1 Chapter 1

Ivy Williams, 30 years old....

The clock on my desk read 12:34 AM, but I barely noticed the time passing as I typed away at my keyboard.

My fingers flew across the keys, my thoughts flowing onto the screen in a rush of words and sentences. I was so engrossed in my work that I didn't realize how late it was!

But this was my life as the CEO of my father's multibillionaire empire.

They call me Ivy Williams, and trust me, I've got it all.

Money? Check. Power? Double check. Political connections? Triple check. But as I slumped in my fancy office chair, surrounded by all this glam and glitz, I couldn't shake this nagging feeling of emptiness.

Who needs a social life when you're ruling the business world, right? And let's not even talk about my nonexistent love life - apparently, being a boss babe isn't exactly a turn-on for most guys. Oh well, more time for me to rule the world, I guess.

The door creaked open, and my assistant Madison poked her head inside. "Do you mind if I head home, Ms. Williams?" she asked me timidly, nervously twirling a strand of hair.

"Yes, of course, Maddy. I am sorry for keeping you so late. Go on, get out of here," I said, waving my hand to dismiss her.

"You should leave too, Ms. Williams. You look tired," Maddy said.

Fantastic...just the look I was going for. A sleep-deprived grandma at the ripe age of thirty, I mused to myself. But I kept those thoughts locked away - Maddy didn't need to deal with my sass tonight.

As the door closed behind Maddy, I took a deep breath and stretched my arms above my head. It was time for me to call it a night as well.

Grabbing my bag, I headed out of my office and towards the elevator. As I stepped inside, I couldn't help but think about how different my life would have been if I had chosen a different path.

I had always known that one day I would take over the family business, but I never expected it to happen so soon. My father's sudden passing had thrown me into this world of responsibilities and expectations, and while most people would kill to be in my position, sometimes I wondered if it was all worth it.

 The parking garage was dim and deserted at this late hour, but I knew the security guard, Frank, would still be at his post by the entrance. I always felt safer knowing he was there.

As I walked through the rows of parked cars, my heels clicking on the concrete, I kept alert for any signs of movement. But the garage was empty. 

There it was, my trusty silver sedan, gleaming in the moonlight like a knight in shining armor. I practically skipped to it, eager to hop inside and blast some tunes on my road trip.

But wait, what was that noise? Footsteps? Probably just a squirrel. Or a raccoon. Or a creepy stalker. Okay, don't think about creepy stalkers right now.

As I reached for the handle, a hand grabbed my arm from behind and yanked me back. I let out an embarrassingly high-pitched scream and flailed around like one of those inflatable tube men at a car dealership.

To my horror, my attacker was dressed all in black with a ski mask covering their face.

Was this really happening? Was I being kidnapped in my own company building?

Frank, you are so fired!

My mind raced as I fought against the mysterious figure, wondering how they even managed to sneak up on me. Seriously, where did Frank go? Did he not hear all this commotion?

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, darkness started creeping into my vision and I knew I was losing consciousness.

Before everything went black, I could have sworn I saw a pair of deep brown eyes peering down at me with concern. But hey, maybe it was just the lack of oxygen in my brain.

~-~

When I finally came to, I let out a dramatic groan and shut my eyes from the blinding fluorescent lights above. Well, an inward groan since my mouth was taped shut.

Seriously, did a clown pick out these bulbs? Someone needs to be fired for this poor lighting choice. And why couldn't I move?

And then it hit me when I remembered I was kidnapped.

Fuck my life.

I pried my eyes open and looked around.

Where the heck was I? Definitely not in Kansas anymore, Toto. And I didn't even have ruby slippers to click together for some answers.

"Well, well, well...the sleeping beauty awakens!" A gruff voice made me jump.

"Mmmph?" I tried to speak through the tape covering my mouth.

"Oops, my bad. Let me remove the duct tape so we can chat like civilized people," the silhouette said before emerging from the darkness.

"What the heck is this? Did you kidnap me?" I barked as soon as the tape was off.

"Wow, you are a smart woman," he said sarcastically.

I squinted my eyes, trying to place the familiar face in front of me. Without his mask, he looked like a completely different person. But nope, I had never seen this guy before.

And let's be real, with that ridiculous mustache, I would have remembered him even if we had just passed each other on the street. Seriously, that thing is a crime against humanity. And I thought being kidnapped was bad...

"Excuse me, did you hear what I just said?" the man sounded irritated.

"Huh? Sorry. I got distracted by your ugly face," I quipped.

Anger flickered in his eyes. "Watch it, Miss. You are not in a situation to make jokes."

"Right...kidnapped. So, are you going to explain what's going on here?" I asked.

"Oh, we'll get to that, but first, let me introduce myself. I am Joseph, and I belong to the Red Vipers.

"Red Vipers? Does that supposed to mean something to me?" I asked.

Joseph sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I can see you are unfamiliar with how things work around here.

The Red Vipers are not just some two-bit gang, we are the most powerful crime family in the city. Our reach extends into every corner, every neighborhood. The police, politicians, even judges are on our payroll. Nobody wants to cross us, and those who do..."

"Okay, that's a very interesting story, but I still don't understand what you want from me," I said, trying to keep the nervousness out of my voice. "Why kidnap a random woman off the street?"

Joseph chuckled. "Oh, you weren't chosen at random, my dear. The Red Vipers have had their eye on you for quite some time. Or should I say, your father?"

My blood turned to ice in my veins. What did my dad have to do with this? He was just a businessman and he was already retired after handing me the company. 

"You see, your father, as clean and respectable as he likes to portray himself, had a partnership with the Mafia," Joseph said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Specifically, with our dearly departed Don."

"That's nonsense! My dad built his empire through hard work and sheer determination," I objected.

Joseph raised a manicured hand to silence me. "I'm not finished. You see, your father owes us a great deal of money. A debt that he took from our previous Don. And now that he's... no longer with us, the debt has fallen to you."

I gasped. "Wait, you're saying my dad owes the mob? How much?"

Joseph smirked. "Oh, a hefty sum. Two hundred million, to be exact."

My heart stopped. My dad owes the mob?!? And two hundred million?

"Um...okay. But why did you kidnap me? Why not just ask for the money upfront?" I asked.

"Oh, we tried asking nicely at first," he explained casually. "But your dear old dad refused to cooperate. He thought he could get out of repaying what he owes with stalling tactics and excuses."

Joseph's expression darkened, all traces of amusement gone. "People don't get away with stiffing the Red Vipers. Your father needed some...extra motivation to make good on his debt."

My heart hammered in my chest. I thought back to the last time I had seen my dad, just a few days ago. He was on his boat, fishing like nothing was wrong.

The bastard...

Swallowing hard, I met Joseph's piercing gaze. "So what happens now?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Joseph grinned, the sight sending a chill down my spine. "Now, your father is going to finally pay what he owes. Unless he wants his darling daughter to meet an...unfortunate end."

I recoiled in horror, but Joseph continued speaking casually as if discussing the weather.

"Oh, we won't kill you right away, don't worry. That would take all the fun out of it! No, we'll send a little message to motivate your father properly."

I gulped. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know. Maybe we will entertain ourselves with that tight little body of yours," he said sheepishly.

I don't want him or his mustache anywhere near me!

"I need to speak to your supervisor," I said curtly.

Joseph blinked at me. "My what?"

"Your supervisor, the top dog or whatever," I said impatiently.

"You mean our Boss?" he asked.

"Yes, that guy. Take me to him," I said.

Joseph narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

I knew I had piqued his interest. "Because I have a counteroffer," I said.

Joseph stared at me for a moment, contemplating. Finally, he sighed and stood up. "Very well. I'll see if the Boss is interested in your "counteroffer."

As he left the room, the door slammed shut behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Adrenaline coursed through my veins. I had no idea what I was going to say or how I would get myself out of this mess, but I knew I needed more time to come up with a plan while buying time for my dad to get his act together and pay off the debt.

My mind raced as I tried to think of anything that could possibly help me, my gaze darting around the dingy room.

Nothing.

I stopped moving when I heard the door creak open, and in walked the boss.

My heart dropped as I instantly recognized him - I would recognize those cold blue eyes anywhere.

"What-?" I attempted to speak, but my voice failed me.

"Well, well, look who we have here. Little Miss Perfect. I never thought I'd see you again, especially not slumming it in my underground lair," chuckled my childhood tormentor, Aiden Blackwood, whose face I hadn't seen in more than ten years.