Chapter 3 - Selena

Just when I thought my life could not get any harder, it just did. My father would never win any parent of the year awards, but this was beyond anything that I thought he was capable of. I am being used as collateral for his gambling debts. I am basically being

sold into servitude to a mafia Don as a maid. Considering dad’s debt is pretty large, I will be a maid for the rest of my life.

I could feel Joseph’s eyes on me the entire drive. It made me a little nervous but also gave me a warm feeling deep in my core that I had never felt before. I had never been alone with a man before. At least not this close together. I had been alone in the

bodega with Mr. Antoine but that was pretty much it. I did not have any friends since I was no longer going to school. I never even spent time with any of my neighbors because either I was either working or I was at the library working on my courses. I am

sure he was looking at me out of pity because of my circumstances, but I did not want anyone’s pity. I would just keep my head down and stay out of Joseph Rossi’s way.

The car pulled up to the iron gates of a sprawling estate, the headlights casting a yellow glow across the dark metal. I could see there was a large letter ‘R’ in the middle of the gates. I took a deep breath and tried to calm all of the emotions that were

swirling around inside of me. I have no idea what I am in for, but somehow, I know it’s not going to be good. The gates swung open with a groan, revealing a long, winding driveway that led to a grand home. The house was a monument of power and money, the complete

opposite of the cramped apartment I have called home all of my life.

I did not want to accept the fate that was put in front of me, but what choice did I really have. When have I ever truly had a choice in my life. I did not choose to live with an alcoholic father, my mother made that decision for me. I did not choose to

stop going to school, my father did by gambling and drinking away all of our money. And finally, I did not choose to be a maid to the mafia, my father and Joseph Rossi made it for me. No matter how attractive I think he is, at the end of the day he is my

captor that has full control of my destiny. Not only was I going to be a maid, most likely for the rest of my life, but I was never going to be able to finish my education. That was the one dream that I had so desperately been holding onto. But like most

everything else in my life, that was taken from me.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when the car came to a stop in front of a beautiful home, that will now be my prison. Joseph got out of the car first and I was hesitant to get out. Maybe I could open the other door and take off running. I could possibly

get a good head start before they would catch up to me. It was if he had heard my thoughts. “Selena, running will not be a good idea. So, your best option is to get out of the car and follow me.” With that statement, he reached his hand out to me. I slid

across the seat towards the door and looked at his outstretched hand. I hesitated to take it but figured it would be best to just do as I am told, for now.

When I took his hand, it was like an electric shock went through my body. I have never felt anything like it before. I wanted to pull away, but he had a firm grip on me. I got out of the car, and I realized just how large of a man Joseph Rossi really was.

He was well over a foot taller than me. I am only five-foot tall, so most people I did come in contact with I had to look up to them. He had broad shoulders that filled out the custom- made blue suit he was wearing. He looked like he belonged on the cover

of a magazine with his looks and how he dressed. I had to shake my head to make those thoughts disappear. I could not think of him as a handsome man, but as the person I would be serving daily.

As I walked towards the door, I felt like I was walking to my doom. I did my best to hold my head high. I could not let anyone see my real feelings. I did not want anyone to think they could break me, even though I was broken on the inside already