In the heart of the CEO

Billionaire & CEO

happy," Killian said. "Happy that I hacked them?" Happy that they know their vulnerabilities and how Sentinel Security can help eliminate them. And pay Killian a billion dollars for his work. Sentinel did all sorts of security. I knew Killian had a private army of ex-military badasses, but he also specialized in cybersecurity. I'd been working for Sentinel for several years. Companies hired me to test their systems and improve their security. It was a good business. I used my special skills and got a paycheck at the end of each month. "I'll email you your next job, Remi." The slightest tilt of Killian's lips. "Or should I say, Rogue Angel?" I smiled. "You're not supposed to know my secret identity." "I work security, remember?" "Bye, Bossman." I ended the conversation, closed my laptop, and glanced at the clock. The kids would be home from school soon, and my stomach growled. Mmm, I could use some of Mama's cookies. I walked around my loft space. It wasn't big, but it was mine. It had an industrial vibe, with my bed in one corner, shrouded in sheer curtains. A small kitchen that I barely used was in another corner, a door leading to my compact bathroom, and an open-plan living area where my desk sat in prime position against the opposite wall. My gaze settled on a photo above the desk. I got a little shiver every time I saw it. It was of an angel warrior, coming in to land on the battlefield. I had a thing for angels. His huge white wings were spread, sword in hand, boots about to touch the ground. His body was mostly in shadow, but that didn't hide the power of his musculature, or the hint of a rugged face. Wrinkling my nose, I sighed. I wished they made men like that in real life. I walked down the stairs, my boots thumping on the metal steps. The noise assaulted me. There was some tool whirring nearby, and I also grabbed a supply of grease, gas, and exhaust. My loft was above my foster brother's auto shop. At the bottom of the stairs, I turned and saw three cars in various states of disrepair-one parked with the hood open, one hooked up to some machine, and another on a hoist with a mechanic underneath. I recognized Steve's thin frame and baggy, dingy jeans. He was busy, and the guy who worked for him was on vacation, so I guess that was why he was working on a Sunday. I walked out the open front doors. Brr. It was a cold, gloomy day in Brooklyn. I wrapped my arms around myself. I should have grabbed my jacket, but thankfully I wasn't going far. I walked to the house next to the two-story brick house and opened the gate. The metal creaked. The house had a basement apartment, where Steve lived with his four-year-old daughter, Kaylee. I ran up the steps to the main house and opened the door. "Hello!" "We're here," a female voice said. I found Mama Alma in the kitchen. Of course, where else would she be? Kaylee was on the floor having a tea party with her dolls and bears. "Remi!" The little blonde princess jumped up and ran to me. I picked her up and she wrapped her arms and legs around me. I breathed in her apple-scented shampoo. "Hey, KayKay. Are you being good to Mama?" Kaylee smiled and nodded. Then she squirmed and I set her down on the floor to go back to her tea party guests. Mama smiled and I walked over to kiss her thin, dark cheek. She smelled like home. For the first eight years of my life, I didn't know what that word meant. Then the angels smiled on me and sent an angry little girl to a foster home run by Mama. She had owned this house in Sunset Park, Brooklyn for years. The small warehouse next door was her husband's. Unable to have children of their own, they became foster parents. Big Mike had died a year before I arrived, but Alma had never stopped opening her home. And some of us hadn't really left. I would be twenty-seven on my next birthday, and I hadn't gone very far. Steve had been one of Mama's first foster children. Kaylee was Steve's daughter, but Mama still had three children with her-two boys, ages nine and ten, and a teenage girl. "I'll pour us some tea," Mama said. I sank into the chair at the rickety table. The kitchen hadn't changed in decades. "I'd rather have a shot of bourbon to celebrate. I just finished a job." Mama made a sound in her throat. "We don't have bourbon in this house." I picked up a cookie from the plate on the table. Mmm. Chocolate chip, my favorite. She set a teacup in front of me. Mama loved collecting the flowery, delicate teacups at outdoor markets. None of them matched. Like my family, Mama always told me. When I finished my cookie, I studied Mama-she looked tired and her face was drawn. I grimaced. Mama always said she was a mix of the best-African-American, a dash of Hispanic, and a bit of hardy Irish stock. I guess that's why I liked her at first sight-I was a mix, too. Mostly Hispanic, though I had no idea who my parents were. I probably had an African-American ancestor somewhere in the tree, too, and a few other things-who knows what-crept in.

Majestic CEO

You killed them... You killed them... The image of the car falling off the cliff, and me watching the scene through the cloudy glass, whose windshield was trying uselessly to clear it, was something that had stayed with me for five years. Almost every night, that nightmare was my greatest companion. Except that, when I woke up, I didn't feel the relief of not being in my reality. On the contrary... the empty bed was proof enough that the death of two people so important in my life was not an illusion. I was the one who caused that death. It was my fault and no one else's. I always knew I was a controlling son of a bitch, and I fought day after day not to suffocate Taís with my temper. She was never submissive, not at all, and that was what I loved most about her personality, although it was a fetish of mine in bed that my wife had never been able to fulfill. Maybe, that day, I should have let my fucking control freak take over and locked her in the house to stop her from leaving. Much less taking our son with her. Or maybe I shouldn't have followed them, swearing I would be protecting them. That the best option was to try to bring her back home. Taís was no longer happy. She never wanted marriage. Pregnancy had led her to agree to our union, but she was too young. I had convinced her, and nothing would ever make me regret it so much again. Being a father was my dream. It still was, in fact. I hadn't expected to have a child only to lose him less than a year later. He would have been six by then. He would have been running around at that party, just like the beautiful little girl in the pink dress whose parents had already scolded her more than once. I hated parties like that, where all that reigned was hypocrisy. Where people looked at me as if I were watching each one of them to write down any little mistake on my list of future dismissals. So, a breath of fresh air like that, the sound of a child's laughter, her mischievous manner... all of that almost made me smile. Almost. The little girl was probably the daughter of one of my employees. I couldn't say for sure, because I wasn't exactly attentive to their personal lives. What really mattered to me was their performance within the office. I used to be a little more sociable – but only a little – but after Taís died, I literally closed myself off from the world. At the office, I was known as Iron Man; I was just as controlling as I was in my personal life. People didn't know that this information was passed on to me, but unfortunately for them, the only person who had any access to me was my secretary, and she would tell me this with a laugh. I didn't find the nickname that funny, although her laugh was adorable. By the way, she was at the party. She was very pretty – that was what I could see from a distance. A simple black dress, not much different from the ones she wore to work, but definitely new. One of the only friends I had, who was the commercial director of Sodemberg – the company I owned and which was in the nautical tourism industry – always told me that I was crazy about Diana, the secretary. That was the vulgar word he used, although I couldn't

CEO arrogant

solution to her problems lies in the hands of the man she swore to hate. Now graduated and a renowned professional, Dandara realizes that her awards are incapable of helping her realize her dream of producing a documentary. Meanwhile, Marcello will do everything he can to get a second chance with the woman he hurt by offering her an irresistible proposal: to produce the documentary exactly the way she wants. Amidst indecent provocations and conversations full of ulterior motives, will Dandara be able to resist the temptation to fulfill her wish? - Are you paying attention? - asks Cris, my secretary, in a tired voice. - Yes, I am - I confirm, forcing myself to take my eyes off my cell phone. I just received an intriguing message from a press officer who, in elaborate half-words, makes it clear how much she would like to sleep with me. My fingers itch to open the attachment and confirm whether the photo is nude, but I focus on keeping my attention on the woman sitting in front of the wooden desk covered in papers. Around us, the last rays of the late afternoon sun illuminate the huge office with floor-to-ceiling windows. Cris takes a deep breath, aware that I wasn't paying attention to anything he said. - The director of the morning newspaper is furious about the approval of the new commercials and wants to schedule a meeting. - Why? I don't see any reason for him to be furious - I comment. - To discuss whether the time is ideal for broadcasting the advertisement for penis enlargement capsules. He thinks it would be better during the commercials on the evening entertainment programs. I resist cracking a half smile. A few years ago, when she started working for me, Cris would blush like a ripe tomato at the mention of even the slightest word related to a sexual organ. Now, accustomed to what we convey here, she doesn't even flinch. "We don't need to schedule a meeting," I reply cheerfully. "The commercials are working, the board of directors is happy with the increase in profits, and I personally believe that any time is a good time to help poor men with small penises. If they're happy to buy the product during the morning news, it's during the morning news that it will be sold. Anything else?" "Yes, the department..." My phone rings. I quickly signal for it to hold and answer. Cris seems to need all her willpower not to roll her eyes. "Hi, son, how are you?" I recognize Dona Francisca's voice. "Everything. What's up?" I cover the phone and smile at the secretary. "Just a minute, it's my mother." She nods and begins to carefully examine the cuticles of her red-painted nails. "Are you coming to visit me on Sunday?" "Yes, I am. Why?" "Bring lunch ready. I'm too lazy to cook." I laugh out loud. It's only Friday and my mother is thinking about Sunday. By then, she'll call me two or three more times confirming the visit and changing her mind about cooking. I just hope the mysterious advisor doesn't want to schedule something on Sunday. I need to keep that in mind when I ask her out. "I'll take it, don't worry," I confirm. Cris taps her shoes on the floor impatiently. "Sorry, Mom, but I have to go. I'm in the middle of a meeting with my secretary." "You're not going out with her, are you? I'm not going out with Cris. She's married and has two children, but I can't say I've stopped dating other secretaries. Here, on this same table, in front of the glass wall that covers half the room, while the sunset over the city of São Paulo covered us in orange tones. The helicopters from competing broadcasters would have been quite a sight if they had been passing near the building at that moment. "I'm not. I really have to go. See you on Sunday." "Okay. Kisses." "Another one," I reply. As soon as she puts her phone down, I hang up mine and turn to Cris. "I always ask her to call me at work only in case of emergency, but you know how it is. People over sixty think, rightly, that they can do whatever they want." I smile and focus my attention on the secretary. "What were you saying, Cris?" "The print media sector wants to know when the contract with the new printing company is signed.

CEO of Taurus

beautiful and dear, about to turn eighty-five. On the other side, my cousin Max tells one of his lame jokes to my parents. My mother rolls her eyes and shakes her head, probably finding the outcome ridiculous. My father, on the other hand, laughs out loud, his powerful voice drowning out the chatter. "Did you hear that one, Lorenzo?" he asks, gesturing in my direction. "Only about ten times." "You used to be less grumpy," Max says, biting off the end of a cannoli, but not before taking a piece of the flaky shell to throw at me. I dodge in time, and the piece of candy hits the cabinet door before falling to the floor. Maybe I was, I think, giving him the middle finger. Back when I had fewer worries. I cut a piece of tiramisu with the spoon and put it in my mouth. The mixture of cream, champagne biscuit and coffee melts on my tongue. My eyes meet Monalisa's, also my cousin. She returns my gray gaze and somehow I know she wants to interrupt the conversation to talk about business in the middle of Sunday lunch. But first, my mother needs to talk about my life. "He really is gone," she sighs. "Before he broke up with Ingrid." The only reason the table doesn't fall silent is because the family is too noisy for that. I don't have to try to remember my ex-girlfriend there, among them, trying to make herself heard with her soft voice amidst the chaos. Or her moaning softly against my ear while I held her tightly in my arms and with her legs around my waist. "I wasn't the one who broke up with Ingrid." My mother points a finger. "Still, you should try to win her back." I shift on the counter, the cold marble suddenly uncomfortable against my back. Maybe it's better to talk business after all. I never told them I tried. And how I tried. Ingrid and I had been dating for five years when she asked for a break. We got back together and broke up at least three more times, and I never saw any reason to break up for good. But she did. Ingrid said our relationship was settled, that I worked too much and paid her too little attention. I always thought her argument was unfair. I tried to do my best in both of them, but it wasn't enough. We broke up for good, and shortly after, she married someone else. Since then, I've closed my heart to serious relationships. Better than risk getting hurt again. Stopped at red lights on the streets of Goiânia, I sometimes see her walking down the sidewalk holding hands with her three-year-old son. A slight wave of jealousy snakes through my body when she laughs at something her husband says. The sound reverberates inside my closed window, making every hair on my body stand on end, remembering that that laugh had once been mine. "Don't worry. Lorenzo and I are always active. One day he'll bring a nice girl for you to meet," Max scoffs. I narrow my eyes at him, daring him to continue, and he smiles crookedly. "He'll fill this house with grandchildren." "I hope so," Mom says cheerfully. "Because neither you nor your sister seem very worried about doing that." Max's face falls and I almost choke on my mouthful of candy, trying to hold back my laughter. He throws a new piece of cannoli at me, but this time I catch it in mid-air and throw it back at him. The crispy shell hits Monalisa's shoulder. She frowns and, with her fingertips, brushes away the place where the dough touched her clothes, then turns to my mother. "Sorry, auntie, but I'm not interested in babies." On the other hand, I have an important matter to discuss with all of you regarding the company. "Do we really need to talk about this here?" Max asks, serious for the first time since we arrived. We came to spend the weekend and, like me, he hates talking about business during family gatherings. I look at my cousin, trying to predict which bombshell

Scoundrel CEO

Los Angeles, away from the watchful eyes of the office, the tension between them reaches a new level. In a universe where the professional mixes with the personal, Sebastian and Chloe discover that the limits are as thin as their own resistance. Between furtive encounters, dialogues full of ulterior motives and a passion that threatens to destroy all the rules, the line between pleasure and danger becomes increasingly blurred. In this game of seduction, who will emerge victorious? Get ready for a story full of chemistry, provocations and twists, where power and pleasure walk hand in hand, and desire is the only rule that matters. PROLOGUE Working at TechFin Corp in San Francisco was everything I had ever wanted. Located in the heart of the city, the office offered a breathtaking view of the San Francisco Bay. The glitter of the waters at dawn, combined with the silhouette of the bridges, created a scene that made me feel invincible. I loved walking to work, feeling the cool Pacific breeze caress my face, a constant reminder of the freedom and possibilities that this city has always offered me. My name is Chloe Carter, I am 28 years old and I was born and raised in the winding hills of San Francisco. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been fascinated by the pulsating rhythm of this city. The cool wind that blows constantly around here never lets my wavy brown hair stay in place, and perhaps that's a reflection of the intensity I carry with me. My honey-colored eyes capture the nuances of this vibrant city, and my parents always said I had a daring soul, incapable of settling for the ordinary. I guess they were right. Working in the financial analysis department was not for the faint of heart; the routine was always hectic, each day a new challenge, a new mountain to climb. However, I loved it, it was rewarding. Perhaps it was my adventurous spirit, the same one that always drove me to seek more, to explore not only the numbers, but also the emotions and power games that ran silently through the halls of TechFin Corp. But it wasn't just the work that made me tick. I always had a soft spot for the unknown, for those romantic adventures that began with a furtive glance and ended with a racing heart. The adrenaline of a new conquest, the game of seduction-all of this was part of who I was, and I made no effort to hide it. After all, what would life be without a little excitement? My parents, Helen and John Carter, have always supported me, even when I made decisions that many would consider too bold. And my younger sister, Lily, was my greatest accomplice in life's small and big follies. The two of us have always been inseparable, two free souls sailing the same rough sea. That morning, as usual, I arrived at the office early. The sun had barely risen above the horizon, but the TechFin Corp building was already starting to come alive with the movement of the first employees. The air was fresh, and my mind, sharp as ever, ready for another day of challenges. When I walked into my office, it was no surprise to find Jenna at my desk, with a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. Jenna is my best friend and coworker, and if there's one thing I've learned in the time we've spent together, it's that if you arrive before her, you better check your watch, because something is definitely wrong. She was always the first to arrive

Used by the CEO

Miguel Armani Owner of a large engineering and architecture company. A renowned and respected man wherever he goes. But inside this businessman, there is a lonely and closed man. Miguel is divorced, father of a beautiful five-year-old girl, to whom he dedicates all his love and attention. The only person he swore to love forever. Agatha Parker The youngest heiress of the Parker family, she called off her engagement to the son of her father's friend and ran away from home. A black woman who has suffered a lot in the face of society and her own family. She moved to a new city to start over, leaving everyone who mistreated her behind and staying strong. Her first goal to change her life: get a job! And, by coincidence, the CEO needed a nanny. Fate or coincidence? It doesn't matter! A single and attractive woman. A divorced and lonely man. Fate Secrets Forgiveness Seduction Being a nanny for a five-year-old child seemed easy. But as for enduring the seduction of her boss, easy or impossible? What could a kiss cause? A man determined to do anything to get what he wants And a woman hard to forget. Copyright © 2024 Natália França All rights reserved The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental and is not intentional on the part of the author. No part of this book may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the author. Cover: bk.designereditorial Illustration: cr_bannerss Chapter 1 - Daddy, wait! I turned around seeing my little one coming down the stairs in her uniform, I bent down to hug her, I was intoxicated by the sweet smell of her baby perfume and the smell of shampoo coming from her wet hair. - Good morning, daughter. - I don't want to go to school today. - Why? - I'm sick. - Where does it hurt? - I asked, putting my hand to her forehead, feeling her temperature. - All over her body. - Maybe I know what it is. - said Ivy, my sister, coming back from the kitchen with an apple in her hand. - Auntie, I'm sick. - Does this boo-boo start at the head and go all the way down to the feet? - Yes. - Sure. I have the diagnosis, it's called LAZINESS! Ivy ran after her to the car, the best sound was the laughter of my princess, a 5-year-old princess, very smart and who doesn't like going to school. - Thank you for taking her another day. - Miguel, my niece will never be a bother, but you need to hire someone, I won't be able to do this every day. - I know,

The Unshackled Queen: Never Say Never

It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"

Comeback Of The Adored Heiress

Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.

Return, My Love: Wooing the Neglected Ex-Wife

Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."

Fate's Bet: My Unwanted Tycoon Husband

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!"

Flash Marriage To My Mysterious Husband

Sheila had her back against the wall when her family tried to force her to marry an awful old man. In a fit of rage, she hired a gigolo to act as her husband. She thought the gigolo needed money and did this for a living. Little did she know that he was nothing like that. One day, he pulled off his mask and revealed himself to be the world's top magnate. This marked the beginning of their love. He showered her with everything she could ever want. They were happy. However, unexpected circumstances soon posed a threat to their love. Would Sheila and her husband make it through the storm? Find out!

My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate

Sophia Drake braced herself for the worst when she was forced to move across the country in the middle of her junior year. Desperate to escape her shattered home as soon as she turns eighteen, her plans are disrupted by the enigmatic and captivating Ashford twins. Sophia can't fathom the intense attraction she feels for the twins and tries to avoid them at every turn. As she's thrust into an unfamiliar world, her past demons resurface, making her question her true identity. Will Sophia flee from her past's secrets, or will she embrace her destiny and take control of her future?