I wipe my hand down my face out of utter frustration. Two million dollars worth of cocaine has been hijacked from one of our main shipping points. "Fuck!" I sighed and slammed my fist down on my desk.

"Woah, someone's in a bad mood." I prepare myself to look up and yell at who ever entered. I'd specifically said I needed to be left alone.

Bianca. What did I expect. I make eye contact with my hyperactive sister. That girl has zero manners, even towards her don. "Bianca." I acknowledge.

She walks further into my large office space and sits down at the chair opposite my desk. "I have a favour to ask." Of course she does.

"Proceed." If I didn't enlighten her, she'd never leave me alone.

"Scarlett and I were talking, and well, she's eighteen, as you know. Uh you took her before she could graduate high school.... I think you should let her go back so she can graduate." School? Why would she need school? She has a perfectly good job with good enough pay, not to mention I own her, what makes her think she'd need a high school education? The only person who she'll ever be working for is me.

"No."

"No?"

"No."

"What! Why?!" She whines crossing her arms like a petulant child. I should not have to deal with this.

"Because she works here. She doesn't need the education and it's not safe. If anyone finds out she works for me they'll try take her."

"Then set a bodyguard on her! She'll be fine!"

"Bianca, I said no." She gets up, storms out the room and slams the door behind her. Jesus, if she weren't my fucking sister.

I turn to my computer only to be interrupted yet again. "I swear to fucking god Bianca-"

"-don't talk to your nonna like that boy!" That's not Bianca. Shit. Of course she sent the big guns. Nonna is yet to not get what she wants. She's my weakness and Bianca knows that.

I close my laptop "I'm sorry nonna, I thought you were Bianca." She struts further into the room but doesn't sit in one of the seats in front of my desk. Instead she stands with her arms crossed glaring down at me.

"What's this I hear about you not letting Scarlett go to school? You know how important it is to have at least a high school education. Your father wanted you and Leonardo to drop out at when you were fifteen and he was thirteen but I didn't let him!"

"It's not safe nonna."

"I know she beat up two of your guards, she'll be fine on her own."

"I'm sorry nonna but this is the one thing I'm going to have to put my foot down on. She can't go. She has a job here." Defeated she sits on the left chair.

"Just one week. Let her go for one week, a trial

Week. If it works out for her you can train her with the recruits in the gym so she can learn more techniques to defend herself."

"I still think it's all pointless."

"I know you think you're going to keep her locked up in a cage forever as one of your workers but you may change your mind and allow her a little more freedom. She has dreams Dante, you used to know what that was like. Don't be like your father." My father. Just knowing that I may be like him even in the slightest way made me want to shoot myself execution style.

"Fine. We'll do a trial week if nothing happens and I still think she's going to be safe and able to defend herself I'll allow it. Now I just have to decide on her new shifts for work, so if you'll excuse me." She stands up and moves around my desk.

"You're a good boy, much better than your bastard father." I chuckle at that statement as she kisses my cheek.

"Don't work yourself silly!" She closes the door behind her. Again, she gets her way. I shake my head amused. She just knows the right way to manipulate my thoughts.

1 week later

Bianca and I sat in the kitchen eating our chicken salads for lunch considering how many carbs we consumed last night.

Nonna comes into the room with a huge smile on her face. "I did it! You're going back to school!"

I drop my fork internally cringing at the sound of the metal hitting the porcelain plate but I'm too excited to care. I run to nonna wrapping my arms around her frail frame. "How did you do it?! I was so sure he wouldn't give in!"

She laughs patting my back and I let go. "He's a tough one but I got you a trial week of sorts. If he believes you can defend yourself and are safe, he'll let you continue. So for now it's up to you."

"I can't thank you enough!" I turn to Bianca who has the biggest smile on her face.

"Hey! Since he's letting you go to school, maybe he'll let me come with you and transfer out of online schooling." We look to nonna, begging her. She rolls her eyes and turned to go upstairs yet again.

Monday. I got up at four in the morning to help with breakfast. Mr Romanos had to move my shifts around so I can go to school and still work. It seems I'm never going to have any time to myself but it's still worth it, I'll be one step closer to my dream job.

Unfortunately I still have to wear the ugly and demeaning uniform in the mornings, even though no one will see me since I'll be staying in the kitchen and then going to get ready.

All the maids are currently gathered in the kitchen while nonna tells us where we'll be stationed. "Alright, Carrie, Eva and Alex, you'll be serving today." I end up zoning out until everyone but the kitchen girls are left.

There are chefs but they get us to do the little tasks to speed up the process like cutting the fruits and vegetables. "Ladies, you're all in the kitchen, the chefs will decide on your tasks." She throws a wink to me and leaves.

I head over to my assigned chef who happens to be a total douche. Just my luck. "Chef Wilson." I greet, we only refer to them as their last names since they're higher up than us.

He looks me up and down. Gross. Then finally meets my eyes looking bored already "grab a cutting board and dice the tomatoes. If they're uneven you'll be doing them again. So don't wast my time."

See what I mean? Ass. "Yes Chef." I move around the kitchen and grab a cutting board along with a knife. The tomatoes are already on the bench so I take them to the sink and wash them before beginning to dice.

He makes no effort to talk. Which I understand, it's early and we're all grouchy. I look at the dish he's making, it looks like some sort of frittata, while in the pan he's cooking poached eggs.

He notices me watching him and glares. Immediately I look away and continue dicing the excessive amount of tomatoes. "Those aren't even." He picked up two pieces. "Did I not tell you to waste my time?"

"W-Well sir, a tomato is round. How is every since diced piece g-going to be the exact same shape?" His eyes flare up with anger. He tosses the two pieces back onto the board.

"Did you just back talk me?!" His voice rises at each individual word.

"I-It was an observation C-Chef." I should've let it go. I really need to stop talking. Me and my big mouth are going to get me killed in this joint.

His hand raises and I immediately flinch just as the harsh impact of his hand hits my cheek. I fall to the ground grasping at my throbbing cheek.

"Scarlett!!" I hear my name through the buzzing sound in my head. I can't seem to focus. I'm brought back to the times where my father would be there, hurting me like I'm not his daughter. Just some rag doll.

"Scarlett, hey, look at me." My vision is crowded with unshed tears waiting to fall.

"Scarlett." A hand touches my face bringing me back to reality but I can't help but flinch from the feeling. The hand removes itself from my face.

I look to see who it is. "B-Bianca?" My voice tremors and I hate that I sound so weak.

"I'm here, don't worry, your safe." She pulls me into her chest as I sob, I cry and cry, unable to hold back any longer.

"Come, We're going to go to my room ok?" She helps me up off the floor, bringing me into her side as we pass by the very confused and judgemental stares of the maids and other chefs.

We walk down the hallway and begin up the stairs. I refuse to look up from the floor not needing anyone else judging me. I hear the heavy footsteps of Mr Romanos men passing us in their steel capped boots.

We walk up the second flight of stairs "Bianca? Scarlett?" I look up, Xavier's stood before us with his usual hard glare set in place.

"What happened?" He continues. I don't answer so Bianca does for me.

"One of the chefs slapped Scarlett." His eye twitches slightly.

"I'll inform don, he'll sort it." Bianca smiles.

"Thank you Xavier." He nods and continues on his way.

We walk into Bianca's room and she sits me down on the bed. "Are you sure you want to go to school today? We can start tomorrow?" I shake my head.

"No, we need to prove to Mr Romano that it's safe and we'll be fine. I'm not going to miss out on another day because of him."

"Alright. Let's do something to get your mind off of it then. Let's choose your comeback outfit!!" She claps her hands together while I shove my face into a pillow.

She rushes into her closet rummaging through the different clothes we purchased. "Why do I need to dress up? I always wore sweat pants and a hoodie."

"Exactly!" She calls.

"Don't you think that people are going to be talking about your sudden reappearance? May as well come back with a cute fit." She walks out of her closet holding a pile of clothes

"Put this on." She dumps the outfit, shoes and accessories on my lap. I sigh but don't argue and go into her bathroom to change.

I'm dressed in a black mini skirt with sheer black pantyhose, a white cardigan with a wool black coat on top and a pair of patent black platforms. I walk out of the bathroom almost tripping.

Bianca claps her hands "you look great!"

"This seems a little over the top." I gesture to my outfit. She rolls her eyes completely ignoring me.

"We're going to look so good!" Bianca's a strong headed girl. She should really go into law, specifically criminal, it'd be kinda ironic.

Bianca herself is wearing a pink corset style top with a black blazer over top and a pink patterned skirt with pink satin platforms. Why is she so insistent on platforms? I'm going to break a leg. "Do we seriously have to dress like this?" I'm really out of my comfort zone.

"Yes. High school is a time where everyone is exploring themselves and who they are, what makes them, them. So we are going to dress up, allow ourselves to be confident and feel pretty." Again, she should go into law.

"Fine. Who's taking us?"

"Dante."