John Grisham The Client 소설 & 이야기

He is the man her father wants erased. She is the only woman who can bring him to his knees. In neon-soaked New York City, power isn’t inherited—it’s stolen. Twenty-three-year-old Ava Moretti was born into one of Manhattan’s most feared real-estate dynasties, raised to preserve its empire—not question it. Invisible, controlled, untouchable… until she slips into an illegal underground auction hidden beneath a luxury skyscraper. That’s where she meets him. Damian Kade—ruthless tech billionaire, the “Silicon King,” and her family’s greatest enemy. A man who doesn’t lose, doesn’t beg, and doesn’t spare mercy. When a violent deal spirals into chaos, Damian drags her into the shadows and kisses her—hard, commanding, forbidden—just to keep her alive. He doesn’t know she’s a Moretti. She doesn’t know he’s the man her father has spent a decade trying to destroy. What begins as a secret client arrangement quickly turns into obsession. In public, they are enemies whose names should never be spoken in the same room. In private, they are ruin—ripped silk, bruised lips, and truths neither of them were ever meant to survive. “I should walk away from you,” Damian whispers against her skin. “But I don’t believe in should.” But love in their world is never safe. When an attack on Ava’s family is traced back to Kade Industries, she’s forced into an impossible choice: expose the man she loves… or protect him and risk watching her entire bloodline burn. He is the empire her father wants destroyed. She is the key to his downfall. In a city built on betrayal and blood, love is the most dangerous crime of all. How far will you go for the one person you were never meant to survive?

Ava had her back at Drex, and for the past month, her life had turned from bad to worse. at that moment when she had fallen deeply in love with the ruthless assassin who contributed to making her life miserable, the world began to look beautiful again, she thought things would turn out for the best, only for her to find out that Drex was not protecting her because he loved her. "I hate you with every fiber in me," Ava screamed in tears. Even when she utters those words, her heart still beats for him, She wished he had killed her that night, she wished he had never met him. She wished she had never fallen for him, how can she love someone who wouldn't miss the slightest opportunity to end her life? "if I disappear out of your life, will that make you happy?" Drex asked. "You are a total jerk!" She yell. With rage, Ava stormed toward him and slapped him across his face, she made to slap him again but Drex held her tightly and draw her into his embrace. Her anger dissipated immediately, she melt away in his embrace. She love his smell, his cologne which she was now familiar with give her nothing but comfort. "I love this side of you, so feisty!" he said. ******** Don Drex Mason is well-known to the outer world as a dropped-dead handsome bachelor and a businessman but in the underworld, he was the most feared ruthless mafia assassin. Ava Anderson, a small-time introverted nosy newspaper journalist, the two personalities crossed paths on an unfortunate rainy night, she was his target and a threat to his client, she's to be eliminated at all costs. but their fate was already sealed by lightning which made them share one soul.

Kyra Hopkins doesn’t believe in marriage and long term relationships. She co-manages her dream job with her two best friends Lily and Bipasha. With the two worried about her no-dating state, they hit a club with plans to GET KYRA LAID. In a White tiny dress they leave her in a bar nurturing a glass of water and pondering what exactly her newest client’s birthday party theme should be. Horses or cars. That’s what she voices out to the sinfully hot man who took the seat beside hers. And he’s got Kyra’s feet feeling like they were lit on fire. Worst of all, she got what it meant to have butterflies flutter in your stomach walls. Best of all, the man knows what she wants and he wants it too and more. Kyra got in for the ride of her life, planned for a weekend because remember? Kyra doesn’t do long term. But then, neither is Nicholai Damien Ivanov or Sin as he’s more popularly known as into long term relationships. One night stands or at a stretch a weekend fling. Why does the angel in white getting stuck in his head and refusing to leave? Why couldn’t his PI track her from the little information she dropped about herself. The questions haunted his nights and refused to leave until he caught sight of his Angel in a black dress on another man’s arm, then his sister hugged her referring to her as Kyra while his Angel introduced herself to him as April. Sin got his answer and meant to show her how much they weren’t over yet. In fact they hadn’t even begun. It was just the beginning of Nicholai Ivanov’s obsession with his one-night stand.

****** “Do I truly have no effect on you, Delia?” Rafe’s voice was low and husky as he slowly drew her into his embrace. His fingers trailed down the curve of her spine, igniting a spark that sent a shiver racing through her body. As she sucked in her breath, unable to tear her gaze away from him, he leaned in closer, his lips grazing the sensitive skin of her neck. “Does this not feel good?” he murmured, his warm breath fanning her damp skin. Delia remained silent, unable to form a coherent response as he trailed his mouth to hers, slowly capturing her lips in a searing kiss. ******* Delia Scott is seeking refuge from her troubled past on the tranquil shores of St. John, unaware that the moment she steps foot on the island, her fate is sealed. She is the destined mate of Raphael “Rafe” Donovan—the enigmatic and formidable Alpha of the Nightclaw Pack, one of the largest Coastal Wolves Pack. Rafe, rules with an iron fist and works tirelessly to maintain the delicate balance between the humans and werewolves that reside in St. John. After years of believing his fated mate was nothing more than a lost dream, Delia’s arrival changes everything. And now that he’s found her, he will stop at nothing to keep her by his side. As their destinies collide, Rafe and Delia find themselves ensnared in a tempest of desire and longing, each grappling with the depths of their emotions. But beneath the sun-drenched paradise, a sinister threat looms, waiting to tear them apart. And when a third player enters the game, questions arise—Is Delia truly meant for Rafe, or was she never his to claim?

Vera Quinn and I spent seven years tearing each other apart in the corporate world. When we first started, she sabotaged my presentation slides, hoping to watch me humiliate myself in front of the board. I retaliated by flagging her fraudulent expense reports to HR, making sure her name was dragged through every department in the company. When we were both up for the director position, she locked me in a supply closet to make me miss the final interview. The moment I got out, I poached a major client she had been pursuing for six months, leaving her at the very bottom of the year-end performance rankings. In our industry, we were fire and water—completely incompatible. Then three years ago, the endless scheming finally felt hollow. I handed in my resignation and walked away from the industry for good. The day I packed my desk and left, Vera was leaning against the elevator door, her eyes full of mockery. "Giving up already? Mylo, a cowardly deserter like you deserves to starve on the streets". I hit the "close" button, swearing I never wanted to see her face again as long as I lived. Three years later, we crossed paths again at the industry’s annual gala. Vera was now the youngest partner in the industry. She looked at me as I stood there, humbling myself to pour drinks for an executive, and let out a sharp laugh. "It’s been a few years, and you’ve fallen this far? Working as a glorified escort to scrounge up some investments? What happened to that pride you used to fight me with?" But I wasn't there to secure any investment. I was there to beg that executive for a few more days to pay off the predatory loans my father had left behind. I just needed enough time to sign the consent form for my stomach cancer surgery with a clear conscience.

On the death anniversary of Edward Paulson's ancestors, my husband, Shane Carlton's best friend, Valerie York, wants to make an offering to said ancestors by lighting up candles of different sizes. The thing is, she wants to do it in the direction of the wind. This time, however, I don't bother stopping her at all. In my previous lifetime, the entire company accompanied Edward, a rich businessman who happened to be a client of ours, to his hometown so that he could pay respects to his ancestors. In order to show how capable she was in front of Edward, Valerie insisted on lighting tall and huge candles, which was against the law. I quickly stopped her by explaining that it'd be very easy for her to start a mountain fire if she were to do this. But Valerie claimed that I was just trying to embarrass her in front of everyone else. Furious, she ran toward the depths of the mountain, where she accidentally fell down a slope and ended up crippled. Shane continued to keep Edward company throughout the day without reacting to the news. Thanks to my efforts in socializing with Edward, Shane successfully snagged the business deal with him. Later on, the company got listed successfully. When Shane took me on a vacation to a tropical island, he shoved me into the deep sea that was filled with reefs. As I felt seawater gushing into my nose, I demanded Shane for answers while crying loudly. He just stomped on my hands, which were latching desperately to the side of the boat. "If you hadn't publicly humiliated Valerie back then, she wouldn't have fallen down the slope and gotten crippled!" In the end, I drowned in the no man zone. After I died, Valerie, who was supposedly crippled, miraculously stood up. Shane used the accident insurance payout that he had cashed out from my death to enjoy the rest of his life with Valerie. When I open my eyes again, I've returned to the day Valerie decides to light the candles.

WARNING: This book contains BDSM themes, emotional abuse, manipulation, explicit sexual content, and G×G scenes. Reader discretion is advised. Ashley has spent her entire life surviving. By day, she hides behind forced smiles and coffee orders. By night, she dances beneath neon lights, selling fantasies to strangers while struggling to pay off the mountain of gambling debts her abusive mother left behind. College is her only way out. Then a wealthy client offers her an outrageous amount of money for a private dance. Desperate, Ashley agrees. Until she walks into the room and sees Kayden Devereaux. Her high school bully. The boy who made her teenage years a nightmare. The boy who pushed her so far she once thought death was easier than facing another day with him. Ashley is ready to leave, but Kayden stops her with an offer she can't ignore: One month. Complete control. Two hundred thousand dollars. She hates him enough to say no. But hatred won't pay her debts. So she signs the contract. Days later, her entire world shatters. Her mother marries the dangerous man they owe money to, wiping out their debt overnight. And Kayden? He's now her stepbrother. Forced to live under the same roof, Ashley finds herself trapped between fear, anger, and a dangerous attraction she refuses to acknowledge. She should end their arrangement. She should stay away from him. But Kayden has never been the type to let her go. As obsession replaces hatred and dark secrets begin to unravel, Ashley discovers that Kayden isn't just the villain from her past. He's been pulling the strings of her present all along. And now, the devil who ruined her life wants to own her heart too.

"Didn't know a clumsy girl would be sent to me?" He said, and I felt a ripple go through me. His voice! It was the deepest one I have ever heard of. His aura screams power but I don't know why I kept on looking at his face as if I was under a love spell. "You keep looking at me, did you find me too pretty?" He asked, and his deep voice jolted me awake, goosebumps traveling down my skin when I realized he grabbed my ass cheek. Fuck! Now, I wasn't expecting that. "Sorry, I don't think I heard you well," I said in a calm voice, averting my gaze. And thanks to the mask, he would have seen my cheeks red with blush. "What music would you want me to dance to?" I said as I stood upright, my heart beating wildly against my chest. "I think another person should be brought in, don't you think?" He asked, his head cocked to one side and I swear, his words hit a nerve in me. No client has ever belittled me before and his rude remark felt like a blow to me. "I don't think you will be needing another girl," I said and touched the collar of his shirt *** Valeria seems like a regular omega on the surface but beneath that perfect smile lies a great secret. Driven by vengeance and revenge, she works as a stripper at night to find her parents' killer. Her thirst for vengeance ultimately makes her cross paths with a mysterious masked man she feels holds the answers she seeks. But what will happen when Valeria is arranged to marry the Lycan King, who seeks an open marriage? She is forced to live a double life to keep her secrets.

At 7am on the dot my alarm rings on my nightstand. After a brief moment of irritation I sprung out of bed to get ready for school. While brushing my long curly ember hair my phone dings incessantly on the bathroom counter. After picking up the phone the dread I already felt in my heart was amplified. It was my best friend Jesse wishing me a happy birthday but I for the life of me couldn’t understand what an 18 year old girl had to be happy about. When a woman turns 18 she is mated for life, she’d be made to quit school, produce children and satisfy their mates every need and urge. That’s all a woman was good for in this town and I’d be damned if I was going to sit down and shut up about it. After ignoring Jesse I finished dressing and strolled down stairs where my mother and father were still having their morning meeting with their subordinates. Alfa John and Luna Kate or not, I’d doubt they’d even notice I was leaving if I hadn’t slammed the door on my way out. I wonder if they were disappointed by my lack of interest of the ways of the pack or if they were just disappointed I didn’t have a penis between my legs. Regardless, I have no intention on going to my mating ball tonight. My parents have invited every male in our pack but there’s no way I was going without a fight! As I lift my fingers from the door handle I come to an abrupt stop eye to eye with my fathers beta Josh. In a low growl all I hear is “You didn’t think you could actually leave did you?”

Leah is back on the family farm in Mozambique, where she meets doctor Sergio Martinez whom she immediately feels attracted to. But Leah is certainly not happy to see that her ex-husband Ralph is also back here. Apparently to complete the dream eco-holiday destination he originally planned, when they were married to each other. What is really uncomfortable is the fact that he wants her back as his wife. He still wants to make a baby with her! Leah acquired a little bit of money after selling her grandmother's house in Pretoria. And Ralph knows about it. He is a dangerous man if he believes there is money somewhere that he can get his hands on. But for some or another reason, Ralph Jameson suddenly has money of his own as well. Did he inherit it from the much older deceased woman he briefly married, after divorcing Leah? Or did he steal it from her while she was still alive? Sergio Martinez is happy with the card life dealt him. He is a veterinarian working for an international company dealing with the relocation and breeding of wild animals for National Parks all over Africa. The lion project, wildlife sanctuary and hospital for injured animals is on a farm neighboring Hurters Retreat. He rents a flat from John Hurter, as he got himself a pet now, an African Wild cat. Gato needs to be kept away from the vet's patients and other threats in the bush. Hurters Retreat felt like a safe haven for his cat and his heart. But suddenly he is not that sure anymore. Why does it feel as if Leah was the woman he waited for all his life. And why did her ex-husband follow her there? Is this the day trouble started in his paradise?