Vivian Hale, a 22-year-old college student lives her life peacefully with her brother Ethan and a stable job. Her mother is an alcoholic and her dad is dead. Or is he? She does everything to support his brother but is a part-time job at a small cafe...
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VIVIAN'S POV
I took a step back. What am I doing so wrong? It's not turning out the way I want. Ahh... FUCK! I dipped my paintbrush in colour and tried to start again. But that didn't work out.
To take some fresh air I went out on the balcony. It was snowing. I guess It just started cause there was no snow on the road. Suddenly a bike swoosh past my building. My eyes followed the bike. The road was too slippery for someone to ride a two-wheeler on it.
The person riding the bike slipped and their bike hit the tree. I should help them that was my first thought. I put on my boots and ran outside. I spotted that person and carefully rushed towards them.
Upon closer look, I realised that he was a guy. I helped him remove his helmet and he groaned. "Ace?!" I exclaimed. "Viv.." He drawled looking at me.
I helped him stand up. He had a long scratch on his arm. He had a small cut on his forehead. "You are extremely stupid," I said guiding him towards my house with his arm around my shoulder.
"It just started snowing. I was about to stop but I lost control." He defended himself. I opened the front gate.
"Don't bleed on my floor," I said and turned on the lights. I told him to sit on the sofa while I brought the first aid kit from my bedroom.
I examined his wounds. "Yeah, that's not good."
"Viv. I don't need your help. It's not that bad. I will just stitch up when I get home." He said with a slightly angry voice. He suddenly stood up and as expected fell back on the sofa again.
"No. No continue. Just a few more steps. You got this." I said sarcastically. "You know maybe if you were nice people would like hanging out with you." He huffed.
"Oh, darling. I'm nice. But to only a few selected people. And fortunately, you are not one of them." I said with a smile.
"You are unbearable. Other people were right." He said.
"By other people, you mean Maddy." I clarified. He didn't respond. "So what are you doing awake at 2 in the morning?"
"I can ask you the same thing," I said glancing at him. "I was painting. I couldn't sleep." I added after a few seconds.
"Same. Could not sleep." He mumbled. "Why are you doing that? Helping me?"
"Helping you doesn't mean I like you. It's just that it will be a minor inconvenience if you die..... I mean who would kill my father again." I said raising my eyebrows.
"I wasn't dying." He pointed out. "Well, not today." I sighed hinting at disappointment. "You are scary sometimes." He said flinching as I touched his wound.
"I better be. How else am I supposed to survive." I said proudly. "No go have a shower." I insisted. "I will dress up your wound after that."
"You have fresh clothes? for me." He clarified so I don't make any snarky comments.
"I might have old clothes from my dad. " I replied. He just tilted his head to the side and went for a shower. I went through the old stuff of my dad. And found a shirt and a pair of Jeans. This might fit him.
I folded the clothes and placed it on my bed. I tidied up my room by picking up my canvas and paintbrush. After a few seconds, Ace came out with a towel hanging very low on his waist.
I couldn't help but stare. I hate this guy with all my heart but I can't deny the fact that I'm attracted to him.
"Like what you see." He commented. "You wish," I said and rolled my eyes. "You made this?" He asked coming behind me and pointing out to a portrait I made in my third year.
"Yeah. It was a live painting so It didn't turn out so great." I mumbled packing my paintbrush. "Are you kidding me? This is so amazing. I mean if you sell this you can earn a lot of money." He implied.
"Who would buy this? It's so dull."
"I would." He said and went into the bathroom to change his clothes. I examined my painting. Who would want a random girl hanging in their house? I just shook off that thought in my mind.
"So now is a good time to talk?" Ace asked coming out of the bathroom fully dressed.
I just sighed and said, "Sure let's go out and talk." He made his way to my living room and I followed him. "Coffee, Beer?" I asked. "Coffee." He answered and I went into the kitchen.
"You need help?" He asked coming behind me. He sat on one of the kitchen stools as I started making his coffee and my hot chocolate. "You know your father is after you. That's why he came to this town." He said watching me.
"I know. When I was small, He always told me how he would build an empire and I would be beside him, help him, kill for him. I didn't take it seriously until he showed up here alive." I said unfazed.
"I also saw him today when I was leaving the cafe. He also sent his men to my college. See that's why I want you to kill him." I mumbled.
"He sent his men to your college. Maybe you should consider keeping some bodyguards." He said as I handed him his coffee.
"Nah I'm fine. I have a gun." I said sipping on my hot chocolate. "How are you not arrested yet?" He exclaimed and I let out a small laugh. "I have my way," I said.
"So tell me something about your father no one knows. Something I can use against him." He said and I thought for a second.
"There was this time. Approx one year after my mom died. He returned to town. He told me about his affair in...ahh... Oregon. I think. He said he had a family there. Son around your age and a wife. He wanted me to meet them. I said no then after that the last I heard about him was in a letter stating he died in a car accident. Before leaving he told me that we both would rule Syrena together. Once again I didn't believe him but now I'm not so sure."
"What about Ethan? Does he want him?" He asked.
"I don't know. I haven't interacted with him yet. I know he is going to give me an ultimatum. He won't let me off that easy." I mumbled as we both went to the living room.
I covered my legs with a huge blanket and so did he as we were sitting side by side. I glanced at him. "Are you scared?" He asked meeting my eyes.
"A little." I closed my eyes for a second. I was feeling sleepy now. "Did he threaten you and your family? That's why you are inquiring about him right?" I continued.
"Yeah. In a way. The new Mafia in town is bad for business." He said. We talked about my father a bit then I told him I was tired. I went inside my bedroom and offered him to stay at night. Which he accepted much to my dismay.
As soon as I hit the bed sleep took over me. Tomorrow will be the day I will quit my job and focus on my art. . . . . .
