Chapter One

Maya’s POV

The piercing sound of my alarm clock shattered the fragile peace of my room, pulling me out from my deep sleep.

I stretched my hands, yawning before rubbing the remaining sleep away from my eyes. I got out of my worn out bed that had the foam peeling out of it already.

As always, the smell of alcohol wafted through the air, and I was again reminded about the daily activities of my father. Brushing it away, I turned to look at the clock on the wall and I realized that I was already late.

I quickly rushed to the bathroom, took a bath, wore my clothes and shoes before I grabbed my bag and walked out of my room.

On the bus, I tried to review my notes for today’s classes, but the bustling motion made it nearly impossible. My mind raced with a million thoughts: assignments due, exams looming, and the never-ending cycle of work and study.

I got to campus just in time for classes and I felt my heart flutter as I took in the environment for the nth time. Despite the fact that I was poor and nothing working for me, I had studied and worked hard to get as scholarship to attend the most expensive and prestigious university as a business major.

I was determined to finish at the top of my class and finally get rid of the poverty that had eaten deep into my soul.

Throughout the day, I threw myself into my classes, my mind buzzing with business plans. Despite the constant worry gnawing at my insides, I remained focused, determined to excel in my classes and carve a better future for myself.

As I was heading to my next class, I walked past the famous queen bee Claire and her minions, the numbskulls were fawning over the most eligible bachelor and a renowned CEO, almost every girl was obsessed with him, I rolled my eyes as I moved past them and as my unfortunate luck would have it, they noticed me and as usual they made fun of me. “Look at how unkempt and dirty she looks” Claire said, and her minions laughed, “your bag is so last season, how did you even get accepted here” she said again and they walked away laughing. Unbothered I kept walking to my class, nothing that I wasn’t used to.

For as long as I could remember, I had always been bullied for being poor and not being able to afford things.

The final bell rang and I quickly packed my things before and headed to where I worked part time.

Immediately I got to the restaurant, I changed my clothes and clicked in before I got to work.

Throughout the day, I barely had any time to myself because it was one of the busy days.

After work, I clocked out, changed again and headed home, my head aching and my feet hurting from standing all day long.

But, as I turned the corner that led to my street, my eyes widened in surprise. There were two luxurious black cars parked outside my shabby apartment building. My tired brain was surprised and struggles to process the unexpected sight. Luxury cars like these didn’t belong in our neighborhood.

Heart pounding, I quickened my pace, my curiosity piqued despite my exhaustion. Who could possibly be visiting us in such fancy cars? Were they lost? Or worse, were they here to cause trouble? Dread settled in the pit of my stomach as I approached the entrance, my mind racing with possibilities.

I cautiously pushed open the door to our apartment, my heart pounding still. Stepping inside, I was met with an unexpected sight, my eyes widening in horror: a man standing over my disheveled father who was bound to a chair, his face contorted in pain. I saw that the man towering over him had a machete in hands and was aiming for my father’s arm.

My breath caught in my throat as I recognized the man standing over my father instantly: the renowned CEO of Williams group of company, and the mafia boss who ran our city he was also the most eligible bachelor everyone fawned over, Alexander Williams. His mere presence exuded power and confidence.

“Please, stop!” I cried out, my voice quivering with fear and desperation. “He’s my father”

The CEO’s cold gaze shifted to me; his expression devoid of any compassion. “Your father owes us over a million dollars, and he’s missing his deadline,” he said, his voice dripping with malice. “Actions have consequences, my dear."

Tears welled up in my eyes, I walked in further and fell to my knees, folding my hands and pleading to him. “I’ll pay! I’ll do anything, just pleased don’t hurt him!"

A cruel laugh escaped the CEO’s lips ass he towered over me, his presence suffocating. ”And how do you plan on paying, hmmn? You’re nothing but a poor, unfortunate girl. What could you possibly offer me?”

My heart fell into my stomach and knots formed in my throat as I realized that he was right. I was powerless against him and there was nothing I could do to save my father life except beg and hope he listened to me. I doubt he would but I refused to give up.

“I’ll work for you,” I muttered, my voice barely audible. “I’ll do whatever you ask me to. But please just spare my father.”

My pleas fell on deaf ears as he chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with amusement at her desperation. “Work for me? Why exactly can a useless and stupid girl like you do for me?” He asked, his voice cold and vile as he waved me away dismissively.

Before I could say anything, one of his men walked to him and whispered something into his ear. Alexander Williams face hardened, before he turned to look at me with a cold look in his eyes.

“You’re one lucky brat,” he finally said, his voice cold and slicing through the silence. “I’ve decided to spare your father. But there’s a price for his freedom.”

My stomach twisted into knots as I waited for him to continue, dreading what would come out of his mouth. “What do you want me to do for you?” I asked, my voice trembling.

Alexander’s lips curled into a smirk and I removed under his stare. “Marry me,” he finally said, his tone firm and cold, sending chills down my spine. “If you really want your father to live and you want to clear his life, you’re going to marry me. That way, you can at least be useful to me.”

My kind swirled with different things as I thought over his words. I was faced with either losing my father or my freedom. I knew I had no other choice no matter how much I’d regret it.

The tears I was holding back finally started falling down my face freely. I nodded, finally making up my mind and accepting his proposal. “I’ll do it.”

“Good girl,” he said, leaning forward. “Since you’ve accepted, you’ll be moving in with me right this instant.”

Realization washed over me and my stomach twisted into knots as his words settled over me. His words replied in my head and I nodded absent minded. I turned to look around the apartment, knowing that this would be my last time in the four walls.

Alexander got up and walked out of the house, his guards looking at me coldly and impatiently waiting for me to get up and follow them. Slowly, I got up looking at my father that was still bound to the chair one more time and walked out of the house.

Alexander was waiting silently by the car but I could tell that his patience was wearing thin. Not wanting to annoy him further or face his wrath, I quickly walked to the car and got in. From the window, I could see him barking orders, after why get like hours, he got into the car and the driver started the car, driving off.

The ride to his mansion was silent but the air was thick with tension. My mind kept going back to my father and how his bad decisions had put me in such a tight position. I just couldn’t shake the feeling of my life being over away, my life had taken a wrong turn.

Finally, we got to the mansion and I was awed at hope beautiful and luxurious it looked from the outside. I wondered how much beautiful the inside would be if the outside looked like that.

The house felt too different from the man that was sitting beside me, the house looked warm and alluring while Alexander was cold and stoic.

I got down from the car, I slowly and hesitantly walked behind Alexander, not wanting to get ahead of myself. He turned to me, his expression blank as he held out his hand to me.

Hesitantly, I took a hold of his hand and he wrapped his around mine creep leading me down to the house.

I was about to accept that it might not be too bad in the house after all when I heard the sound of a gun from inside the house.

Alexander’s body immediately became rigid and he stopped in his tracks, his face contorted into anger but it was gone as a as it had appeared.

“Was that the sound of a gun?” I asked slowly, my voice cracking.

His lips curled up into a wicked smile and he turned to face me fully, his eyes filled with an intensity I had never seen. “Welcome to your new home, Maya,” he said, his voice dripping with menace. “What you heard and more are a horn here.”

I swallowed nervously and my mind raced with questions I knew I wasn’t going to get an answer to and it dawned on me that nobody was going to save me from the danger I had willingly put myself in for a father that didn’t care about to me.

We kept on walking into the mansion and u couldn’t help but wonder the twisted things were waiting for me in the darkness of Alexander’s world.