Login to ManoBook
icon 0
icon TOP UP
rightIcon
icon Reading History
rightIcon
icon Log out
rightIcon
icon Get the APP
rightIcon
Something Else
5.0
Comment(s)
View
14
Chapters

Nate, a man burdened by the legacy of his family's immense wealth and the pressures of upholding a corporate empire. He finds himself utterly exhausted and disillusioned by a life spent chasing a definition of success that leaves him feeling profoundly empty. His impulsive escape to the quaint Colorado town of Harmony Creek marks a pivotal point in his journey. Harmony Creek, with its close-knit community, its emphasis on faith and its slower pace of life, is a stark contrast to Nate's high-pressure existence. It is here, in this haven of warmth and kindness, that he encounters Jessie, a woman who embodies the town's gentle spirit. Their connection is a slow burn, a gradual unfolding of affection built on mutual respect, shared experiences, and a growing understanding of each other's souls.

Chapter 1 Burnout

The mahogany desk, usually a symbol of power and success, felt like a prison. Nate stared at the meticulously organized files, each representing a deal, a negotiation, a mountain of responsibility that threatened to bury him alive. The air hung heavy with the scent of old paper and stale coffee, a familiar aroma that now only served to amplify his exhaustion. Two years ago, his father had passed away, leaving Nate not only grieving but also thrust into the unforgiving role of CEO of Sterling Industries, a multi-billion dollar empire built on ambition and ruthlessness.

He'd inherited not only a legacy but a suffocating weight of expectation.

The pressure was relentless. Board meetings stretched late into the night, each decision carrying the weight of thousands of employees' livelihoods. His days bled into one another, a blur of spreadsheets, conference calls, and strained smiles forced onto his face. Sleep was a luxury he barely afforded himself, his dreams haunted by the relentless demands of the company. Even the quiet moments, usually a refuge, were filled with a gnawing unease, a constant reminder of his father's absence and the impossible task set before him. His brother, Stephen, ever the ambitious one, hovered on the periphery, his eyes sharp, assessing, calculating.

The weight of his father's legacy was unbearable. He had been molded to follow in his father's footsteps, trained from a young age in the art of deal-making, instilled with a fierce competitiveness that had now turned against him. He'd excelled, surpassing even his father's expectations, but at what cost? He had sacrificed his personal life, his relationships, even his own sense of self, all in service of the Sterling empire. Now, standing at the precipice of his own potential burnout, he felt hollow, an empty shell driving himself relentlessly towards a goal he no longer desired.

One evening, amidst the chaotic symphony of ringing phones and urgent emails, Nate found himself staring out of his office window, lost in the glittering expanse of the city. The city lights, usually a beacon of success and opportunity, felt cold and isolating. He felt a deep, profound loneliness he hadn't anticipated. It wasn't simply the death of his father, but the realization that he had lost himself in the process of building this empire, that the cost of success was far too high.

He thought of the Christmas cards piled on his desk, unopened, their festive cheer mocking his emotional desolation. The thought of spending Christmas alone in the sterile confines of his city apartment, surrounded by the symbols of his success and the ghosts of his past, was unbearable. A sudden, impulsive thought took root in his mind – escape. A complete, utter escape from the relentless demands of his life.

With a decision as swift and unexpected as a mountain avalanche, he grabbed his keys, his phone, and a small bag. He didn't even bother to inform anyone. He simply walked out of the towering skyscraper, leaving behind the gilded cage he'd built for himself.

The drive was a blur, a cathartic release of pent-up frustration and grief. He drove west, away from the city's suffocating embrace, guided only by the faint whisper of a yearning for something more, something real. He didn't have a destination in mind; the only plan was to disappear, to find a place where the relentless pressure would cease to exist.

Continue Reading

Other books by Missy Carlyle

More

You'll also like

My Neighbor's Wife

My Neighbor's Wife

E_STEVANIA
5.0

"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.

The 5-time Rejected Gamma & the Lycan King

The 5-time Rejected Gamma & the Lycan King

Stina‘s Pen
4.9

COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?

Chapters
Read Now
Download Book