Chapter 1

We have the rich and we have the wealthy, and  Manhattan isn't referred to as the playground of billionaires for nothing. From frivolous shopping sprees to overpriced boarding houses, exclusive country clubs, and bratty kids acting up to be on the tabloids, Manhattan had them all…

“Excuse me miss, please can you insert your pin? “ said the red-haired girl to Ayala with growing impatience for the third time.

“Oh, I'm so sorry “ came Ayala’s reply as she put in her pin, carried the cosmetics she just got, and rushed out of the drug store.

Never would she have thought herself to be in a place like this, her friends and her usually scrunched their noses at the sight of it and would rather have a hand chopped off than be caught dead in a place like that. But sadly, this had become her reality. 

She kept a reasonable distance from the store while holding the leather containing her purchase with both disgust and anger. She missed shopping at her favorite cosmetic brands; L’oreal, Fenty, Rare beauty, and Rhode… she missed putting her personal shopper to work when a new foundation or lipstick shade was out because she just had to be among the first to get it. Now, she was putting on no designer and with footwear she got from Walmart. Well, she still had her designer wears in her closet but they were not in trends anymore and everyone knows that; No designer is better than an outdated one.

As she stood waiting for a cab, she was still grateful she could afford one because taking the subway or train was bottom-barrel.

Suddenly a shiny black Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail pulls up to her and stops, the door swings open, “get in” says the voice from inside.

She needed no one to tell her the prospective owner of the car, the customized plate number, “ Igor 1” gave it out.  

We have the wealthy and we have the Igors, the one-percenters. They had business in every sector of the economy and were rumored to be engaged in big underground activities. Everyone had mixed emotions towards them, it was that of dread and also longing to be associated with them. 

AYALA

I stepped in, not particularly knowing why any of the Igors would want to give me a ride, sure my junior brother was friends with a member of the clan but our familiarity ended there.

“ Thank you so much, my house is at Jump Rock Estate, 27th Crescent. I'll call the Estate security to let us in” I said and was met by a loud silence.

I repeated it, just to hear “Ty mozhesh' zatknut'sya? ( can you shut up ) I heard you the first, I'm not your chauffeur, Shomer”.

The mention of my last name made me shudder, but I tried to remain calm. Once he had dropped me, before I could mutter a thank you, he had raced off. 

“Ivan! Ivaaaaaaaan!” I screamed as I ran up the stairs, 

“The only person permitted to scream my name, is my girlfriend “ came Ivan’s reply as he shifted his gaze from the p**n magazine in his hand. It always amazed me how he read that with no shame, not like I didn't have mine stuffed under my bed, but they were there for a reason.

“ I see you still have jokes,” I said, giving him the fakest smile I could muster. Ivan has to be the corniest person I know, but he's however the only person who would possibly have answers to what I was going to ask, just had to be him.

“Tell me about the Igors, I say “  he considers me for a while then replies, “You are not their type”, my face reddened with anger, I didn't care much about them, but being told I was not their type still sent me to a frenzy. 

“For starters, I don't care about being their type, they aren't mine either if for anything I believe them to be overhyped but one however, who isn't your friend, Yuri, gave me a ride and raced out before I could show my gratitude…rude much! and I just want to know who he is “

“If it's not Yuri, try giving me a description then, “ Ivan said. “Well, I didn't see his face, he had on a black suit, his hair was slicked back, and yeah, he was driving himself, which was weird because what are drivers for? Whatever, and yeah, his plate number read, “ Igor 1” ”.

As I mentioned the last statement, I felt my brother’s face grow pale, “ You mean; “Igor 1”? There's no way Vladimir gave you a ride, that's Yuri’s elder brother and he is said to be colder than the Ice king! Yuri did say he was in town, but why would he?… he doesn't even know you…”

I really couldn't tell if Ivan was shocked by who gave me a ride or if he wished it was him that the ride was given to. “ well, he did give me a ride” I said as I shut the door leaving him with unasked questions neither of us had the answer to.

As I got to my room, I began arranging my purchase in my cosmetic cabinet. I noticed my Voce viva intensa Valentino perfume I got last summer was half as well as most of my designer perfumes, two of which had already finished, can life get any worse… The universe probably read my mind because immediately my Tom Ford black violet perfume fell to the ground and broke. I used my hands to cover my mouth to prevent myself from breaking down the house with my scream.

I wanted to call my old friends to tell them about the horrible day I was already having, but ever since Papa’s company declared bankruptcy, my friends avoided me like it was contagious, the ones that didn't ,treated me like a charity case and I hated that even more. I wanted dialing any of their numbers, but I thought it better not to, my life was now different and I had to learn to accept that.