Chapter 1

It was late at night.

Elena Russo sat by her dressing table, carefully painting her nails a deep red while glancing at her fiancé, Raphael, asleep on the bed. His steady breathing filled the quiet room. For a moment, she smiled softly — he looked peaceful when he slept.

She capped the nail polish and moved closer to him, brushing her lips against his. He stirred, eyes blinking open.

“Babe, what time is it?” he mumbled.

“Time to get up,” she teased, running her fingers through his hair.

Raphael smiled faintly, pulling her close for another kiss. His hand slid down her body, and she gasped.

“Raphael,” she whispered, half laughing, half breathless.

“What?” he grinned. “Can’t a man touch his fiancée?”

He suddenly paused, noticing a streak of red on his fingers. “Wait… did you paint my nails?”

Elena laughed. “Maybe a little. You looked too peaceful to resist.”

“Babe, that’s weird,” he said, chuckling awkwardly. “You’re lucky I love you.”

She smirked. “You should — I gave you the most gorgeous nails in town.”

He shook his head, smiling. “Okay, I gotta go. Can you take that off, please? I have a meeting.”

Elena sighed. “Fine. But only if you promise me one picture first.”

“You’re not posting a picture of me with red nails, Elena,” he said quickly.

Her smile faded. “You’re no fun.”

“Don’t post,” he said, kissing her forehead. “What time is Clara coming over?”

“Soon,” she replied. “She said she’s on her way. I’ll call you in the morning.”

“What’s the time difference in Arizona again?”

“Two hours,” she said softly.

He nodded and grabbed his suitcase. “Call me when you get to the hotel,” Elena reminded him.

“I will,” Raphael said, giving her one last kiss before heading out.

After the door closed, Elena sat silently for a moment. Her eyes lingered on the red nail polish bottle. Something inside her felt… off. Like she was living a life that didn’t fully belong to her.

A few minutes later, Clara arrived — all energy and excitement as usual.

“Ready for a girls’ night out?” Clara grinned.

Elena forced a smile. “Yeah, let’s go. I could use a drink.”

They walked down the street toward Club Vixen, neon lights glowing ahead.

Elena and Clara entered the club, looking around with happy smiles on their faces. The lights were bright, the music loud, and everyone seemed to be having a good time.

Clara nudged Elena playfully. “Did you see anything interesting yet?”

Elena laughed. “No, not yet.”

“Hot girls everywhere,” Clara said, scanning the room.

“Not yet in time,” Elena replied, grinning. “What about us? We’re the hot babes.”

They both burst out laughing. The music thumped through the floor as people danced and cheered.

Elena’s phone rang. It was her fiancé, Raphael.

“Hey, babe,” he said. “I’m already at the hotel.”

“Okay, babe. Love you,” Elena replied softly before hanging up.

When she looked up again, she saw Clara already dancing with a woman near the stage. Elena smiled but felt a little nervous. The club atmosphere was wilder than she expected.

“I’ll be right back!” Elena shouted over the music. “Going to the bathroom!”

“Okay!” Clara called back, spinning in the arms of her dance partner.

Elena made her way to the restroom. After washing her hands, she checked herself in the mirror — fixing her hair, adjusting her lipstick. That’s when she noticed someone standing beside her.

A woman. Confident, striking, and breathtaking.

Elena’s heart skipped. She recognized her — Scarlett Voss, the infamous owner of Club Vixen. People called her the Mafia Queen of the city.

Scarlett had short, bold hair and a sharp, powerful look. She dressed like she didn’t care what anyone thought — part elegance, part danger.

Elena swallowed hard, suddenly aware of her heartbeat.

“H-hey,” she said nervously. “You’re… Scarlett, right?”

Scarlett turned to her with a faint smile. “That’s me. And you are?”

“Elena,” she replied quickly. “You look… beautiful. And cute.”

Scarlett chuckled. “Thanks,” she said in a low, smooth voice that made Elena’s stomach twist.

“Are you here on the street today?” Elena blurted, flustered.

Scarlett raised an eyebrow. “What? Oh—no. I own this club.”

Elena blinked in surprise. “Really? Wow, that’s amazing.”

Scarlett leaned against the counter, watching her carefully. “Do you come to parties like this often?”

Elena shook her head. “Not at all. My friend brought me here today. But… maybe I’ll start coming more often.”

Scarlett smiled softly. “That’s good to hear.”

Elena hesitated, then reached out her hand. “I’m Elena,” she said again. “Nice to meet you.”

Scarlett looked at her hand for a moment, then finally took it. “Scarlett,” she said.