I want to roar like a lion. I want to be a lioness. I want to prevail in everything I do. I want those that never believed in me to see that the world doesn't revolve around their negativity.

Vivian.

"

"Vivian, don't do anything stupid," My father whispers, looking at the customers that have filled up our restaurant.

I roll my eyes when I hear his words, looking at him with a pout on my lips. I know he can feel my gaze, because he turns to look at me, after the customers are gone, though.

"I didn't even do anything," I mutter, watching as he raises an eyebrow at me, which makes me fidget in my seat.

"Wanting to put salt in a customer's coffee isn't anything?" My father asks, which results in me smiling innocently at him.

I remain silent, not knowing what to say to Dad, who chuckles to himself.

"You will get yourself into a lot of trouble, if you continue with your habits," Dad mutters, wrapping his arms around my shoulders, placing a kiss on my forehead.

"But the man deserved it; he was so rude to me," I say under my breath, so that only my father can hear.

The customers don't need to know about my evil schemes. We still need their money.

"I know. But that doesn't mean you have to ruin his coffee," Dad mutters, looking into my eyes as he sits besides me.

We are both behind the counter, which has two chairs, for my father and I.

"I feel like we have this conversation every single day," I sigh, not wanting to get a long lecture.

"That's because we do... You are too creative with your revenge ideas," Dad states, his voice firm and calm.

"I get that from you, though."

My father's lips form a straight line when he hears my words, no words come out of his mouth; a clear sign that I am winning.

I grew up with the man, and I spent majority of my time with him. Of course, I have to end up having his ways.

"I'm just following into your footsteps," I shrug, watching as he furrows his eyebrows.

"Don't act sassy with me, Viv; I'm still your father." Dad mutters, and right then and there, I know I have won.

"I will; when you admit that I get my ways from you." I fight the urge to chuckle, loving the look on my father's face.

Dad sighs, scratching the back of his head, taking a sip of his coffee, clearing his throat afterwards.

"I don't even know why I try." Dad murmurs, looking away from me.

"I didn't hear you," I say, loving his reaction.

This is normal for my father and I. We usually tease each other, we laugh and joke around. And he is like my best friend; right after Serena, though.

"I said; you follow in my ways." Dad says, rolling his eyes which makes me sigh in satisfaction.

I love being victorious.

"Now, was that so bad?" I tauntingly ask.

"Shut up before I cut your weekly allowance." I instantly shut my mouth when I hear his words, knowing he is being hundred percentage honest.

My father, even though he loves me, does not play when he threatens me. He has cut my allowance more times than I can count, and it is always frustrating.

My father, a man that is tall and quite muscular, is not one to play with. He is feared around the block; and our small community.

But that doesn't mean that I don't get to tease him every now and then.

Why the hell should I be scared of my own father?

My father has raised me, and he has been by my side throughout my journey on this earth.

"Do you want to go out for dinner tonight? I have some business partners that I have to meet, and I want you to meet some of them; you will take over one day, and I want you to be prepared." Dad explains, the silence we once had long forgotten.

My father and I stand up from our seats, walking towards the back, not wanting the others to hear our conversation.

We leave one of the waitresses standing behind the counter, trusting that she will look after everything.

"Do I really have to come? It's uncomfortable standing in the presence of your old friends; their perverted eyes make my skin crawl."

A shiver passes through my body when I remember the creepy men I encountered a few months back.

They kept looking at my chest, which was very much covered. Their stares made me so uncomfortable. I had to leave the hall, where the gala my father hosted, was.

I had to complain to my father, and he promised to deal with them: which he did.

"You don't have to worry about those idiots. They won't come anywhere near you, nor will they hurt a hair on your head... They can't hurt you when I'm still alive," Dad smiles, which makes me force a smile in his direction.

Dad must see that my expression isn't genuine, because he sighs, placing his hand on my cheek.

"Princess, I will never allow any harm to come to you. Those perverted fools will never look at you horribly. Infact, they will never look at any female again." Dad says, making me nod, trusting fully in his words.

Something about his words makes me smile. Not because he hurt them, but because other women will be protected from the perverts.

I already have an idea of what my father did, so I do not ask him any questions.

I stretch my hand out to him instead, smiling at him when he looks at my palm confusingly.

"I need money for the dress," I grin, loving the sigh that escapes my father's mouth.

"And before you say anything to me; know that my other dresses are dirty. They won't be clean today, and plus none of them will be fit for this dinner... And I also don't want to look like an outcast at the event; people at those events always have on nice looking things, and I don't want to go with the one dress I have in my closet." I ramble, desperately wanting to convince him to give me money.

I have to save enough money before he decides to cut my allowance again. I do not want to be broke.

"Fine." Dad sighs, shaking his head as he removes his wallet. "Don't spend a lot of money on useless things, make sure you buy a dress and things that you will use for a long time... I don't want you spending horribl-"

"I know, Dad." I mutter, grabbing the credit card he has in his hands. "I am not going to spend all the money on clothes; I will spend it on food instead."

I put the card in my jean's pocket, quickly giving Dad a hug before he can say something else.

"I love you." I murmur, not waiting for him to say the words back, knowing that he will want to lecture me.

I quickly walk out of the restaurant, walking towards my car, which is parked in my reserved spot, my father's car right next to mine.

I open my car door, quickly closing it afterwards. My fingers feel frozen and that's because of the weather.

I forgot that we are in the middle of winter.

After clenching my coat close to my body, I grab my phone, quickly dialing Serena's number.

"Hey, do you want to do some shopping?" I go straight to the point when she picks up the call, not wanting to get caught up in some gossip she has.

Serena knows a lot of information about some people I don't even know of. And I don't even know how I end up following her stories.

Maybe it's because she is a good story teller?

"Yeah. Just text me the location and I'll be there in a few minutes," Serena's excited voice is heard, which makes me smile.

"Alright. Bye." Serena and I say our goodbyes, and I turn my car on after I hang up.

"I can't wait to eat some Mcdonalds." I think to myself, driving out of the parking lot.

~

"Hey," I mutter, hugging Serena, who squeezes me in her arms. I fear she will suffocate me.

"I missed you, love," She says, finally letting go of me. Her beautiful big blue eyes looking into my dull brown ones as smiles grace our lips.

"I missed you more... How was the trip? And how's everyone else?" I ask, our fingers entwined as we walk inside the mall.

"Everyone is doing good and the trip was good as well; would have been great if you came with me." She states, making me frown.

Serena and I have been best friends for years now. We are and have been inseparable since the very beginning. So, it is uncommon for us to go anywhere without each other.

"We can go on another trip, maybe a vacation." I mumble, as we finally enter the one shop we always come to.

Serena agrees at the same time that a saleslady comes to us.

"What can I help you with?" The lady, whose name tag says Jennifer, asks, a big smile on her face.

"We'd like two formal dresses, both in black," I utter, remembering the invitation card I saw a week ago.

I already knew about the dinner, I was just waiting for Dad to tell me about it; and for him to give me his credit card.

Jennifer nods at us, leading us towards the last section of the store.

"You know, Azrael will be there, right?" Serena asks, looking in the mirror, the black knee length dress making her hourglass figure stand out.

I sigh when I hear her question, rolling my eyes, whilst trying to pull the dress up my ass. I breath in relief when I do, turing to look at the mirror, admiring the beautiful woman that is staring back at me.

I like it, and I'm gonna buy it.

"Viv," Serena calls out to me, making me turn to look at her.

"Yes?" I answer, averting my eyes from the mirror.

Serena rolls her eyes at me, making me feel a bit annoyed. "You didn't answer my question," She mumbles.

"I know. I didn't answer your question because I don't give a damn. He isn't my business, and I sure as hell don't remember him being your business." I reply, trying to remove the dress.

Silence fills the room when I say this, which tells me that I have left Serena speakless; like I usually do.

It isn't my fault that I am too straightforward. Sometimes Selena asks questions just to annoy me; and she always succeeds.

She knows that I don't like Azrael, and she sure as hell knows that I don't like talking about him. Why she likes talking about him is and will always be a mystery to me.

"Will you get that one?" I sweetly ask, acting like I didn't just act out a while ago.

I have already removed the dress, and I have also given it, and some other things, to Jennifer, who has packed them in my size.

"Yeah. Sure." Serena silently mutters, making me feel bad.

Serena hands the dress and some other things to Jennifer as well, and we both leave the store wishing Jennifer our good-byes on our way out.

Unlike the time we entered the store, there is tension in the air, and Serena is also standing a distance away from me.

"Serena," I sigh, placing my hand on her forarm at the exact moment that she turns to walk towards her car. My actions make her turn in my direction.

"I'm sorry I spoke to you like that," I pout, hating it when I see the sad look in her eyes. "I didn't mean to be rude; but you know how I feel about Azrael... The mention of his name makes me tick, and I just end up exploding. I'm sorry." I add, breathing out in relief when I see a tiny smile form on her lips.

"It's alright. I gotta understand that you don't like him in that way. And I speak about him cause he's hot, like sexy hot." Serena says, making me chuckle.

I don't say anything, though. I know that the man's hot, but I will never admit it to Serena.

And I will also try to avoid him tonight; I don't need to make him more egolistic.

AUTHOR'S NOTE.

How was this chapter? Was it alright, or nah?

I don't have an updating schedule, but I'll be updating twice or thrice a week for the time being, then I'll see if I can manage.

I missed you guys!

Y'all be safe and happy ❤️