Chapter 1:

Scarlett:

In all my life, of everything I ever expected to do, I never imagine I’d be standing in front of New York’s most feared mafia king, shivering like a fish, pleading like my life depends on it.

“I beg of you,” I keep my voice hoarse. “Please forgive my father's debt.”

It feels like a twisted version of Beauty and the Beast, where the lowly girl begs for her life and her father's—but this isn’t a fairy tale. The man in front of me isn’t some misunderstood prince, and I am not some book-loving nerd who dreams of getting whisked away in a castle filled with talking kettles. In fact, I don't believe in fairytales, they are just imaginary illusions that blind us to the reality of life.

This man in front of me, who's supposed to be the misunderstood prince is Malakai Lorenzo, mafia king of the biggest underworld organization known in New York, and my father just had to go ahead and gamble all his money to his organization, now my father owes a huge sum of money to this bastard.

People rarely see Malakai Lorenzo, he's the grandson of West Media, one of the largest film industry in the whole world. Since he rarely allows anyone in his office, I might have forged a fake appointment just to see him. If this man doesn't let go of this debt that my father is owing, we would lose our house.

What did you expect me to do? My younger sister is in highschool, and I work as a waiter by day and a bartender by night, and all my dad does is gamble all of our money away. I am so tired.

Kai’s eyes are on me, studying me with his glazed eyes, he hasn't said a single word since I walked into his office, I wonder how he's feeling knowing that a twenty-nine year old just forged an appointment just to beg for her father's debt. Strands of chocolate brown hair falls over his hair, and he doesn't bother to push it back. Instead, he just keeps on staring at me.

“Please.” My voice is strained, looking at him. There's a part of the internet that's obessed with Malakai Lorenzo, even though no one knows of his secret organization, his family owns one of the largest media industry in the whole world, and yes women throw themselves at him because he's handsome but doesn't appear much at societal function. “Aren't you going to say anything?” I finally say after a long silence from him. “You haven't said a single word since I came in.”

Finally, he stands from his office chair. He picks a lighted cigarette in the stash on the table and takes gentle steps towards me. He's tall, too tall even, at least 6’3. I keep my defiant stare as he reaches me, I step back slowly, hitting the wall while one of his hands trap the side of the wall, making it hard to escape.

“Tell me, blue.” He fiddles with the blue scarf wrapped around my neck, his intent green emerald eyes staying glued on me. This scarf is very memorable to me because my mother gifted it to me, before she abandoned us. “You think I don’t know exactly who you are, Scarlett Carter?” He leaned in closer, voice low and precise. He brings the cigarette to his mouth before puffing the smoke directly to my face.

I wheeze, keeping a gentle face. I know a lot of people will be terrified to be in this man's presence, but when life has thrown you a lot, you learn not to be scared of the dark.

“That can kill you.” I say instead, watching how his expression changes from anger to that of slight amusement.

“What did you say?” He asks, his jaw tightening.

I point to the cigarette, keeping my chin held up high. I won't stumble in front of this man, I came here with a clear objective and I will make sure to fulfill it. “Cigarettes aren't good for you, it might provide short-term pleasure right now, but it will bring long-term destruction.”

“Interesting.” He says, the cigarette still in his mouth, he holds my chin, letting me look directly into his eyes. His emerald eyes carry flecks of anger. “I don't need you lecturing me on my health, blue. Besides, have you forgotten what you did? You barged in here pretending to a prime minister, but you are not.”

Damn it, I almost forgot about that. I had no choice than to do what I did because if I presented myself as a struggling twenty-nine year old, trying to free her father's debt, Malakai Lorenzo would never give me the time of the day.

“I had no choice.” My voice breaks at the end.

“Oh really?” His fingers twirl idly with my blue scarf….he looks almost bored even. Goodness, I am reminded again why I don't like rich as hell people.

“I need an answer about my father's debt.” I say, swallowing a gulp, I know that right now, I am being daring but it's not as if I have a choice. This is the only way I can be free. For a moment, I am pissed at my father for borrowing debts everywhere. I can't count the number of times that I have pleaded for my father's life.

“Get out.” He doesn't even bother looking at me as he heads back to his chair.

“What?” Perhaps I had it wrong, I did not come all the way here just so he can toss me away.

As he sits down, he drums his hand against the table. “Beg.”

“Pardon?” I ask.

“Get on your knees and beg, then perhaps I will forgive your father's debt.” There's that look on his face like he's bored, like he's just playing with me.

I almost scoff, who does this man even think he is? I bet he's so used to this. He's used to people getting on their knees and begging for his mercy. How can he even humiliate me like this? He is still looking at me, probably expecting me to get on my knees and start grovelling.

I take slow, gentle steps towards him, and he raises a brow. When I reach his table, I place my both hand on the table and stare straight into his eyes.

“If I am ever going to get on my knees, it won't be for you.” My voice doesn't wobble and his expression changes to that of fascination.

“I see.” Goodness, I hate this man.

“Go to hell, Malakai Lorenzo.” I say one last time before I walk away from his office.

—

“So you're telling me that you told Malakai Lorenzo, a billionaire, to go to hell?” Sadie, my best friend, and also my co-worker says, her mouth hanging open in shock. We are in the restaurant where we work as waitresses. We have been doing this since highschool, even college and even after graduating, here we are. My dream is to open my very own restaurant while Sadie's dream is to be a chef.

I have always been interested in the business aspect, while Sadie is in love with the cooking part. It's our dream to co-own a restaurant but for now, we are going to keep waiting tables and dealing with our hot headed manager.

“Scarlett! What are you doing lazing around!” That's her, the hot headed manager, her name is Angel and trust me, she has been nothing close to an angel ever since she replaced the last manager.

“It's our lunch break, Angel! And besides my shift ends in ten minutes!” I holler back at her, she's beside the soda machine, frowning at us.

Sadie looks back at me, holding back a laugh. “I wish I can say out my mind like that.” The thing about life is that it forces you to be ruthless. When you're like me, and there's no one to stand up for you, you have to stand up for yourself and that's how I have been managing to survive.

“There's that.” I tell Sadie, looking around the empty restaurant. It's already five-thirty and my shift ends in thirty minutes, I have to go home and get ready for my night shift at the bar where I work as a bartending waitress. I try my best to survive, but it's not easy when everything seems to be against me.

“What are you going to do about your father's debt?” Sadie asks me softly, we both don't have much, but at least her father doesn't gamble away all her hard earned money.

“I don't know yet.” I massage my aching temples, before standing up from the chair. “My shift has ended, Sads. I have to get going.” I stand up, rushing towards the hook where I hurriedly grab my coat.

The door of the kitchen opens and one of the chefs walk out. She's holding out a white to go bag, when she sights me, she hurriedly walks towards me, and gives me the bag. “Take something, your younger sister is going to need food tonight.”

I get overflowed with emotions, the chefs has been nothing but nice to me, before I leave each day, they give me leftovers for my sister and I.

I clamp her wrists together. “Thank you so much, Veronica.”

The corners of her eyes crinkle as she smiles. “It's my pleasure.”

I nod at Sadie before I leave the restaurant, my hands gripping the edge of the bag tightly, a black sedan zooms towards my side, the window rolls down and a particular devilish face is seen. “Hello, blue.”