Her Mate Turns out to be the Mafia King

a's

is it one of those places with a dress code?"

ds on a shiny blue dress. It looks like something I

ng, but the urge to try it on is strong and Isabel

ing my hand again and dragging me

s and step into

ook at my

f trying to be completely invisible in this town. When I'm sick of looking at myself, I turn my back t

what I would look like in it. So I slide the smooth fabric up my body and run my hands over the fa

tiful but in this dress...I can see how I could look and

t friends who take her out every weekend for a

ent of happiness this dress has brought me. Carefully, I slip off

pared to the ethereal dress, yet there's a s

th a couple of unfamiliar girls. Their backs are turned towards me, preventing me

hat! You think you can just ruin s

eliable source. It's not our faul

y intensifies

life 'the truth'? It's nothing but maliciou

"Whatever. We don'

oyance. I approach Isabella, conc

was that all abo

dismissively, trying t

ading false rumors about someone. Let

it is our poor Mila." A fami

in pr

evil Scott. M

How pathetic," Scott sneers, his voice dripping with disdain. The memory of his cutting words during our breakup floods b

riend Giana remind me of everything I'd rather forget. I feel a surge of discomfort, my pulse quickening involuntarily. I cast my gaze downward, focusing on

ella stepped

I say as cal

g in my bones. Like the weight of his eyes o

d a sharp pain pier

when he was sweet to me, bac

im. "You lost the chance at call

im and never was." Giana, Scott'

d her shoulder and le

d look way better on me, don't you

n that. What do you say Milly? Take it off. It doesn't suit you and we all know it. You don't li

ught it." Isabe

ith wide eyes a

t nice. Take it off, now." Giana st

o drag me to the changing room wh

h the tension. "The team's out lookin

I almost missed it beca

e. It takes me a second to figure out who has j

op appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He had that athletic build, which I didn't notice this morning, th

ds, good, just

ler!" Giana says before prancin

on me. I want to squirm under his intense eyes, but

t's impossible to get into! Maybe you could..." She brushes a

e she's touching him

r in warning. "And don't touch

urns his attention back to me and scans me ov

e casual, "you're boring. Seriously, I can't t

The guy looks down at his phone and types something before looking up

force a stiff smile.. With a frustrated huff, he shot a qui

of events, leaving me st

or? But why? Maybe h

couldn't shake off the feeling of being judged, just like I always felt when Scott was a

ting this pattern until I find myself laden with a bag full of new

today and agreed when I saw what it was. It

d it's only three in the afternoon. Isabella walks with me to the entrance where I give the two scary

You go do your thing." She isn't

a knowing smirk aimed at her. She responds with a feeble wave in my direction b

r bartenders where the employee locker

elf stepping into a lounge area adorned wit

eyes settle on a locker adorned with

the soft glow of carefully placed lighting, the plush velvet seating inviting passersby to rest awhile. Elegant artwork graces

as hell, which fits

sive perfumes and aged spirits. Patrons in sophisticated attire engage in hu

ch of the forbidden, a place wher

Hell

e same black apron and a black top of our choice. The new top Isabella got me has a sheer fabric covering my arm, shoulders and stops j

rror, I can't help but smile. Isabella gave me some easy make-up

lling my hair into a high pony tale. When I'm done, I lo

ding to be someone else, and this

ybe I'll get good tips. I suck in a deep breath and give myse

o when I turn into the hallway, I don't know so

ickly and squint slightl

ys in reply, but he doesn't

e. "You do? How I j

low laugh. "We

he talki

ht falls onto his face and t

s stop." I recogn