Chapter one: On the run

"Catch that bitch!"

I could feel my legs giving up as I raced down the street. Right behind me were four burly men chasing after me like always.

I'm kinda used to it now. It all started after my parents disappeared mysteriously when they couldn't afford to pay the debts they owed over the last couple of months.

With them gone, their numerous debtors were always on my tail demanding their money.

I had the most irresponsible and weirdest parents in the whole world who gambled their lives away.

Thanks to them, I already had quite the reputation in Florida. I'm always on the run. Always fighting men twice bigger and taller than me.

My life revolves around money .I love luxury but sadly, I'm not sure I can acquire all that if these men kept on popping out of nowhere.My pants became Intense as I ran down the busy streets, I took a glance back and I couldn't spot any of the men chasing after me in sight.

It seemed they finally gave upI slowed my pace until I came to a standstill with my eyes darting around just in case they were still lurking around.

Phew! they were gone. Sighing in relief. I hailed down a cab to return back to my best friend's apartment since those goons managed to damage mine a few days ago.

Oh! by the way...

I'm Ivy. Ivy Smith, your regular girl with big dreams of living in a fancy mansion and enjoying the luxurious life. Am I pretty? Of course yes!

Black shoulder length hair. Hazel eyes. Average height and a nice curvy figure. Okay maybe my figures are just normal.

The cab pulled over in front of an old looking four storey building. That's where minors like us could afford in the city.The wealthy people had dominated every nice place in the city leaving us with nothing but these good for nothing houses.

Not like I own one. DUH!

I settled my fare and made my way to the building where Jenna, my bestie, secured an apartment. Jenna and I have been best friends since we were kids and we've always stood by each other through thick and thin.

The door to Jenna's apartment flew open before I could even ring the doorbell, perhaps she saw me through her window earlier. I was suddenly engulfed into a tight embrace which left me gasping for air.

"I've told you to always take me with you wherever you are going! I thought they finally got your ass this time"

I rolled my eyes and carefully detached from her almost choking embrace.

"I just ran one mile to and fro at least offer me a bottle of water or some energy drink" I whined as I walked past her.

It was certain that I was going to spend the night or probably weeks or months to come at her place.

"Oh shut up!" She yelled, closing the door behind her.

***

It's been two whole days and I haven't heard a pound or a bang on the door. This might sound crazy but I've already gotten used to the debtors always banging on my door.

I looked up from the magazine I was reading when a piping hot tea slid across the table to me. I flashed Jenna a warm smile. She was so considerate, always thinking of ways to make me more relaxed.

"Don't you think something is wrong?" I asked which made Jenna crease her brows.

Her black orbs scanned the room while her hand went under her jaw stroking it tenderly. Her eyes suddenly rounded in shock.

"What happened?! did you pay them all off?"

I snorted while picking up my cup of tea. There was no way I could settle any of the debts because I don't have any job. I was fired from the few I managed to secure in the last months all because those goons raided my work place.

I'm not sure why they were always after me when in fact I had nothing to do with the money my irresponsible parents borrowed from them.

"How is that even possible? we can barely feed and you think I'd be dumb enough to hand money over to those thugs? Did I ever tell you that I was tired of running?"

Jenna pulled one of the wooden chairs out to sit before me on the dining table for four.

She leaned in closer to me and I could swear she was about to talk about a totally different thing from what we were discussing.

"Sam would be coming over later at lunch. I'll make sure I get some good cash out of him. The fridge is almost empty"

I flashed her a smile. My friend had a little luck in love, guys always seemed to swarm around her like headless buzzing bees. She was a known Playgirl while I on the other hand could just be mistaken as a spoon or worse, a lamppost.

"Oh really?"

The harsh pound on the door made my heart skip a beat, I closed my eyes in frustration, just when I thought I was going to have two straight days off from their attacks.

Jenna's eyes widened, she stood up to her feet taking me up along with her.

"Ivy..you have to get out of here. Go through the window"

As soon as I heard her words I snapped my head back to her to be sure she realized what she just said.

"Do you have any idea that this is the fourth floor?" I inquired with almost popping eyeballs. I could break a bone or worse die.

She gave me a stern look and I couldn't help but sigh, she pulled me into her arms and stroked my hair tenderly.

"If you die, I'm gonna kill you"

I laughed and pulled away. "I'll be back in an hour so make lunch really quick okay?"

She gave me a nod and I bolted off to the window, I took a peek down and inhaled a sharp breath. It's a good thing that I'm not scared of heights.

I heard the door open with a large bang behind me. Turning around, I saw two of the men rushing forward to me while Jenna tried to fight off one of them trying to barge in.

"Ivy! Run!" Jenna's voice took me out of my reverie.

Oops!

I climbed out of the window skillfully and jumped from balcony to balcony which wasn't easy. I've watched things like this quite a number of times on TV which looked a lot easier but in reality, it wasn't. I managed to reach the ground floor after some minutes. But who knew that some of them were parading outside ?

As soon as one of them sighted me, he alerted the rest.

"There she is! Get her!!"

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me but they were closer than I had expected. If I slowed down by one second, they'll get me and do what God knows to me.

I knew I couldn't go very far with about eight of them chasing after me while I bumped into people on the busy streets. God knows what they might have done to Jenna. Jenna wasn't a weak girl but those were thugs and thugs were known to be dangerous!

My pants became fierce, beads of sweat rolled down my face like I had just taken a dip in a pool, I couldn't run any longer. They were gonna catch me.

But suddenly, I made the dumbest and riskiest decision ever, I changed my line of direction to the busy road, maybe i could catch a taxi. I jumped right in front of a moving car. Whoever the driver was deserved a tight hug from me because he stepped on the brakes just on time before the car could hit me..

My palms slammed against the sleek black car's bonnet, I quickly ran over to the side of the backseat and pulled the car's door. Luckily it was open which made me hop in immediately.

I didn't care to know whose car it was or who was in the car with me but I felt three eyes piercing on me.

By now the thugs were already by the side of the car trying to pull me out.

"Come out you little bitch!" One of them growled in fury grabbing my arm. I winced a little from the strong grip he applied on my arm.

"What are you waiting for?! move!" I barked at the driver who immediately started the car and drove off at full speed.

Taking a look back, I could see the look of disappointment cross their face. Today was really close, this was the closest they've gotten to me so far and I could imagine how annoyed they were at the moment by their failed attempt to get to me.

I rested my head on the headrest catching my breath completely forgetting about what I just did.

And when I couldn't take the stare by the side of my head any longer, I was finally able to take a look at the person seated next to me. All I could see was shock and disbelief written on his handsome face and before I could say a word, he beat me to it.

"Diana?" He mumbled in uncertainty while his eyes roamed over my face like he had seen a ghost. A very pretty ghost.

Now what?