Novels by THE GODDESS

Xander’s POVShe was turning toward the exit when, as soon as Beatrice’s eyes fell on the check, time went deliciously slow.The way her breath hitched, the slightest tremor in her fingers as they curled a bit against the table, as if she were bracing herself against the temptation to reach out and touch the check, I did not miss. A check for an obscene sum of money. A check that might alter her life completely.Good.She needed to see it. She needed to understand what it meant — what I was willing to do to have her here.Her eyes skimmed the numbers again, widening ever so slightly and then sliding back up to meet mine. Her face was hesitant, the logical voice that told her this offer was too good to be ignored battling with the uncertainty that made her take the step back.I leaned back in my chair, watching her closely. The way that her shoulders got tense, the way her throat moved with a swallow — she weighed a possible choice, she was trying to talk herself out of it, trying to

Xander’s POVI sank back in my chair, exhaling slowly as the final piece of the crisis with my family fell into place.It had been chaos these last couple of days, blinding, deafening, a settling storm that pushed the bursts of stifled resentments and history and the heavy chains of obligations weighing me down. But I had handled it.The crisis was resolved.And yet I did not feel at peace.Instead, some new disturbance had crept into my head and burrowed inside, like a parasite feasting on my anger.Robert Lee.My fingers were clenched in a fist on my desk, the shining wood creaking beneath the strain. Ryder stood across from me with his arms crossed, his face surly.“He offered her a job,” Ryder said, speaking under his breath.My jaw locked. My teeth automatically tensed as I felt a sudden sharp pain, but I barely noticed.That bastard.I should’ve seen it coming.He was always vulture overhead at the first sign of weakness, and dialysis was no exception. As soon as he perceived a

Beatrice’s POVThe closer I got to my apartment, the more I could think of Robert’s offer. I should forget about it. Assume that meeting never took place. But the promise of more — more freedom, more recognition, more security — wrapped around me like an intoxicating perfume I couldn’t wash off.Was this a trap?You deserve better.The voice of Robert slinked into my head like a venomous whisper.My mind raced then, which by the time I got to my apartment, gave me a headache from too much analysis. My fingers shook a little as I unlocked the door and walked in.I was suddenly surrounded by warmth. Sarah was snuggled up on the couch, a heavy blanket wrapped around her, a bowl of popcorn half-empty on her lap. As I walked in, she looked up, her sharp brown eyes scanning my face in one quick motion. I was not expecting her here, though I was sure she had the spare key to my apartment.Her brows furrowed. She knows something’s up.“What happened?” she said, putting the bowl to the side.I

Beatrice’s POVI should say no. I should walk away.But curiosity — dangerous, reckless curiosity — held me in place.How many times had I reminded myself that I wouldn’t consider anything that issued from Robert Lee? He was the competitor of our company. And here I was, standing in front of him, debating whether to listen.That alone told me how much my world had changed.“…One coffee,” I said after a long pause, my voice steadier than I felt. “That’s all.”“After you,” he said smoothly.I rolled my eyes but said nothing. There was no point. The moment I hesitated was the moment I had made my decision.The interior was engulfed with the smell of lush coffee, leather chairs, and polished wood as I walked in. It was an expensive café, the kind of place where businessmen met over lattes to broker million-dollar deals, where power traded hands in hushed conversations, where a guy like Robert Lee felt right at home.A waiter promptly directed us to a secluded corner booth, away from pryi

Beatrice's POV.All I knew as I walked into the office that morning is that I was going to take on Xander.He’d avoided me for the last two days. Not in the blatant, in-your-face way, but in subtle, calculated moves that left me little choice but to notice. There were no wayward glances across the office, no charged silences sparking between us. Not even a casual brushing of fingers or the well-known heat that always simmered when we occupied the same space.As if everything that was said and done in Cape Town never happened.Like it had never mattered at all.I was done being patient.Bursting toward his office, I barely noticed the curious looks from staffers as I flung the door open without knocking.Xander was at his desk, scanning files, feigning indifference. He hardly even looked up at my abrupt entrance.“Beatrice,” he acknowledged flatly.That was it. No warmth. No teasing. Just cold detachment.Something inside me snapped.I slammed the door behind me, the noise reverberati

Beatrice’s POVThe second after I opened the front door I hardly had time to breathe before being attacked by three forces of nature; Sarah told me something about aunty Silvia. I suppose she had already taken them home."Mommy!""You're finally back!""You were gone forever!"I stumbled a little but managed to keep standing as Caleb, Cooper and Charlotte all wrapped around me like overexcited puppies. I laughed, the tension of the past few days evaporating as I hugged them back.“I missed you guys too,” I said, tousling Cooper’s hair then hitting Charlotte’s forehead with a kiss. I gripped Caleb’s arm, warmth spreading in my chest. But “it’s not that long ago.”Charlotte recoiled, her lips retreating into a theatrical pout. "It has! You were gone for days, and you hardly called us!”Cooper huffed, his arms crossed. "Yeah! And do you know how boring it is without you? There was no one to adjudicate our beefs.”Caleb smirked. "Not true. I settled them my way."Charlotte shifted to loo

EMMA’S POV“Nothing,” I informed, forcing a smile. “He is a judge. He could stop us from existing.” With a dry laugh, I hid the pain in my voice and quickly changed the topic. “I never asked your name.”He was quiet for a while. “Salvatore.” I nodded, now eating slowly as I awaited my fate.“My mother….”“Boss, we have a news.” One of the hefty men stepped forward with a phone in his hand.Salvatore took it, then glanced at me. “When she is done, return her to her room.” With this, he walked away.My heart squeezed hard before it sank. What was I thinking that he cared? Mistakenly, he tasted my food to care. I barely ate the rest of the food, and soon, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and he stepped inside, causing to sit up out of fear. The top two buttons of his shirt were open to expose his chest, and his hair looked ruffled.“You need my help, and I need a bride for a year.” His face was stern.“Huh!” He stepped closer. Every step pointed

EMMA’S POVI was walking into a party with three of his men behind us. I could feel my blood rushing to my ears, and I wanted more than nothing to wake up and find out it was a dream. For the first time in my twenty-five years, I stood in a magnificent room, wearing the most beautiful gold gown I have ever owned, yet I felt nothing. Five chandeliers were visible from where we stood, and a song was being played in the background. Different artworks were sitting on every wall, including animal skins and skeletons. Yet, none of the people there seemed bothered. They continued talking while dressed in expensive outfits and clanking their glasses against one another.The monster left me to greet some men, leaving just a guard with me. I looked around the room, hoping to find someone to help me or maybe I could run away. But then, thoughts of my mother came to my mind. His words, and I gulped down saliva.“Let’s go meet the highlight of the day.” He said as he approached me and wrapped his

SALVATORE’S POV“Boss, we lost three of our men to The Bullet Brotherhood. They showed up during the clearing of the drugs at our warehouse, and we were apprehended to get one of them.” Claw, my right-hand man said, was breathing heavily. I sat across my office room and gritted my teeth.The Bullet Brotherhood had been one of our biggest enemies for ten years now, yet the identity of its leader had remained concealed. He seemed to be a coward. He was one thing I, Salvatore Barons, wasn’t, so that was a start. Thoughts swirled through my head. This was the third time this month that my men would get attacked. Men who trusted me with their lives, and to make matters worse, the police force was breathing down on our backs. I wasn’t afraid of them; I just needed them off the chart, but that proved hard because of Judge Vicktor. The most corrupt judge I knew. I gritted my teeth again. He was working with someone. Someone who wanted us dead. Maybe we had a lot of enemies, but I was curious

EMMA’S POV“You can't lock me in here. I know my rights.” I yelled when the hefty man I had gotten to know as ‘Scar’ pushed me into a room after dragging me up to a mansion I didn't even want to be in. He said nothing, even when I kicked him and hit him as he attempted to tie me against the king-sized bed. The atmosphere in the house was as cold as the owner's heart. He walked out of the room, and I heard the lock click.“Help!!! Somebody help me!” I yelled over and over again, tears damping my cheeks. “I know my right!” My voice cracked.Yet I got no response—nothing except the clock's ticking sound. I knew I was doomed for him to live in a mansion far away from prying eyes—one with a massive compound that could house two more mansions. My mind drifted to my mother, and my heart squeezed in pain. It was almost evening when I would check up on her at the hospital and remit whatever I had made from the day to them. She would be worried by now, and the doctor had said it would worsen h

EMMA’S POVThe gunshot echoed through the room, followed by a male stranger's piercing scream, then a loud thud. My body shook, and a gasp slipped out. I covered my mouth with my shaky palm while my heart thundered.The man who shot him stood there looking unfazed with his tattooed fingers still wrapped around the gun; his black hair was gelled backwards, and he was dressed in a black suit. His jawline was sharp, and his nose pointed.I knew I had to get out of there. I had to leave now. Without thinking, I placed the package I was supposed to deliver on the floor and tiptoed backwards. I wished I had never entered, but when there was no response, I couldn't leave it out when it was bound to rain soon.“Throw his body in the river and clean this up.” The devilish man said before stepping closer and shooting him again in the head. “This is a punishment for whoever defiles me.” His tone was deep, cold, and scarred. I shivered in fear.I could see him from the slightly open door—just his