BOUGHT BY THE MAFIA DEVIL

By six thirty in the morning, Bella Darsie had already burnt her breakfast, misplaced her house keys, and ultimately concluded that the universe had decided to test her patience before her day even began. She stared forlornly at the blackened slice of bread in her hand. “Amazing,” she muttered. “Just amazing”. Her stomach grumbled in protest. She sighed, then scraped the worst parts of the burnt bread into the bin and ate the remains. She couldn't afford to waste food, not even if it tasted just like charcoal. Besides, hunger never seemed to care about her taste preferences. She swallowed the last bite, grabbed her bag, and scurried out of her tiny apartment. Outside, the morning sun was up and already shining brightly. The streets were crowded. Cars honked impatiently, vendors arranged their goods along the roadside, and people rushed past one another with determined expressions, as though everyone had somewhere important to be. Bella envied them. Not because she wanted their lives, but because she wanted to reach a point where she didn't have an endless race against bills. At twenty, she had become remarkably good at making a little money stretch further than could be imagined. She knew the shops with the cheapest groceries, the buses with the cheapest fares, and how to rearrange her weekly budget when an unexpected expense appeared. Unfortunately, unexpected expenses seemed to have a special bond with her. Last week, it had been a leaking pipe. Yesterday, her landlord reminded her that she would be evicted if she didn't pay her rent. Today, she found out that her phone charger had stopped working. Bella glanced at her phone. Forty-three per cent battery. “Please, God,” she whispered, slipping the device into her bag. “Let this one survive till I get back home.” She couldn't afford a new charger right now. There were many things she couldn't afford. But Bella had never been particularly interested in counting the number of things she lacked. Doing so would only plunge her into a pool of misery. And she had discovered that this was an expensive habit. It consumed time without paying anything in return. Her morning shift at the café began at seven. By the time she arrived, tied up her apron around her waist, and greeted her supervisor, she was already putting on her brightest smile. “You're four minutes late," Mrs. Andrews remarked. “Good morning to you, ma'am” The older woman gave her a questioning glance. Bella grinned. “I'm sorry. The bus decided to have personal issues with punctuality." “One of these days, your mouth will get you into trouble.” “Then, I'll apologise for the trouble.” Mrs. Andrews tried hard to maintain her stern expression. She failed. “Just resume your shift already.” “Yes, ma'am.” Bella hurried behind the counter. For the next several hours, she served coffee, wiped tables, carried plates, and listened to customers complain about problems she would have considered luxuries. A young girl grumbled to her friends about her overprotective parents. A woman complained that the café had run out of her favourite pastry. Someone at the corner table spent ten minutes arguing about a bill that was worth approximately Bella's salary. She smiled through it all. It wasn't that she never got tired. She did. When her shift ended, she collected her wages and counted the notes twice. Rent. Electricity. Food. She mentally distributed every bill before it even reached her purse. There was barely anything left. Still, she tucked the money away and lifted her chin. One day, she promised herself she would earn just enough to stop calculating the price of everything she needed. One day, she would have a home she didn't need to fear losing, a business of her own, and enough money to help someone else without wondering if, by doing so, she wouldn't be able to feed herself. She didn't want an extravagant life. She wanted choices. Perhaps that was why she kept a small notebook beneath her pillow, filled with business ideas, plans for her future, and reminders of the person she intended to become. Some of these ideas were ridiculous. Others needed money she didn't have. But she wrote them down anyway. Dreams were free. For now, that was enough. ▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎ By the time Bella returned to her apartment in the evening, the sun had disappeared behind the buildings. She randomly kicked off her shoes behind the door, dropped her bag on the couch, and collapsed beside it. For a few minutes, she simply sat there. The apartment was quiet. Too quiet, sometimes. No parents were waiting to ask how her day had gone, no siblings arguing over the TV. No one to notice if she came back exhausted or stayed in bed longer than usual. She had been an orphan since birth. Her phone vibrated against the couch. A smile appeared on her face upon seeing the name that popped up on the screen. Edward Whitewood. Baby, are you home yet? Bella immediately typed a reply. Just got in. I'm absolutely exhausted. If your text were a minute late, you'd have to tell my ghost I love you. His response arrived almost instantly. Your ghost better wait for me. I've got amazing news for you. She laughed. Should I be worried? Never about me. Bella read the words twice, then shook her head with an affectionate smile. Edward had a way of making ordinary moments feel exciting. He remembered little things about her, called when he knew she had finished work, and could usually tell when she was pretending to be fine. He wasn't perfect. Neither was she. But when the rest of her life felt uncertain, Edward had become one of the few people she allowed herself to depend upon. And Bella guarded the people she loved carefully. And when someone earned her trust, she gave it sincerely. Edward had earned hers. Her phone rang. She answered immediately. “Finally!” she exclaimed. “I was beginning to think you had abandoned your poor, hardworking girlfriend.” Edward chuckled on the other end. “How was your day, sweetheart?” “Terrible. My breakfast betrayed me. The bus betrayed me, and my supervisor nearly declared war on me.” “Should I come and fight them for you?” “Please do. Start with the bus; it's the most dangerous of the three.” He laughed, and Bella smiled at the familiar sound. For a while, they spoke about ordinary things. Her shift. His day. A restaurant he wanted to take her to when they could both find the time. Then his tone changed slightly. “Actually, Bella, there's something I want to talk to you about.” Bella sat up. “Okay. What's wrong?” “Nothing's wrong.” he paused. “I might have found something interesting for you.” “Interesting how?” “An opportunity.” Bella's hand tightened around the phone. “What kind of opportunity?” “The kind that could make things easier for you.” She stared at the ceiling. “Edward, if this is another investment scheme in which I have to pay money before I can earn money. I swear—” “It's nothing like that.” “Because I have approximately ten yuan and a prayer to my name right now.” “Bella.” “What? I'm just being honest.” He chuckled softly. But there was something measured about his response. “I know how hard you've been working. You deserve something better than spending every day worrying about rent and bills.” Her smile faded into something more thoughtful. He wasn't wrong. And perhaps that was what made his words so difficult to dismiss. “So, what exactly are you suggesting?” “I know some people who are looking for someone like you. Someone trustworthy, presentable, and intelligent. There's a meeting coming up, and I think you should attend.” Bella frowned. “Someone like me? For what?” “It's an opportunity to meet people who can open doors for you. People with money, connections, and the ability to help you get somewhere.” “That sounds kind of vague.” “You're overthinking it.” “I'm naturally suspicious. You should know that.” “I wouldn't bring this to you if I thought it was dangerous.” She was quiet for a moment. That was the thing about Edward. He knew her circumstances, her ambitions, and the dreams she rarely discussed with anyone else. He knew how badly she wanted to stop struggling. “When is this meeting?” she finally asked. “Tomorrow evening.” “Tomorrow? Edward, you can't just spring something like this on me.” “I know. I'm sorry.” His voice softened. “But this is an opportunity you really shouldn't miss. Let me handle the arrangements. You only have to show up and hear what they have to say.” Bella chewed her lower lip. Part of her wanted to reject the idea simply because she didn't know enough about it. Another part—the part that kept her notebook beneath her pillow and her dreams alive despite everything—wanted to believe that this might actually be the beginning of something beautiful. “What if I don't like it?” “Then you leave. Nobody can force you to accept anything.” She let out a small breath. That sounded reasonable, then. Edward was asking her to attend a meeting, not sign away her future. “Fine.” She said at last. “I'll hear them out.” “Good girl.” Bella rolled her eyes. “Don't you start.” He laughed. “I'll send you the details tonight. Wear something nice. Alright?” “How nice?” “Gorgeous.” She smiled despite herself. “You're lucky I love you.” “I know, sweetheart.” They ended the call a few minutes later. Bella remained on the couch, staring at her phone. Tomorrow evening. An opportunity. People who could open doors. She didn't know what to expect. And, the uncertainty made her nervous. But, beneath the nerves lay something she hadn't felt in a long time. Possibility. For the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to imagine what it would feel like to have enough money to take care of herself. Perhaps she could finally start saving properly. Perhaps she could pursue one of the dreams in her notebook. Perhaps, just perhaps, her life was about to take a perfect turn for the better. Her phone vibrated again. A message from Edward. Everything is arranged, baby. Tomorrow at 7 p.m. I'll send you the address shortly.Trust me. This could be the beginning of something beautiful for you. Bella read the message, her lips curving into a smile. Outside her window, the city carried on as usual, indifferent to the high hopes taking root inside her small apartment. She had no idea that, somewhere beyond the life she knew, decisions were already being made about her future. Decisions she never agreed to. For now, however, she had only a message, a promise, and a man she placed a lot of trust in. Tomorrow evening, she would discover how much that trust would cost her.