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Crazy Dealings
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2024-12-08 15:04:10Related chapters
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract 1: The Miracle Gig
"Why the hell am I being fired?" Gianna demanded as she burst through the door in anger. The manager looked up from his laptop, eyebrows raised. He leaned back in his chair but didn't say a word. "I said, why am I being fired?" Gianna repeated, now leaning over the desk. She slapped the pink slip she’d been given down over it. "This says 'termination of contract' but gives no reason why. What did I do wrong this time?" Rather than answering, the man picked up a stack of papers from his table and flung it across the desk at her. They went flying in the air around her. Gianna flinched. She was stunned as the papers rained down around her. She just stood there motionless for a few seconds then bent down to gather the scattered papers. While she picked them up, she read the words on one of them; “NOTICE ON COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT”, “EARLY SCRIPT LEAKS FOR BRAVADOS III", as well as other evidence, including a chain of emails exposing the truth about the leaked scripts incident that
Last Updated : 2024-08-29A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract 2: Find Me A Bride
"What do you mean 'call off the marriage?'" Olivia tossed her head petulantly, hands on her hips. "Exactly what I said. I'm not interested anymore." "But...but why?" Mason sputtered, his mind spinning. They'd been together for years, building a wonderful life side-by-side. What had suddenly changed? That too at this dying minute?? "You can’t just…the wedding is just three hours away. What has come over you?!” “What came over me has already come off and that’s why I’m saying I can’t do this anymore.” Mason was stunned beyond words, he could barely bring himself to think or speak or act. “You don’t love me anymore?” "Ha! Love? No Mason, I used to love you perhaps. But not anymore." "What...what are you saying?” "Oh, I'm not sure it ever was real love to begin with." Olivia’s sneered and began ripping off the diamond ring he'd lovingly placed on her finger months ago. "Maybe it was all pity." "Pity?" "Yes, pity!" She hurled the ring and it struck the wall with a sharp crack.
Last Updated : 2024-08-29A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract 3: A Marriage?
They eventually stopped in front of the door and the woman, not meeting Gianna's inquisitive gaze, pulled one side of the door open. "Right through here.” It was a dressing room of some sort? It was far too luxurious and lavish for any ordinary dressing room. Ivory chaises and beautiful vanities, exquisite gowns, towers of jewelry, and makeup shelves that would make any Hollywood starlet green with envy. She wondered, awestruck as she took a hesitant step inside. She saw a breathtaking lace confection in a corner. “A wedding scene…” Gianna said, half-asking, half-musing. She expected one of the several ladies in the room to affirm or negate her statement but no one was talking. Everyone seemed to be more bothered with getting their work done, hence she decided to also keep the questions to herself and just go with the flow. Gianna didn't immediately notice the other two young women who had appeared on either side of her until their impersonal hands started moving over her shoul
Last Updated : 2024-08-29A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract 4: The Deal
That was why his name sounded so familiar. Mason Caldwell was a renowned CEO and heir to a huge conglomerate. She had been too caught up in the confusion of the film shoot to make the connection earlier. The most chaotic part of all of this was that she was now married to him. By mistake and it all felt like a dream. Gianna shook her head slowly after listening to the explanation of how the whole issue came about, also staring at Mason, who sat impassively in front of her with his fingers absentmindedly tapping the armrest of the couch he sat on. She took a deep breath as she slid the wedding ring off her finger then placed it on the glass table separating them. "This isn't even real. We never signed any marriage documents, did we? It was all a misunderstanding, and I'm sorry for my part in it. Actually, you know what? I'm not sorry, because if you had just given me a chance to speak and get things straight earlier on, we could have avoided all of this.” “So you can just go ahead
Last Updated : 2024-08-29A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract New Home
It wasn't just any mansion, it was now her home, for the next six months at least.She got out of the car with her luggage wheeled behind her. It was a three hour drive home. She was driven home by Mason’s chauffeur and had overheard some staff talking about him going on an urgent business trip.The mansion stood a few feet ahead. Its grand architecture reflected the setting sun and turned the large windows into sheets of burnished gold. The front door was a slab of dark wood that easily opened up as she pushed it. She half-expected a butler or a maid to greet her, but there was nothing but silence in the house. Her footsteps echoed in the house to amplify its emptiness. The air was cool, almost clinical, and fairly scented of lemon.Moving further inside, Gianna saw the living room that seemed more like a showroom. With the expensive leather sofas, a glass coffee table, and abstract art pieces hung at random places on the walls. There was no sense of life here. There were no books le
Last Updated : 2024-09-20A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Opportunities Come But Once
Gianna was now aware of her position against Mason's chest. She quickly pulled away, almost stumbling in her haste to get off him."I... I'm so sorry," she stammered then gestured to the mess around, “I never meant for—"While she was still trying to talk, the security came in and they also took note of the disarray.“Sir, are you—" The lead guard's question died as Mason raised a hand. Every feature of his face was locked in place.The security team, understanding the signal, now fanned out around the room and started gathering the mess. Gianna stepped aside, feeling nothing more than an actual intruder in that space before she also bent to pick up some of the items, but the men didn’t let her so she backed away again to the edge of the room where she watched as the men restored order to the place. The shelf was reassembled and the books were stacked again size by size.When they were done, the lead guard turned to Mason, who had been observing in stony silence."The area is secure,
Last Updated : 2024-09-21A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Public Appearance
She was a slender woman, 5’4, with shoulder-length curly hair and brown eyes. Gianna was not supermodel-looking. In fact, she was what one might call "average" in the looks department, especially in a world where looks were often prioritized over talent.Gianna gave herself a final once-over in the mirror, after having gotten dressed for the so-called function that she’d spent half of the night before wondering about.She wondered what kind of event it would be, maybe it was a charity gala, or a business conference…actually her dress was saying otherwise. Perhaps, it was a lavish party hosted by one of Mason's influential friends. Not like Mason looked like he had any friends to begin with. But for sure, Gianna could expect that she would be in the spotlight again since the media seemed to have taken a keen interest in their marriage.After she was sure she was fine with her overall appearance, Gianna put on her silver heels and picked up her clutch, then made her way downstairs. The
Last Updated : 2024-09-22A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Fitting In
Mason’s entire body tensed up when he saw Olivia. His muscles coiled like tightly wound springs ready to snap, seeing her walking hand in hand with her…new man? A bitter taste filled his mouth as he watched her come into the room.So this was the guy she had left him for? This pretty-boy wannabe? Mason scoffed inwardly in disdain…and jealousy. He hated that Olivia still had this effect on him, that even after all, the sight of her could send his heart racing and his blood boiling. He had tried so hard to forget her and banish her from his thoughts.That's why he had married Gianna in such haste. It was Mason’s fit of impulsive rage and wounded pride. He wanted to show Olivia that she was replaceable, that he could find someone else by the flick of a finger. But he also didn’t expect that she would move on from him so quickly.From the looks of it she seemed to have moved on even before she broke things off between them. Seeing Olivia look so unaffected made him feel a bit foolish, hon
Last Updated : 2024-09-23
Latest chapter
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Crazy Dealings
“You're a crazy woman, Olivia,” Mason answered with disgust. “You need psychiatric help. And this is your last warning to stay away from me.”A soft, malicious laugh trickled through the phone. "“Or what? I'll tell your precious Gianna that her dear husband spent the night at my place. How do you think she'll take that news?”Mason's hand clenched around the phone until his knuckles nearly blanched white. The pressure in his chest built until he thought his ribs might crack from containing it. His jaw worked silently as he stared straight ahead through the windshield, watching a pair of sparrows dart past the morning sky with an almost painful intensity. Seconds stretched like pulled taffy. His left eye twitched—once, twice.The silence must have made Olivia nervous because her voice came again, softer this time and almost conciliatory. “I will keep this a secret on one condition.”“Don't run from me….Don't refuse me. Let me prove my love for you. I’ll prove I'm better. I can show
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Delusions
Golden morning light filtering through gossamer curtains showed Mason slowly surfacing from the arms of sleep. He huffed satisfactorily in the bed sheets as he cradled Gianna’s bare back closer to himself. He pressed his nose into the back of her head and then nuzzled his lips in the curve where her neck met her shoulder.Mason deeply inhaled her scent, which smelled like honey today, unlike the rosewater scent Gianna usually had.“Mhmmm….” Mason murmured with sleep, fingertips tracing lazy circles along her skin as she shifted closer with a pleased sigh. Mason smiled against her hair.“Morning sweetheart.”She twisted to face him and Mason’s grey eyes appraised her morning beauty, with no makeup, raven hair tumbling over creamy shoulders, full lips curved up beguilingly. He suddenly froze. Mason’s brain had just caught up to the waking world. Shock rocketed through his system, and he sprung upright….…because the woman gazing back at him was not Gianna.“Olivia?! What...how are yo
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Business & Deals (II)
Both men stopped as the gleaming doors slid open to reveal Mason's chauffeur standing by the open backseat of the car outside. Mason sighed.“Fine, I’ll branch there on my way home.”“Should I come with? ““No need. Been overworking you lately already. Why don’t head back home to SoniaPink tinged Darrell's tanned cheeks even as he smiled gratefully. “Fine then. See you tomorrow.”With an encouraging pat to Darrell's back, Mason folded himself into the backseat and soon, the vehicle pulled smoothly into downtown traffic, his stern countenance giving way to contemplative fatigue. Soon, the long drive ended in Klent’s sprawling estate. Mason stepped out as soon as the car pulled over, and smartly dressed butler greeted Mason on the mosaic tile steps. "Welcome Mr. Caldwell. Please follow me.”The man turned on his heel and led the way beneath a soaring entrance arch. Their polished oxfords sank into decadent Persian rugs lining the wide corridors as they walked deeper into the house.
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Business & Deals
***I can help you.***Olivia stared at the text message glowing from her phone screen. She frowned, sitting up in her bed. Who was this from? And what did they think they could help her with?She set the phone back down on the bed and rolled over, trying to force herself to sleep. It had been such a humiliating and unproductive day, to say the least. Even when she closed her eyes all she saw was Mason and Gianna, and it caused her to fume all over again.Olivia ground her teeth.That insipid woman had somehow gotten her claws even deeper into Mason than Olivia realized. It made her blood boil to think of Gianna smirking in victory now, wrapped safely in Mason's arms in the bed that should rightfully be Olivia's. She sat upright with a frustrated growl. Olivia fledged her fingers, wishing they were wrapped around the column of Gianna's throat. It wasn't fair. None of this was fair. Mason was hers to begin with! How could he just replace her with that gold digger? Or was he only tryi
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract A NICE EVENING
She turned her face immediately to Mason in the driver's seat, whose jaw was locked as he stared beyond the windshield.Sonia released a measured breath.“I'm not trying to make a habit of getting in the middle of your personal issues—““If you're here to lecture me, save it,” Mason cut in, much to Sonia’s amusement. “I didn't exactly drag or force you down to this cozy parking lot rendezvous, now did I? Which means you wanted to hear my lecture,” Sonia eyed him pragmatically. She then smiled faintly as she met her eyes stray again towards the park. They could both hear the raucous shrieks of the children, as well as the more muted sounds of people simply enjoying the evening.“Gianna cried her eyes out for hours at my place, you know?” Sonia informed melancholically, now observing a young father energetically push his giggling son on the swings. “She's beside herself with regret over the whole thing.”She then angled herself slightly towards Mason, openly studying his stony profile
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Friend In Deed
She wouldn’t stop. The tears continued to leak down her cheeks no matter how many times she angrily swiped them away.“Tell me what’s fucking wrong!” Sonia asked for the umpteenth time, but Gianna wouldn’t give her a response, instead, she continued to cry, until it turned into coughs.“You’ve been crying since you got here,” Sonia said carefully when Gianna's sobs finally began to subside into sniffles. She looked at Gianna squarely in her puffy, reddened eyes. “You’re scaring me now. Did something happen with Mason? Did he do something to you?”The mere mention of her husband's name sent a ripple of fresh pain lancing through Gianna's heart. She shook her head vehemently and managed to squeak out a reply between hiccuping gasps.“I'm such a fool, Sonia, I'm the one who screwed everything up. I'm such an idiot!” Sonia frowned with worry as she held Gianna tighter, stroking her hair. “It’s alright, it's okay. Just take a breath and tell me what's going on.”Gianna sat up and stare
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Chaos
"You've still gotten Mason in the palm of your hands, right? Then I'd like to see you fight tooth and nail to prove it..."His eyes landed on the two women sizing each other up. Olivia's serpentine smirk witheredas their gazes met his and Gianna gasped mutely on seeing him.He slowly walked up where they stood, but without saying anything, walked past them and strode up the stairs, shrugging off his suit jacket with an eerie calm.Gianna shot Olivia a hard look before running up after Mason.Right outside the bedroom door, Gianna sighed and palmed her forehead as if that would help her squeeze out an excuse for why she'd entertained such idiocy in the first place. In the room, she watched him bang the nightstand drawer open and drop his cufflinks inside, still silent as a statue."Mason..."He still didn't make a sound, not even when he unbuckled that belt and pooled his pants on the floor before walking into the bathroom. Gianna quickly went to her to pick up his clothes from the flo
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Cutting The Deal
Packing up his things to head home after work had become one of Mason’s favorite parts of his every day. Another stressful day had come to a close. He returned the nods and greetings of others as he walked through the hallway, towards the elevators that led straight to the parking garage.When the doors opened, and he stepped in, there were already two other men in the space, talking intently. They didn’t even seem to notice him coming in because of how engrossed they were in their discussion.He stood quietly behind them as he waited for the short ride to be over.“I'm telling you, it’s been over a month ago, and she’s still pissed.” This was the younger of the two men speaking and gesticulating emphatically into the air. He looked like he was nearing his forties, by Mason's estimate. While the other one was likely pushing sixty. He shook his head disapprovingly, “Well, to be fair, your little plan was idiotic.”“It wasn’t my plan. And I’m telling you it’s not my fault, are you eve
A Million-Dollar Marriage: A Story Of Heart Over Contract Reminiscing
Gianna's hands immediately began to shiver and the cardboard box trembled precariously in her grasp. She stared at those looping black words, unnerved.Ninny.There we go again. For the second time, someone else was mentioning her childhood pet name. First, it was Bernie —he was dead—, now who was it? Gianna, taking in a deep breath, proceeded to ransack the box to see if there was anything else—possibly a clue as to its sender to come tumbling out. But there was nothing besides that innocuous white lid and the stark black lettering burning itself into the forefront of her mind.She confirmed to stare hard at it, as though if she did it enough, the words would rearrange into something—anything—that didn't feel like such a punch to her gut out of the blue.Now she was aware that information about her birthday wasn’t a secret; it was all over social media; the press was constantly fixating on every single aspect of her life as the wife of business mogul Mason Caldwell.But that name, o
