Audrey pov
At age twenty one and fresh out of college I have to take over my mom and Dads company after they passed not too long ago on an airplane crash which they claimed was accidental but if I knew my uncles Toby , Keith and lance any better I would say it was planned in order to erase them from the face of the earth.
The only reason I have not had them convicted of their crimes is because I had no solid evidence against them
The only ones I had left was my nanny Angela and my best friend Jennie who was nanny Angela's child and love them both it was devastating to know I will never be able to talk to my dad and my mom ever again .
We were a small family but we were happy, I had never really lacked anything because my dad had a law firm that was stocked with paying client's , a good amount of which were in the mafia making it easier to build affluence since one of the only things crime bosses never lacked was money ,drugs and whores to satisfy their sexual desires at any given time
As much as my dad was involved with crime bosses I never liked them or their spoiled and snobby children
The company was to be given to me as the only child ,but honestly I am not sure If I would want to enter into such an industry as it is highly dangerous and powerful enemies are easily made rather than powerful friends
I would much rather handle my moms company since it was related to fashion and I love fashion, either way I would not want any of their efforts to go to total waste by handing any of the companies down to my careless uncles who only know how to gamble and spend lavishly what they did not work for.
if only I had some trustworthy to handle dad's company I wouldn't mind at as far it was just in safe hands
I might look naive but I am far from that and that is because I was personally mentored by my dad making me ten steps ahead of my uncles who not only wanted my parents companies but my life also as they constantly sent assassins to go after me but because I am aware of their plans I have always survived and it seems to be pissing them off, I wonder why?
So I recently decided to host a ball for moms business to find new investors and ensure the old investors not to pull out from the company due to the change of power.
As contemplated in my room about work jennie walked in to my room with juice in one handand biscuits in the other, knowing her eating habits I had to constantly stock the house with food and snacks .
"'what you doing"
"'working "
Audrey let's go for the party
what party
the one I have been talking about all week
I can't I have a ball to plan
saying you can go for a party because you are planning another party is crazy and your going because I need a wingman .Jayden from highschool is going to be there and I you know I really like him
you say that for other guys every two months
ok but your coming with me to the party go get dressed.
...At the party ....
Jennie is currently dancing with a stranger in an attempt to make Jayden jealous which I highly doubt will work, tired of everyone and everything I decided to go to the toilet .
I splashed water on my face and remained in the toilet wandering to myself why I was so unlucky with everything aside from my studies.
I couldn't help but miss moms terrible cooking and Dads jokes about her cooking,how they would tease each other and their shameless public display of affection.
I wish I could wake up from this terrible dream but it's my reality . The more I struggle to console myself the more I felt myself get weak and tears began flowing from eyes, I let myself sob and reminisce about the old days .
One thing that I was sure of was that anyone involved in their deaths would pay related or not, because I didn't want any ones pity I wiped my tears the moment I heard people approaching the toilet and walked back to the party told Jennie that I had a headache and left for home
Jackson pov
I walk down to my dungeon where my prisoners are kept I walk towards the cell of one of the men who wanted the girl dead .
"Release him" I said and one of my employees opened the cell .
"Are you not going to Walk out or do you like it here" I said while thinking of how to inflict more pain than I already have to his battered and bruised up body.
"I ca can't walk "' he stuttered while trying to stand up from the floor only to fall back and groan in pain like the pathetic loser he was
"Tell me the exact reason you want her dead and who she is to you and I might not kill "' I said as I grew impatient watching him struggle to stay conscious
"we are her uncles"
"We want to take over the company my brother and her mother left behind and the only way was to take her out of the picture completely""
Before I could ask more questions Blake walked in with news and from the smile he had on his face I could tell it had everything thing to do with her .
I signalled for him to give me the file in his and he did.
As I opened the file that contained all I needed to know about her and read it carefully I learned that her name was Audrey, she is turning 21 this year and that she was holding a ball which I would of course be attending invitation or not.
I guess it's time to go shopping. I said while trying to hide my excitement from Blake who seemed to be amused.
To be honest I was also amused because I did not know why I was happy, probably because I had chance of being cured of the phobia.
after getting ready for the event I took a look brief at the mirror and was pleased with what I saw but before stepping out I noticed I had received a call from the woman who gave birth to me and as usual I declined the call as there was no reason to speak to her
I walked into the ballroom to see a lot fashion inclined Business men and women chatting and exchanging pleasantries some who knew who I was kept quiet as evident fear began to surface through their facial expressions regardless I made my way to my table and started to use my eyes to scan the room as I attempted to search for Audrey which took a while but eventually I noticed her and I was spell bound by her beauty she looked better in real life
She had on a black dress which clung to her body and accentuated every curve on her body with a slit which ran through her legs and stopped at her thighs and a v-neck that revealed a good amount of her bust. Her pale skin and her hair which she had let down seemed to make her look irresistably charming
I was so in her eyes that I didn't notice that she had walked up to me .
we kept staring at each other until she spoke
"'Good evening" she said looking a little flustered and uneasy under my gaze.
"'Hi Audrey " I replied while my eyes roamed her body with an undeniable burning desire for her . while I wondered at the back of my mind why my phobia was not acting up . I would usually get itchy but there was no signs of an itch
"'how do you know my name" she asked looking like she was trying to figure out if we had met before or something
"'well the invitation I received had your name on it sweetheart" I lied knowing that she may not want to be around me if I started with "' hi my name is Jackson Rodriguez ,I am an active member of the mafia and your uncles tried to hire me to kill you few days ago"'
This was the first time I had lied about my identity because I sincerely enjoyed being feared by people but Audrey was different I didn't want her to be scared of me it might be a selfish and cheesy thought but I wanted her to at least genuinely like me for who I am .
"'so your into fashion"' she asked while assessing me with her eyes.
"'um not really , but I am into you" I replied honestly this time because there was no point lying about my feelings and intentions towards her,even if I had a motive of being healed of gymnophobia
My response seemed to have an effect on her as her cheeks turned red and she bit her lip nervously
"well I need investors not suitors"' she said looking at me with those mystifying pitch black eyes.
" well why can't I be both " I said making sure to maintain eye contact
"Because I am not looking for a suitor right now"
"ok I respect that but if you change your mind , call me sweet heart"
I handed her my business card and signalled Blake to get the car ready
...Blake's pov....
After a long day of taking orders from Jackson and tolerating his tantrums because I really didn't want to die , I finally arrive home from the ball and I am exhausted only to be greeted by a half naked lady on my bed, usually I would be excited but I am to stressed for this rightnow.
"'welcome my love"
Camila what are you still doing here I thought it was clear that it was one night stand,have I not paid you ?
well baby I thought you might need me again this night
Why did I have to sleep with the same stripper who got rejected by Jackson
no I do not need you now please leave and never return here .
listen I Know you do not love me but I need the money Camille suddenly burst into tears
what was I suppose to do
ok I will give you more money just don't return here again
ok I won't Camille said as she wiped the tear away from her eyes.
I wrote a check for ten thousand dollars and handed it to her , I mean my salary was more than enough and since I was orphaned long ago and had no siblings I usually had a surplus of my salary remaining