Chapter One

Cleo POV

Riiinngg

Riiinngg

Riiinngg

I quickly awaken as my eyes begin to search furiously for the source of the unwanted raucous. It seems I am unable to do so as my eyes are shielded by darkness. What is going on?

Finally clicking on to my foolishness I remove my sleep mask and grab the noisy machine the world of mankind refer to as an ALARM CLOCK!.

I grab hold of my baseball from under my bed and hit the noisy machine until it's just a pile of broken cogs and screws. Seeing as my sleep is ruined I grab my phone only to see ten missed calls and over two angry messages from my best friend Elizabeth asking about where I am and that I should have been at the café thirty minutes ago.

Huh thirty minutes. I wonder why my alarm clock didn't wake me up?. Mh guess I'll never know then.

I put my phone down and got out of bed almost reluctantly.I took my twenty minute shower.I decide on an oversized hoodie jacket,denim blue ripped jeans,my nike sneakers and my favourite watch. For makeup I decided on mascara and clear lipgloss.

Once I feel I look decent enough I head downstairs to the rest of my empty house.Well of course it's empty I live by my self It's been six years since I left my foster home.

And yes you read correct a foster home.

I lost my parents and older brother, I dont really remember his name since i was only just four years old in a car accident.

My parents dropped me of at a friends house and then her parents got a call that my parents and brother had gotten into an accident on their way to pick me up.

I had suffered brain trauma after that and 17years later here i am living my dream as a superstar i know my mom would have been proud of me.

Oh right where are my manners , My name is Cleo Mandez I am twenty three years old and I am a well known singer not to sound cocky but I am. I have always wanted to become a singing celebrity and that's exactly what I became at the age of 20.

The only people I told about my past are my two best friends Scarlett and Elizabeth AKA Lisa Bisa it's a nickname I gave her when she demanded I give her a best friend nickname.

That's right demanded she said that it was the only way our relationship would grow "stronger " and if I didn't give her one she was going to "break up with me" ,it is quite silly when I say it out loud .

So now my nickname is Bella short for my second name Isabella. She only calls me that when she is really pissed.

To clear your confusion I am half Spanish ,I remember my mother being Spanish she loved the name Isabella and decided to give me it.My father was American/Italian.

I never got to learn the Spanish language so whenever I meet new people they always think I'm Spanish. But a language I would love to learn is Italian, its sexy.

Scarlett has her own nickname that I call her when I feel like it, it's Letty and whenever I want to make her really angry I call her Letty the Lefty but what makes it more funny is that she is right handed so she gets irritated really fast mwah hahaha.

I met Lisa Bisa on my first day at Middle school 11th grade.She showed me around school and we instantly clicked and Scarlett came Senior year she and Elizabeth hated each other since they are complete opposites seeing as Elizabeth is loud, outgoing and a total social butterfly where as Scarlett is more of a easy going, loves to keep to herself and well organised but can be a little scatter brained at times.

As time went on they slowly realized how much in common they had and eventually got used to each other and now we are like the three musketeers.

I grab my keys, phone and bag rushed to my white Range Rover, the car along with the house are my pride possessions. My bodyguards weren't far behind I dont like dramatic entrances so I try to blend in as much as possible.

Within 40 minutes I was already at the cafe I went inside and looked around only to find out I am the first to arrive "huh typical " I muttered under my breath I went ahead and found a table for us and ordered for them and myself as well.

10 minutes later Scarlett and Elizabeth walk in."Hey guys took you long enough"I greeted."yeah well we would have been here earlier if someone hadn't stopped to get a new bag"Scarlett said as she secretly pointed towards Elizabeth,but she saw it "heyyy the bag was calling my name and I had to get it" Elizabeth said defensively.

"Hey hey ladies let's not start drama just yet Elizabeth you said you had something important to tell us"

"Oh yeah I do actually so as y'all know our last vacation was hosted by Cleo"she pointed at me and I did a little wave and they both rolled their eyes and laughed then she continued.

"Anyway this vacation is being hosted by moi and I have found the perfect place for us"

Scarlett and I looked at each other in worry because the last time she planned a vacation it was complete chaos we were in Alska.

She had just booked plane tickets without even double checking because apparently to her Alaska and Atlanta are the "same thing".

It was freezing and we only brought summer Clothes we ended up spending all our money on buying winter clothes all in one day.But all in all we still had fun.

"Yeah well it's different this time I promise,soooo who is ready to go to ITALY!!!!!"

"Oh My Gosh are we actually going to ITALY" Scarlett asked

"yep you heard right it took a lot of effort in convincing my brother but he finally agreed so we will be staying at his place as long as we don't cause trouble" we all then bursted into fits of laughter.

"Like that's gonna happen"Scarlett added after trying to catch her breath.

"So when are we going" I asked as I started sipping on my green tea.

"Oh in four days tops we are gonna arrive there first since my brother has business to attend to first"Elizabeth said.

"Oh cool so who else is gonna be there?"Scarlett asked as she slurped on milkshake like the pig she is.

"Scarlett honey could you may be ease down on the unlady like manners" I said

"sssooorrieeee"she said as some of the food she had stuffed in her mouth trickled down.

"Okaaaayy Okaaay Elizabeth you were telling us about the people coming" I said as I tried to keep myself in balance.

" Oh right um it's just gonna be us,my close friends Tiffany and Amy, Jason,Lucas,Hunter andddddd Mateo"

" Wait do you mean as In Mateo your long time crush Mateo" Scarlett asked and to say funny would be an understatement because it was hilarious. Elizabeth's face was as red as ketchup sauce.

"Ohhhh it is him OMG that's so cute girlllll, are you finally gonna tell him your undying love for him"I asked.

"Probably never, I mean he looks at me like a his little sister and not in a romantic way so yeahhh" she trailed of and she's now looking eveverywhere but our eyes.

"Babe I think it's best you tell him cause you will regter it you wanna know what I think".

"No not really" she sniffles and looks up to see that I was dead serious.

"Okay fine sorry please continue" she reluctantly agrees.

"Okay as I was saying the more you sit sulking around worried the more you missing out on the happiness you deserve, cause the time you take sitting and sulking about wether you should tell him or not he might end up getting snatched by someone else, so I say you should tell him and if he says no then that's his problem at least you can pat yourself on the back and give yourself a well done for taking a chance even if it meant rejection. "

"Yeah" Scarlett nodded in agreement.

"You know what you're right I should tell him thanks you guys."

" Anything for you Lisa Bisa, Infact we should go shopping for some jaw dropping outfits I heard Italy is loaded with them hot guys."I said.

"I'm in" Scarlett excitedly says We both looked over at Lisa Bisa waiting for her answer after some thinking she finally gave in "Yeah sure I can't say no to shopping" .

We took longer than expected especially when we sat and did a bit of planning about what we were going to do when we got to Italy.

We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways.I made a stop at the pizza place since I am not in the mood of cooking tonight.I reach home before sunset.

After a quick shower I put in a messy bun and grab my favourite oversized tshirt and sweatpants with fuzzy socks.

I make my way to the kitchen grabbing a plate I sit on the couch a blanket around me with a pizza slice in one hand and remote in another and I start browsing through Netflix and I decide on Suicide Squad.

After the movie ended my pizza finished in the middle of the movie I retire to my lovely bed and I drift into an endless slumber.

2 days later

Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!Today is the day we going to Italy I am so excited. It's three in the morning right now and I am waiting for Elizabeth and Scarlett to come and get me.

I give a quick once over on my outfit which is my signature look oversized t shirt,sweatpants and nike sneakers I have decided on keeping my hair in it's curly voluminous way.

Aunt Maggy my house maid will be back from her holiday with her family to watch over the house.

I hear a honk outside and I know it's them I lock all the doors and close the windows .I grab my three suitcases and bag heading out the door.

I see a black long limousine to say I was shocked would be an understatement but that's Elizabeth for you always and will be forever dramatic.

A man who looks like he is in his fourties and is wearing a suit, steps out the car.He greets me in a polite way which i say back

and reaches for my bags and I give them to him not before saying thank you of course.

He opens the door for me and the inside looks amazing. I get inside only to be met with the eyes of my best friends and two other new faces .

Elizabeth decides to break the silence "hey girl glad you could make it these are my two close friends"

she pointed towards one of them.

She continued "this is Amy" the girl smiled and gave a little wave towards me and I gladly returned the gesture.

"And this is Tiffany" she pointed to the other one.

She looked friendly she gave me a friendly smile and of course I gave her one in return. They are both really friendly.I think we might get along just fine.

Amy looked at me trying to remember"hey are you the Cleo Mandez as in superstar icon to all little girls." and there it is. The question

Every person I have ever met always asks that question and when I say yes they start treating me different like if they say something wrong they might think I will get them arrested or something and that's freaking annoying.

So I always like blending in with others but sometimes that's kinda hard.I even got one of my friends whose a pro hacker to remove all personal information on me and display the basics like my name,date of birth,and where I was born.

"Um yeah but for this holiday I'm just the Cleo you met when I first got in"I said smiling at her.

"So we are going to Italy what do y'all plan on doing mainly" I ask.

"I was thinking of mostly seeing tourist attractions" Scarlett shyly answers.

"A spar treatment would be lovely along with a little dip in the pool". Tiffany answers.

"Amy and I are going for a fashion show to check out the new competition that's trying to steal our customers".

"How did y'all meet Eli" Scarlett curiously asks since Elizabeth has some trust issues so she never enjoyed meeting new people. She's one of those people where by she is incredibly shy and closed off in front of strangers but bubbly and wild in front of people she knows.

"Well I met Elizabeth at some soccer player's party, I approached her asking where it is the bathrooms where and she showed me the way and when I came back we started talking to one another, well I was doing most of the talking to her, she finally responded and we just hit it off from there". Tiffany says. Makes more sense now.

"Um I met her at a fashion show I had just gotten fired from old place because I apparently sabotaged one of the models by ruining their dress, I was just about to leave until I came across Elizabeth she saw me in tears and asked what the matter was I told her what had happened and then she told me about an open position at her company as her personal assistant so I took the job and we've become friends since then". Amy finishes her story. Now it makes even more sense now.

20 minutes later we finally reach the airport when we step out of the limo these giant men dressed in black suits and dark sunglasses come towards us, I was not that scared cause I went to defense class.

So I know how to fight,use any type of knife and gun so if I was to be attacked while I was alone which was almost all the time, I would be ready if any of them tried anything with me I would know what to do.

I look over to the others Amy and Tiffany stand in confidence with their chest out and seductive smiles on their faces which isn't really working cause the guys were coming closer and they looked like they did not care about what they were doing while, Scarlett looked like she wants to run back in to the limo and never come out .

Elizabeth looks irritated which leads me more confused why would she be irritated to the fact that total strangers giant ones to be exact are coming towards us.

She clears up my confusion and says "Ugh i told him not to send the body guards they attract attention this is so the worst" she says it more to herself but nontheless I still heard her. So that's who they are, her brother must be someone important to be having body guards coming to get us.

"don't worry guys my brothers bodyguards they are just here to keep us safe now come on to my brothers annoyingly expensive Jet" she says in a heroic voice we make our way to the jet and it looks amazing.

I am first to break the admiration sight seeing "damn girl your brother must be rich as fuck because whooo"

She laughs and comments"Yeah he is anyways let's go" she walks over to some walkie talkie like thing "heyyy pilot you can take off now" whoever she was talking to responds on the speaker"Roger that Miss Kings, passengers please fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride"

"And we are off to ITALYYYYY!!!!" we all say in offkey singing voices