Chapter One

Chapter One

#Ibwt

Olivia took a deep breath and checked the timepiece clasped onto her wrist. It was exactly 12pm. Alex Maldov was scheduled to be at the ‘Gentleman’s pub’ at exactly this time, courtesy of his chef who managed to give her a heads up for her favorite purse in return as a reward.

She took a deep breath, trying her best to muster up enough courage as her grip tightened around the handle of her suitcase. Finally she took a step forward towards the entrance, the brewed up courage was short lived as she was stopped by the huge guard at the door.

“Name and Business??”

“O-Olivia,” She stuttered for a moment, he was just so incredulously huge that it shattered every being of her confidence, “Olivia Camden. I’m a fashion designer and—

“Yeah and I’m a Nobel prize winning author,” He retorted with the highest form of sarcasm, “What do you want lady??”

She stepped back a little bit, unappreciative of his tone but still scared to get pummelled ,she cleared her throat and looked up at him, “I’m here to see your boss.”

He sniffled, “I have a lot of bosses and I’m running out of patience. State your business here or beat it lady.”

“I’m here to see Alex Maldov. He has unfinished business with my father.” With a frown on her face she responded.

“And your father is??”

“Charles Camden.”

“Who the fuck is Charles—“ He paused for a moment and his left brow rose, “Are you talking about Big C??”

She hated when they called him that, ‘Big C’, knowing her father was a man on the shorter end. It was a name tagged as a form of mockery and she loathed being referred to as the daughter of Big C, he on the other hand loves the name but knowing Charles Camden…he wasn’t a man known for making good decisions.

“Yes,” she finally answered, “Can I see your boss now?”

The guard nodded he stepped to the side ushering her in with a faint smile on his face that made her even more annoyed. She regained her poise and went into the building, although her heart thumped as fast as she could run a hundred meter race she stood strong and ready to face the devil himself—the mafia boss whom her father was indebted to.

Alex Maldov was surprisingly handsome contrary to what the rumors pictured him as—a haggard looking being with a hunchback and the temper of a thousand lions, he was also depicted to have a huge scar gliding across his face and a mouth with cold sores around the rim.

Seated right in front of her was a whole different man—a beautiful man she might add, with the shiniest hair she’d ever seen on a male human. It threw her off balance a little bit, how strikingly handsome he was but this wasn’t what she was here for.

“It’s nice to meet you Mr Maldov. My name is—-

“Who is this??” He turned to the man standing right behind her, ignoring her existence at the moment which almost made her die of embarrassment.. She turned around and realised the huge guard standing that behind her, his presence went unnoticed and that struck a nerve of fear in her veins.

“She’s Big C’s daughter sir.” The guard replied.

She frowned as she corrected, “Charles Camden’s daughter. Olivia. My name is Olivia.”

Alex uncrossed his long legs and sat upright, finally he took off his glasses to see the woman standing right in front of him—as annoyed as he was being interrupted from his quiet time, he couldn’t help but like what he was seeing right in front of him.

“Your father owes me big time Liv.” He said as he poured himself a glass of wine, gesturing to the chair adjacent to him, “Sit.”

Her eyes darted towards the chair and back, “No thanks.”

He frowned, “If I say sit, you sit. Miss Olivia, please sit.”

Something about his deep voice sent chills down her spine, she was a hardheaded woman with a lot of pride but she knew danger when it crossed her path. Underneath the pretty eyes of the handsome man seated in front of her, was a cold blooded mafia boss and killer who ruled the underground of the city.

“Good girl,” he cooed, she didn’t like that, “What can I do for you today beautiful?”

He called her beautiful. He wasn’t the first man to call her that, but he was the first man to make her jittery at such a compliment. A lump formed in her throat as she placed the briefcase on the table. Alex’s brow puckered in question as he signalled the guard to open the case—-alas! It was multiple wads of cash arranged in an orderly fashion , hundred dollar notes to be precise.

“I’m here to pay my father’s debt.” She finally announced.

Alex was amused. Almost moved to a boisterous laughter but a slight snicker escaped him instead, “You are one funny woman liv.”

“It’s Olivia.”

“How much is in there Liv?” He asked, not paying heed to her words. Olivia was starting to like him less and les by the passing minute.

She gulped hard, suddenly the room felt tepid even though there was a whole conditioning unit right above them, “It’s uh-it’s-

“Speak up.”

There was a shift in ambience, all of a sudden she felt a dark aura wrapped around her body which made her hairs frigid, she was warm and yet still felt chills in her veins, “Two hundred grand.” she finally answered.

Alex didn’t laugh. Amused, but he didn’t laugh. Instead a deep scowl appeared on his face, he laid back and crossed his leg signaling the guard to do away with the case. Olivia’s throat felt super dry as she watched him take away the case which was basically half of her savings, she carefully evaded making eye contact with the boss—one wrong move and she might get killed, she could only hope.

“How much did your father say he owes me?”

“He didn’t. I just guessed this would be enough.”

Now he chuckled softly, unfortunately she found his perturbing silence less dangerous than his laugh, “You thought two hundred was enough??”

“It….it should,” she stuttered, “Right?”

“No kitten.” He responded, “He owes me more.”

“More?!!,” She cried out, “What business could he have possibly done with your lowly self to owe you more than almost a quarter million?!!”

“A business where he double crossed me and lost me more than a million.” He was now serious, “Your father is in great shape out of my great respect for him kitten. I’ll take your two hundred grand as a means of appreciation of my lenience, next time he wouldn’t be so lucky—tell Charles I’m coming for him soon.” He gestured towards the door, “You may leave now beautiful.”

She nodded, nipping her bottom lip as she’d just given this man half of her life savings only for it to not be enough. She rose to her feet and ventured towards the door, only to pause and turn around, “How much does my father owe?”

“You should ask him that.”

“Please Mr Maldov”

“Twenty million Olivia.” He muttered as he placed his glasses back onto his eyes, “Your father owes me Twenty million.”

Olivia nodded and walked away, unwilling to let him see the ghastly look on her face from the sheer horror of what her father had done. Alex couldn’t help but smirk as he turned to his guard, “I think there’s a way Charles Camden and I can come to a compromise.”

Marco, his personal guard and henchman couldn’t help but smile, “You think she’s the perfect candidate boss??”