NELLA’S PLOT

 Book 1 of THE KEITH SISTERS 

In the vibrant, ever-changing neighborhood of Kairos Avenue in New York City, three sisters—Payson, Nella, and Lauren—are embarking on journeys that intertwine the threads of ambition, heartbreak, and family secrets. Their past is tainted by scandal: their father, once a prominent businessman, was accused of embezzlement and the rape of his secretary. His death, a few months after his release from prison, left them with shattered lives and an indelible mark on their reputation.

Despite their broken beginnings, each sister is fighting for a chance at love, redemption, and success—though the scars of the past continue to haunt them.

Nella, the second sister, has always envisioned herself living a fairytale romance, but her reality has been far from the fairy tales she dreamt of. 

She was known for her beautiful skin from childhood, her skin was so soft and shiny, she had dark brown eyes, nice hair which was a bit lower than her shoulder and her uniquely black American accent. Of course she was an American but had a childhood best friend, Ashley, who is a black American and this made Nella have the black American accent. Ashley's dad was a pilot and her mom had a luxury clothesline;Diva but they have been divorced since she was five so she lives with her mom. 

 After landing a role as a Human Resources Manager at a tech company, Nella poured all her energy into her work, hoping it would lead to greater opportunities. But while her career was on the rise, her personal life seemed to be stuck in a rut.

Her relationship with Sam, her boyfriend, was nothing like the love she had always imagined. Sam had been out of work for years, relying on Nella's generosity to support him. He spent his days drinking with the little money Nella could afford to give him,and also secretly double dating while she carried the weight of their relationship. Nella was the one who initiated everything—the calls, the texts, the planning of their dates. She even started a savings account, imagining a future where they could build a life together. Yet, despite all her effort, Nella often felt like she was the "man" in the relationship, doing everything while Sam contributed little.

Nella had been planning a surprise for Sam's birthday, eager to make the day special for him. But her world shattered when she unexpectedly walked in on Sam, her boyfriend, in an intimate embrace with Maya, a new intern at work. The sight left her heartbroken, but what made the pain even worse was what happened next. In a haze of emotional turmoil, Nella ended up having a one-night stand with Roy, a man she met at the club. The very next day, as she was still grappling with the wreckage of her personal life, she received more bad news: the company she worked for had been bought by a major cosmetics conglomerate. Nella had hoped to be among the employees retained after the buyout, but when the list of retained staff was posted, her name was conspicuously absent. It felt like the final blow—losing both her job and her relationship in the span of just a few days.

One evening, after a lively and carefree solo date with her close friend Ashley, Nella and Ashley decided to match their outfits. They wore dark blue denim jeans, crisp white crop tops with their initials embroidered on the back, and pristine white sneakers. Their mini jean bags completed the playful, coordinated look. Nella, ever radiant with her signature bun and a smile that lit up the night, looked effortlessly stunning. As they waited for their ride, a sudden blur of motion caught their attention. A man rushed past them and snatched Nella's bag. It happened so quickly, but before Nella could even react, Ethan—an unexpected but welcome stranger—darted after the thief, returning the bag moments later. Grateful and somewhat shaken, Nella found herself drawn to Ethan's quiet confidence, his kindness standing out amid the chaos.

In the days that followed, Nella's growing friendship with Ethan took an unexpected turn. She had managed to land a job as a receptionist at a local flower shop after weeks of fruitless job hunting. But even in this small victory, the shadow of her past lingered. Despite her hard work, Nella was rejected from many opportunities because of her father's tarnished reputation, a burden she couldn't escape.

One morning, Gray—a charming young man with a radiant smile—walked into the flower shop to buy a bouquet. He was brimming with excitement, announcing to Nella and Ashley that he was preparing to propose to his girlfriend. His enthusiasm was infectious, and for a brief moment, Nella couldn't help but smile at the thought of love blossoming in the shop she now called her workplace. But later that evening, as Nella walked home, she spotted Gray again on her street. She rushed to catch up with him, eager to exchange pleasantries, but to her surprise, he coldly brushed her off. His demeanor was distant, and Nella couldn't help but feel a pang of confusion.

Weeks passed, and life seemed to settle into a strange rhythm. Then, one afternoon, Gray returned to the flower shop, this time with a specific purpose in mind: he wanted to see Nella. He learned she had stepped out for lunch, but rather than leaving, he decided to wait. When she finally returned, Gray's eyes lingered on her through the glass door as she spoke to a customer on the street. Nella, with her hair neatly styled in a bun, exuded a quiet grace. Her bright smile seemed to light up the surroundings, and the pink gloss on her lips shimmered softly under the afternoon sun. Her figure, accentuated by a fitted blue bodycon dress, radiated effortless beauty. It was in that moment, as he watched her, that Gray felt a tug at his heart.

He waited until she finished her conversation, and when she entered the shop, he was there, apologizing for the cold reception weeks earlier. This time, his tone was warmer, more sincere. He asked her out to dinner, and despite the lingering tension, Nella agreed.

That weekend, they met at a cozy, upscale restaurant. The ambiance was intimate, and over the course of the evening, they shared stories of heartbreak and new beginnings. Gray confided in her about the failed proposal he had once planned for his ex-girlfriend, while Nella opened up about her own struggles—her lost relationship, the betrayal, and the crushing blow of losing her job. As the evening unfolded, a connection blossomed between them, a quiet understanding forming out of shared vulnerability.

The next day, Nella couldn't help but confide in Ashley, telling her everything that had transpired with Gray—the dinner, the unexpected chemistry, and the raw honesty that had surfaced between them. But Ashley, though supportive, wasn't exactly thrilled. She felt uneasy hearing Nella talk about her ex and her past heartbreaks with someone she hardly knew. Her concern was clear: Nella had just begun to heal, and now, she was opening up to a virtual stranger.

But Nella, in that moment, was no longer the woman who had been shattered by betrayal and disappointment. There was something about Gray, something unspoken that drew her in. Perhaps, just perhaps, this new connection might be the beginning of a different kind of love—a love that could heal her heart, one step at a time.

After that dinner, Nella and Gray found themselves meeting more and more frequently. Gray would pop into the flower shop, often surprising her with exquisite bouquets of pink roses—far more extravagant than what a typical customer might buy. Each gesture felt personal, like he was not just trying to win her attention, but something deeper, something she hadn't quite acknowledged in herself yet.

Then came Nella's first visit to Gray's home, a moment that would change everything. He had invited her to see his photography studio, and as she stepped into the space, she was immediately taken aback. The walls were lined with breathtaking portraits, each shot exuding a raw emotion that seemed to come straight from the heart. It was clear that Gray wasn't just a hobbyist—he was a talented artist. After a glass of rich red wine and a few candid shots, the atmosphere shifted. The playful banter they had shared earlier seemed to dissolve, replaced by a quiet, simmering tension between them.

As soft R&B melodies played in the background, the room grew warmer, and Gray led her back into the living room. Their gazes met, intense and unspoken, and for a moment, neither of them moved. Gray's hand found her neck gently, pulling her toward him, the wine glass in his other hand trembling slightly as their faces neared. Nella could feel the magnetic pull between them, and with each inch closer, the world outside the room seemed to fade.

Without a word, Gray leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a tentative kiss that deepened quickly, instinctively. Nella's heart pounded, her mind briefly blank as she kissed him back with a force she hadn't expected. She could feel every pulse, every breath, the electricity between them building with each passing second. The kiss became more urgent, more hungry, until—unexpectedly—the wine glass slipped from Gray's hand, crashing to the floor, shattering the moment like glass.

Nella, still caught in the whirlwind of the kiss, couldn't help but laugh softly. "It's okay, really. It's just wine," she murmured, trying to ease the tension that had suddenly cracked the air. But when she looked up at Gray, her smile softened. She knew—without a doubt—that this was no longer just a friendly evening. Something had shifted between them, something undeniable, something real.

Her heart fluttered, and she felt a rush of emotions—exhilaration, vulnerability, hope, but also a hint of fear. She wasn't sure she was ready for this, not after everything she had been through with Sam. She hadn't expected to feel this way with Gray, especially since he, too, had recently been through heartbreak. And yet, this felt different. It felt... right. But still, doubts lingered in her mind. Was she rushing into something too soon? Was she ready for this kind of intimacy again?

The rest of the evening passed in a comfortable, unhurried flow. They laughed, talked about everything and nothing, and let the night unfold naturally. There was no pressure, no expectation—just two people enjoying each other's company, letting things evolve at their own pace. It felt refreshingly easy, the kind of connection that didn't come with anxiety or the pressure to perform. With Gray, she felt like she could simply be herself, and that, for once, felt like enough.

By the time Nella left his apartment, she was filled with a sense of peace she hadn't felt in years. She wasn't sure where this would go, but for the first time in a long time, she wasn't afraid to find out.

A few weeks later, Nella received an unexpected email from Elevé Cosmetics, the company that had acquired her former employer. Elevé was one of the largest cosmetic companies in the industry, and the prospect of working for such a prestigious name filled Nella with excitement. The offer was lucrative, the pay far higher than what she had expected, and the benefits far beyond what she could have imagined. It felt like a fresh start, a much-needed turn of luck after everything that had gone wrong. For the first time in months, Nella felt like her life was back on track—good job, blossoming relationship with Gray, and a sense of stability she had been desperately craving.

Her success was swift. Within months, Nella's hard work and dedication earned her a promotion—she was moved up to the position of executive secretary to Roy Logan, the CEO of Elevé Cosmetics. The shock that followed was almost immediate. Roy Logan—the ruthless, disciplined, and often feared CEO who ran his company with an iron fist—was the very man she had shared that one-night stand with. The realization hit her like a cold wave. The man who had once been a fleeting mistake in her life was now the very person she would be working closely with.

Every rumor she had heard about Roy's exacting standards and no-nonsense attitude suddenly felt all too real. The thought of facing him every day, knowing what had transpired between them, stirred a mixture of excitement, dread, and disbelief in her chest. Nella wasn't sure how to navigate this new dynamic—especially when she realized just how fiercely everyone around her feared Roy.

But one thing was certain: life had a way of throwing curveballs, and Nella wasn't about to back down. She had worked too hard to get where she was, and no matter the complications that lay ahead, she was determined to keep moving forward. But what would it mean to face Roy again, this time in a professional capacity?

Nella felt like the weight of the world was bearing down on her, convinced that her job was slipping through her fingers. But the real shock came from Roy, who acted as though he didn't even recognize her. Once the charismatic, aloof CEO, Roy had become an unyielding force in her life, imposing impossible standards and scrutinizing her every move. His criticisms were sharp and relentless, each comment more pointed than the last. His cold, indifferent demeanor made it clear—he wasn't interested in anything personal, only professional precision.

It didn't take long for Nella to learn that beneath Roy's professional facade was a man with a dark side. Roy wasn't just cold and calculating—he was also a notorious player, always seen with a different woman every weekend. What's worse, he was bound in a contractual, loveless relationship with Eva, a woman who seemed just as ruthless and self-serving as he was. In fact, they seemed perfectly matched, like two pieces of a puzzle designed to fit together in a game of power and appearances. Nella couldn't help but wonder if they were, in fact, made for each other.

The tension between them escalated one evening, after Gray—Nella's boyfriend at the time—came to pick her up from work. Roy had kept her in the office late, well past her usual hours, a result of a volatile argument with Eva that had stretched through dinner and spilled over into the evening. Roy's anger was palpable, yet it was something else—something more personal—that she couldn't ignore. After that night, Roy's behavior shifted. His usual harshness was laced with something new: jealousy. It was subtle, a simmering undercurrent, but it was unmistakable. Roy's usual coldness toward her seemed to grow, and yet, there were moments where his gaze lingered too long, his words clipped with an edge that made her question his intentions.

Nella wasn't sure what to make of it. Was Roy's cruelty a mask for something deeper? Or had his ever-present discipline and control masked feelings he had been unwilling to confront until now? 

Nella's relationship with Gray, whom she had initially believed to be her soulmate, rapidly deteriorated as his true nature surfaced. Gray's narcissistic tendencies and sex addiction soon became apparent, as he became obsessively fixated on Nella's physical appearance. Their relationship descended into a toxic cycle of emotional manipulation, with Gray exploiting Nella's deep-seated longing for affection and validation.

Despite her better judgment, Nella struggled to extricate herself from the relationship, convinced that she could somehow reform Gray and salvage their bond. However, after moving in with Gray for a month, Nella's life began to unravel. She had a leave from work, and Gray's behavior became increasingly controlling and perverse. He would frequently subject her to marathon sex sessions, take explicit photographs of her without her consent, and even coerce her into participating in BDSM activities.

The final straw came when Gray proposed a threesome with a sex worker, leaving Nella shocked and horrified. Yet, despite the overwhelming evidence of Gray's toxicity, Nella found herself paralyzed by fear of being single. Gray's cunning manipulation had convinced her that she needed him, and that his twisted behavior was somehow a manifestation of his passion and devotion. As a result, Nella remained trapped in the relationship, torn between her desire for escape and her deep-seated fear of abandonment.

 Months after Ethan, Nella and Ashley's friendship grew stronger, Ashley never ceased to use every opportunity to tell Nella how in love she was with Ethan. Ashley and Ethan had several times spoken to Nella to break up with Gray. Ethan had even secretly sent guys to threaten Gray to break up with Nella. 

As if office wasn't hard enough, Eva became a persistent thorn in Nella's side. On some occasions, she would call Nella at work, demanding she run personal errands for her—tasks that were entirely outside Nella's role and Roy would give his permission. Eva was never part of Nella's professional responsibilities, but now she was a constant presence, adding more stress to an already unbearable situation. Word around the office was that this might be a love triangle in the making, a theory that Nella's colleagues eagerly discussed during their evening hangovers.

Though Nella confided in Ashley and Ethan about the escalating drama, they tried to console her, reminding her that it was all for the paycheck. Ethan even offered Nella a job at his estate, but she dismissed the idea. The more her colleagues speculated about her, Roy and Eva, the more Nella laughed it off. She didn't believe Roy would ever lower himself to those kinds of games, especially with her.

The weight of Nella's life had become unbearable. The constant pressure at work, combined with the increasing demands of her obsessive boyfriend, Gray, who was pushing her into uncomfortable territory with his BDSM desires, made her feel trapped. She had already drafted her resignation letter, ready to leave the job that had drained her energy and passion. But just as she was preparing to submit it, Payson dropped a bombshell: their mother had been diagnosed with cancer. The news was devastating, and Nella found herself paralyzed by a stark truth—she couldn't afford to quit. Her high-paying job was now essential for covering medical bills and supporting Payson, who was still struggling after her husband's sudden death.

With the weight of her family's needs pressing down on her, Nella stayed at a job she no longer loved, caught in a vicious cycle of emotional and financial strain. But it was the increasing proximity to Roy that complicated things further. Their professional boundaries—once clear and firm—were gradually eroding. Roy, her aloof and distant boss, began to show subtle signs of affection. At first, she tried to ignore them, but they became impossible to dismiss. He was colder than anyone she had ever known, yet his attention toward her felt genuine, even if it was just a flicker of something deeper. The more she resisted, the more she found herself drawn to him, like a moth to a flame. But with each passing day, Nella wrestled with a gnawing fear: Was she just another object in the hands of a powerful man, to be used and discarded once his interest had waned? She couldn't tell whether her heart was guiding her or leading her into danger.

One evening, after another emotionally exhausting day at work, Nella opened up to Ashley and her sisters. She confided in them about the suffocating dynamics of her relationship with Gray and the unexpected stirrings of attraction she was beginning to feel for Roy. To her surprise, they didn't scold her; they listened with concern, offering her a safe space to express her turmoil. But the unease came with a warning: Roy's fiancée, Eva, came from an influential family—one with enough power to ruin Nella's career and turn her life into a living nightmare. But there was also a sense of relief in Nella's confession. For the first time, she felt like she was regaining control over her life. It was time to end things with Gray, who had long since ceased to fulfill her emotional needs.

But then, Nella turned to Ethan, her closest friend, seeking advice. His reaction was far from what she expected. He grew visibly agitated upon hearing about her feelings for Roy, and as their conversation unfolded, Nella learned the shocking truth: Eva wasn't just Roy's fiancée—she was Ethan's younger sister. Ethan had kept this secret for reasons he refused to explain, but there was more. Ethan confessed something that rattled Nella to her core: he had been in love with her from the moment they met. He had buried his feelings under the guise of friendship, terrified that revealing them would drive her away. But now, in the face of the growing tension with Roy, he was ready to fight for her heart.

Nella's world tilted on its axis. Torn between the deep affection she felt for Roy and her long-standing friendship with Ethan, she was thrown into a whirlwind of confusion and self-doubt. The walls between loyalty, love, and desire were crumbling, and she was left to pick up the pieces.

Things reached a breaking point one Sunday evening, when Ethan showed up at her apartment, unannounced. His emotions, pent-up for years, exploded as they talked, their conversation charged with unspoken words. In a moment of raw vulnerability, Ethan kissed her—shocking Nella to the core. She froze, her mind racing to process what had just happened, when, as if fate had conspired against her, the door suddenly swung open to reveal Ashley and Roy standing there, their faces frozen in shock. The weight of the moment hit her like a tidal wave. The trust she had with Ashley—the sister who had always been her rock—shattered in an instant. Nella was forced to confront the damage: her friendship with Ashley was now in jeopardy, and Roy had seen everything.

The confusion was overwhelming. She needed to explain—about Ethan's long-hidden feelings, her own tangled emotions, and the complexities of her connection with Roy. But the damage had already been done. How could she salvage what remained? Would Ashley ever believe her, or had everything fallen beyond repair?

Weeks passed, and despite the chaos that surrounded them, Nella's connection with Roy only deepened. What had started as a slow burn became an undeniable force, drawing them closer with each passing day. Yet with every step forward, the tension between them thickened. Eva, Roy's manipulative fiancée, grew more possessive, using her family's influence to keep him firmly under her control. Eva's jealousy poisoned the air, and Nella began to realize just how far she would go to retain Roy's attention and dominance over him.

At the same time, Ethan's feelings for Nella didn't simply fade—they intensified, becoming more dangerous and consuming. His unresolved love for her clashed with his loyalty to his sister, creating a volatile mix. Ethan was no longer able to watch Roy with Nella without seething with jealousy. He couldn't bear the thought of losing her, and the idea of giving up was unthinkable.

Caught between Roy's complex, ever-growing affection, Eva's manipulative jealousy, and Ethan's unspoken but powerful love, Nella felt as if she were sinking deeper into a tangled web of lies and betrayals. No matter how hard she tried to extricate herself, the strands only tightened. The more she tried to navigate the shifting dynamics, the more she realized that Roy's love was tangled in obligations, his own duties to Eva and her family. Nella was faced with the painful reality that love, at its best, could be an exquisite escape, but at its worst, it could ruin everything in its wake.

Nella's world took a devastating turn when she discovered Maya was now working at the company. She had joined Victoria's team, Roy's younger sister, who had been reluctantly forced into the business by