THE BROKEN MAFIA PRINCESS

Sofia's POV

Staring out of the cab's window, I could tell it was about to rain as darkness slowly covered the surface of the street.

"Hey, Little Miss. We're here" An old voice sounded not far from me and I tilt my head gently to see the grey-haired cabman staring at me with his dim eyes.

I guess I was distracted to notice when the vehicle came to a stop.

Quickly, I handed over a euro note to him before alighting the vehicle and slamming the door closed.

"Keep the change," I told him without looking back and I think I heard him say,

"Tante grazie" before driving off.

Eleven years old me took a deep breath and lifted my eyes to see the small bungalow in front of me.

The entrance was covered completely with the perfectly mowed square lawn except for the narrow brick pathway that lead to the door of the building.

My father had messaged me earlier that afternoon to meet him at the bungalow we had on this particular street instead of driving home after school.

As I got closer, I couldn't wait any longer to see him because this could only mean he had something special for me.

We only left our family mansion for this bungalow during vacations and unique events between the both of us alone.

Privacy was needed.

I hit the doorbell several times and decided to go in when there was no response.

The door was left unlocked so I strolled in and as I did, said with a moderate voice tone, "Papà"

There was no response from him still and I could only imagine he was playing hide and seek as usual.

Papà does not care to act like a kid around me, just to make me happy.

A smile formed at the corners of my little lips as I took the corridor that connects to the kitchen.

The Kitchen. He would always hide in one of the kitchen cabinets.

Predictable old man.

Getting to the kitchen, I shoved open the door and what I saw changed my entire life.

Traumatized me forever.

There was my father's body in his pool of blood that swam slowly and spread around the white sneakers I was wearing.

Bullet shells scattered all over the green floor of the kitchen.

My heart rate went off the normal and my ears were instantly clouded with a certain screech noise.

I couldn't hold it any longer and let my scream at the highest possible pitch. "Papà! "

..

..

..

"Papà!" I screamed out of my daydream with beads of sweat scattered all over my spotless face and my heart pounded without control.

I heard indistinctive chatters from various directions and turned my head 90 degrees to see the employees of the company whispering and laughing among themselves while stealing glances at me.

They soon returned to concentrating on the computer screen in front of them and I wiped the sweat from my forehead with a deep sigh.

How the fvck did I fall asleep?

I was here for an interview with the manager of Auro Consolidated; the big tech company in the city for the vacant seat of a software developer in the company.

"Damn!" Escaped my lips and I rest my back on the waiting chair to see some of the tech workers still staring and giggling.

Somehow, a random lady screaming 'Papà' sounded funny to them.

I grit my teeth and with a long face, cursed internally 'Fvcking peasants!'

Maybe they'll respect me when I get this job. Only--

I was distracted by the voice of a woman and turned to see Mrs. Grey approaching in her black cropped tuxedo blazer and the noise made by her classy stilettos heels announced her arrival.

Mrs. Grey was the secretary at the front desk who asked me to sit and wait while she informed the manager of my presence in the building.

Minutes passed and Mrs. Grey never showed up until my mind drift into a daydream.

"Miss Sofia, right?" She demanded as she approached with a small laptop in her hand.

I nodded intelligently and rose quickly to my feet saying, "That's right. I'm Sofia. " I wiped my face with my palm and swallowed the saliva in her mouth.

Mrs. Grey came to a halt in front of him and with a long face announced, "I'm um sorry, Miss Sofia, my manager picked someone else already. The seat is now occupied and your service would no longer be required"

The sentence she made stung my head like an angry Borneo carpenter bee and I tried to keep myself calm by shaking my head.

I have been stung by that specie years ago and it hurts like hell.

I would kill to avoid feeling that pain ever again.