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The Ruthless Billionaire, Australian Bachelors

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  • 4.0
    25 peringkat
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Yet I had to ask. In return for what? One dark eyebrow slanted, and his voice held an edge of mockery. “Occupying my home, my bed. My eyes blazed blue fire. “As your mistress? He sounded mildly amused, and at that moment I truly hated him. “Then…..what? I demanded. “As my wife! For a moment I lost the power of speech, and I felt the blood drain from my cheeks. “If this is a joke, I began shakily, it’s in very bad taste. Chef Anna needs cash fast and there’s only one man she can turn to… Eric Alexander. Eric needs to marry to meet the terms of his late father’s will, so he’ll help Anna. She’ll be his convenient wife. It’s so sexy and interesting, it will leave you breathless.

tagar
8 tagar
Chapter 1Chapter 1. YOU MUST OCCUPY MY HOME, MY BED

Anna's point of view 

Can we talk? Stark, minimum words that cost me dearly, and incurred a probing look.

"There's something you want to discuss?

His voice was a faintly inflected drawl, and I suppressed an involuntary shiver.

I spared him a quick glance and gleaned little from his expression. Assertiveness was the key. "Yes.

"In that case, let's do so over lunch.

Share a meal with him? I really didn't want to spend any more time than necessary. Time was something I didn't have!

He sensed my hesitation, and his eyes narrowed slightly. I looked too slender, my features too pale, and I resembled a cat on hot bricks.

Grief, without doubt, had to be taken into account…but why did he have the feeling it was more than that? A broken romance? 

He told himself if he didn't care…and knew it to the untrue. For, despite the intervening years, he still retained a vivid recall of my teenage crush and the method with which he'd dealt with it.

The surprising sweetness of my young mouth; my reaction to his touch; the way I'd felt in his arms, and my uninhibited response.

It had affected him more than he'd imagined possible and left him with a lingering sense of frustration at the knowledge he could have taken me.

What had held him back? Remorse? Guilt? At the time, he'd refused to contemplate thinking it might be anything else…and he'd grasped opportunity with both hands soon after by relocating to New York, where he'd focused on forging his own fortune.

Not unlike the feeling he entertained now.

"We both need to eat, Eric ventured silkily.

Do I have a choice?

"A sandwich and coffee, I conceded, aware it was all I could afford.

"When was the last time you ate a decent meal?

The question came out of left field, and I stiffened at the underlying censure. "In case you've forgotten, I spend my time in the kitchen cooking professionally for a living.

"For clientele.

"The nature of the business," I responded, and incurred his dark gaze. 

"An hour or two enjoying a leisurely meal in my company is abhorrent to you?

Difficult. Unnerving. But not abhorrent. I closed my eyes, then opened them again. Of course not.

We were walking along a busy city street, and I hesitated as Eric indicated a restaurant I knew to be ruinously expensive.

"Relax.

Sure. Like I could do that!

The maître d' took one look at Eric, determined an aura of wealth, and ushered them to a well-positioned table.

Within minutes, the drinks waiter elicited our order, and I opted to stay with chilled water, as did Eric.

"Do you have a preference?

Oh God, I didn't want to do this!

"I'm not very hungry.

Eric cast me a brief glance over the top of the menu, then went ahead and ordered the bruschetta, two entrèes, two mains, and intimate desserts that could wait until later.

I opened my mouth to protest, only to close it again as I incurred his dark, unyielding look.

"You really want to argue?

Give it up, a silent voice warned.

The temptation to launch into my request was uppermost if only to get it out there and be done with it—-for the thought of playing polite and conducting a meaningless conversation almost brought me undone.

He looked every inch the man he'd become. Hardened, ruthless, powerful. Someone it would be wise not to toy with….unless you were prepared to face the consequences.

Successful beyond measure, Michael had been known to reveal, with pride, his residence in London and the south of France, to name a few.

While I was almost destitute and in debt to her eyeballs.

Some comparisons!

Did—could— Eric know of my financial circumstances? Probably not. Unless he'd make it his business to find out.

The waiter appeared and placed a platter on the table. The bruschetta was tempting, but, given the state of required concentration.

"Eat, Anna.

To refuse would be churlish, given a banana followed by coffee.

"How long do you intend to stay in Sydney?

He met my gaze and held it. "As long as it takes.

An ambiguous answer that didn't commit him to anything. 

Would he comply with the conditions of Micheal's will?

It really was no concern of mine whether he did or not.

I moved the food around on my plate and was so caught up with nerves I didn't trust myself to light my fork.

"You wanted to run something with me? Eric prompted and caught my sudden look of anguish.

This was hard, but I couldn't prevaricate, wouldn't pretend. To explain…and ask.

Which I did, as briefly as possible, whilst outlining only the pertinent facts and my desperate urgency for funds.

The specter facts of the loan shark hovered over me like the sword of Damocles, ever threatening, and poised to fall anytime soon. 

Fear consumed me, stretching my nerves to breaking point. 

There was nothing to be gleaned from his expression, making it impossible to discern whether he'd view my request favorably or not.

"What amount do you have in mind?

I mentioned a sum, and he didn't even blink.

"You perceive it as a gift?

"No, Genuine shock widened my eyes, and my hands shook slightly as I replaced my water goblet down on the table. "A loan. I closed my eyes, then opened them again. 

"Using the shades bequeathed me under the terms of Micheal's will as collateral.

I'd done the math, had agonized and lost sleep over the figures, minimizing them to bare essentials to clear accumulated debts and purchase a vehicle. 

"I'll pay you back every cent, with interest.

"Over what time frame?

I relayed an estimation. "Less, I assured him quickly. 

" Can utilize the annuity from Cressida's estate and transfer it directly to you.

Eric surveyed me carefully, then offered a silky negative. "No:

My features paled, and my eyes became large stricken pools. I had nowhere to go…no one else I could ask.

Loan sharks lent money on a strictly short-term basis and non-payment wrought dire consequences.

I could feel the germ of anger begin to seed and take hold, sparking into flames that owed much to the past.

Uppermost was the desire to pick up the salt shaker and hurl it at him. I consciously placed my hands on my lap in an effort to control it.

Any hope Eric might honor Michael's verbal assurance of financial help died a natural death, and I rose to my feet, unable to bear so much as another minute in his company.

"Go back to New York and have a nice life.

"Sit down. Dark slate-grey eyes seared mine. "I'm not done.

"I am!

I turned away from the table, and in the next instant a hand closed over my wrist, mama king me as securely as steel restraints.

"Let me go. The words husked from my throat in a low growl, and my eyes flared with brilliant sapphire chips.

This was close, I was supremely conscious of his height and breadth of shoulder, the clean, laundered smell of his clothes, and the faint, teasing aroma of his cologne.

"Sit down…please.

The "please" did little to appease my anger as I glared at him. "Give me the reason why I should.

Anda Mungkin Juga Menyukai

Devilish secretary

After centuries of ruling the underworld with terrifying power, Lilith dies in an epic battle, only to be reborn in the human world. But instead of a grand rebirth as a queen of darkness, she's reincarnated as something far more mundane—a secretary. Rather than despair, Lilith finds this new life amusing. After all, who would suspect the devil herself to be working a 9-to-5? Settling into her new reality, Lilith embraces her role, living in a luxurious apartment and working diligently in her office. Though her devilish instincts are hard to suppress, she's determined to be the perfect secretary. But when people push her too far, the devil within still comes out to play. When a creep in the office dares to look at her the wrong way, she calmly fixes her gaze on him. "You keep staring like that, and I'll show you what a broken wrist feels like." The man quickly scurries away, leaving Lilith with a satisfied smirk. Even the rich, entitled girl from accounting isn't safe from her wrath. "You think you can push me around just because you've got money? I've burned entire kingdoms for less. Don't test me." She says this with a calm smile, her eyes glinting dangerously. The day continued like that—stopping creeps in their tracks, putting rude heiresses in their place, and being the flawless secretary she intended to be. But, of course, her boss—the CEO—had his eyes on her, more curious than ever. And while the entire office might fear her or wonder about her, she remained blissfully indifferent. This was fun. And she wasn't here to impress anyone but herself. Who knew being a secretary could be so... interesting?

dYdairy_002 · Perkotaan
4.3
311 Chs

The Mind-Read Heiress: From Impostor to Family Favorite

Wenyan read a book in which a cannon-fodder character sharing her name was a false heiress. After the true heiress assumed her position, the impostor tried to secure her place in the wealthy family by drugging the eldest son and making a done deal out of a cooked rice, only to be unmasked by the Shen Family and end up committing suicide in despair. Wenyan was furious to see such an ending. How could one not survive without the backing of a wealthy family? Hadn't the family provided her with a luxury house and countless luxury goods? Just selling those off would fetch tens of millions. She was just a hopeless case! If she were the Wenyan in the book, she would have relinquished her position and just lived laid-back like a salted fish! But when she woke up from her sleep, she actually transmigrated into the book. True to her word, she stopped scheming. Overnight she packed her bags, sold her house, car, and bags, and looked for a job. - The entire Shen Family noticed the change in Wenyan, their adopted daughter. Not only had she moved out obediently, but she also never caused any trouble again. Even more bizarre was that they could now see her innermost thoughts! 【Dad, Mom, I never wanted to usurp your nest, but the DNA test results of the true daughter have issues. In fact, she's even more fake than I, the bogus heiress.】 Shen Family parents: ...... Then the long-lost 'daughter' who had been found was exposed as an impostor and taken away by the police for questioning. 【Big brother, that schoolmate of yours is no good, he's a corporate spy, the illegitimate child of the Shen Family's archenemies.】 Shen Family's eldest son: ...... Afterwards, the schoolmate got caught stealing confidential documents and was also taken away by the police for questioning. 【Second brother, you are such a pure and noble person, you mustn't be with the Qin Family's daughter, she's just using you, her heart is actually set on someone else.】 Shen Family's second son: ...... Thank you, I'll look into it. 【And third brother, fourth brother......】 In the end, nobody could have predicted that the Shen Family's most undistinguished adopted daughter would become the pampered daughter-in-law.

Draw the sword with a smile · Perkotaan
4.5
661 Chs

Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle"

At her wedding banquet, a man claiming to be Selina's lover stormed in, brandishing so-called intimate photos and causing chaos. Selina immediately saw through this as a scheme orchestrated by her half-sister, Natalia. However, Selina's fiancé, Ryan, not only refused to believe her but also went out of his way to defend Natalia. It turned out that Ryan and Natalia had already developed feelings for each other in secret. Everyone—Selina's father, stepmother, and Ryan's parents—knew about their affair, except for Selina, who was left in the dark. Taking advantage of the situation, Selina's father suggested swapping brides, proposing that Natalia replace Selina and complete the wedding. Ryan's family not only didn’t object but wholeheartedly supported the idea. That was the moment Selina finally realized the cruel truth: her family and Ryan's family were nothing but wolves in sheep’s clothing! "Cancel the engagement? Fine. But let it be clear—I’m the one rejecting you, you two-timing, spineless excuse for a man!" Selina declared with unshakable confidence. Her gaze then swept across the room, landing on an elegant and distinguished man. She vaguely remembered him as Ryan’s younger uncle. Walking over, she boldly asked, "Sir, how about getting married?" The man raised an eyebrow, finding her audacity intriguing. "It would be my honor, madam," he replied. ...

Bago_Bago_5587 · Perkotaan
4.7
344 Chs

I transmigrated and got a husband and a son!

She was known by many names: Demoness, a wicked witch, an heiress born to rule hell, the baddest, and the most poisonous flower in the world of the underground. Little did everyone know, the heiress of the most mysterious assassination organization had a simple dream. A dream that many girls had: to have a peaceful life with a husband and a kid. That was why when this infamous leader of the assassin organization woke up in the body of Heaven Liu, she thought her lifelong dream had finally come true. But the reality was far from what she expected. Heaven Liu was a has-been actress; she disappeared from the limelight at the peak of stardom. The reason? An unwanted pregnancy. Forced to marry a man she didn’t love, the marriage easily fell apart — almost at the brink of no repair. With this reality she had to face, would she be able to mend the broken hearts of her husband and son? Or will the distance between them continue to widen? With this loveless marriage from the get-go, would there be a chance they could live happily as a family? Or was it too late? Most importantly, would she truly escape the chains she thought she had broken free from? Or would her own hell catch up to her to drag her back to the pits of hell where she belongs? ***** EBOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON. LINK: https://a.co/d/bTeyr0B Spanish Translation is also available on Webnovel. Link: https://www.webnovel.com/book/transmigr%C3%A9-y-consegu%C3%AD-un-esposo-y-un-hijo!_29071013600828005 Portuguese Translation is also available on Webnovel! Link: https://www.webnovel.com/book/eu-transmigrei-e-ganhei-um-marido-e-um-filho!_29287259500602105### German Translation: https://www.webnovel.com/book/ich-bin-ausgewandert-und-habe-einen-mann-und-einen-sohn-bekommen!_29589894400890705 Disclaimer: The cover is not owned by me. All credits go to the artist. This is a part of the author’s Wild Series. Wild Miss Heiress: I reincarnated and got a husband and a son! JOIN MY DISCORD SERVER: https://discord.gg/gXCMQwmrGY

BAJJ · Perkotaan
4.9
1249 Chs

The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress

Hera Avery is working several part-time jobs to pay for her university tuition. She is managing her work and love life simultaneously. Her boyfriend, who is a rising celebrity, made her pay for their expensive apartment located in a well-known building. The building is also home to well-known heirs and heiresses. On her boyfriend's birthday and their third anniversary, she returned home to their apartment only to find him with another woman. But what did she get in return? A slap on the face, a breakup and she was evicted from the apartment she was paying with her own money. After being evicted and becoming homeless, she believed things couldn't get any worse. However, her cheating ex-boyfriend's wealthy new girlfriend went further by reaching out to every establishment and persuading them to blacklist her. This caused her to lose her means of living and they even spread rumors that she was obsessed with her former celebrity boyfriend and was attacked by his fans. Having no way out, she gritted her teeth. "Grandpa, I'm willing to inherit the consortium." Old Master Avery laughed heartily after hearing her conviction and sent a bank transfer to Hera. [ You received a $100,000,000,000 money transfer to your account ending in ####] [Note: My dear granddaughter, use this pocket money to treat yourself to anything you desire. Don't be frugal, and if you spend it all, don't hesitate to ask me for more.] Hera was astounded. When her identity was announced, her ex-boyfriend kneeled and cried to her, for her to take him back. The sarcastic Male lead 1: Do you think it's your turn? Look behind. When her ex-boyfriend looked back, he saw influential men lining up with bouquets of roses to woo Hera. The cold Male lead 2: It's your fault for being blind. Cry and beg but you'll have no chance as long as we are here. The brutal and impatient Male lead 3: Do you want me to break your legs?! The entertainment King Male lead 4: You're just a little star but you want to bypass me? The hot-headed Male lead 5: I'll make sure, you'll be shelve. The coquettish Male lead 6: Wifey, they are trying to steal you from me! Seeing the problematic Male leads, Hera felt an incoming headache not knowing what to do. "Let's just go with the flow then!"

GoddessKM · Perkotaan
4.9
850 Chs

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