SOLD TO THE MAFIA QUEEN

Xander dashed into the bathroom, fuming in anger, and took off his shorts. He turned on the shower, standing under it as the cool water started pouring on his body, making all his pores rise. The pain he was feeling inside was intense, and the career he had spent a lot of years planning had been ruined. He took a shampoo and poured it on his hair, washing it with it as what Ashley told him played in his head. “Your sister sold you to me…” “Ahhh!!” He screamed in terror as soap lather ran down his face, forcing him to close his eyes.

Ashley was in her dressing room, going through all the clothes. The room was a total mess, with clothes and bags all over the place. She grabbed a bag and searched with panic in her eyes. “No! This can’t be; I am sure I kept it in the bag I carried yesterday.” She thought running her hands through her hair as the door of the room was opened by two maids. “I want you guys to search with me; I am looking for a flash drive.” She explained to them, tossing the bag in her hand on the floor.

“Okay ma’am.” They both chorused and started searching the messy room with her. Ashley was slowly losing her mind; she was sure no one had barged into her room after her mother; she kept a gun under her pillow because she knew someone might try to steal the flash drive; and now that it was missing, she was wishing it wasn’t the case that it was somewhere she couldn’t remember putting it. “Keep searching.” She said to the maids and walked into her bedroom, heading to the nightstand, lifting her phones to see if the flash drive was there, when she realized she had missed calls, which she looked at and realized were from her assistant. She squatted next to her nightstand and called him back, a little anxious.

“Hello, my queen, I have some bad news for you.” He said.

“Spill it,” she stated.

“Chris has just been rushed to the hospital.” He said. “What! What happened?” She inquired, surprised.

“The torture of the police was so intense that he couldn’t handle it, so he passed out. I heard Mr. Paul’s wife ask them not to go easy on him,” Dave replied. “Which hospital is he in?” she asked. “I am on my way to your house; I will take you there,” he said. “Alright, hurry!” She said she was having an adrenaline rush and didn’t know how to control it; she didn’t want Chris to be taken back to the station after he had been treated, so she needed to do something about it. She was about to start searching for the flash drive again when she heard a knock on her door. “Come in; it isn’t locked,” she said, rising to her feet. Jake came into view; he was dressed in a blue tuxedo that made him look more handsome and dashing than usual, and he was holding a gift box in his hand. “Good morning queen, I just came by to drop this off,” he said, flaunting the gift box as he approached her. “Who sent that?” she inquired. “It’s your fiancé,” he replied, extending the box to her. “I don’t want to see what’s in there. You can have it or throw it in the trash,” she said, attempting to walk away when he spoke. “He says you have to wear it to the engagement party so you can both wear matching outfits; why don’t you think about it?” he said, staring at her. Ashley shook her head and took the box from him. He watched as she untied the ribbon and opened the box, fixating on an expensive white strapless gown with white gem stones around the waist. She took it out of the box and stared at it. “It’s beautiful; he has great taste; it will look even more beautiful on you.” Jake commented. She scoffed at his remark and tossed the dress in his face. “I have something more important to worry about; I am looking for a flash drive; I think it might have evidence against Noah.” She said. Jake’s expression changed immediately. “Is your engagement tonight, and you’re worried about the evidence? What will you gain if your fiancé gets arrested?” Jake said. Ashley stared at Jake, thunderstruck. “My fiancé? He is a criminal! He is forcing me to marry him, I can’t believe you of all people is saying this…it’s like you are not the Jake I know anymore. You want me to get married to him even though he’s the reason my father is on the verge of death and Chris is fighting for his life. I can’t believe you, Jake.” She said with her lips trembling and tossed him a death glare before stomping off back into the dressing room.

The maids stopped searching the moment Ashley entered the dressing room; she realized they had put all the things back in place as they were searching. “Have you found it?” She asked, raising her voice, and the maids shook their heads in fear at the same time. Ashley placed her right hand on her face, frustrated by the outcome of things. “Just…go out and do something.” She said to the maids with her voice breaking. The maids dropped the things they were holding and ran out of the room with great speed. Ashley went back to her bedroom, attempting to sit on her bed, when she felt something under the sheets. She touched it and realized it was the flash drive; her eyes lit up as she took it out of the blanket with a smile on her face. She started running toward the door of her room the moment she opened the door and spotted Dave. “We have to…” She didn’t let him finish his speech; she just hit him with her shoulders while running down the corridor. “Whoa, queen, wait up!” he yelled and started running after her.