CHAPTER 1: Selina Vega

CHAPTER 1:

Selina's POV

After a long and tiring day at work, I was so happy to be home. Escaping the unbearable smell of alcohol and cigarettes. Of course I hated my job but what was I supposed to do. I had to pay up my debt. A quick groan escaped my lips as I sank into the comfortable sofa in front of me. The feeling was heavenly. It felt like it relieved me from the day's stress and body aches. I had no strength left to reach my bed or take a bath.

Flinging my small purse to the other chair, all I could think of was having a good night's rest. My eyes grew heavy as my head rested on the soft and comfortable sofa grabbing it tight.

I thought of random things as I closed my eyes. From my terrible job at Pierce's club to the debt I had to pay. I borrowed a huge amount of money from Edward Pierce two years back to pay my mother's hospital bills. Unfortunately, she died leaving me alone in this world.

My boss Pierce always made sure life was hard for me. I was overworked, serving those perverted men who filled the air with the smell of alcohol and cigarettes.

Just then, my thoughts were disrupted by the sound of my phone ringing. Ugrhh, what the heck I cursed completely ignoring the call. This is not the right time for this, I muttered angrily.

It rang over and over again and I rolled over lazily stretching my hand to pick the phone. I opened my tired eyes to check who the caller was. It was Caroline my only friend. Caroline and I knew each other way back. From attending the same college, we became

the closest of friends.

Huh? Why is she calling me this late? I sat tiredly on the sofa while I picked the call.

"Selinaaaa" She screamed loudly and I flinched.

"Don't tell me you are already asleep" she said.

"Of course I was, what do you think?" I asked not getting her exact point.

"You're missing out girl", she screamed in excitement.

"What are you talking about" I asked, already tired of the conversation.

"Ethan is back!"she screamed in excitement.

"Ethan?" I whispered confused.

"Yes, Ethan Lightwood, our city's richest and youngest CEO. I'm watching his arrival on TV right now….ohh my gosh, he is so handsome" she said with every bit of seriousness and I scoffed.

"Was this really why you woke me up?" I asked annoyed.

"Yes Selina, you wouldn't want to miss it. Would you?". She asked.

"I actually do not care about this Ethan you speak of. All I want is to have a peaceful sleep. The fact that I do not even know what he looks like should tell you that I don't care Carol" I spoke bluntly.

"Urgh, what the heck girl" I added,

"Okay, okay missy. Calm down" she said and I heard her laughing over the phone.

"I'd leave you to sleep now while I drool over Mr. Lightwood" She added.

"Good night Carol". I told her before hanging up.

After the call, I tried to have some good sleep but my mind drifted back to Ethan Lightwood.

"Who the heck is this guy" I thought. I heard his presence could light up or darken a room.

There were many spectacular things I heard about Mr. Lightwood. His name was always on everyone's lip. A lot of women were dying to spend even a night with him. I've heard of his tall figure, broad-shoulders, unique handsomeness, confident and every other great description.

There was a dark side of Mr. Lightwood too. People often describe him as ruthless, cold-hearted and the representation of the devil to those who dared to cross his path. In short, he was the epitome of rich, powerful, irresistible and ruthless man.

As young as he was, he was bastardly rich and a heir to one of the Lightwood enterprises. He owned houses all over the country. People said he was despised by his family.

A lot of rumors flew, including that which said Mr. Lightwood was uninterested in love just because he was never seen with any woman in a love relationship. But what am I to do with all these information? Nothing.

I snapped out of thoughts not realizing when I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing again but this time, it was my boyfriend Steve. Steve and I have been together for a year now. He's just an average guy.

"Good morning babe" I said to him over the phone.

"Good morning" he answered coldly.

"What's wrong, you don't sound okay" I questioned, worried.

"There's no way I would sound okay, Selina. You don't even have time for me anymore. All you do is work" he replied angrily.

"You have to understand Steve. It's not my fault. You know my boss Pier….

"I knew you would have an excuse. You always do" he said cutting me short.

"You know what, just don't call me anymore" he added ending the call.

"Oh my Gosh" I murmured soberly.

I tried calling him over and over again but he didn't pick up. I know I was in trouble. I tried assuring myself that everything was okay and started preparing for my shift by 12pm.

I took my bath carefully and selected a nice outfit for the day's job. When I started working at Pierce's bar as a newbie, I was introduced to madam Anthonia the woman who was in charge of dressing up the girls who danced for men at the bar. Pierce wanted me to work as a dancer but I could not dance or allow myself to be touched constantly by those perverts. Pierce said working as a dancer and stripper could make me earn faster and pay my debt quickly. I refused bluntly and it made Pierce furious. He promised he would make life there miserable for me and that is what he's been doing since. I preferred working as a waitress but it still did not save me from the lurking eyes of the perverted men.

Once I hit a man who was Pierce's potential customer because he tried to harrass me inside the club. That did not end well for me. Pierce cut my salary for a whole month. I actually do not get any salary from Pierce because he takes it for himself as payment for my debt while I do other petty jobs to sponsor myself.

Getting to the club, I realized I was five minutes late hoping no one will notice. The club looked different today. I didn't need anyone to tell me we were going to have an important personality coming later. Pierce made sure the club looked exclusively decorated whenever there was an important person coming over. He knew it will get him lots of money. I wondered who this person was because everyone seemed excited especially Pierce.