Novels by Mara Caballero

Ava typed a goodnight message to her family, and reported that she didn't yet know if she would be able to go into town for the holidays, but she would do her best.Then she lay down after a long warm bath, put on her pajamas, and just as she was about to fall asleep, there was a knock at her door. She opened her eyes and lay still, perhaps imagining she had heard a noise. But no.- Ava, are you asleep? -she heard one of her housemates, got up and went straight to open the door. When she opened it, she looked a little... alert.- What's wrong? -Ava asked.-Your former housemate, Yany, is looking for you. -Ava went to look for her, Yany was in the living room and looked very worried.- What's wrong? -Ava was already getting worried, Yany stood up and looked pale.-It's Alice, I can't find her anywhere. -Ava was surprised.- Have you already called her cell phone? -Yany nodded.-She has never missed her shift, and I think that if

Björn adjusted one of the dumbbells on his wrist, with his thumb he caressed the letter "B", they were the first ones his mother had given him before she disappeared years ago. He thought he had lost them in one of his trips, which had even infuriated and destroyed almost the entire room of that hotel room. He shook his head slowly at the memory of that scene.-Old times, Björn. -He muttered as he left his room.They knocked on the door of their suite, announcing that they could enter. Thomas looked out to inform her that the car was waiting at the front entrance of the hotel. -Let's go. -He reached for his formal suit jacket along with his coat and then they were off. On the short drive to the club, he thought quite a bit about Ava, about how she had gotten yesterday. - Is Ava in her room? -Björn asked when the car stopped in front of the place.-Yes, sir. The area is guarded by the assigned security team.-Well, I don't want any surprises

Ava was lying on the large couch in the living room of Björn's office, Thomas had picked her up and carried her inside.-She blanched. -Björn heard Thomas say. -He was talking on the phone and..." Then she stopped her words, frowned and looked at Björn: "He talked to someone. Even with the receiver to her ear, she was pale, then she started mumbling something, and that's when I approached her.Björn tensed.-It was Bruno who called. He must have said something to her to put her like this," he said silently, trying to decipher the connection to his brother. - Why isn't the doctor here? She hasn't woken up. -Ava began to stir in her place, the two men in front of her turned their gazes to her.-No, no, no, no, -Ava began to gasp in fright, tears began to fall down her pale cheeks. - NO!" the scream was loud, determined and there was no hint of fear in that word, Björn felt his body bristle as he heard her, she opened her eyes and tr

Björn adjusted his tie in front of the mirror, it was a perfect knot, he smiled at the reflection of himself, then, turned around to grab the jacket that was on the bed, moments later he left the suite to head to the office. He had felt uneasy at not hearing from Ava, he thought maybe she was upset about Christine. Then he had his mother's, the next auction, Bruno investigating Ava and Christine with her engagement statement.-Sir, I am informed that Miss Gray has not arrived at the rendezvous point. -Björn turned around before he reached his desk, then frowned.- What? -he looked at the clock and realized it was seven o'clock, Ava was always ten minutes earlier already in the office. Björn took a breath and let it out slowly, he didn't imagine anything wrong, it was just a delay. -I'm going to call... -He said, already feeling uneasy."It's only ten minutes, Björn."-Good morning, Mr. Hoffmann. -Ava announced as she entered the office

Amelia was sitting on the terrace sipping her cup of coffee that she usually had at that time of night, she looked at her branded watch, then averted her gaze to the lights of a car approaching her property, she imagined it would be Björn. There was a knock at the door and she ushered him in.-Mrs. Miller, Mr. Hoffmann has arrived.-I guess he's my son and not his father. -She muttered to herself, unheard by the security man. -When he arrives, send him in and don't let anyone interrupt us unless it's something more important.-Yes, ma'am. -the man left the office, Amelia took a sip from her coffee cup, then a couple of minutes later, Björn came in, she noticed a change in his face, he looked more relaxed, "And how could he not be when his sex life has been activated?" she thought.-Good evening, mother. -Björn saw the woman sitting on the terrace with the doors open and watched him from there.-Good night, Bj. By the way," he shook h

Ava had been lost in her own thoughts without realizing that Björn had arrived at the office, she let out a sigh that made her snap out of it, looked up and saw him.- What did he say to you, Christine?" asked Björn, crossing his arms. He was still furious inside, but he didn't care about the others, but about Ava.-He informed me of the announcement of his...-Ava wrinkled her brow, -commitment.Björn walked over to her and sat back on his heels, took her hand and stroked her knuckles gently.-You know what will happen, ignore Christine.-When she sets her mind to it, she's kind of.....-Toxic. -He completed the sentence for her. -I've known her for years and quite well.- Did you have a thing with her? -Ava was curious.-Yes. But it was a passing thing. She wanted something official and I didn't.-And now that there is something official between the two of them, she shouts it from the rooftops.-Bu

Max had reached the floor where Emma was working, intending to investigate about the client, Jack Bradford, and find out his decision. He also planned to seize the opportunity to talk to Mrs. Byrne about the upcoming meeting. As he stepped out of the elevator, he noticed a gathering of employees near Emma's office. Upon arriving, he witnessed a heated argument between Emma and Jamie, the HR representative. His eyes widened when Emma delivered a punch to Jamie's face, causing him to fall. Emma walked towards him, sat on her heels, and exchanged some words. Everyone around was attentive, and to Max's surprise, he saw Mrs. Byrne with a discreetly concealed smile."What is going on here?" Max asked, and everyone turned to look at him before dispersing. Mrs. Byrne cleared her throat and approached Emma's office. Emma stood up and waited beside Jamie for him to enter."I saw everything," Mrs. Byrne said. "Mr. insulted Miss Spencer, and she defended herself." Max was in the doorway, with Emm

Monday morning, and Emma was in such a good mood that she couldn't believe it herself. She thought, "When was the last time I felt this way?" She couldn't recall a day like this. Seated, her gaze fixed on her computer screen, she efficiently tackled all the work she wanted to get ahead of, ensuring the rest of the afternoon was free of pending tasks. She sorted through all the memories of what had happened on Saturday with Max—the way he kissed every inch of her body and how he pinned her against the bathroom tiles to reclaim her. This morning, she noticed a love bite near one of her breasts and briefly smiled. However, it didn't end there. She grabbed her phone, snapped a photo, and sent it to Max with the caption: "First and last, Mr. Müller" accompanied by a smiling emoji. She received an immediate response, as if Max had been eagerly awaiting a message from her, "So it shall be, Miss Spencer," along with a military-style salute emoji (hand to the forehead). Throughout Sunday, Emma

Adler glanced at the doctor's face once he had finished examining his heart. He sighed and pressed his lips together, sensing that this could be bad news. He settled into the vintage wooden chair beside the large bed."Do you know you need to go for regular check-ups, Adler?" the elderly man asked. Adler nodded and looked away. Since Friday, he hadn't been feeling well, and discovering that his beloved daughter-in-law, whom he had cherished as his own, had betrayed not only Max but him as well. "Why didn't you call earlier? You know, I could have treated you here at your home if you didn't want to stay in the hospital." Adler returned his gaze to the doctor, his longtime friend."I hate hospitals," he paused, "Is my blood pressure stable now?" The man nodded, got up to pack his things into his briefcase by the bed, and then looked at Adler."You need to be very careful. You can't get upset or angry; it would raise your blood pressure.""Alright. Just give me the medication, and I'll b

Moments before...Max had gone out for a run to calm the anxiety that had been triggered by learning that Irina was pregnant. He had been on the verge of going to find Horacio and confront him, but now everything had changed. The temporary pain of what they had done, the trust they had both betrayed, would never be forgiven. The only thing keeping him sane were the memories of his recent experiences with Emma. Every detail of her was etched into his skin; there was something about her that had completely enchanted him. Not even Irina, who had been his first and only serious relationship, made him feel this way."It's not just carnal desire, it's something more, Max," he thought. How could it be possible to feel something so deep in such a short time of knowing each other? He kept running, distancing himself several kilometers from his apartment and the area where he usually jogged in the mornings. He crossed traffic lights, went through a couple of parks, and almost an hour passed bef

Moments before...Max had gone for a jog to calm the anxiety that had been triggered by the news of Irina's pregnancy. He had been tempted to go and confront Horacio, to give him a piece of his mind, but now everything had changed. The temporary pain of their betrayal still lingered, and he knew he could never forgive the breach of trust. The only thing that kept him sane was the memories of his recent experiences with Emma. Every detail of her was etched into his mind, and there was something about her that had completely enchanted him. Even Irina, his first and only serious relationship, hadn't made him feel this way."It's not just physical desire, it's something more, Max," he thought to himself. How could that be possible after such a short time of knowing each other? He continued jogging for several kilometers, completely distancing himself from his apartment and the usual jogging route he took in the mornings. He crossed traffic lights, passed through a couple of parks, and alm

The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the bedroom as Jack picked up the newspaper and began his routine—reading about the dollar and the euro, then the social section, before ending with the obituaries. Many of his friends had passed away in the last five years, and it was through this medium that he learned who had departed."Mr. Bradford," announced one of his trusted men, Mr. Min, his personal secretary. Jack looked up from the newspaper and met his gaze."Give me some good news, Min," Jack said. Mr. Min bowed out of courtesy."The DNA results have arrived," Mr. Min said. Jack's heart raced, but he tried not to get too excited."Good. Let's officially confirm what I already know..." Jack handed him a white envelope with the logo of his hospital, and Mr. Min opened it, reading the contents carefully until he reached the percentage: "99.97% highly probable paternity." Jack closed his eyes and smiled. "Of course she's my daughter." When he opened his eyes, he saw the excitement in

IsabellaDubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates, Private runwayMr. Ashgar recommended that I use a scarf to cover my hair, and now I understand why he did it. The wind that was blowing upon arrival tried to snatch the scarf I had wrapped around my head. I didn't want to imagine how my hair would have looked if I had left it loose.Carefully, I descended the steps while carrying my bag and holding my tablet against my chest. The weather was hot, and it was past three in the afternoon. I adjusted my sunglasses and followed Mr. Ashgar. The security team was impressive. He didn't seem like just a CEO of an important company in Toronto, but rather an Arabian prince. The luxury, the security, his demeanor—it all resembled those individuals that appear on the covers of famous high society magazines from abroad.We arrived at a waiting armored truck. I was about to get in when two sleek and apparently high-end trucks entered the runway. I looked at my boss and could only see the t

IsabellaI returned to my seat with a racing heart, about to burst out of my chest. My hands trembled with anger as I stared at the screen of my cell phone. There were two hours left before I could try again to enter, but in the meantime, I couldn't do it. I felt someone's presence standing next to me on the seat. I looked up, and it was my boss."Follow me," he whispered, gesturing for me to follow him. And so I did. Mrs. Bruce sat two seats ahead, close to Mr. Ashgar's security team. I gave her a determined look. I wouldn't allow her to intimidate me, and if she tried, she would regret it.Mr. Ashgar entered a room, and I followed him. He stepped aside and gestured to someone. He closed the door. Being alone in a room was perfect material for Mrs. Bruce. What kind of rumors would she invent about me? That we were lovers? Just the thought of it made me grimace. "Please, wipe that expression off your face," my boss said, interrupting my thoughts. He was staring at me intently. Had he

IsabellaStill on my way to Dubai...When I heard Mr. Ashgar's last words, I was almost left speechless. What did he mean by saying that most of my job would be to be that barrier between him and her? My job would be to be the one... Wait, Isa, he's going to pay you triple your previous salary, so you could be his Hulk if he wants you to be.I nodded slowly in response to his words, and he seemed satisfied."I just need you to guide me exactly where you want me to go, so I won't stumble," I said slowly, and he understood what I meant."Firstly," he took a deep breath, then looked away, walked around the room, and stopped to gaze at me. "First, I will think exactly about what I want you to do once we arrive. She will want to stay close to me," he paused, "but what nobody knows about my family and her is that I have bought my own place to go when she visits." I furrowed my brow."She always used to go to your family's house?" He clenched his jaw, and his gaze wandered to some point on t

IsabellaFlight from Toronto to Dubai.It was 3:45 am when the plane took off from the private runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Mr. Ashgar was still upset, more than upset, furious. He hadn't spoken a word to Mrs. Bruce since boarding.We would be flying for twelve hours and fifty minutes, and I didn't want to imagine what the journey would be like. I glanced at the clock and roughly estimated the time we would arrive in Dubai. "Around three or four in the afternoon, this is going to be eternal," I thought, letting out a discreet sigh. Two flight attendants took care of providing us with everything we needed, including the incredibly warm blankets. To my surprise, the seat could be transformed into an individual bed. When Mr. Ashgar pointed out where to throw the blanket, I let out an exclamation that made him smile, although he concealed it quite well.After a while, during which I managed to get some sleep, I was startled by voices. It was Mr. Ashgar and Mrs. Bruce.

IsabellaDuring the journey to the airport, I checked the flight times and the weather in Dubai. I was excited to visit beautiful places, impressive skyscrapers, and, of course, my boss's family. The thought of experiencing Arab customs and traditions filled me with both excitement and unease. "What if I unintentionally disrespect them?" I immediately dismissed the thought. I would dedicate myself to learning more about their culture and avoiding any mistakes."Are you nervous?" my boss asked. I lifted my gaze from my cellphone screen and placed it on my lap."A little, sir," I confessed, but I maintained a professional demeanor. My stomach rumbled, begging for food. Judging by his raised eyebrow, he must have heard it. I cleared my throat, averted my gaze to the window, feeling embarrassed, and placed a hand on my stomach. I didn't want to see his reaction. I tried to control my nerves and then heard the sound of rustling paper. When I looked back, my boss, in all his elegant and pow

ZaidI mentally reviewed everything that had happened today. Hearing Miss Sánchez begin the sentence with "Mrs. Bruce said..." made me angry. I wasn't going to let my mother and Mrs. Bruce win in my territory. So, I had decided to take my assistant with me to my brother's wedding in Abu Dhabi, instead of taking Mrs. Bruce. I couldn't understand why she was so keen on meddling in my life. Did she think I would break my word and not marry the youngest daughter of one of Dubai's most important sheikhs? When I gave my word, I kept it.During the night, I walked through my garden as I usually did when I was stressed. I would take in some fresh air to calm my mind. I knew that sooner or later, I would have to face all my family responsibilities, and it would worsen my relationship with my parents, which was already strained. I was the youngest of four siblings. The eldest was dreaming of taking our father's place, the middle one was about to get married and was achieving his ambitions as he