Chapter 1

Gwen's POV

"Wash the tumbler quick you sluggish idiot!" George yelled angrily at me as I tried my best to hasten my pace in washing the dishes.

The pot-bellied man who was always in a foul mood continued ranting and screaming obscenities at me even as he walked away.

It was my second week working in 'Choicest restaurant' and it felt like being in hell already. As someone born with the proverbial silver spoon, I had never in my life thought I would work in a low establishment such as this.

I had just gotten home from campus to spend the holiday with my family when I met my father in a sour mood, on enquiring what happened he told me his past involvement in the Mafia had finally caught up with him. The government had all his properties seized and worse he's facing a jail term.

Dejectedly, I had left home and made up my mind to search for a job but no one wants to employ the daughter of a criminal, at least for a white collar job so I took the only option left and that's how I found myself here.

I felt a hand touch me and I jolted out of my train of thoughts.

"I've been calling but you seem far away from here", Jane said softly to me, her voice laced with concern.

I looked at Jane as she held my hand reassuringly, she was the only one who didn't turn against me amongst my friends and that alone soared my heart with some sort of relief.

"Gwen, are you okay?" Jane asked, her eyes fixed on me.

"I am", I responded slowly, my voice betraying me. I remembered when I met Jane at first in class, we had been distant friends and only talked about school stuffs plus my other friends were not really cool with Jane being in our clique. They had been quick to tag her as the 'all knowing' considering Jane's academic brilliance even despite being an undocumented immigrant.

"Okay, the boss wants you to take the man's order at table six", Jane said to me then paused, accessed me for a while before adding, "Will you be able to do that?"

"Of course, I will. It's no big deal." I said and immediately went to carry out the task as I didn't want the wrath of George the boss that afternoon.

Just as I was about delivering the man's order , I suddenly tripped and fell on the floor, the contents of the tray I was holding completely spilling on the man.

George who had been observing me immediately rushed out of his make shift office.

"You disgusting lowlife bitch, are you fucking blind or what?" George cursed at me angrily, not minding that I'm still lying on the floor.

I could see the disgusted look on his face as he stood some metres away from me and I felt my stomach tighten from his rants. I was totally embarrassed as everyone's attention was now focused on me. I forced myself not to cry as I knew he's not worth my tears and knowing how inhumane and unreasonable he is.

I tried to get up ignoring the embarrassing stares from the customers and co-workers. Jane rushed out and helped me up. It was obvious someone had either knowingly or unknowingly spilled the water on the floor.

"That's okay, I guess I'd just go back to my hotel room to change." I heard the man I had mistakenly spilled drink on say. He was obviously trying to pacify my angry boss but it seems he's not having any of that.

The other workers in the restaurant had gathered around to help clear the mess and one of them was already mopping off all the mixed liquid on the floor.

"You just made me lose a customer, you are so full of bad luck and you'd pay for that." I heard George threaten, his voice conveying a deep resentment for me.

I opened my mouth to talk but no words left my mouth probably from being too shocked to hear him say something as vile as that to me. I just couldn't process my thoughts as I've never experience this kind of ridicule all my life as I'm used to rolling with people who treat me in the most respectable manner.

"Chief, it's not entirely her fault. There was water on the floor." Jane tried to come to my defence.

"Shut your damn mouth!" George roared and just as I was about to talk, he took the dirty mop water not far away and poured the entire contents on Jane and I, the larger portion of the dirty water landing on me and I fought the urge to cry.

Later in the day after close of work, Jane and I sat in the restaurant changing room with Jane listening intently to what I was saying.

"I still can't believe my father had been involved with the mafia when he was young." I said to Jane, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Everything will be fine." Jane held my hand comfortingly.

"No, I very much doubt that, the government have already lay claim to all his properties, even freeze all our accounts." I shook my head and Jane went silent for a while probably unable to find the right words to say.

"I never in my life believe I'd work in a terrible place like this, I mean I use to have almost everything." I confessed, "My parents don't even know I'm working here."

"Don't stress it too much, even if they know they would be very proud of you." Jane tried to cheer me up, "And guess what, we are gonna get paid today. Ta-da!"

"Wow! Are you serious about that?" I queried, my mood lightening up.

"Yes I am." Jane responded.

"That definitely come at a best time, my mum's birthday is tomorrow and I'd grab some cupcakes and flowers for her." I ranted happily.

Jane nodded, a smile was plastered on her face. I'm sure she was glad she was able to finally lift my mood but the happy mood didn't last long because at that moment George our boss strolled into the room with a scowl on his face. He handed an envelope to both Jane and I then waited for us to confirm the contents.

Seeing my money is incomplete, I cleared my throat and called his attention. "Sir, I can only see $300 here. My money is short of $150"

"That's for your incompetence." George replied with a smirk, his eyes not leaving my body.

“No! You can’t…” I suddenly realized that I was talking to my boss so I refrained, “I knew I did it wrong once but the money you deducted was too much! I need the money to…”

To celebrate my mother’s birthday.

I wanted to finish but when I saw his face, I was so scared.

"Too much?" He growled, his voice was dark sounding like it came from the pit of hell.

I didn't reply. I knew another word from me would infuriate him the more or worse, get me fired. I couldn't afford to lose this job, at least not now. Not after my family had just lost everything so I just held my tongue and tried to avoid his glare as he sauntered away after which I released the flood of tears I've been restraining for a while.

*******

"Christy said you haven't been attending classes so tell me what's happened?" My father questioned adjusting his spectacles.

I was silent, I couldn't possibly tell my parents I had been working in a restaurant to help myself and the family out of our recent state.

"Gwen?" My mother called after I remained silent despite what my father had said.

I looked from my father to my mother, my heart pounding at how they would feel at the news I'm about to reveal, I could see my mother's eye urging me on.

"I had to look for a job." I finally let it out. I explained how I couldn't get a decent job to my parents and had to make do at a restaurant and that moment, I could see they weren't pleased with it just as I had thought. The look on my father's face in particular was grave and I immediately knew he must be chastising himself for been some sort of a failure because of our current situation and I didn't want that.

"It still doesn't solve any of our challenges, I'm so confused and tired of everything" I blurted, my head ringing as I've now developed a migraine.

The room fell silent for a while.

"It has only gotten worse." I heard my mother sigh, "Emory is facing a 20 year jail term and we only have few weeks to vacate this house as it now belongs to the government."

"What? Why? How?" I threw a barrage of questions but my questions only hang in the air as no one could provide an answer.

"There's only one solution if we want to win everything back." My father's voice came up slowly.

"What's it?" I asked, eager to hear. My mood lifting up.

"You have to get married to the son of the chief judge." My father said flatly.