The Mafia Prince's Little Pet

Chapter 4

DAMIEN'S POV

People loved talking about my family, They talked about our money, Our influence, The expensive parties hosted at the Ashford estate whenever my parents were around and sometimes they spoke about the crimes they are involved in.

I walked into the dining room with my school blazer hanging over one shoulder after having a long day at school and basketball practice after school.

The long table was already set. Crystal glasses and roasted lamb was placed on the table.

Several maids stood quietly against the walls, waiting for an order and My grandfather was already seated.

Vincent Ashford.

To the rest of Ravencrest, he was a respected businessman.

To me...

He was the man who made my childhood a living hell, making me understand I was the only child my parents bore and I had to take responsibilities of continuing their legacy.

I took my seat as a maid poured water into my glass. Another placed my dinner in front of me but none of them spoke.

The only sounds came from cutlery touching porcelain plates.

Halfway through dinner, my grandfather's phone rang, my dad looked at him and without saying a word he continues his dinner.

Grandfather looked at the screen before answering in a cold tune. "Speak."

He listened without interrupting.

His expression didn't change, but I noticed something unusual.

His fingers stopped moving…. Which meant the call was unsettling.

Finally, he spoke.

"Has the girl found it?"

I looked up.

The girl? Who was he referring to and who was in danger this time.

There was another pause as his jaw tightened.

"Then find it before she uses it.”

The call ended.

He placed the phone beside his plate and calmly continued eating as if nothing had happened.

Nobody asked what the call was about and no one really cared except me who didn't dare to speak.

I lowered my eyes to my food, but my appetite had disappeared.

Who was this girl, what had she found?

And why did my grandfather suddenly seem... worried by the information?.

The next morning, I arrived at Blackridge Academy earlier than usual.

As always, students pretended not to stare while secretly staring at me.

Some whispered as usual and some moved aside before I reached them.

I ignored all of them as I passed but one thing still hunted my mind… who was gonna die this time because I knew my grandfather enough to know he deletes anything and any…body who comes in his way.

I walked through the main hallway, hands in my pockets, barely paying attention to the crowd.

Then….I saw her.

The same scholarship girl that almost distroyed my bike.

She was standing in front of her locker with what looked like an entire library balanced in her arms… what a nerd.

She pushed her locker shut with her elbow and that movement knocked one notebook loose.

It slipped from the top of the pile and landed on the floor.

She sighed softly in realization.

Before she could pick it up, I reached it first without thinking and rested the tip of my shoe on the notebook.

She looked up in confusion I guess and her expression changed immediately, which gave me some kind of joy I couldn't really explain.

But I didn't like one thing… the way she looked at me like she was annoyed instead of afraid. Every single kid in this academy, especially the ladies should tremble when they are in such situation with me but she just looked at me in annoyance.

"Oh…It's you again.” She said with a weird face I couldn't really explain.

There wasn't even a hint of politeness or fear in her voice.

I almost laughed at how silly she was and how she would be begging me in seconds.

"You sound disappointed." I said pressing my feet harder on the notebook.

"I was having a peaceful morning before you came." She rolledm

A couple of nearby students slowed down, watching and listening to the drama about to unfold.

I looked down at the notebook beneath my shoe.

"You really should stop dropping these."

"I didn't ask for advice." She shot back.

" That may be true but I guess you need to eat more often.. you're looking really skinny in that uniform lech!.”

A few students nearby laughed and she frowned instantly.

"Can I have my notebook?" She asked, her face turning red now..

I moved my foot but instead of letting her pick it up, I lightly nudged it across the floor and it slid several feet away.

Someone snorted from behind and another student laughed louder.

Evelyn stared at the notebook for a moment before walking after it.

Just as she bent down… another student kicked it again making her shoot him a hard glare.

This time the laughter spread through the hallway.

"Oh my God..."

"She's chasing it."

"I almost feel bad for her. "

"No, you don't."

One boy actually clapped.

I wasn't trying to put on a show.

Honestly… I just didn't like her confidence.

Evelyn finally reached the notebook after it stopped near the wall and picked it up slowly, brushed invisible dust off the cover and then turned toward me.

I expected her to beg me not to ever treat her this was again but instead…..

She walked straight back until she was standing in front of me again, keeping a deadly eye contact and I looked at her without blinking.

"If making people laugh is the only thing that makes your mornings interesting..." She looked me directly in the eyes. "...then I actually feel sorry for you."

The hallway went quiet not completely as a few students were marveled with her audacity.

She adjusted the books in her arms and walked past me.

One of the guys beside me let out a low whistle. "I thought she was going to cry."

"So did I."

I hated what she did, and I'll surely make her pay for making me look less terrifying in front of everyone. She will learn with tim and she will learn the hard way.

EVELYN'S POV

By the time classes ended, I wanted nothing more than to go home.

Or better yet...Disappear.

Every time I closed my eyes, I could still hear people laughing.

It wasn't even because of what Damien had done… as I knew he was just another spoilt brat but instead because everyone had enjoyed it so much and some students still whispered as I pass each time I headed for another class.

I really needed to avoid Damien but for some reason, I feel like my actions today would trigger more from him as I just made the academy's lion a little mouse.

Thankfully, my shift at Dawson's Bookstore always helped clear my mind.

I headed towards there with my backpack and the tiny bell above the entrance jingled as I walked inside.

Mr. Dawson looked up from the counter. "There she is."

"The hardest-working student in I've ever met."

I smiled. "You only say that because I organize your shelves."

"And because it's true." He answered almost immediately.

I smiled, heading towards the staff room to drop my backpack and change into something more comfortable to work with.

For the next few hours, I lost myself in work.

I sorted returned novels, Helped an elderly woman find a cookbook she'd been searching for and organized new deliveries.

Just before closing time, Mr. Dawson appeared carrying a dusty cardboard box. "Mind checking these before I throw them away?"

I took the box from him. "More old history books?"

"Probably."

I carried it into the storage room and sat on the floor. Most of the box contained damaged books and outdated magazines.

Near the bottom of the box, my fingers brushed a folded newspaper.

Curious, I carefully unfolded it and my eyes immediately landed on the headline.

BLACKRIDGE FIRE CLAIMS FIFTEEN STUDENTS

I frowned instantly as I've never heard of a fire in blackridge academy since I was little.

As I read, something caught my attention. There was a photograph of the students involved.

One face had been circled with thick red ink.

But it wasn't printed with the newspaper…. It was done by someone else.

Someone had wanted that student to stand out I guess.

I stared at the picture for a long time.

Why?Who were they? And who had circled this particular student?

A strange feeling settled inside my chest.

The article felt... Like it had a lot of detail and the only person nice enough to help me out was Isabella because she knew a lot about the academy and sheovef history.

Maybe she'd recognize the student.

I carefully folded it and whispered. "I'll show Isabella tomorrow."

I slipped it safely inside my backpack at the staffroom and headed home.

*****

The next morning, I arrived at the school even before having my breakfast while praying I'll not see Damien.

If I found Isabella before first period, she'd have enough time to look at it before everyone would call her for one mission or the other.

I stopped at my locker and opened my bag, my hand reached for the folded newspaper.

But Instead...

My fingers touched empty fabric and I frowned in confusion.

"No..."

I searched again, slower this time by bringing everything out of my bag slowly, I searched every pocket, every notebook and very zipper, bit found absolutely nothing.

The newspaper… Had disappeared.

I stood there staring into my empty backpack.

Someone had taken it, but the real question was...

When? And how ?.