Chapter one

“Mira is going to kill me, I’m an hour late!” Jems muttered, rushing toward the library with a coffee in one hand and a stack of books in the other.

She looked stunning in a long brown Fendi coat over a white Hermès turtleneck, paired with fitted jeans and knee-high Gucci leather boots. A crossbody Louis Vuitton bag swung against her chest with every step. Her long black hair, styled in a sleek weave, flowed behind her.

Ding, ding, ding! Her phone chimed. She looked down at the bag across her shoulder to reach for it, but before she could look back up, she slammed into something solid. The impact sent her flying, and she landed hard on the pavement.

“Ouch,” she winced in pain, rubbing her forehead. She looked up to find a man’s eyes staring down at her. He was at least 6’5”, muscular, with emerald green eyes and long curly hair pulled into a neat low bun. He wore a black face mask and a suit that looked very expensive, a suit Jems had just drenched in hot coffee.

“Omg, I’m so sorry!” Jems cried, scrambling to her feet. She pulled a napkin from her bag and reached out to dab at the stains, but he held up a hand, signaling her to stop.

“I’m really sorry, I didn’t see you! The coffee was really hot, I hope it didn’t burn…” She trailed off as four hefty men suddenly surrounded her.

“Boss, are you okay?” one of them asked.

“Bitch, are you blind?” another spat, raising his hand as if to strike her. Jems flinched, but the man with the green eyes raised his hand, signaling him to stop.

“I’m sorry,” Jems whispered, trembling.

“You’re one lucky brat,” the man who had threatened her growled, looking at her with pure disgust. “You deserve to have both hands cut off for this.”

Before she could respond, several black cars screeched to a halt in front of them. The men piled in and sped off in a blur of tinted glass and exhaust. Shaking, Jems quickly gathered her books and hurried over to the library.

“What took you so long?” Mira said in a loud voice the moment she saw Jems.

"Shhhhh!" annoyed students whispered loudly together.

“Sorry,” Mira said, giving a small, sheepish bow. Mira and Jems were like peas in a pod; Mira had been Jems’ best friend since childhood.

“What took you so long?” she whispered the moment Jems sat down.

“I almost got beaten up,” Jems said, trying to steady her breathing.

“What happened??” Mira asked with a worried look.

“I spilled hot coffee on a scary-looking man,” Jems said with a heavy sigh. “His demeanor alone sent shivers down my spine.”

“Are you hurt?” Mira asked, checking Jems’ body.

“No, they didn’t lay a finger on me,” Jems said.

“Thank goodness,” Mira said with a sigh of relief. “That’s why I told you to go with Mr. Raj; you have a driver for a reason.”

“The coffee shop is just across the street, I can’t take my car everywhere I go,” Jems said, and Mira rolled her eyes.

“Okay, okay, I’ve heard. Let’s study; we’re going to be college students next year,” Mira said, collecting the books Jems was holding.

“College entrance exams are no joke,” Jems said with a sigh as they both started to study.

One week later

“Why are you doing this?!” Richard Dawson screamed at the top of his lungs.

“My boss already told you what he wanted. The fact that he came here himself today is an omen, Richard, and yet you’re still refusing?” an Italian man in a black suit laughed darkly.

The thick scent of cigars filled the room. Don Emilio sat comfortably on the sofa in Richard’s office, legs crossed on the mahogany table as he puffed on an expensive cigar. He was a very intimidating man; he was 6’5”. His warm skin tone and defined features made him stand out in a way that was hard to ignore, not to mention he was a very handsome man. His long curly hair was always packed in a low bun, and he always had a clean shave. He watched Richard and one of his men as they talked about buying Richard’s company.

Don Emilio wanted to buy Crestmark Group, a global empire built by Richard’s wife, Emily Dawson, and her ancestors, Alessandro and Rosa De Santis. Her great-grandparents had built the company in their teenage years. Crestmark Group was one of the biggest companies not just in Riverview City, but in the world. Alessandro De Santis and Rosa De Santis were known to be some of the biggest names in the business world, and Don Emilio wanted to buy the company even if it was at a good price. Richard knew that was the last thing Emily would want, but Don Emilio never took “no” for an answer. He was one of the most feared mafia men in the mafia world. His group, known as La Rosa Nera, was well known, and their seal was a skull with two swords stabbed through it, crossing behind, and on top of the skull was a crown made of black roses.

“Enough of the long talk,” Don Emilio said as he stood up and walked over to Richard, who looked frustrated. “I heard your daughter’s name is Jems, and she goes to Lincoln High School,” Don Emilio said with a smirk as he puffed his cigar.

“You better not lay a hand on my daughter,” Richard said in anger as he banged the table.

“But we already met,” Don Emilio said with a chuckle. “5’3”, long black hair, hazel eyes, and my, my, my… she is such a beauty,” he said with a terrifying laugh. Richard threw the laptop on his desk onto the floor and smashed it in anger.

“This is between me and you,” Richard said angrily.

“I’d start with your daughter,” Don Emilio said with a smirk as he turned to leave, but stopped. “Then your wife, who is in Spain with her elder sister, and then the rest of your family. Your stubbornness can make you lose everyone you love,” Don Emilio said, glaring at him. He walked out, and his men followed.

Richard collapsed to the ground. “Arrrhh!” Richard said, tugging his hair in frustration. The moment they left, Richard’s secretary ran in.

“Sir, are you okay?” Stella said as she ran toward him with a worried look. “Those were some scary-looking men. Everyone is worried; we kept hearing your screams,” she said, helping him up.

“Nothing is okay, Stella, nothing is,” Richard said as he sat down in his chair. “I don’t think he’s a normal businessman,” Richard said, running his hands through his hair and letting out a heavy sigh.

“What do you mean?” Stella asked, looking confused.

“He said if I don’t sell the company, I’ll lose everyone I love,” Richard said.

“Wh… wh… what do you mean?” Stella said in fear.

“Jems… Jems… I should call her,” he said as he quickly grabbed his phone and dialed her number.

Over the phone

“Hey Dad, what’s up?” Jems said.

“Princess…” he said with a sigh of relief. “How are you doing, love? Where are you right now?” Richard asked.

“I’m at home, where else would I be?”

“Okay, that’s good. Listen to me carefully: don’t leave the house. Under no circumstances should you leave the house until I get back,” Richard said.

“Why?? What’s wrong??” Jems asked, confused.

“It’s nothing serious, love. I’ll explain it once I’m back, okay??” Richard said.

“Okay,” Jems said as she hung up, and Richard let out a sigh of relief.

“Stella, promise me you won’t tell Emily,” he said as he grabbed her arm.

“But… why?” Stella asked.

“Once she’s back from her trip, I’ll tell her myself,” Richard said.

“She’ll be really upset once she finds out we kept such a grave thing from her,” Stella said in a low voice.

“I’ll handle her,” Richard said, walking out of the office.