Chapter One: Dancing For My Boss Serio

Chapter One: Dancing For My Boss Serio

He picked up a cigarette and inhaled it strongly, leaving the smell to mix with that of Jasmine in the air. Peaceful yet supposedly tensed ambiance.

"What're you doing here?"

I sat opposite him, my face never leaving his direction. His grey eyes showed power and mine displayed my firmness in my decision.

"Staring at me like that won't do anything." He was plump suffocating himself in smoke and money. His aura was intoxicating with authority, he 

reshuffled the bundle of cash hitting it against the desk with a thudding sound.

"I'm Vivian."

He was Serio, no need for an introduction. He owned this layer. One order from him and I'd be shot. There was everything to be scared of, my decision, my location; the Den Of Gangs, this man then I remember that I had nothing to loose. No one would help you in life you had to help yourself.

I sniffed in before speaking, "I ran from home. I have nothing to return to." He seemed vexed, a gun slept on his desk waiting to be awoken by it's owner. I heard his men calling him Lord Serio—he was the leader of all gangs.

"What life did you live before stepping into my office? I'm not here for games, child!" That clocked a memory; his bellow. I would've flinched before , but not today maybe never from now on. I would've been so scared but I willingly asked them to take me to see the most criminal-minded, feared vicious gangster, in my front he sat so who dared him to frigten a fearless, broken yet strong-willed girl? The guards laughed at me back then at the entrance.

"You looking for your dolly? Fuck off baby, this ain't a tea party."

My face formed lines in fury, my emotions overwhelmed the place. They had to let me in. My presence couldn't be ignored.

Currently in the office, I detached my hair from my sweaty cheeks. Serio held his gun and I seemed unfazed.

"I'd love to work for you, Sir" my voice carried might yet low projecting determination. I sensed he took my words for a joke. 

He silently chuckled. "Love?" after spending so long counting his money, he finally paused placing a fisted arm to his chin placed on the table. "What do you know that strong word?" There were no guards in his office, they had excused us. The man was feared. Serio rested his back on his office chair leaning relaxedly, he continued smoking his cigarette. "What do you want to do? Yer dreams?" The boss sounded more interested, demonstrating with his cigarette in his hand clouding the environment with more smoke.

'My dreams?' My eyes softened a bit, my finger nails pinched my palm, nervously. My eyes flooded with a certain emotion I didn't know what it was but it was real. Here I am thinking of selling drugs and there he shocked me with that question. A question even my own birth mother had never asked me. 'I had never really given it a thought until now. Where I came from, there was nothing like dreams.' I almost let my guard down. I had to gulp down for that one.

I blinked, returning to my fierce look.

It took some time before I answered, "I want to be a dancer."

He raised a brow.

Something sparked in me.

"Now do you think working for me is what you love?" That question hit me hard. There's something about the boss that I haven't really wrapped my head around properly.

I ran from home. I can still picture my mother beating me in that pink dress she wore which was soiled in alcohol. I pitied my little sister and baby in Ma's womb. 

"Curse you child!" My mother had hollered at me that morning. She was putting on her pink gown. That pink gown I had grown tired of. "I never want to see you again! Why don't you disappear like your older sister!? Huh!? You disgust me! Your mates are sleeping with wealthy men making money, whilst you just sit in my home asking for education!"

Tears welled up my eyes. My mum had I and my sister when she was a teenager. Of course, she never wanted us. She was an alcoholic, battling depression, praying the love of her life, who was a gang leader to go back to her. She was currently pregnant again so she wasn't mentally stable.

I had tried my best.

Ma and the beatings.

The bruises.

"Its not my fault you failed the abortion!" I raised my voice at my mother for the first time. It was intense, and in order to avoid being thrashed, I fled in an instant.

"You ungrateful child!" Ma gruffed in anger, "Join your sister in her whore house." 

I cried. Mother stank greatly of drugs and it was mysterious how her baby didn't still come out after such series of consuming alcohol. Hard drugs! 

'I'm sorry baby for leaving you, but if you survive this woman, I'm sure you will survive this world and be a great star.' I apologized in my heart as I decided to leave and not die by my mother's side.

Wreckless woman.

I sniffed in, still running to the dangerous life I would never return from.

I was thirteen turning fourteen soon, and I decided the Den Of Gang, was where I'd spend my birthday. A big party with the theme "drugs". 

Something flickered in my eyes. I was brought back to reality as the smoke cleared in my face my eyes quickly met his again as I didn't remove my face from his direction. Lord Serio was dressed in a light brown shirt with open buttons revealing his hairy chest. The man was elderly maybe in his fifties yet looked stunning, furious and effortlessly intimidating for his age.

One bullet and I'm gone. 

His office desk was made of fine wood, burgundy colour, every item on his desk were neatly arranged.

The Gang Boss said, "What can a girl like you do in these parts?"

"I want to help sell drugs." Now I saw the man, who I found to now be handsome, wave for the dismissal of his bodyguards present.

It was now as though he changed. I couldn't just hear his soothing voice, but I could feel it roam on my skin.

His caring voice asked me, "What happened child?" Nobody had asked me exactly how I felt before. The Gang leader was surprisingly caring. Too caring for a Gangster. 

Maybe I shouldn't blame my mum for falling head over heels for a Gangster.

I rubbed my shoulder softly, then brought my emotions under subjection. "I'd appreciate a job, Boss."

He stood up from his seat and I saw how tall he was. His aura spun me inside out and I was intimidated for a different reason. It was lovely, if I were to explain…

He held my chin.

"What can you do for me, Vee?" His intense grey eyes bore into mine. We had a conversation… and he asked again, "What are you good at?"

The answer led me to dancing for my Boss, Serio. The curtains were closed and I showed my flexibility. Serio was cool. I was dancing yet I didn't feel compelled. He had a soothing authoritative tone that made you feel you had to what you wanted to do, but his voice was the permission.

I danced well, and when I accidentally miss a step at the end, my Boss laughed causing both of us to laugh. I felt happy.

Serio came closer to me, and held my exposed waist, placing his chin on my shoulder. 

"Venessa" His husky breath tickled my ear. "You did well. My sly Fox."

Chapter One: Dancing For my Boss.