E K Stokes

Niomi Asouta had watched the scene unfold with a mix of envy and frustration. Roland, the man who once held her attention, was completely infatuated with Alex Mason. His eyes lit up whenever Alex was around, his focus unwavering. It was as if Alex had cast a spell over him, a spell that Niomi couldn't break. She had tried to gain his attention, to remind him of her importance, but he was oblivious. Instead, he had turned his attention to Giovanni Salvatore, the powerful figure from Ardmani.

Herrera sat at his desk, the coroner's report spread out before him. The words on the page described in very clear medical terms the cause of death, but failed in any way to elucidate the grim reality they conveyed. A heart attack, the report stated, nothing else. A simple, straightforward explanation, but one that Herrera found impossible to believe. Roland Fairbanks, a man in the prime of his life, seemingly healthy and full of vigor, had simply dropped dead? It didn't add up. "Could it h

@VBlew and @drsawzall your detective work is paying off, but we still need to find who done it, if Commissaire Herrera is right and Roland was murdered...

Jack Langdon, the newest sensation in the modelling world, found himself in the spotlight, but not for the reasons he'd hoped. The prestigious modelling agency had high hopes for him, positioning him as a potential face of the legendary fashion house, Ardmani. However, the recent, tragic death of Roland Fairbanks, a key figure in the agency, had cast a shadow over the glamorous world of fashion. Commissaire Herrera, the seasoned detective with a keen eye for detail and a second sense when i

That does seem a possibility, but even if she wanted Roland out of the company, or relegated in his role so she and her husband regained complete control of the agency, would she go that far? And, would Carlos commit murder for her? At lot of questions...

The first light of dawn was beginning to paint the sky in hues of pink and orange as Nora stood frozen, her gaze fixed on the lifeless figure of Roland Fairbanks. His body lay sprawled across the sand, a stark contrast against the pristine beach. Alison, her face pale and drawn, confirmed the worst: he was dead. A wave of shock and disbelief washed over Nora. She had never imagined such a tragedy could strike in this idyllic setting. Her mind raced, trying to piece together the events of th

The night of the party. The welcome party had kicked off, a vibrant tableau of people from all walks of life. Technicians, local dignitaries, and the surprise guest, Giovanni Salvatore, mingling amidst the exotic backdrop. The air was electric, the anticipation palpable. Ardmani, it seemed, was pulling out all the stops for this campaign, or perhaps, they were simply covering their investment. Arnold Henderson, the agency's founder, greeted Giovanni with a warm handshake and a f

Oh, and by the way, there's no bright light that everybody claims to have seen when they 'come back from the dead.' Well, actually there is... from my experience! No, that's schizophrenic! End, no. Beginning of another, strong probability. Reincarnation, another possibility, but not how you might imagine it, this is not the immortal! Resurrection to a new form, if you are a saint! Lights out, if that means nothing, no. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another. Albert Einstein

Thank you for the compliment. I hope so, but I think all those, if they could, left the country.

For @drsawzall

Thank you @Summerabbacat for the compliment, Roland does have several enemies as @VBlew also mentioned.

Three days earlier. The morning light streamed through the large windows of Arnold Henderson's hotel suite, casting a warm glow on the sumptuous furniture. Arnold, a seasoned veteran of the modelling industry, sat behind the desk, his eyes scanning a stack of paperwork. His wife, Beverley, a woman of quiet strength and sharp intelligence, stood beside him, her gaze fixed on a framed photo of their younger days. "Another beautiful morning in paradise, isn't it, darling?" Beverley remark

We will have to see, divine retribution, jealousy, personal interest, destiny... we don't yet know how Roland died let alone if anyone of a number of people was responsible! Still, I love the speculation.

My question is: until my latest story got posted the procedure was like this - 1. Create story and save it - site requests first chapter 2. Paste in first chapter and save it - story and first chapter go to moderation 3. Receive message that story and chapter have been approved 4. Use publish now button to publish story and first chapter Then each new chapter goes to moderation, gets approved, receive message, and I publish the chapter. Only with my latest story it didn't happen like that. I created the story, added the first chapter, it went to moderation, next time I logged in I had the approval message, but the story and chapter were already published. I did not have the choice as to when to publish the story and first chapter. A little embarrassing because the story isn't ready. I hoped to upload several chapters, get them approved, and publish when I was ready, but it's too late, the story went live. Will the next chapter go instantly live after moderation and without my input hitting the publish now button?

The sun beat down mercilessly on the pristine beach, casting long shadows across the golden sands. Alex Mason, a young, talented model, squinted against the glare, his dark skin glistening with sweat. He was in a mythical location in South America, a paradise that seemed to have sprung from the pages of a dream. Yet, beneath the idyllic surface, a storm was brewing. Roland Fairbanks, the new partner in the family business, had secured a lucrative contract with Ardmani and this photo shoot w

Alex Mason and Jack Langdon have more in common then they might acknowledge. They, along with Niomi Asouta, find themselves in a paradisical location on a very important photo shoot for Ardmani. This could make or brake their careers, earn them and the company they work for lots of money. But behind the facade there are darker movements embroiling them all in a murderous whirlwind with dramatic consequences.

Thanks to you all @Summerabbacat, @VBlew, @centexhairysub, sorry if Russia comes off looking almost like the good guys, but glad you all liked it and wouldn't mind some more. On which note, I have started another story, Murder in Paradise, it's got a little more steamy dark romance in it and it's a work in progress, but I'll try to get it published although with longer waits between chapters because it's hard to find the time this writing business needs devoted to it!

Ivan Volkov's reach extended far deeper than anyone had imagined. He had cultivated a network of informants within the Russian secret service, giving him access to sensitive information and enabling him to move freely without fear of detection. Using this network, he orchestrated the kidnapping of Rodion Kovalenko, believing that the renowned historian held the key to the whereabouts of the precious white diamond. Volkov's plan was almost flawless. His men intercepted Kovalenko as he was le

Very astute point, who are the goodies and who the baddies? Love that you asked this, roughly it's set within the late 90s, the USSR has been dissolved, Yeltsin has succeeded Gorbachev as President of the Russian Federation. Clinton and Yeltsin have agreed to seek further reductions in strategic nuclear weapons. The NATO-Russia Founding Act, NATO and Russia stated that they no longer considered each other as adversaries. Within this context the US State Department has every interest in maintaining good diplomatic relations.

The news broke like a bolt of lightning across the global art world. Russia had issued an international arrest warrant for Ethan Blake, the protege of the renowned art dealer, Damien Moreau and Maxim Turev, his accomplice. The two: one an American citizen, the other Russian, were involved in illegal activities. The charges were grave; smuggling priceless artifacts out of the country. The specific items in question were a wooden box and an ancient scroll, believed to date back to the time of the

Or then again, maybe not?

Well, we don't know if Damien Moreau made a will, but assuming he did and everything went smoothly, then Ethan might reasonably be in the apartment for a month or longer, the time it takes to resolve who gets what. He might get given notice to vacate anytime soon, we will have to wait and see, but he has some other problems to deal with.

The Amber Room would certainly be an amazing find, the story takes some big twists in the next chapter and I cannot spoil how things turn out...

Alexi Dumarov wasted no time in getting straight to the point. "I have been following you through Russia and to here," he frowned as he looked first at Ethan and then Maxim. Ethan attempted a half-smile. "Please," he gestered, "sit down. Alexi moved through the hall and into the large lounge. The paintings and sculptures which filled the apartment did not escape his attention. "Would you like something to drink?" Ethan asked and the professor nodded whilst taking a seat in on

Things are moving, but to where and not without danger, but the real villain is about to be revealed.