THIRST

Flash Marriage To My Best Friend's Father

Madel Cerda

I was once the heiress to the Solomon empire, but after it crumbled, I became the "charity case" ward of the wealthy Hyde family. For years, I lived in their shadows, clinging to the promise that Anson Hyde would always be my protector. That promise shattered when Anson walked into the ballroom with Claudine Chapman on his arm. Claudine was the girl who had spent years making my life a living hell, and now Anson was announcing their engagement to the world. The humiliation was instant. Guests sneered at my cheap dress, and a waiter intentionally sloshed champagne over me, knowing I was a nobody. Anson didn't even look my way; he was too busy whispering possessively to his new fiancée. I was a ghost in my own home, watching my protector celebrate with my tormentor. The betrayal burned. I realized I wasn't a ward; I was a pawn Anson had kept on a shelf until he found a better trade. I had no money, no allies, and a legal trust fund that Anson controlled with a flick of his wrist. Fleeing to the library, I stumbled into Dallas Koch-a titan of industry and my best friend's father. He was a wall of cold, absolute power that even the Hydes feared. "Marry me," I blurted out, desperate to find a shield Anson couldn't climb. Dallas didn't laugh. He pulled out a marriage agreement and a heavy fountain pen. "Sign," he commanded, his voice a low rumble. "But if you walk out that door with me, you never go back." I signed my name, trading my life for the only man dangerous enough to keep me safe.

Romance CEO Billionaires Age Gap One-night Stand

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BILLIONAIRE THIRST FOR LOVE

Chapter one

MARIA McCAIN POV

It's a cold morning in Santa-Dabia, it's always cold but today seems colder than usual, wrapped in my blanket, curled up sipping my coffee, I knew it was a matter of time till I would leave all the cold behind.

I was about 5′4 with brunette hair that was long and thick, blue eyes as blue as the sea with rosy lips and a noticeable cleft chin.

Curled up in a blanket I wore white sleeping pajamas paired with white socks.

I wasn't bothered by the cold that was breaking my skin that much after all I've lived all my life in cold Santa-Dabia, it was the cold in my heart that bothered me the most. It's been two years since Jackson, my college sweetheart, left me on the altar.

He just vanished into thin air and left me with wedding debts, shame, and a hole in my heart. A hole I had tried to fix with work and several failed attempts at love.

It's a new year, January the coldest time of the year in Santa-Dabia, and things were already heating up, there were rumors that I was going to get a promotion at work. It was going to be something I could look up to, so I had to catch an afternoon plane to Orano.

I had come to spend my Christmas break with my family and although I missed them, something about Santa-Dabia reminds me of a missing piece of my love life. This place reminded me of so many heartbreaks, tears, pain, depression, and long sleepless nights of asking myself where it all went wrong.

But I was living it all again, 485 miles back to Orano where my life was changed for the better and also looking up at my wristwatch, in nine hours I'll be back to my getaway and my routined lifestyle.

I got to Orano around sunset, took a cab from the airport to my apartment. Once I was in, I kicked my boots off my legs, left the luggage at the center of the room, and sunk into a leather couch.

I looked around my apartment scanning the walls and the exterior. I stood up with a sigh and headed for the fridge, took out a can of cold beer, and returned to my seat as I nursed my drink.

There was a vibration in my Jean pocket as I sat there, it was my cell phone and it was Linda calling.

Linda is my best friend and work colleague. It was Linda who helped me out of depression and frustration. She helped me secure a job, and is the only person outside my family I trust and love.

"Hello Maria," Linda said over the phone.

"Are you back from Santa-Dabia yet?" she added.

"Yeah, I am and Happy New Year to you Linda," I said with a smile as my throat gulped down on the cold beer.

Linda laughed and said, "Wanna go to a New year party? Big Billy Organised it and it is going to be massive."

I heaved a long sigh and replied with a strained voice."I don't want to go out, I'm tired and I need rest."

"What if Big Billy announces your promotion comes today at the party? Plus you haven't been laid in like forever today might be your lucky chance to fuck that guy who has been on your neck for a while now. What's his name again?" Linda asked.

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