I stare at the apartment building right in front of me with the suitcase on my side and a bag on my back. New York will be a new start. I promised myself that.

Just as I get inside, I hear people yelling at the hallway.

"Tell that arrogant man I will not ever sell this land to him! Not now, not ever! Now get out of my building, you scumbag!" An old woman who seemed to be almost in her seventies screamed at the suited man.

"Please, it will only take a moment of your time to talk to him." The middle aged man pleaded.

"I said get out! I already told you that I don't want to and will not sell anything to him!" She screamed with frustration. I could see she's already exhausted and frail. Surely any moment now she'll collapse from stress that this annoying man is giving.

He tried to talk again but I cut him off." I suggest you should go now. Can't you see you're giving her an awful lot of stress? If she faints, you're going to answer to everything. " As I tried to guilt trip him. He tried to open his mouth but I cut him off again.

"I said leave, you dumbfuck! Before I break your bones!"

He understood and gave a sigh. He then left the poor woman. I turned around to look at her behind me. She doesn't look too good.

"Are you alright, ma'am?" I asked with concern.

"Thank you for what you did. The man has been bugging me for days now. He couldn't seem to understand what it meant to say no. I swear I spoke with every language saying no. He can't seem to get it." She said frustrated.

"Whoa. Calm down there. I don't think it's advisable for you to stress yourself out. Where's your room? I'll take you there. You should take a rest." I took her arm and supported her.

The grandma soften her eyes and smiled at me lovingly. "Oh dear. It's rare for people to find a good girl like you but I can take care of myself. I'm just tired of that man always pestering me. However, I'm fine. I'm good. Thank you for your concern. Please whatever you're doing, you should go on." She then notices my suitcase. She raised her brow and wondered. "Are you looking for a place to stay?"

"Yeah." I nervously rubbed the back of my neck.

"That's great. I have a spare room upstairs. You could take it. Come. I'll take you there." She said with excitement.

I looked at the room. It was so perfect and beautiful that I'm having second thoughts. I'm sure I can't afford this.

"Umm..."

"It's Nancy, dear. Nancy Willis."

"Mrs. Willis -" She suddenly cut me off.

"No. Just call me Nancy, dear." She smiled heartily.

"You have another room here, Nancy? I think I can't afford this one. It's just too... grand." I said as I thought of ways to describe it. "And I'm sure the price is the same. I just got out of... the academy and I don't have that much money to afford this place." I said as I continue to look around.

"It's fine, dear. You can have this place. You can pay me however much you want. You can stay here. It's thanks for rescuing me a moment ago."

"I can't." I shook my head. "This is just too much. And I just did what I had to do."

"Young lady, if you don't take this place, I'd be sad and hurt and it's not good for my heart. I'm sure you don't want to be the one to take me to the hospital, do you?" Her hands were on her waist while scolding me. To think I guilt trip that man a while ago.

"Oh o-okay. I'll take it. I'll take it." I sighed. "Thank you, Mrs. Willis- I mean Nancy." I smiled and she returned it. I offered my hand to her. "Avery. Avery White. Thank you for having me, Nancy. The room is beautiful."

"You can stay here as long as you want, dear." She shook my hand.

"If I may ask, who was that guy earlier? You said he's been pestering you for days. Is there a reason why?" I asked concerned.

"Yes." She sighed. "His boss sent him here to talk to me about selling this entire place, this land. I already said no a million times but he and his boss couldn't seem to take my refusal. So he came here almost everyday to pester me."

"If there's anything I could do to help you, Nancy, please let me know. I would be happy to help you."

She smiled at me and held my hand. "Thank you, dear."

When everything is settled, I took a shower. I smell like shit and piss all together. No, I'm exaggerating. I smell like that right after training when we're all rolling and crawling in the mud. Honestly, I'm so happy I finally graduated from the academy. I hate waking up at dawn just to run around and do push ups and of course, get ordered around by captains.

I dried my hair and lied down on my bed. The comforter was so nice that I immediately fell asleep.

I turned to my right and saw the clock. ****! Seriously, it's 10am?! How did I sleep that much? This is a toll for always waking up early every damn day. I showered and got changed. When I thought I'm all ready, I got out of my apartment ready to leave. I sighed.

I was supposed to find a job today. University isn't cheap. Maybe I should have two jobs until college starts. As soon as I near the exit, I heard shouting. No doubt that's Nancy again.

"What are you doing?" I looked at them glaring.

It's the suited man from yesterday with another suited man. I walked towards them and stood in front of Nancy to cover her. The man from yesterday let out a huge sigh. He rolled his eyes I can obviously read the thought in his face. 'This woman again' was written all over it.

"I asked you-"

The man beside him cut me off. "Stay out of this, little girl. This is not your place to interrupt."

Little girl? I scoffed. "Just because your huge doesn't make me a little girl. And FYI your stressing an old lady out. No offense, Nancy."

"None taken, dear." She replied.

I eyed the suited man yesterday. "And you, I can't believe you brought a bodyguard. Afraid that I'd break your bones? It was just a threat but if you don't leave the poor lady alone, I'm afraid I might just do it."

"Miss, like I said this is not your place to-"

Nancy cut the body guard off. "No, you two leave my building. How many times have I said no to you? You can never take this place. Tell that to your boss." Nancy said with frustration.

I smirked. "You heard her. Now, go." I pushed them towards the door. The bodyguard pulled me back from him. His grip was tight on my left arm. The bad arm I almost broke from training. I struggled from his grasp. I could hear Nancy from the back shouting to let me go. He wouldn't let me go. I saw his other hand reaching for my other arm.

**** my arm! As soon as I yelled this in my head, I punched him square in the face. I saw him staggered, nose bleeding. I could clearly hear Nancy say 'oh dear' while being frightened. The other guy reached for me but I grabbed his arm and twisted it in his back while pushing him in the wall.

"What did I say, huh?" I said near his ear. He struggled and groaned in pain. Every time he moves, my grip tightened. His bodyguard was literally useless.

"What's going on here?!"

A deep voice made us stop. My grip loosened as I turned my head to look at the man who just yelled at us.

Oh, fucking hell.

There stood all in his glory and power... a devilishly handsome man.

I guess it was a bad idea to handle the problem physically. I mean literally with both of my hands. No. It was impulsive and stupid. I was stupid. Ugh, god. I put my hands against my face and sighed.

I was kept in a grey room with just a table. There's a huge glass in front of me. I could see the cops pass by outside. I've been here for hours and I don't see why I'm here instead of behind bars. I'm getting extremely bored right now.

I heard the doors open. I immediately looked up. I widened my eyes when I saw my parents come in. I stood slowly not knowing what to do. The whole world just slow down for me. My eyes shifted to the glass. I clenched my fist. I saw that bastard crossing his arms while glaring at me.

I know what I did was wrong but did he have to call my parents and let them come here?! No wonder it took so long for it to be settled. I looked at my parents again.

"Mom... Dad." I said nervously.

My father growled. "What the hell are you doing here, Avery?!"

"I-I..." I stuttered.

"Why are you in here New York?! For god sake, you didn't even told us you graduated! You flew here without our consent. Are you running away from us?!" Dad yelled at me. I feel like crying right now.

"Honey, calm down." My mom cooed dad.

"No! Your daughter just assaulted someone. I don't think I'd be able to calm down knowing she hid from us and even hurt someone. Is that what you learn from military school, Avery? How could I be so wrong in sending you there?! It's supposed to teach you real discipline and manners." He walked towards me with a menacing look." You're still that same troublesome teenager who's nothing but a disappointment to her parents."

I really want to cry right now. I changed. All these years, I changed. I changed... right?

"Dad..." I said almost whimpering.

"Honey, don't say that-"

Dad ignored my mother's plea. "You're going to stay here, Avery. You're going to pay for what you did. You are not allowed to go home unless you settle your mistakes."

I was shocked. I couldn't fathom what I felt or what I wanted to say when the door bursts open. And there came the man I now despise.

"Don't worry about your daughter. Though my assistant and bodyguard were the ones who suffered, I convinced them not to press any charges. I won't either. I have something in mind to let her pay the consequences."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Ranallo. I'm not going to question your means of retribution. If you must, do what's right." He glanced his way to me and immediately turned away. He left leaving my mom in awe. Her face morphed into sadness and looked at me. She opened her mouth wanting to say something but she stopped. She shook her head and left the place following dad.

And I said nothing. I could have defended myself. I could have but I didn't. And I don't know why. I just looked down wishing the floor could swallow me whole.

Maybe it's the fact that I just saw my parents after 3 long years. The last time I saw them when they threw me in to military school. I never saw them after that. They never visited me. They never go whenever something happens to school. They call me few times at first but I never answered it until they finally stopped calling.

3 years... and the reunion they got was to see me in this state. Just way to go, Avery.

I thought the most devastating thing that could ever happened was when my dad decided to enroll me to military school. No. It wasn't. Maybe it was at the first few months but later I sucked everything up and live with it.

High school for me was the best which I also thought at first. I mean I was one of the most popular chick in school, dating the hottest quarterback. Typical. I know. I also know it was the worst phase of my life. I realise that when I got bullied a lot when I just entered the academy. Oh, how the tables have turned.

I was so used to being the queen in high school. Being loved, being admired, being the envy of the student body- I was the center of attention along with my friends. My life turned 180 after that. I was not all of that at the academy. I was a piece of shit who disrespects people. And they made sure I knew my place during my admission.

Right now, all I feel is emptiness.

New York was supposed to be a change for me.

"You called my parents." I said through gritted teeth. He noticed my fist clenching and unclenching just itching to smash his face.

"Lay a finger on me. You know what happens." He said coldly.

I slapped him.

His head turned to the right from the impact. He looked at me menacingly. I walked nearer to him until our mouths were inches apart.

"I could punch you and you know that. I chose not to. Because I know you're going to cry again at them and tell them I stole your piece of candy." I looked at his grey orbs. Such lovely eyes. It's disappointing to know that the owner of it is an asshole.

"The hand that slapped you was from an angry woman. Remember that." I hissed.

"Avery Kieran White." I was taken aback that he knew my full name. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"21 years old. Born in Chicago. Didn't finish high school but got admitted to military school instead. Medical records show you had a drug overdose right before admission-"

"How did you know?!" I panicked. I pushed him to the wall and grabbed his collar . "Where did you get that information?! Did my father tell you?!"

"No." He answered. He grabbed my hands and unlinked it from his collar. I let him go.

Of course. The guy is rich. I'm sure he hired someone to investigate me. That must've explained why my parents flew here right away.

"I'm surprised you were not put into rehab instead." He said blanky.

"Shut the **** up." I growled. I was heavily breathing right now from so much anger. I hate this man so much. "What do you want?"

"You will work for me." I opened my mouth to protest but he beat me to it. "Sue you, go in jail or work for me. Your choice." I continued to glare at him.

"If you can drive, much better." He turned around and walk away.

**** you, Ranallo, whatever the **** your name is.