The Mafia king's wrong captive

Chapter one

Chapter One

Sophia's POV

I used to think that if I love people enough, they will love me but I wasn't so sure this time.

The bell of the café rang out loud all morning. One after another, customers ordered coffees, sandwiches, pastries and talked about things that didn't matter. I was on my feet since six o'clock and the smile on my face was slowly fading away.

My manager called out, "Sophia, table five is calling for their bill.”

"I'm coming!" I rushed over with my notepad, nearly slipping on the just mopped floor.

My feet ached but I didn't listen, the pain was already a familiar companion. Rent wouldn't pay itself, my father's medicine wouldn't pay for itself, the electricity bill wouldn't pay for itself and Chloe's latest demand for money wouldn't pay for itself.

My phone buzzed in my pocket in the apron, mum was calling. I sighed, before answering the call, "Mum, I'm at work."

"You've been at work since morning," she replied impatiently, "Your father's medicine is due today, transfer the money before noon.”

“What? I already sent the money two days ago.”

"And? Do you think we llive on air?”

I closed my eyes for a moment, "I'm trying Mum."

“Sophia you can't just try, Chloe has never let us suffer like that.”

I almost laughed, “Chloe has never paid a bill in her life. I'll send some money later.”

"You'd better." She snapped at me before the line went dead. There was no goodbye or thank you. It was just another transaction done.

“You seem like you've lost your happiness.” Naomi walked by my side with a tray of drinks, her curly hair pulled back into a messy bun, the only thing that made working at the café bearable was her.

I said, "I think happiness was tired of looking for me.”

She frowned, ”Did you send your family money again?”

I didn't answer. Naomi sighed dramatically, “One day, these people will suck the life out of you, Sophia Bennett.”

"They're my family."

“And you're their ATM.”

I smiled weakly, "You always exaggerate."

"I wish I did."

My phone rang again before I could answer, this time it was Chloe, "What now?" I asked tiredly.

"Sophia!" My little sister was very happy, "Guess what?"

"You finally got a job?"

She scoffed, “Don't be funny, I found the ideal dress for Sandra's birthday party.”

"Congratulations."

“So I need $500.”

I put down the towel I was wiping the table with, "For a dress?"

"It's designer."

“Chloe, I don't have that kind of money for a dress.” There was silence, then she laughed.

“I knew you'd say that." She said.

"I'm serious Chloe."

“Fine, I'll let Mum know that you refused to give me the money.”

She hung up before I could say anything else, “Don't tell me she's asking for money again.” Naomi asked.

I nodded, "For a dress."

Naomi looked at me in amazement, “I don't know who I dislike more, your family or you.”

"Me? What did I do?"

“You always say yes.”

“I didn't this time.”

She crossed her arms, “I know you'll change your mind in the next 2 hours.”

I didn't like the fact that she was always right. It was about three in the afternoon when the lunch rush finally died down. As I was wiping the counter, my phone rang again.

Ethan. For the first time today, I smiled.

I answered immediately, "Hey."

“There you are, I have great news.”

"You got the promotion?"

He chuckled, "Maybe."

"I knew you would." I was proud of him.

I'd spent countless nights helping Ethan rewrite his résumé, practise interviews and prepare presentations. All the additional shifts I had taken were in part to assist him in his search for better opportunities.

“You must come tonight," he went on. "Seven o'clock. Romano's."

"That expensive restaurant?" I asked, surprised.

“It's okay.”

“What is the celebration about?

"You'll see." His voice tinged with an unusual excitement, something fluttered in me that moment.

Maybe? No. Don't be ridiculous, Sophia. Still...

Three years together. A promotion. An expensive restaurant. Perhaps tonight was different. Perhaps tonight someone would select me.

I whispered, "I'll be there.”

"Don't be late."

By the time the call had ended, Naomi was already smirking.

"What?"

She leaned against the counter, "That smile."

"What smile?"

“The one that tells me you're already thinking about wedding dresses.”

I laughed for the first time today, "Stop it."

“Do you think he's proposing?”

“I didn't say that.”

"You didn't have to."

My face turned red, “I just... he's been different lately.”

Naomi softened, “I hope whatever you do tonight makes you happy.”

"So do I."

When I finished my shift, I walked into a watch shop before heading to the restaurant. There was a silver watch in the display case that had caught Ethan's attention weeks ago.

“It's beautiful, I'll purchase it myself after I get promoted.” He had said

He never did. I looked at the price, it was too much for me to spend, far more, but perhaps tonight was different. Perhaps he was entitled to something special.

I gave away nearly all of my money, the gift was surprisingly light in my hands. I arrived at Romano's 20 minutes late, I had been working the other waitress's shift.

I ran in, smoothing my wrinkled blouse, there was a lot of laughter in the restaurant. Then I spotted Ethan, he was in the middle of the room with friends, relief washed over me.

I began to walk towards him, "Ethan..."

He looked up, for just a second, our eyes met. There was a flash on his face but it wasn't happiness, it was guilt. Before I reached him, he turned away from me.

“I want to thank a very special person tonight.” Everyone clapped.

Then a pretty lady stepped up beside him, she looked elegant, confident and expensive. Ethan smiled at her in a way he hadn't smiled at me in months.

"When nobody believed in me," he said loudly, "she did."

I stopped walking.

"My success today wouldn't have been possible without Vanessa."

Vanessa. Not Sophia. Applause filled the room and my fingers tightened around the small gift box. Ethan reached into his pocket, my heart stopped.

And then he went on one knee, gasps erupted around the restaurant.

"Vanessa," he said, holding out a diamond ring, "will you marry me?"

Time froze, someone screamed yes before she did, then Vanessa burst into tears, "Yes!" She said yes.

The restaurant exploded into cheers, champagne bottles popped, people clapped, someone was recording. I couldn't breathe, this wasn't happening, this couldn't be happening.

Ethan stood, slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed her while everyone celebrated.

Only then did he finally look at me, "Oh."

Just ‘Oh.’

"I didn't think you'd actually come." His words hit harder than the proposal.

"I..." My voice broke, "You invited me."

"Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "I figured this would be easier."

"Easier?"

"You knew we weren't working anymore."

I stared at him, I had spent three years paying his rent, cooking his meals, supporting every dream he had and somehow, I hadn't known.

Vanessa looked between us, "Who's she?"

Ethan answered before I could, "My ex."

Ex. Such a tiny word to describe the last three years of my life.

He noticed the gift box in my hand, "Is that for me?"

I nodded numbly, he laughed, "You can leave it." My chest tightened, "I paid for enough dinners while we were together."

A few people laughed. Not loudly, just enough. Enough to make me wish the ground would swallow me whole. Before the restaurant doors closed behind me, I heard another round of applause.

It followed me outside like an echo, mocking every sacrifice I had ever made. That was when the tears started flowing and I didn’t try to stop them.

Three years of loving someone who had looked at me tonight as though I were nothing more than an inconvenience.

I laughed bitterly through my tears, I kept walking until the bright lights of the city swallowed me. Expensive boutiques lined the streets, luxury cars parked at the pavement like they belonged to another world.

My feet eventually stopped in front of a magnificent five-star hotel.

Women stepped out wearing gowns that probably cost more than my yearly salary. Men in tailored suits laughed effortlessly as they disappeared into the grand lobby.

For a long moment, I simply stared, it was beautiful. Beautiful in the cruelest way possible.

I looked down at my faded blouse, my worn shoes and the apron stains I hadn't completely washed off after work. I suddenly felt... small.

Maybe money really was everything. Money bought confidence, respect, beautiful rings, expensive restaurants and women like Vanessa.

Money bought parents who didn't constantly beg one daughter while spoiling another. Money bought medicine, happiness and people like me spent their lives chasing it, only to end up exhausted and empty.

A fresh wave of tears burned my eyes, "What did I ever do so wrong?" I whispered. The words had barely left my lips when…

Bang! For a second, nobody moved, then another shot rang out.

Bang! Bang! Screams erupted from every direction.

Someone yelled, "Gun!"

The peaceful street exploded into chaos, people scattered in panic, glass shattered somewhere behind me. My heart slammed painfully against my ribs, I froze, another gunshot echoed.

Someone crashed into my shoulder, nearly knocking me to the ground. "Run!" a woman screamed as she grabbed her crying child.

Only then did my body obey, I turned and ran blindly, where do I go? There was another gunshot as I hid behind a wall, please let this stop...

"She's over there!"

I frowned, another voice answered sharply, "Blue blouse. Black skirt. Long brown hair. That's her!"

My breath caught. Her? That's me.

Someone grabbed my arm, I screamed and tried to pull away, but another pair of hands seized my other arm.

"No!"

I kicked wildly, my shoes scraping uselessly against the pavement.

"You've got the wrong person!"

Nobody answered, they lifted me as though I weighed nothing.

I fought harder with everything I had left, "Let me go!"

A black SUV screeched to a halt beside us and the rear door flew open.

Fear unlike anything I had ever known crashed over me, "No! Please!"

They shoved me inside, I barely had time to sit upright before someone pinned my arms behind my back.

"What are you doing?" I cried, panic tearing through every word. "Please! I don't have any money! You've made a mistake!"

Still no answer, one of the men pulled a folded black cloth from his pocket and my eyes widened, "No..."

He pressed it firmly over my nose and mouth, a sharp chemical smell invaded my lungs. I jerked my head away, holding my breath with every ounce of strength I had.

"No... no..." I struggled violently, but they forced the cloth back over my face. The strange smell rushed into me and the world tilted.

My eyelids grew unbearably heavy. The last thing I heard before darkness swallowed me was a cold, emotionless voice, "Boss will be pleased we found her first."

Then everything went black.