Sold to the Mafia Boss

I lugged my huge suitcase across a long flight of stairs, the wind whipping my hair across my face, sweat already clinging to my damp clothes. I huffed and groaned as the stupid bag refused to cooperate. By the time I got to the top, my lungs were already burning. I paused to catch my breath, clutching my knees. “I’m so out of shape,” I grunted and grabbed the handle again, attempting to drag the suitcase across the foyer. Usually, people would come scrambling just to greet me, their hands grabbing my bags and suitcases from me, a smile etched on each of their faces. Not today though. I didn’t see a single soul from the very moment I arrived. My heels clicked against the familiar marble floor of our house, every step of mine echoing on the empty halls. I already expected this. But for some reason, it still seems quite odd. A mansion this empty and sad. It’s almost… eerie. I left my luggage at the foot of the stairs and decided to head straight for my father’s study. At this time of day, he would be all cooped up in there with all of his work documents, a cigar in between his fingers and a glass of whiskey in front of him. I knocked on the door twice before taking a peek. Empty. The table was untouched. No half-finished drink. No scattered papers. Not even lingering smoke. All the things that normally proved he’d just been here were conspicuously absent. I decided to check out a few more rooms. Gosh. It’s really been a bit long since I was last in here. The walls that were once filled with elaborate paintings from famous artists are now bare, some of the furniture that became a permanent fixture in our home now long gone, and even the mid century vases and trinkets that my mom used to collect from auctions were nowhere to be seen. There’s nothing left. Only the walls and cheap upholstery that they probably got to replace all the ones they needed to sell. I stumbled into the dining room and that’s when I finally saw someone. inside. My stepmother and her daughter were seated at the table, eating in silence in front of a surprisingly lavish meal. As I entered, the sound of my heels echoed through the room, making them look up at me. I don’t see my father anywhere. “Ah. You’re finally here. I was starting to think you’d run out on us again,” Helene said, her voice slicing through the stillness. Only one light was on in the massive dining room, leaving the rest of the room in muted darkness. Maybe it was to save electricity, but all it really did was make the house feel haunted. It even made my stepmother’s features look a touch more… unsettling. “Where’s dad?” I asked. Helene didn’t look at me. She simply cut into her food with unnecessary force. “Resting,” she said curtly. “His condition has worsened. Stress isn’t good for him right now.” Something twisted in my chest, tight enough to make my knees tremble. I still hadn’t seen him. I didn’t know what “condition” she actually meant. Only what their vague emails, short calls, and delayed replies hinted at. Every detail they gave felt like a half-truth wrapped in careful wording. I opened my mouth to ask again, to demand something clearer, but Helene cut in before I could get a single word out. “Sit. Eat. You must be tired,” she said, though her tone made it clear she didn’t actually care whether I did or not. Darlene’s familiar face appeared from the kitchen. She wiped a plate clean and set it in front of me. I smiled up at her. She just gave me a small, tight nod in response before stepping back toward the sink. She used to be the head housekeeper in here. Now, it’s just her. I guess they couldn’t afford to completely let go of everyone considering that none of them has ever had to do any house chore their entire lives. I bet they don’t even know how to turn on the dishwasher if they wanted to. I turned towards the food that was set in front of me. For some reason, even though I just spent hours on a plane with no food, I didn’t feel hungry at all. The atmosphere felt heavy. Every fork scraping against the plate rang out across the empty dining room. Even my own breaths sounded unusually loud in the silence. “So,” Helene said suddenly, voice dripping with disdain. “How was London? Enjoying yourself while we’ve been… dealing with the mess here?” I blinked. “I didn’t know anything was wrong. No one told me.” “Of course,” Georgina, my stepsister, muttered, swirling her water. “You were too busy partying with rich boys to notice.” My jaw dropped. “I was studying—” She cut me off with a scoff. “Sure. Studying. Meanwhile, Dad’s been sick and the company’s collapsing, but you’re out there posting about parties like a spoiled heiress with no clue.” “I didn’t know,” I repeated, my voice small. “I—I really didn’t.” “Oh, please,” she snapped. “If you cared, you would have known. Instead, Dad had to sell half the house just to pay your tuition.” A snort sounded from across the table and I turned to my stepmother who was sitting there, playing with her food. “If only your stupid father listened to me, maybe we wouldn’t lose it all,” she hissed, her fork scraping noisily against the plate. “If he just didn’t feel the need to send his precious little ‘princess’ to an expensive university in an expensive country, maybe we’d still have enough to save the company.” “I—” Helene slammed her fork against the table. I flinched. “Do you have any idea the kind of humiliation we’ve had to endure? Your father had to beg one of his longtime friends just to get them to lend us the money.” My chest tightened as she spoke. I couldn’t imagine what my father had to endure just to keep our family business afloat. The thought that //THE// Arthur Prescott was forced to beg to a friend made my breath catch and shudder in my chest. I know my father so well. His pride was all he had. But now… “Madam?” Darlene called from across the room, her hand still clutching her apron and yellow gloves, no doubt already starting to wash the dishes. The three of us turned to her. “Yes?!” Helene snapped. “Someone’s here to see you.” Helene looked alarmed. She glanced up at the clock and her eyes widened, standing up hurriedly from her seat. “Stay here,” she instructed, but it only made the two of them curious. “Why? Who is it?” “What’s going on?” She didn’t answer nor look back. She walked so fast to the door, she looked like she was about to sprint. “Princess.” I heard a scorning voice mimic my dad and I turned to my stepsister. She was just looking at me with contempt as she sipped on her glass of water. “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” My eyebrows slowly knitted together. “What are you on about, Georgina?” “I’m referring to you.” She set her water on the table and turned to me fully. “While we suffered all the shame and embarrassment this bankruptcy brought us, you’re out partying in yachts. And don’t even try to lie, I saw your i********: post last week.” I gasped, my mouth falling open with her accusation. “I didn’t know about the bankruptcy! No one told me! And that yacht was for my best friend’s birthday. I was only invited,” I argued, my frown deepening. She just scoffed. “Yeah, right. You’re the talk of the town, Adrienne. The heiress of the Prescott conglomerate is out partying as her family’s empire is crumbling. How insensitive.” “I didn’t know!” I stood up and she stood up, too. “Well, you should’ve!” She jabbed a finger right at my chest and I slapped it away. “You’re so full of yourself, you know that?! Your tuition is worth more than my car. Meanwhile, I had to go to school in a BMW!” “If I had known, I wouldn’t even go to London at all! You know that!” “Yeah, right. I’m sure you’ve heard of all the rumors. You just chose not to listen!” I was hurt. I was hurt because deep down, I know that it was true. I chose not to believe what I heard from other people because every time I asked my father about it, he would deny it relentlessly. I guess I was naive. Or in denial. Gosh, I’m a horrible person. “So, here’s to all the things I had to be stuck with while you lived your life in a huge flat in the heart of London.” She raised the glass of water to my head and poured the liquid down slowly. I took it. I stood there without moving because for some reason, I felt like I deserved it. No. I actually do deserve it. My dad was fighting so hard for the company his dad left him while I was living comfortably in a different city. I shouldn’t have left him. I should’ve stayed by his side. Maybe then he wouldn’t lose it all and get sick. I’m a horrible daughter. Georgina set the glass back down on the table and gave me one last look before leaving, making sure to slam the door so hard on her way out. I looked down on the floor, wiping my face with the back of my hand as I watched the puddle of water by my feet. “Adrienne?” Helene’s voice called out, softer now, almost cheerful. I whipped around and quickly fixed my hair, wiping my hands on the sides of my trousers. She didn’t look like she noticed though. Because her full attention was on the guy beside her. “There’s someone I would like for you to meet.” I turned to the tall guy beside her, squinting so I could see make out the features of his face. “This is Lorenzo. He’s going to be your husband.” Oh. He’s going to be my— HE’S GOING TO BE MY WHAT?!