Arranged Affection

By Melody Rainne

After months of struggling, I was handpicked for the job of a lifetime.

 

Lorna Rothchild personally hired me as a secretary, for her son, Zade. He ran Rothchild Enterprises, as well as half the town. It was all a dream come true.

 

But months into my employment, it was discovered that Lorna had a hidden agenda. I was not hired to only be Zade's secretary. My actual role was to get close to Zade. We were to fall in love, and I was to produce heirs.

 

After this information was discovered, everything changed. Evrything was questioned, including my loyalty.

 

How was I going to survive this betrayal?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melody Rainne
• Release date: Oct 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223359715

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Hendra

Why does job hunting have to be so damn difficult? I have been running around town for weeks now, applying at practically every place of business I happen to come across. I even started applying to places where I didn’t even have any experience.

I was desperate.

No one wanted to hire me. But I needed money, fast. I had moved to the city, dreaming of a better life. But I hadn’t thought it through, hadn’t made any solid plans. And my savings weren’t getting me very far.

I’d be flat broke soon if I didn’t get a miracle.

I found a coffee shop and went in. I could use a quick break and some caffeine. I’ve been on my feet all day, running around putting in as many applications as I could. I grabbed my coffee and sat down at one of the only free tables left. It was seated next to the front windows, so as I sat sipping my coffee, I watched everyone out on the streets, making up stories about them in my head as they passed by.

Some had fabulous lives that they led, others weren’t as fortunate. But I still pictured each and every one of them with a job, which made me hate them. How easy was it for each of them to get their job? Did any of them have to suffer a bit like I am now?

Most of my suffering was my own doing, I’ll admit to that. I could have planned better, absolutely. I could have sat down, budgeted, and saved up. I could have waited to move. I didn’t need to do it right away. But I’m an impatient person.

Things never go right when I act on impulse and give in to my impatience. But you’d think I’d eventually learn, right?

Wrong.

Which led me to today's events. Job hunting wouldn’t be half as bad if I wasn’t stressed from money issues and pressured to find a job ASAP. You’d think in a town this big it wouldn’t be this hard to find a job. Businesses are hiring all over town.

They just didn’t seem to want to hire me.

I finished my coffee and laid my head down on the table in defeat. I wanted to cry. I was so frustrated that I could break down at any time. If I was alone, in my apartment, I probably would.

But here, out in public, I have to keep up the appearance that I’m a stable woman, who’s in control of her emotions.

That couldn’t be the furthest from the truth.

I lifted my head and my heart jumped. Right outside the window where I was seated were two people, looking in.

They were staring directly at me.

I’m talking full on looking me directly in the eyes. There was no mistaking the fact that it was me who held their attention.

It was unnerving.

I watched with curiosity as they whispered amongst themselves, nodding in my direction and pointing at me. There was a man and woman on the other side of the glass. The woman was older, and she looked to be wealthy. Very wealthy, and sophisticated. The man with her was younger, in an expensive suit. I’d bet he was her son.

They were probably laughing at how poor and pathetic I look right now. Practically everything in my closet was from a second-hand store. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but everyone around here is so much more put together than me, wearing brand new clothes, with picture perfect makeup and looking like they just walked out of a hair salon. Even the dogs.

After a few more minutes of discussion on the other side of the glass, the two of them came into the coffee shop, and my heart began to race. I breathed a sigh of relief as they both walked up to the counter to place their order. I was afraid that they would be coming over to maybe say something to me.

Maybe they weren’t talking about me, after all. They were standing outside the window where I had been sitting, but it didn’t mean I was the subject of their discussion.

I was being paranoid.

Still, they made me a little uncomfortable, so I stared at my empty coffee cup, waiting for the two of them to grab their coffee and leave.

As I stared down at my empty cup, a