MAFIA’S SUDDEN PRINCESS

Chapter 1

Woke up today feeling tired as ever

Its a new day and i have to be at work very early.

Yes, a job that pays me quarter of my expenses and i have no other choice than to just accept it cause its the highest pay i’ve ever gotten from all the jobs i’ve ever gotten. Yes! thats how bad it is

“I wonder where Milan went to this early morning” i said while i try to adjust my gown.

Milan is my friend, my best best friend and we’ve been together ever since college.

Well, i need to get ready for work.

I left the house in a hurry because i ended up spending extra time dressing up, of course wearing my uniform cause Mrs Jenkins (my boss at work) gave us uniforms because she claims we always look good and she hates it

A hater!

Got to work one minute late and i got scolded

“Stupid girl, did you check your watch at all?” She said in a fit of rage but well i’m used to it so i didn’t feel bad

I answered “i’m sorry ma” because honestly i just wanted her out of my sight.

I left and went to work while she went into her office.

“Hi Emily”, i said to my co-worker

“Hey babes, how are you? I see you had another encounter with Mrs Jenkins, your favorite person here” she laughed

“ oh pleaseee she’s too much” i said while i

moved along the aisles, fixing the clothes on their hangers and straightening the racks.

“Lets gets to work before she comes out” i said.

The only sound that came now and then was the soft R&B music playing and also a soft chime of the door whenever a customer walked in or sometimes just the breeze pushing it open.

I sighed

the kind that had become part of my daily routine. At just 21, i already felt worn down.

So crazy.

Working here wasn’t my dream; it was just what paid the bills, even if it barely covered them. Day after day, I folded shirts, arranged dresses, and forced a polite smile at the few customers who showed up. The pay was little, and the work felt endless. I had been in this store for years now, long enough to know every corner by heart, but nothing had changed for me. No raise. No promotion. No sign of things getting better.

My boss, Mrs. Jenkins, made sure of that. That old woman has a sharp voice and even sharper eyes, always ready to scold over the smallest mistakes. I had learned to keep her head down, do her job, and avoid trouble. Still, the weight of it all pressed on my shoulders. It was just another slow day, another shift that felt the same as yesterday and would probably feel the same tomorrow.

Just as I was starting to lose hope that the day would ever pick up, the door chimed again. I didn’t even look up at first—probably just another customer who’d leave without buying much. But then, out of the corner of her eye, i noticed him.

A tall man stepped inside, brushing a few strands of dark hair away from his forehead. His steps were calm, confident, like he knew people would look at him. And they did. His sharp jawline, strong shoulders, and piercing blue eyes made him stand out instantly against the dull aisles of folded jeans and t-shirts. It almost felt like someone had dropped a movie character into our small, quiet store.

I realized i was staring longer than i was meant to, my hands frozen on the sweater i was supposed to be folding. My chest gave a little flutter i wasn’t expecting. That was when my coworker, Emily appeared at my side. Emily had a smirk on her face, clearly catching my distraction. She nudged me gently with her elbow and leaned close enough to whisper, “Wow… he’s hot, right?”

I answered, “I mean, he’s not bad”

We both smiled and quickly turned our eyes back to the work we were assigned to.

I then noticed him looking at me and just thought —maybe he was just looking around, maybe i was standing in the way. But even as i shifted to the side and pretended to focus on folding clothes, i could still feel his eyes on me which was weird. It wasn’t the quick, casual glance most customers gave. No this was steady, almost searching.

I didn’t care anyways, i just focused and walked up to him.

I asked, ”Good morning sir, how may i help you?” He stared at me for a minute like he had seen a ghost or something. I had to repeat what I said, “Good morning, how may i help you?”

His assistant then stared and replied, “Heard you the first time, be quiet and wait for a response”

I rolled my eyes and didn’t say anything cause apparently, i’m used to being spoken to rudely and this assistant didn’t make it any better.

Cole the assistant spoke again, “Did you just roll your eyes?”

The boss then answered after staring and watching my attitude for a while, “suit section” he said

“Oh he speaks” i said and moved towards the section.

They got what they wanted and left.

I faced Emily and said “They are weird. The boss and the assistant. I mean, the boss is very good looking but at first i thought he was a dumb guy that didn’t know how to talk”

Emily laughed and said, “Rachel pleasee, how did you know all of that info, what if they are friends or even brothers?”

“I don’t think so, that one looks like an errand boy”

we laughed about it and we both had a chatty conversation and were laughing while arranging and sorting some orders we had until Mrs Jenkins came to ruin the moment like she always does.

Francis on the other hand is a 27 year old mafia boss in the city.

A well known at that

No one knew what he actually looked like so they never got to recognize him when he’s out. Thats why Emily and I couldn’t recognize him

“She looks like what i’m looking for to get this job done” Francis said to Cole

“I don’t think so, she’s a rude…” he got interrupted

“Didn’t ask for your opinion” Francis said

He looked away and kept thinking about how sharp and bold Rachel was.

what could be on his mind?