Everyone said Ivy was a placeholder. The stand-in for Zaiden Hawthorne's first love- the woman he never forgot, the one who got away. They said he chose Ivy because she resembled her. That she was temporary. Zaiden will be done with her and she shouldn't dream to be Mrs. Hawthorne. Ivy never bothered correcting them. Because the truth was far less romantic. She didn't love Zaiden either. Their relationship was an arrangement built on clarity, not illusion. Zaiden gave her safety, access and opportunity. He taught her business, opened doors and backed her rise. In return, Ivy became the perfect girlfriend- loving, loyal and composed . She kept his world running smoothly. It worked. Until it didn't. When Zaiden's first love returned to reclaim her place, Ivy does what no one expected- she steped aside. She has her own company now, her own money. Fighting for a man was never part of the deal. · · ─ ·✶· ─ · · "I'm sorry." My eyes watery and voice breaking at the right moment. "I can't- I can't do this anymore. I can't force you to love me. So i'm releasing you from this cage." His reaction was not relief, but amused. Zaiden's face darkened as he scoffed. "So it's true," he said, his voice dangerously quiet. "A woman only keeps you while she needs you. Now that you're a CEO, you're done with me." My tears stopped instantly. "Fine. Let's see how you don't need me anymore when you're company is being bankrupt." · · ─ ·✶· ─ · · PS: They both are red flags. Read at your own risk.

She argued like it was a sport. He flirted like losing was part of the game. The worst part? Everytime she got mad, he fell a little harder.

𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴, 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴. · · ─ ·✶· ─ · · "Are you asking me to be your muse, Miss Walters?" "Yes." I said, my voice almost steady. Almost. He leaned down, his breath fanning across my skin. My heart forgot how to beat. "I forgot to tell you but-" his low voice sent shivers down my spine, "I charge extra for kinky stuff, sunshine." A deep, traitorous blush spread up my neck, blooming into my cheeks like wildfire. I realised this man definitely knows what he does to me. And he never leaves any chance to remind me either. · · ─ ·✶· ─ · · Avery Walters needed a fresh start. Becoming the live-in nanny was supposed to be just that- a job, a quiet life and time to secretly write her next bestseller. But what she didn't expect was her boss or her new hot neighbour. Damien is cocky, commanding and infuriatingly gorgeous. A man out of her league. And Avery is a whirlwind in his perfectly ordered life. Stealing hearts and hiding chapters of a novel that just might be about him. He tells himself she's off-limits. She tells herself he's impossible. Yet in the quiet moments between stolen glances and arguments, something undeniable simmers. But there's a secret. That will make their life upside down. Now the real question is, will her heart and mind align together together when the time comes or... #1 OF ENTANGLED SERIES