5: The Cocky Devil In Prada

Elara’s POV

Three Years Later.

“... Your daughter just fell off the stairs and she is in a bad state.” 

Numb. Dumb. 

My mouth fell a gap but no words formed. With my mind going blank for a minute, I stuttered in utter confusion. My heart pounded as if it would explode.

“Come to the hospital right away, Miss Lilian.” The cold tone of Violet’s teacher echoed in my head. 

The call dropped. 

My cute three-year-old was supposed to be in school and I was going to pick her up in about an hour… Not this crap! 

‘Paediatrics Emergency Ward. Mardi Clinic.’

My phone chimed with the message. 

I shot up and bolted for the door, not caring about how shabby I looked. I hissed the address once I flagged down the first taxi. 

Mumbling strings of prayers, my eyes shut to hold back tears. My legs quivered and I was this close to tossing the driver out of the window and driving myself there, that's if I wouldn't be long dead from the crazy speed. 

On arrival, I paid him and jumped down without waiting for the extra. 

“My daughter.” I panted, body trembling. “Violet Slater…”

“This way, please.” 

A nurse led me through the dimly lit hallway to the Emergency room. The medical team troped in and out at a fast pace, causing me to tremble. 

There she was, Margo, Violet’s teacher. 

“Ma, you can't go in!” The nurse tried to stop me, but she was one second late. 

Opening the door and rushing in like a lunatic, I bumped into a doctor. He gripped my arm and pulled me backward. 

Seeing the numerous plugins attached to my baby as she lay still in bed, I went dumb. 

“I'm sorry, madam.” He didn't let go of me as he pulled me out of the room. “You’ll only endanger your daughter's life.”

I sniffled and brushed tears off my cheeks. Still, I didn't let go. 

“You should be concerned about the surgery she needs.”

“Fucking do it.” My whole body vibrated. 

“It'll cost about eighty-five hundred dollars. Her insurance doesn't cover up for it.”

“What? I… I don't have that money.” I scoffed. “Please, save my daughter…”

“Till the bill is sorted, we can only stabilize her.” He interrupted me. “I'm sorry, it's the hospital’s policy.”

“Doctor…”

He walked out on me without another word and disappeared back to the ER. 

“I'm so sorry…”

I didn't let Margo finish as I brushed past her, left the hospital, and boarded a taxi back home. 

First, I pulled out a black box beneath my bed and shakingly took out the brown envelopes with tags written on them. 

Mortgage. Violet’s fees. Debts. Savings. 

Pouring out the money in them, it was yet to amount to $200. 

“Oh… god, please.

Scouting for my phone, I saw ten missed calls from Evelyn, my best friend and colleague. I was probably in trouble. I tried to return her calls, but it wasn't reachable. 

There was no one else to call. Not my estranged parents or boss. Breaking down completely, I crumbled in a heap and cried out my eyes. 

‘Madam Alice!’ My brain sparked a thought. 

Picking up my weak frame, I rushed over to my neighbor’s. The old lady loved looking after Violet while I went to work. Aside from her being kind, Violet was a cute little pumpkin. 

“Hi!” She beamed. “I was just about to call. Where's my sweet…” She paused to see my red eyes. “Are you okay?”

“No.” I gulped dryly. “Violet is sick… I need money. Four-thousand.” 

She sighed, wearing a pitiful look. “I don't have that much.” 

“Three, or one… Anything.” I panicked. 

She palmed her face. “Look, I'll help in any way possible. Violet is my darling too.” 

My mind was thrown into a state of frenzy. The only language I understood now was money. 

“I have this waitress job at ‘Sinful Saints’.” She spilled. “My friend called me to help her fill in.”

How was that my cup of tea?

“It's a good place and the clients tip the staff real good.” She explained. “You’re a pretty lady, I'm sure you'll make cool cash.” She held my shoulders. “This is me giving up my one night of being a billionaire to you.” She joked. “You should take it.” 

“Violet…”

“I'll take care of her.” 

*** *** 

‘You have to look sexy to drain their pockets.’ 

Alice’s voice rang in my head. She had rooted out her dangerously revealing clothes and skimpy dresses against my will. A milf, she was quite my size and lived while she was a youth. 

Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I could barely recognize myself. 

In a skimpy black dress with a deeply carved V-neck, exposing my soft swells and flawless white skin, I was seductive. 

7:40 PM. 

Almost late for the gig, I smeared the red lipstick I got centuries ago and dashed out of the house. 

“You look ravishing!” Alice waved me off her porch. “Good luck, honey!” 

Thankfully, the bar was a few blocks away. Still having roughly twenty minutes, I decided to trek the distance and save a few bucks. 

My feet hurt terribly in the a-bit-too-tight heels Alice borrowed me, but thinking about Violet, numbed the painful sensation. 

“Jeez!” 

I gasped when my purse was yanked off. Spinning, I was starting in the cold eyes of a stranger. About to fight for it, I stopped on seeing four more creeps out. 

Holy eff! 

“Such a tasty meal.” The leader sneered and licked his lips. 

In terror, I retreated. 

They sensed my urge to flee and surrounded me, slowly approaching. 

“Don't panic, princess.” He cackled. “We’ll be gentle.”

“Stay away from me.” I was close to tears. “You can keep the purse, just let me go.” I pleaded. 

The leader gripped my waist and forcefully snatched me to himself. I inhaled the stinky dose of sweat and alcohol. 

I tried to fight him off, but my petite frame was crushed against him. 

“Stop. Please…” 

The nasty mix of blood and brains splashed on me, following groans and gunshots. His arms loosened around my waist. 

My drooping lids steadied and I was faced with the corpses of all five of them. 

With tensed muscles, I wasn't sure whether to run or not. Slowly turning to find my savior or maybe the next predator, I froze. 

Alluring hazel-blue eyes, high cheekbones, small kissable libs. 

He sneered, baring his cute spotless canine. 

MARCO?!!!