Novels by Sasha Smith

“Oh, the mystery girl,” his mother says with a smile and before I can process, she comes up to me, pulling me in for a hug. “It's a pleasure to finally meet you.”Oh. This is not what I expected. In the movies we watch, wealthy mothers actually act like everyone's beneath them, and after Mackenzie and Angel made me watch reruns of our favourite Korean shows, they'd engraved it in my head once again not to expect much.This however… is more than much. So much that it makes my heart gallop.She pulls away from me, that smile still on her face. “Jordan won't stop talking about you, honey, and I had to threaten him to bring you over fast. Now I get why he's been gatekeeping you. You are so gorgeous.”I let out an embarrassed laugh, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. That's nice of her, but I know she's lying for my sake. I don't need a mirror to know that I look fatigued and depressed. It doesn't help either that Jordan didn't even give me a chance to go home and change and apply

"Mum, are you hungry?” I ask my mother as I unload the dozens of groceries I got her.It's been almost two weeks now since I accepted Jordan Smith's deal, and I must say life has been a lot easier. The next day after I called him, as a way to honor his part of the deal, he credited my account with so much money that I had to wipe my eyes thrice to be sure I was counting the figures.Two million dollars, I'd seen and I'd gaped at him and then told him I couldn't possibly accept this gift to which he simply shrugged and commented: “ there's more where that came from, Arabella. Take it.” And so I did, and boy, is life so much easier now.“Where did you get money for all of these?” Mum asks, eyeing the groceries like the plague. “Uhhh …” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Well, you see, mum, I got lucky. A friend— an old friend I helped a long time ago gave me a little something.”Mum raises an eyebrow. “Really? Did he also move me into this new hospital and covered my treatment bil

Holy… pregnant cow.Did I just hear him right or are my ears playing a fool on me? My billionaire handsome one night stand just asked me to marry him. My eyes wander across the four corners of my room, searching for some hidden cameras, because this has to be some kind of prank.“I'm sorry, what?” I whisper. He takes steps closer to me, his expression more serious than I've ever seen them. “Marry me, Arabella Rose Chase.”I don't know what makes me stagger back — the fact that this isn't a dream or that he knows my full name. “How did you—”He offers me a small smile. “Unfortunately, I have done a lot of research about you over the past week to the point of it being unhealthy and I know. I know how much you're willing to sacrifice your youth for your mother to get her medical bills. I know how much of a fighter you are. I know how loyal you are to the ones you love, and right now, I am here, in your personal space asking you to marry me in exchange for you to let me fight the battles

What the hell is he doing here? No, wait a minute, how the hell did he even get in here or know where I live or my freaking name or—A gasp breaks out of me and my first instinct is to run. Before I can think better of it, my legs carry me of their own accord and I'm already turning on my heels and making a beeline to the door.“I wouldn't do that if I were you.” Again, that damn deep seductive voice. I've always been a sucker for those kind of voices— the type that makes you swoon, and wet and all achy. Like an aphrodisiac.I halt with a mental groan as I try to get my emotions in check and then turn back to him with a death glare. “How the heck did you get into my house, Mister?” I shake my head with a scoff. “No, I think the better question is how did you even know where I'm living? Are you stalking me?”I can't even begin to imagine the possibility that he is stalking me. I wouldn't be surprised though. I seem to have a knack for always collecting insufferable men like infinity

“Okay, before you start with the twenty questions, I just want to let you know that the only reason I didn't tell you about Eric was because I didn't want to implicate your situation,” I start to defend myself to which mum is silent. I've grown up with Nicole Chase (who happens to be my mother) to know that when she's silent, it's not a good look. She's either mad, upset, thinking or plotting your demise. For my sake, I hope it's not the latter. “When did you find out?” She finally asks me in a calm, half whisper. I almost do not hear her. “That Eric was cheating?” Taking a deep breath, I occupy the seat Eric once occupied and take her pale, frail hand in mine. Holding on to her is another proof that I'm going to lose my mother and that reminder makes me want to break down right now but I hold the tears back for her sake. One of us has to be strong. “Last week,” I tell her. “I found him with a Nicole Kidman — in looks— wannabe as she was blowing the last sense out of the idiot

“You did what?”“Banged a handsome, despicably rich stranger, she said,” Mackenzie answers Angel for me with a smirk.I scowl at her. I didn't say anything about the stranger being rich, but it's undeniable that he was rich. That hotel room that glittered like gold is enough proof that there is no way a regular person could afford that. Also, there was some kind of air of power her exuded. Like a man who was used to commanding, who had power and was not worried or afraid to use it.“Okay, back up,” I start to argue. “I never said anything about the stranger being ‘despicably rich’. I just said he was handsome and looks like he is rich.”“Well, for your sake, I hope he was,” she mumbles taking a sip of her champagne. Obviously I missed out on her daughter's baptism, and after hours of relentless begging, Mackenzie said I'd have to bribe them with girl's night out. I know that was just a way for her to have an excuse to leave the house before she goes crazy. I don't blame her though. P

The plan was simple: pay a visit to Matt in his grandmother's house since that was where he loved to stay for a while. A little bit of talking, and then bring up the discussion about wanting to run away.I had no clue what I was hoping would come out of it and last night, I'd told myself that whatever the repercussions were, it was better than living in a hopeless marriage with that ruthless man who'd taken my first kiss without permission. God, there were some nights when I lay, staring up at the ceiling and when I remembered that day he'd come into my room uninvited and eaten my mouth like I was his favorite meal, I felt the tingle between my legs. I shook my head as the memory came swirling back. Now was not the time to start daydreaming about what those expert hands could do. I needed to figure out a way for my freedom rather than letting my body make a fool out of me. If my plans worked out, it was only a matter of time until I found a man who would love me and treat me how I

I was going to kick something. Or someone— I wasn't sure which yet. Today was my fitting day and Mom, having taken me to shop for bridal gowns, wouldn't stop ranting about how my wedding was the most anticipated. How everyone kept talking and wishing it was going to come faster than planned.I'd been shocked and almost yelled the house down when I was informed my wedding was in less than a week. Saturday to be precise. Why Luca and my parents were rushing for the wedding, I didn't know, but I knew one thing: I was screwed. In less than a week, I would be married to an arrogant, condescending bastard, and my freedom kept slipping through my fingers day by day.So here I was, shopping for the outfit I would be wearing when I traded and I could do nothing but smile at the strangers who kept praising me on how I looked beautiful in every gown I put on.“Fix your face, Ariadne,” Mom gritted in annoyance after one of the sales girl praised that I could be dressed in a trash bag and still lo

You ever wonder why sin was irresistible and sweet? Why bad habits were the hardest to quit? Well, I think I just found the answers to those questions in the form of the enigmatic man who sat in one corner of my room. Luca Russo. The ruthless billionaire. Here in my bedroom. Staring— no, rather, glaring— at me with those blue eyes. I had no idea why I hadn't been scared of him, but seeing him now, at this hour, in my half lit room, I couldn't fight the goosebumps that spread on my body. He was doing things to my body, and I could feel it in between my legs. Oblivious to him obviously. “Wh… what… what are you doing here?” I stuttered when I finally found my voice. He stood up dangerously slow, his steps to me dangerously slower. The glare seemed to magnify this time and if looks could kill, I would have been dead the moment I walked into the room. “How did you even get in here.” When I got no reply, I snapped my head over my shoulder to scream for the one person who woul

"What? What do you mean you're now engaged to Luca Russo?” My best friend Georgina asked over the phone. It had been six days since the ordeal in form of a hunk of a man barged into my life. Four days since Dad locked me up in my room, thankfully with my phone and TV, although I wasn't in the mood to do anything. I'd just mustered up the courage today to call Georgina and deliver the tragic news. I nodded even though she couldn't see me. “It's true, Georgie. I'm even surprised the news hasn't flown around. News sure does flies around in this society.” “Urggh, tell me about it,” she groaned. “Remember when Gianna got pregnant by her bodyguard? No one would stop talking about it for years.” “I know right?” Gianna was a topic five years ago. Parents warned their daughters not to be like her. She was a prime example of what not to do as an elite, and a ridicule to her family. I felt sorry for her, but it seemed in our world, you could never want who you wanted. “So, what are you

The answers to my unspoken question came forty minutes later after hushed whispers by the door with Mom, Dad and the devil( I was calling him that in my head, sue me), and never in a million years did I think that was the answer. “What?” I shrieked in disbelief. “No. No way. I'm not doing it.” “We don't have a choice, Ariadne,” Dad reminded me yet again since we walked into his home office. “Today was supposed to be your engagement, but it seems Santiago has… Heavens, how do I even say this?” “That he is a cheat who got the woman he's been sleeping with pregnant?” I sufficed. “Ariadne!” Mom admonished. “Language. And not in front of your fiance.” I scoffed. “This is ridiculous! And stupid, and unfair. You can't do this to me!” I was not unaware of the fact that Luca sat in Dad's swivel chair like he owned the place, quiet and attentive. I could also feel his glare directed at me, but I didn't care. I refused to be tossed around like a rag doll. Given to this person and then

THIS WAS IT. The day I would be delivered and given as a sacrificial lamb to my father's enemies. They claimed it was a pact— a ritual that had been going on for generations upon generations as a way to siphon our family businesses. I called it modern slavery. Somehow it felt the 1500’s where daughters were pimped out to spouses old enough to be their daughters or granddaughters. Which made me scared because I had no idea who I was betrothed to. What kind of man was he? What did he look like? Would I even be attracted to him? Those questions I didn't have the answer to, but what I knew was that I was officially signing off my happiness in exchange for my father to live happily. I hated that I had to do all these, but I had no choice. “Remember, Ariadne,” Mom said with feigned excitement. She was not a good actress; I could read her like an open book and I wished she stopped trying. For both our sakes. “Marriage to the Russos is something everyone in this society is dying for. T