MY HEART BELONGS TO MY MAFIA KING

: O

us scholarships, and receive excellent recommendation letters, I usua

udying, endless volunteer work, and sleepless nights were

ed me an invitation

the most prestigious alumni, wealthiest donors, and a select few top

l be th

undergraduates who received an invitation. It seems that my

ate's pep talk about finding t

? Probably. But would skipping this party also mean missing a chance to meet some a

! You m

teetering towards me on four-inch stilettos. Her naturally black hair is now a soft ginger, the

e, "Guess your pep tal

est, and refuses to let go until I return

ge your mind once I men

dorm. We've been friends ever since, though we're about as opposite as could be. She's a Computer Science major with a

, so

ht have given me a last-minute A on

e through the garbage disposal, but my

the public spea

's th

tles appre

ils off, but her eyes scan my dress with confusi

arship doesn't cover things like ball gowns and carriages, unfortunately. And

?" I fake gasp. "That cashier at

a circle anyway, letting the awkwar

in stock that wasn't polka-d

"Well, next time bor

ll fit me, given that Emily is half a foot taller, with twic

ll

you waiting

up the courage to show at all. Not to mention my perfect GPA is more to due with the anxiety ruining my life than with genuine work ethic. I've seen the look

argazing

mily takes me

ts I'm not being entirely

ater. Come on, I'l

and I turn my attention to

s cover the sides in deep shadows. There's even a banner announcing the gala, strung up over the main entryway. Gentle light filters out through the

morbid, totally

"if you trip and fall, yo

heels, but I still don't trust myself enough not to look where I'm walking. That, and with each step we take, my anxiety grows stron

now it, I'

ldn't

od enough

to the dorm and watch Twil

ghts, Emily squeezes

f the wealthiest people in the country tonigh

to put a positiv

e. Even the thought of job opportunities can't cheer me up. Maybe if I were more confide

end the rest of my life bi

hat's totally la

lan to do any

ncy dish towels. You know, the ones that say stuff like, "live, laugh, love," and "this mama dri

the ground up to the doorway, where a bulk

ing into her most seductive acc

smiles darkly, and I get the feeling he won't hesitate

university's top financial donors in one place, I should be thankful to even be here. Other than a handfu

s, pl

Emily Young and Olivia Amber. We should be

eerie smile remains plastered to

a wei

hes in my chest as he

et us enter. I catch a glimpse of tattoos peeking out from und

dently. Together, the two o

d.

ers, coming to an abru

ea

ishness, the party easily

people ar

dancing out of

n characters aren't going to be enough to put me on a level playing field here. This dancing is perfectly precise. It's as if everyone he

gger problems than not

gowns or tailored dresses with waterfall ruffles. Even the

uined dress is looking more

y direction confirm my wor

o late to b

he

andem to the man who'

ly thanks to her stilettos, heavily muscled, and his ink black hair is neatly parted

her, at

ave this

hat he's asked her. She turns to m

e fine," I

ho

s her face, and she gives me a qu

ou in

across his pale cheeks, and a part of me perks up a

r another weal

them traipse across the room for the d

lingering in the e

dress makes me stick

the crowd. Luckily or not, no one tries to talk to me as I make my way through the room. I

k's polo

st yacht

the gov

nd heavy, and before I know it I've

ogne wearin

h

o sorry," I gasp,

a scene, I've managed to s

ripped on was in fact this man's shoe, which now

n think better of it. "Um, if we can jus

sn't a

n't eve

As if the situation wasn't bad enough, his white dress shirt is now sporting the unfortunate makeup-im

ses a clear glass of a

id gold signet ring with the initials H.W. Something tells me he's not

myself to look higher, at his face, which looms

est, and all hope of recon

isn't

is

lue eyes. His jaw is lined with a rust-colored beard, trimmed neatly to accentuate his features, and his nose is strong and roman-esque

orth his time. Slowly, his icy gaze sweeps down my body, then back to my

from this man be

a ste

ano

, voice low, "I'd hate for a pre

rough my body. What exactly does he mean by

ky. "I'll just be...uh...

lier, then turn and walk away a

d into the crowd despite his size and stature. I should be relieved. May

e