watched in rising amusement, the flow of emotions on his face. I knew he debated on whether to shake me or not. Coming to a conclusion, he brought out his hand and clasped mine in a firm shake.
Just as he was about to release my hand, I leaned close once more. "I have one question. "What's his profession?" I tapped the picture in my hand.
Ridges appeared on his brows immediately, and I knew he didn't like my inquisition. Too bad, because even I lived by a code, and that was never to kill a man who didn't have blood on his own hands.
Trust me, I always knew.
The man released a heavy sigh, removed his hand from mine and inclined his head. "Fair enough, he's a scientist who has been made rich by killing a lot of people with his drugs, and that's all you need to know. Now, enough talking. Are you in or out?"
I looked at the man seating before me for what seemed like a long time but could only have been a few seconds, and shook my head. "I'm in!"
His face stretched in a smile, but somehow it didn't sit well on his face, unlike Mr. Hot in the picture, the look alike model that was actually a scientist. The man opened his jacket and brought out a phone which before my very eyes, was enlarged to form a mini laptop.
I watched as he tapped on some buttons and after some seconds, turned it round to face me. I saw the name of an escrow bank on the top corner and below it, was two and a half . . . I counted the number of zeros. I filled in the column for my offshore bank details and watched as he tapped on the send button. I smiled in satisfaction as I watched the cursor disappear and in it's place, a message popped up - SENT.
"Inside the envelope you're holding are more details of him. Find him and end his life once and for all. My boss will be waiting impatiently tomorrow for the news. Do not contact me when you're done, trust me, my boss will find out."
He stood, tucked the phone back into his jacket, and without a goodbye, walked off.
Rude.
I looked at his retreating back until he disappeared from sight before I turned to Ron once again. "Another bottle, please. Oh, never mind." I picked up the bottle the man hadn't even touched. "I'll have his."
I downed the contents in five gulps and belched loudly. The man on my left poked his head out and smiled. "I like a woman that can throw back her liquor, and you seem to fit that bill. Care for a dance?"
I smiled and shrugged. Why not? I needed to dance to my victory of getting five million just like that. But as I got up, something about this deal didn't sit right with me. I couldn't pin point what it was, but as the night went on and I took more bottles of beer, the feeling left me and was quickly replaced with a feeling of euphoria.
I deserved this break, and so did Chito.
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
Five years into marriage, Hannah caught Vincent slipping into a hotel with his first love-the woman he never forgot. The sight told her everything-he'd married her only for her resemblance to his true love. Hurt, she conned him into signing the divorce papers and, a month later, said, "Vincent, I'm done. May you two stay chained together." Red-eyed, he hugged her. "You came after me first." Her firm soon rocketed toward an IPO. At the launch, Vincent watched her clasp another man's hand. In the fitting room, he cornered her, tears burning in his eyes. "Is he really that perfect? Hannah, I'm sorry... marry me again."
For three quiet, patient years, Christina kept house, only to be coldly discarded by the man she once trusted. Instead, he paraded a new lover, making her the punchline of every town joke. Liberated, she honed her long-ignored gifts, astonishing the town with triumph after gleaming triumph. Upon discovering she'd been a treasure all along, her ex-husband's regret drove him to pursue her. "Honey, let's get back together!" With a cold smirk, Christina spat, "Fuck off." A silken-suited mogul slipped an arm around her waist. "She's married to me now. Guards, get him the hell out of here!"
Everyone in town knew Amelia had chased Jaxton for years, even etching his initials on her skin. When malicious rumors swarmed, he merely straightened his cuff links and ordered her to kneel before the woman he truly loved. Seething with realization, she slammed her engagement ring down on his desk and walked away. Not long after, she whispered "I do" to a billionaire, their wedding post crashing every feed. Panic cracked Jaxton. "She's using you to spite me," he spat. The billionaire just smiled. "Being her sword is my honor."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Chapter 1 THE APPOINTMENT
05/04/2022
Chapter 2 THE ACCIDENT
05/04/2022
Chapter 3 THE EXTRACTION
05/04/2022
Chapter 4 THE DIAGNOSIS
05/04/2022
Chapter 5 THE FUNERAL
05/04/2022
Chapter 6 AFTERMATH
05/04/2022
Chapter 7 THE VISIT
05/04/2022
Chapter 8 THE OTHER SIDE
05/04/2022
Chapter 9 THE ENDORSEMENT
05/04/2022
Chapter 10 SECOND CHANCES
05/04/2022
Chapter 11 RAIDED
30/04/2022
Chapter 12 AT SEA
30/04/2022
Chapter 13 THE STRUGGLE
30/04/2022
Chapter 14 SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS
30/04/2022
Chapter 15 AN ATTRACTION
30/04/2022
Chapter 16 FREE AT LAST
30/04/2022
Chapter 17 UNFAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS
30/04/2022
Chapter 18 A STRANGE SIGHT
30/04/2022
Chapter 19 SPUNK
30/04/2022
Chapter 20 IT DOESN'T GET EASIER
30/04/2022
Chapter 21 PLEASANT FEELING
30/04/2022
Chapter 22 ONE UP
30/04/2022
Chapter 23 NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
30/04/2022
Chapter 24 THE MASQUERADE BALL
30/04/2022
Chapter 25 TIDBITS
30/04/2022
Chapter 26 LOGAN, MEET KATE, KATE, MEET. . . THE ONE
30/04/2022
Chapter 27 A TEACHER
30/04/2022
Chapter 28 BAD LETTER
30/04/2022
Chapter 29 CHITO
30/04/2022
Chapter 30 THE UNWANTED VISITORS
30/04/2022
Chapter 31 THE AFTERMATH
02/07/2022
Chapter 32 THE SHADY PROPOSAL
02/07/2022
Chapter 33 HELLO, AND BYE, MOTHER
02/07/2022
Chapter 34 THE DIRTY PAST
02/07/2022
Chapter 35 CRAVINGS
02/07/2022
Chapter 36 A HEAVENLY TRIP
02/07/2022
Chapter 37 THE CURE
02/07/2022
Chapter 38 THE GUARDIAN
02/07/2022
Chapter 39 THE HIDEOUT
02/07/2022
Chapter 40 A.I RONGA
02/07/2022
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