{"canonical":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/","locale":"en","type":"work","data":{"title":"Titan's Addiction","author":"Anna Zaires","canonical":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/","isbn":null,"heat":5,"year":2020,"seriesTitle":"Wall Street Titan","seriesOrder":2,"worldName":"Zaires Dark Contemporary","tropes":[{"slug":"billionaire","label":"Billionaire"},{"slug":"billionaire-romance","label":"billionaire-romance"},{"slug":"class-difference","label":"class-difference"},{"slug":"contemporary-romance","label":"Contemporary Romance"},{"slug":"fake-dating","label":"Fake Dating"},{"slug":"forced-proximity","label":"Forced Proximity"},{"slug":"forced-cohabitation","label":"forced-cohabitation"},{"slug":"grumpy-sunshine","label":"Grumpy Sunshine"},{"slug":"hurt-comfort-and-redemption","label":"hurt-comfort-and-redemption"},{"slug":"only-one-bed","label":"only-one-bed"},{"slug":"possessive-billionaire-hero","label":"possessive-billionaire-hero"},{"slug":"second-chance-romance","label":"second-chance-romance"},{"slug":"secret-surveillance-and-betrayal","label":"secret-surveillance-and-betrayal"},{"slug":"workplace","label":"Workplace"}],"summary":"One determined billionaire\n\nHedge fund titan Marcus Carelli knows how to get what he wants, and he’s never wanted anything as much as he does Emma. The cat-loving redhead may have walked out of his life, but he’s not about to let her go.\n\nOne wary cat lady\n\nBookstore clerk Emma Walsh has had her heart broken by the ruthless billionaire once, and she’s not about to forget it. Marcus can chase her down all he likes, but winning her back is another story.\n\nOne queen-sized bed\n\nAll is fair in love and war, and the new battlefield is a guest room with a single bed. To the winner go the spoils… Let the games begin.","pitch":"Titan's Addiction by Anna Zaires is a 2020 romance. Tropes: Billionaire, billionaire-romance, class-difference, Contemporary Romance, Fake Dating, Forced Proximity, forced-cohabitation, Grumpy Sunshine, hurt-comfort-and-redemption, only-one-bed, possessive-billionaire-hero, second-chance-romance, secret-surveillance-and-betrayal, Workplace. Heat 5/5. Book 2 of Wall Street Titan.","publisher":"Mozaika Publications","originalTitle":"Titan's Addiction","englishUrl":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/","chapters":[{"index":1,"title":"Emma","summary":"Emma boards a flight to Orlando nursing the raw ache of a breakup she initiated herself. After a weekend with Marcus Carelli, a hedge fund billionaire who made it clear from the start that she wasn't wife material, she refused his offer to move in together—a convenient arrangement he offered only because he plans to marry someone else. Now, sobbing in her seat and fielding commiseration from seatmates, she questions whether ending it before he could leave her was truly the victory she hoped for. As the plane climbs toward Orlando, Emma confronts the painful paradox of her choice: she walked away to protect her heart, yet the grief already feels unbearable, leaving her wondering if she's truly free or just lost the battle she tried to win.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-2"},{"index":2,"title":"Emma","summary":"Emma arrives in Florida after a snow-delayed flight from New York, still reeling from her breakup with Wall Street billionaire Marcus Carelli. Distracted by chatty seatmates Donny and Ayla, she lands in Orlando and is greeted by her grandfather at the terminal. After calling her landlady to check on her cats and her grandmother about Thanksgiving dinner preparations, they drive the long way to Flagler Beach, arriving near midnight. Expecting a quiet reunion, Emma instead freezes upon entering the living room to find Marcus himself standing there—the man who kissed her goodbye, begged her to move in, and watched her board the plane hours earlier. His hawk-like gaze and hurt expression signal that their confrontation is about to begin in front of her grandparents.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-3"},{"index":3,"title":"3","summary":"Marcus Carelli charters a private jet to surprise Emma at her grandparents' Daytona Beach home for Thanksgiving, igniting a fierce confrontation about their breakup. Emma accuses him of wanting a polished social asset like her blind-date namesake Emmeline, but Marcus realizes he only desires Emma herself. After an angry, hungry kiss is interrupted by a nosy neighbor and then by her grandfather, Emma reluctantly agrees to let Marcus stay for the holiday—strictly as a façade to keep her grandparents happy, with no promise of reconciliation. Internally, Marcus treats the arrangement as a strategic victory in his campaign to win her back, refusing to leave until she fully surrenders.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-4"},{"index":4,"title":"4","summary":"Emma arrives in Florida with her ex Marcus, forced to maintain their pretense as a couple to spare her grandparents' feelings during Thanksgiving. When Marcus brazenly announces to Mary and Ted that they're moving in together, Emma swallows her rage—she can't bear to disappoint the grandparents who still worry about her safety in New York. Trapped in their guestroom together, she faces a night of forced proximity that threatens to reignite the chemistry she's desperately trying to ignore. With the door closing on them alone, Emma must navigate the dangerous intimacy of sharing a bed with the man she's sworn never to see again, all while keeping up the charade that could either save her family's holiday or destroy her last chance at peace.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-5"},{"index":5,"title":"Emma","summary":"Emma confronts Marcus in their hotel room after he lies to her grandparents about moving in together, sparking a tense argument about broken promises and whether his pursuit is genuine or just the thrill of a challenge. Despite her resolve to walk away and protect her heart, Marcus's commanding presence and the charged atmosphere pull her back, culminating in a passionate, intense encounter that blurs anger and desire. As they surrender to each other, emotional walls crumble, but the chapter ends on a jarring note of vulnerability when Emma realizes Marcus has violated her boundary in the most intimate way, leaving her exposed to consequences she never agreed to.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-6"},{"index":6,"title":"6","summary":"Marcus wakes from a passionate encounter with Emma to the sinking realization that he forgot protection, sending them into a frantic one-in-the-morning mission to find emergency contraception. What starts as panic evolves into a tender moment of teamwork as they sneak out of her grandparents' house, craft a convincing alibi to text Grandma Mary, and drive through the quiet beach town streets. Between shared glances and hand-holding, Marcus's obsession deepens—he is already calculating that having Emma move in might tame his overwhelming desire. The chapter closes on their united front, though the unresolved question of whether the pill will work hangs in the air, along with the looming possibility of a deeper commitment.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-7"},{"index":7,"title":"7","summary":"Emma wakes beside billionaire Marcus Carelli at her grandparents' Florida home, their third night together deepening a connection she is desperate to keep secret. When her best friend Kendall texts her a Page Seven tabloid photo of the couple kissing at JFK—labeling Emma a \"mystery redhead\" and speculating about a Disney World wedding—Emma panics until Marcus dismisses it as clickbait, revealing his Carelli Capital Management oversees ninety-two billion dollars. Their banter about Mickey-eared maid-of-honor dresses masks the growing stakes: Emma fears that if Marcus discovers she has fallen in love, he will sweep her into his penthouse before Thanksgiving dinner is even served. The chapter closes on their charged proximity and the unresolved tension between her hidden devotion and his relentless pursuit.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-8"},{"index":8,"title":"Emma","summary":"Emma's carefully maintained emotional distance crumbles when her grandparents discover a newspaper profile of Marcus, the Wall Street billionaire she's been secretly dating. Over Thanksgiving breakfast in Florida, Marcus charms Ted and Mary with genuine curiosity about their lives and investment wisdom, contrasting sharply with her stiff college ex. Emma realizes their pretense has become real—they're officially a couple spending the holiday together. As they plan a working beach day, Marcus's quiet authority and tenderness unsettle her defenses. When he pulls her into a kiss at the chapter's end, Emma confronts the vulnerability of wanting him to stay, haunted by his recent three-day disappearance and the fear that his affection might vanish as quickly as it arrived.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-9"},{"index":9,"title":"9","summary":"Marcus spends a sweltering late-November day at a northern Florida beach with Emma, still reeling from their intimate encounter the previous night. As he applies sunblock to her shoulders, his possessive attraction flares, manifesting in jealous thoughts about other men seeing her marks and his own physical response to her sun-kissed skin. To cool both their arousal and the rising tension, he carries her into the chilly surf, transforming the moment into a playful yet charged exchange about risk and commitment. Their banter about 'taking the plunge' mirrors the deeper question of whether Emma can truly adjust to a relationship with him. The chapter closes on a salty, passionate kiss as the waves crash around them, leaving the emotional waters still churning.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-10"},{"index":10,"title":"10","summary":"Emma spends a beach afternoon in Florida with her grandmother and boyfriend Marcus, editing her shifter romance manuscript between swims. A phone call with her landlady Mrs. Metz reveals that her cats are fine—except Mr. Puffs, who has shredded her favorite pillow—but also that Mrs. Metz plans to sell the townhouse, threatening Emma's below-market basement studio lease. Panicked by Brooklyn's skyrocketing rents and her lack of moving funds, Emma hides her housing crisis from Marcus, determined to keep their relationship casual and avoid his penthouse. When Marcus wraps his arms around her afterward, the physical heat between them underscores her uncertainty about where they stand, while a lingering question about how he knew her flight schedule hints at secrets yet to surface.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-11"},{"index":11,"title":"11","summary":"Marcus engineers a situation to force Emma into moving in with him, hiring a realtor to pressure her landlady while keeping his involvement secret. At Emma’s grandparents’ Thanksgiving dinner, the manipulative tension escalates when Ted asks about their moving plans and Marcus publicly announces they’ll start packing next week, trapping Emma into cohabitation despite her visible resistance. The holiday warmth contrasts sharply with Marcus’s possessive strategy, as Emma shoots him warning glares under the table while her grandmother encourages the match. Marcus reveals vulnerable details about his traumatic childhood—his father’s prison death and his mother’s liver disease—seeking acceptance from Emma’s family, then seals the tense moment by kissing Emma’s clenched hand. The chapter ends on unresolved pressure: Emma is furious at the ambush, but the grandparents’ blessing and Marcus’s determination have cornered her into the move.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-12"},{"index":12,"title":"Emma","summary":"Emma confronts Marcus in their private room after he insists she move in with him, refusing his demand despite their charged chemistry. When he advances on her, she retreats toward the bed and he corners her there, initiating an intense intimate encounter that leaves her breathless and overwhelmed. Despite her verbal resistance, the physical connection overwhelms her resolve, and Marcus claims her with possessive certainty, declaring they belong together. Emma is left conflicted—terrified of vulnerability and past heartbreak, yet undeniably drawn to him—while he promises her everything if she surrenders. The chapter ends with him stripping her clothes as she clings to hope against her fear of being hurt again.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-13"},{"index":13,"title":"13","summary":"Emma video-calls her best friend Kendall from her grandparents' Florida lanai to confess the chaos of the past few days: billionaire Marcus vanished, then chased her south, and now they are playing house at her grandparents' for Thanksgiving. When a shirtless Marcus wanders into frame, Kendall declares their chemistry undeniable, but Emma insists the attraction is purely physical and their worlds—his hedge-fund empire versus her bookstore cashier life—are irreconcilable. As Kendall dismantles Emma's excuses and Marcus lingers with possessive intent, the call ends when Grandma interrupts, leaving Emma to face the growing realization that resisting him may be futile.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-14"},{"index":14,"title":"14","summary":"Marcus and Emma explore historic St. Augustine, where Emma’s insistence on paying her own way—spurred by her mother’s reputation as a user of people—tests Marcus’s desire to lavish her with his newfound wealth. When Emma declines a boat rental citing seasickness, Marcus deduces her real fear is cost-sharing. Employing a ruse, he rents the marina’s finest vessel alone, then casually invites Emma aboard by pretending he needs companionship, framing the invitation as a favor to him rather than a gift. The gambit works; Emma, hesitant but charmed by his persistence, agrees to join him. As they prepare to cast off together, Marcus secures a small victory in his campaign to disabuse her of the notion that their relationship must be transactional, closing the chapter on the promise of shared adventure on the water.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-15"},{"index":15,"title":"Emma","summary":"Emma enjoys a luxurious boat ride with the wealthy and handsome Marcus, who rented the vessel for them, though she feels guilty about accepting the free outing while she's saving money for a move. When her grandmother confronts her about browsing apartment listings, Emma panics and lies that she and Marcus are moving in together, accidentally committing to a major relationship step she's not ready for. Later, on the lanai, she confesses her fears to her grandmother—that the vast wealth gap between her and Marcus makes her worry she'll become like her mother, Brianne, a remorseless gold digger who used men for money. Her grandmother reassures her that Emma has a fundamentally different, empathetic nature and that genuine love matters more than financial parity, giving Emma permission to accept Marcus's generosity without shame. The chapter ends with Emma holding onto hope that she won't repeat her mother's mistakes.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-16"},{"index":16,"title":"Emma","summary":"Emma spends her Florida vacation with her grandparents and boyfriend Marcus, splitting time between beach work sessions and family outings. Marcus's intense possessiveness surfaces during a park stroll when he claims Emma with a jealous grip and glares at admirers, while Emma notes his own magnetic pull on other women. Later, Grandma teases Emma about Marcus's obsession and their active sex life, leaving Emma mortified as she reflects on her grandmother's wisdom regarding family influence. The chapter closes with Gramps and Marcus bonding over trading software, solidifying the family's acceptance of their relationship amid the warm vacation atmosphere.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-17"},{"index":17,"title":"17","summary":"Marcus savors a sun-soaked weekend with Emma and her grandparents, Mary and Ted, discovering a sense of family he never knew he needed. Nestled in their warmth, the lingering hurt from his past absence dissolves, replaced by bone-deep contentment—though he knows New York reality will soon intrude. When Emma insists on flying separately to Orlando rather than joining him on his private jet back to New York, Marcus sees his chance to break through her defenses. Wielding his influence like a weapon, he secures a refund on her non-refundable ticket within minutes, cornering her into admitting her stubbornness rather than practicality is the real obstacle. With her grandparents cheering from the sidelines, Emma reluctantly agrees, but Marcus knows this victory is just the beginning: back in the city, he intends to use every resource at his command to convince her to finally move in and build a life together.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-18"},{"index":18,"title":"Emma","summary":"Emma boards her billionaire boyfriend Marcus's private jet, marveling at the luxury while wrestling with her discomfort about their vast wealth gap. After a weekend with her grandparents, she's terrified of returning to her empty studio, and Marcus senses her resistance to his lifestyle. They negotiate ground rules: no lavish gifts from him, and she'll pay when they dine at her budget-friendly choices. But Marcus has plans—he announces he'll send movers to her studio tonight, framing his mansion as a \"long-term hotel.\" Emma, hopelessly addicted to him after their time together, agrees despite feeling trapped, choosing the comfort of his presence over her independence. The chapter closes on this precarious compromise, with the pressure mounting as she surrenders her living space to his world.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-19"},{"index":19,"title":"19","summary":"Marcus has finally convinced Emma to spend the night at his penthouse after days of resistance, using her beloved Persian cats as leverage to get her through his door. What begins as a carefully negotiated one-night compromise quickly reveals his true ambitions as he packs her belongings and navigates the chaotic logistics of transporting three demanding felines—Mr. Puffs, Queen Elizabeth, and Cottonball—to his luxury home. While Emma insists this is merely a sleepover, Marcus treats it as a trial run toward permanently sharing his space, carefully hiding his eagerness behind soothing charm. The chapter crackles with domestic tension and unspoken desire, closing on the loaded trunk of Emma's possessions and the unresolved question of whether one night will truly be enough to satisfy his growing claim on her.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-20"},{"index":20,"title":"20","summary":"Emma spends the night at her boyfriend Marcus Carelli's luxury penthouse after a Thanksgiving weekend together, but anxiety about her three cats—Queen Elizabeth, Cottonball, and Mr. Puffs—threatens to derail the evening. A passionate kiss in the living room ignites the heat between them until a meow and the butler's interruption break the spell. When the cats are released, Mr. Puffs panics and hides under the couch, while Cottonball surprisingly bonds with Marcus, purring in his arms. Emma is stunned by the tenderness of the usually commanding man cradling her fluffy white cat. As Geoffrey announces dinner, Marcus hints at Emma staying longer than one night, leaving her flustered and uncertain about the deepening intimacy—and whether her pets will survive the weekend.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-21"},{"index":21,"title":"Emma","summary":"Emma shares a quiet dinner with Marcus in their penthouse, the domestic peace briefly shattered by the antics of her three cats—Cottonball, Queen Elizabeth, and Mr. Puffs—while Geoffrey prepares a gourmet meal. When Marcus asks about her absent father, Emma confesses she was conceived during her mother’s uncertain past and has always imagined him as a kind, ordinary man. The conversation deepens when she clumsily probes Marcus’s history, learning his father was a career criminal who died in prison and that his mother raised him on tales that he was destined to follow that path. Emma fiercely reassures him that choices, not blood, define a person, and Marcus admits his fear of becoming his father. The intimate moment is cut short when Mr. Puffs destroys a sculpture, leaving Emma hiding her own secret: she is secretly drafting a novel but terrified of failing again.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-22"},{"index":22,"title":"Marcus","summary":"Marcus leads Emma into his bedroom after her cats destroy a valuable sculpture, but instead of anger, he is overwhelmed by his growing feelings for her. When she offers to pay for the damage, he reacts with savage intensity, claiming her with a passionate kiss that escalates into a heated intimate encounter. Afterward, as he washes her in the shower, he realizes with terrifying clarity that he has fallen completely in love with Emma Walsh—a vulnerability that scares him more than any financial loss. The chapter closes on his desperate need to possess her love, knowing he can never return to his old life of ambition and possessions.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-23"},{"index":23,"title":"23","summary":"Emma’s world tilts after an overwhelmingly intense encounter with Marcus leaves them both breathless and facing a forgotten condom. While Marcus dispatches his assistant Geoffrey to fetch emergency contraception, he confronts Emma with a raw question about children, triggering her carefully neutral deflection. The mood shifts from post-coital haze to tense uncertainty when he retreats abruptly, only to return with arrangements already made: his driver Wilson will chauffeur her to work, defying her plans for the subway. The chapter crescendos as Marcus captures her hands and issues a commanding invitation to stay at his penthouse permanently, transforming a moment of vulnerability into a possessive declaration that leaves Emma caught between irritation and the warmth of his protectiveness, with the unresolved pressure of their future hanging heavy in the air.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-24"},{"index":24,"title":"24","summary":"Marcus is spiraling. After Emma flatly refuses to move in with him, the billionaire's possessive obsession curdles into a desperate need to trap her—fantasizing about isolating her in a remote location where she couldn't leave, then catching himself. Recognizing he can't force her, he pivots to strategic patience, proposing a compromise instead: his driver Wilson will chauffeur her to and from work (fulfilling a promise to her grandparents), and she must attend his investor dinner in Midtown tomorrow as his date. The stakes are existential—Marcus has decided Emma is his future wife and mother of his three children, a certainty that terrifies him given her insistence that they're merely casually dating. As he watches her tousled hair and swollen lips from their earlier intimacy, his resolve hardens. He won't ask her to move in again, but he's already planning how to win her compliance one concession at a time, the unspoken pressure of his longing hanging heavy between them.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-25"},{"index":25,"title":"25","summary":"Emma, an introverted bookstore clerk, spirals with anxiety over an invitation to a high-stakes business dinner with her new boyfriend Marcus's billionaire investors. After a morning of panic—breathing into a paper bag at work and fielding her best friend Kendall's pep talk—she realizes the dinner signals a serious shift in their relationship, one Marcus engineered with an ultimatum about moving in and an unsettling inquiry about children. Dressed in her only business outfit, a worn gray wrap dress she calls her \"cat's butt,\" Emma confronts her imposter syndrome among Forbes-list titans while haunted by the memory of an intense night together and a morning-after pill she took against Marcus's visible wishes. As she prepares to face the glittering table, she cannot shake the suspicion that Marcus has been manipulating her into a corner, leaving her committed to an evening that promises both intoxicating validation and terrifying vulnerability.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-26"},{"index":26,"title":"Marcus","summary":"Marcus, a high-powered hedge fund manager, spends the first weekday of December buried in portfolio reviews and bonus planning, but his mind keeps drifting to Emma, the woman he is determined to marry. Haunted by the panic he caused that morning by springing a last-minute investor dinner on her, he resolves to prove their connection runs deeper than physical attraction. He contrasts his old 'Before Emma' self—obsessed with appearances and status—with his current devotion, realizing her inner warmth matters more than her worn clothes or modest wardrobe. Summoning his assistant Lynette for a cryptic 'special project,' he sets plans in motion to secure their future, vowing to move quickly from lover to husband. The chapter closes on his unwavering commitment, leaving the romantic dinner and Emma's reaction hanging in the balance.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-27"},{"index":27,"title":"27","summary":"Emma Walsh arrives at a high-stakes dinner meant to impress her boyfriend Marcus Carelli’s wealthy investors, but her insecurity about being his \"second choice\" boils over when his friend Ashton Vancroft mistakes her for Emmeline, a Boston woman Marcus evidently discussed with his inner circle but never bothered to mention Emma. Surrounded by billionaires in a gilded Park Avenue restaurant, Emma battles cat hair, scuffed boots, and a French menu while Marcus’s possessive charm offers little comfort against the sting of realizing he may still be entangled with his ex. The chapter crackles with class anxiety and romantic suspicion, peaking when Emma flees to the bathroom, leaving the investors’ table—and Marcus’s secrets—hanging in the air.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-28"},{"index":28,"title":"28","summary":"Marcus Carelli sits through a tense investor dinner, his composure cracking when his friend Ashton reveals the name mix-up between Marcus's date Emmeline and his actual love interest, Emma. Before Marcus can intercept Emma to explain, the Gyles brothers overhear his declaration that he intends to marry her, forcing him to play along while dreading the gossip. The table erupts in premature congratulations, complete with cynical prenup advice from real estate mogul Weston, leaving Marcus trapped between maintaining his investors' confidence and protecting the fragile secret of his unannounced engagement. With Emma hiding behind a column and her feelings still unconfirmed, Marcus must wait for the moment to make things right, knowing the news will spread by morning regardless.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-29"},{"index":29,"title":"29","summary":"Emma retreats to a Midtown restaurant bathroom to process her fear that Marcus, the billionaire she's falling for, may be keeping her as a side piece while pursuing Emmeline—a woman he inexplicably mentioned to his friend Ashton. Wrestling with the memory of a 'broken-door incident' and his recent pressure for her to move in, she tries to convince herself that the man she loves isn't a cheater. Her anxious spiral is interrupted when she runs into Janie, her college best friend, who has transformed from 'Miss Natural' into a platinum-blonde, polished vision for her new boyfriend Landon, now a VP at Goldman Sachs. As they promise a double date, Emma exits the bathroom carrying unresolved doubt about Marcus's fidelity and the unsettling price of Janie's reinvention.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-30"},{"index":30,"title":"30","summary":"Emma navigates a high-stakes dinner with her boyfriend Marcus Carelli and his ultra-wealthy investors, feeling like an outsider until she realizes the elite are merely human. She bonds with Ashton Vancroft, Grigori Moskov, and others over shared interests while Marcus orders her meal and shields her from the menu's lack of prices. The evening takes a tense turn when her estranged friend Janie Brandt arrives with her boyfriend Landon Worth, a Goldman banker who immediately tries to network with Marcus's circle. Sensing Landon's opportunistic motives and Janie's discomfort, Marcus politely dismisses them, placing a possessive hand on Emma's back as they exit. Emma remains guarded about the true story of how she and Marcus met—a name mix-up involving another woman, Emmeline—while the weight of her secret and the evening's social politics leaves her questioning where she truly belongs in Marcus's world.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-31"},{"index":31,"title":"31","summary":"After a high-stakes networking event where Emma charms wealthy investor Bob Johnson into a $150 million commitment, the couple rides home through New York City—only for Marcus to suffer a violent allergic reaction to perfume transferred from a friend's embrace. What begins as sneezing fits escalates into a full decontamination protocol at his penthouse, where Emma's three cats react with feline fury to the scent, forcing Marcus to strip and shower while Queen Elizabeth serves as the arbiter of air safety. With the 'perfume invasion' contained and the bedroom finally locked against curious pets, Marcus anticipates a private evening with his much-younger girlfriend, the chapter closing on a simmering note of romantic possibility shadowed by the absurdity of love interrupted by pets and allergies.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-32"},{"index":32,"title":"32","summary":"Emma confronts Marcus in the shower about his possible involvement with Emmeline Sommers after Ashton confused them at dinner. Marcus explains the misunderstanding—Ashton only knew Emmeline's name from a previous conversation—and confirms he canceled any lingering ties, convincing Emma of his fidelity. Freed from jealousy, Emma lets her desire take over as they move from tense conversation to passionate intimacy in the steamy stall. Marcus claims Emma completely, pushing their physical relationship into new territory with intense, possessive ardor that leaves Emma breathless and emotionally vulnerable. Though she nearly confesses her love, fear of further hurt makes her hold the words back, choosing instead to surrender fully to the moment and to him.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-33"},{"index":33,"title":"Marcus","summary":"Marcus steadies himself after an intense intimate encounter with Emma, transitioning into tender aftercare as he washes her in the shower. When he notices her fascination with his attention to her feet, it sparks a playful exchange that reignites their passion. Using the pet name \"kitten,\" he focuses on her pleasure, discovering mutual desires that drive them into further rounds of intimacy. The emotional shift moves from post-coital exhaustion to hungry anticipation, with Marcus determined to leave her completely satisfied. The chapter closes on the charged moment where their bodies demand more, leaving the scene unresolved and steaming with unspoken need.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-34"},{"index":34,"title":"34","summary":"Exhausted after a weekend of intense intimacy with her billionaire boyfriend Marcus, Emma works her bookstore shift while fighting off sleep and the temptation to stay at his place. Determined to maintain her independence, she plans to drive home with her driver Wilson and three cats despite a snowstorm, lying to her grandmother that she and Marcus are doing a trial run of cohabitation. A call from former friend Janie reveals Landon wants to meet Marcus for networking, stinging Emma with the realization that she is being used socially just as her mother used people. Later, best friend Kendall confronts Emma about her terror of change rooted in an unstable childhood, pointing out that Marcus has already compromised deeply by embracing her cats and cheap clothes, while Emma has only accepted his wealth without risking her own security. The chapter closes with Emma acknowledging she must embrace change and carry her share of the relationship's burden to make it work.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-35"},{"index":35,"title":"35","summary":"Marcus Carelli spends the day scheming to extend Emma Walsh's stay at his estate, ultimately arranging a three-million-dollar property deal through real estate mogul Weston Long to secure her housing. When he finds her asleep among his cats, tenderness overwhelms him, and upon waking, Emma declares she won't return to her studio—accepting a 'trial run' of cohabitation. Marcus swiftly mobilizes his staff to move her belongings into his home, consolidating his claim. Over breakfast, their conversation turns to power and influence; Marcus argues that networking is simply human nature, then reassures Emma that everything he possesses is now hers. The chapter closes on unresolved tension: whether this arrangement will deepen into genuine love or remain a transactional convenience, as Marcus privately vows to turn the trial into forever.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-36"},{"index":36,"title":"Emma","summary":"Emma returns from work to find her belongings already moved into Marcus Carelli’s penthouse by his assistant Geoffrey, marking the start of their trial cohabitation. Surrounded by her unpacked books, de-haired clothes, and cats exploring their new climbing maze, she reflects on how far she has come since her heartbreak in Florida just one week ago. Marcus’s thoughtful gestures—calling her grandparents, installing trading software for her grandfather, and offering them free use of his private plane—deepen her hope that this arrangement might evolve into the love she craves. Though she admits he spoke of loving her only casually, the billionaire Wall Street titan’s attention tightens its grip on her heart. As she surveys their luxurious new home, Emma resolves to do whatever it takes to become the woman Marcus could truly love, holding onto fragile hope despite the risks.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-37"},{"index":37,"title":"37","summary":"Marcus celebrates his first official day living with Emma over a candlelit dinner prepared by their butler Geoffrey. Their conversation flows from weekend plans to Marcus's upcoming Alpha Zone conference, where he'll pitch an investment strategy that puts his reputation on the line. Emma shows surprising aptitude for financial analysis, impressing her hedge fund manager partner. The evening culminates in passionate intimacy upstairs, leaving Marcus sated but haunted by a growing secret: he's hidden a real estate deal and commissioned a private investigation to secure their future together. His guilt threatens the domestic bliss he craves, as he realizes he must protect Emma from the truth at any cost—or risk losing the woman he loves.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-38"},{"index":38,"title":"38","summary":"Emma settles into a comfortable morning routine with her billionaire boyfriend Marcus, balancing her editing career with stolen moments of intimacy. When a late work night sparks creative inspiration in her secret project, she discovers the joy of writing freely beside him. A discounted shopping spree at a boutique and a transformative salon visit boost her confidence as she prepares to formalize their relationship, calling her landlord Mrs. Metz to announce that she and Marcus are officially moving in together. Yet as the excitement of their trial run solidifies into permanence, Emma confronts a final emotional hurdle: whether to store her furniture as a safety net or discard it entirely, trusting that their love will last. The chapter closes on her tentative leap of faith, suspended between practical caution and hopeful commitment.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-39"},{"index":39,"title":"Emma","summary":"Emma joins billionaire boyfriend Marcus Carelli for a pricey brunch at a celebrity hotspot in the West Village, where a paparazzi snapshot threatens their privacy but Marcus’s PR team promises to handle it. When Marcus’s movie-star friend Ashton Vancroft arrives, Emma’s best friend Kendall reacts with open hostility—glaring, refusing his hand, and storming out after paying her own bill—while Marcus grows darkly protective when Ashton jokes about a wedding date. Despite the tension, the group manages to keep the meal civil until Kendall abruptly leaves, leaving Emma desperate to understand the explosive history between her friend and Marcus’s charming new companion.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-40"},{"index":40,"title":"40","summary":"Emma navigates a week of deepening intimacy with Marcus in his penthouse, their routines—gallery visits, gym sessions, and quiet evenings with their cats—weaving into seamless domestic bliss that frightens her with its perfection. When a massage eases her sore muscles, it tips into passionate intimacy, leaving her addicted to his absolute focus yet haunted by doubt: does he truly love her, or is she merely convenient? While her friend Kendall harbors a bitter mystery about Ashton—hinting at a past connection—Emma wrestles with jealousy and insecurity during a lunch confession. After a successful dinner with Janie and her banker boyfriend Landon (whose perfume triggers Marcus's allergy), Emma makes a decisive move toward commitment, resolving to discard her old furniture and trust that what they share is real, even as the fear of devastation lingers.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-41"},{"index":41,"title":"Marcus","summary":"Marcus confesses to his friend Ashton that he orchestrated Emma's move into his home by having a shell corporation purchase her landlady's townhouse above market, and admits he once investigated her privately. While feeling a newfound humanity and calm with Emma, his obsessive love remains relentless. He visits her at the Brooklyn bookstore where she works, only to find her closely consulting with a male client, Ian, whom he perceives as a romantic rival. Consumed by jealous rage, Marcus publicly claims Emma as his girlfriend, then drags her to a back room where they consummate their passion atop a stack of boxes, using withdrawal as contraception. Emma is horrified by the semi-public encounter and Marcus's jealousy, while he worries about pregnancy and the unspoken threat of discovery from her boss and the client's uncle, leaving their cohabitation and trust fragile.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-42"},{"index":42,"title":"42","summary":"Emma grapples with the fallout of a passionate encounter in the restaurant's back room, fearing Monday's professional consequences while Marcus asserts his possessive claim over her at dinner. His jealous rant about rival coworker Ian reveals a vulnerability that hints at deeper feelings, leaving Emma convinced the billionaire may reciprocate her love. As the weekend unfolds in their shared home, their intense chemistry only escalates, culminating in a lazy Sunday massage that leaves Marcus asleep in her arms. With his high-stakes Alpha Zone presentation looming Monday morning—a live broadcast to hundreds—Emma resolves to finally voice her heart, whatever the outcome. The chapter closes on the precipice of confession, tension thick as they drift to sleep.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-43"},{"index":43,"title":"Marcus","summary":"Marcus, a top investment analyst, spends the pre-dawn hours perfecting his Alpha Zone keynote pitch at The Plaza hotel, hoping to secure next year’s top prize with a high-risk biotech stock bet. His meticulous preparation is derailed when his sadistic cat Mr. Puffs spills coffee on his laptop and then steals the flash drive holding his presentation. His partner Emma rescues the drive from the cat and races to deliver it, but her uncharacteristically flat voice on the phone unsettles Marcus, who suddenly realizes the drive also contains sensitive confidential data beyond his slides. With the 8:00 a.m. presentation minutes away and Emma en route, Marcus is left grappling with professional stakes, his planned marriage proposal to Emma, and the alarming possibility that their private secrets are now in jeopardy.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-44"},{"index":44,"title":"44","summary":"Emma arrives at the Alpha Zone Investment Conference with a single mission: deliver a flash drive back to her boyfriend Marcus and walk away from their relationship. The drive contains an \"Emma Walsh\" folder revealing that Marcus commissioned a terrifyingly thorough background investigation on her—from her birth hospital to her Amazon wish list—when they first started dating. Every gift he's given her, every intimate detail he seemed to know, was harvested from this surveillance. Confronting him in the crowded Grand Ballroom, Emma shoves the drive into his hands and flees before he can explain, leaving her reeling from the betrayal. The chapter closes on her unresolved flight and Marcus's desperate plea hanging in the air, the foundation of their impending cohabitation crumbling beneath the weight of his deception.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-45"},{"index":45,"title":"45","summary":"At a high-stakes biotech conference in Manhattan, Marcus Carelli’s presentation collapses when Emma arrives bearing a flash drive—and then flees the ballroom with a wounded goodbye that shatters him. Abandoning his speech to the conference organizer, Marcus pursues her into the rush-hour chaos of Fifth Avenue, where winter wind and blaring traffic drown out his desperate calls. When Emma steps blindly into the intersection toward a speeding yellow cab, time fractures: Marcus launches himself across the asphalt, shoving her clear of the vehicle’s path just as the impact slams into him instead. The chapter closes on the crushing darkness of the collision, leaving Marcus’s fate suspended as Emma’s terrified face flashes in his final conscious moment.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-46"},{"index":46,"title":"46","summary":"Emma is hurled onto the asphalt in a violent collision, her breath knocked out and vision swimming. When she recovers enough to move, terror drives her to Marcus—revealed as Carelli—who lies prone in the street with blood pooling around his head. Though his pulse is strong, the sight of the blood triggers fresh panic as she frantically searches for her missing phone to call 911. A bystander in a gray suit confirms help is coming and forces her to lie down to manage shock, but as sirens approach, Emma's dizziness deepens into nausea, leaving her retching beside the injured man while the full weight of the attack settles over her, the unresolved fear of his condition hanging heavy.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-47"},{"index":47,"title":"47","summary":"Emma wakes to find Marcus conscious after eighteen hours, his arm in a cast and head bandaged from taking a cab impact meant for her. As she nurses him, she confronts his surveillance: the PI report, the delayed Florida flight, and the townhouse purchase arranged through Weston Long. Despite the violation, facing his near-death has crystallized her love. He proposes marriage before December 31st; she accepts on the condition he never spies on her again. Their reconciliation culminates in a passionate kiss interrupted by his beeping heart monitor and arriving nurses, leaving the promise of forever suspended in the hospital air.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-48"},{"index":48,"title":"Epilogue","summary":"One year later, Emma prepares for her book signing at Smithson Books in a sleek black dress, six weeks postpartum with her and Marcus's son, Joshua Reed Carelli. The billionaire investor's biotech stock has quadrupled after winning top prize at the Alpha Zone, while Emma's second self-published thriller claims another New York Times bestseller spot. Married on a pier in Flagler Beach and honeymooned in a Fiji bungalow, the couple now navigates new parenthood with the help of their four cats, who have appointed themselves guardians of the 'milk monster' infant. With her doctor's clearance to resume intimacy and Marcus's unwavering devotion, Emma finds their love remains a prize worth fighting for as she embraces her new life as a full-time author.","url":"https://books.mozaikallc.com/en/works/anna-zaires/titans-addiction/#chapter-49"}],"recapLocales":["en"],"indexable":true}}