Miss Independent

Miss self-sufficient

Miss keeps your distance

Miss unafraid

Miss out of my way

Miss don’t let a man interfere, no

Miss on her own

Miss almost grown

Miss never let a man help her off her throne

So, by keeping her heart protected

She’d never ever feel rejected

Little miss apprehensive

~ Kelly Clarkson

Miss Independent

There was a natural assumption that being a child of one the most infamous and influent mobster that you had a difficult childhood especially in the case of Jacqueline.

But that wasn’t the case with Jacqueline if anything she had a wonderful childhood. And her father made sure she never knew anything about his true profession. For all that she known about her father is that he worked at a factory.

 Michael had never brought work or any of his known associates around his home and child.

Jacqueline was a daddies little girl and Michael never hided the fact that he paid more attention to his daughter than his own wife. If anything, he was trying to make sure his daughter never turn out to be his wife.

Jacqueline was taught to be loyal, honest, and respectful in everything and anything that she did. Most importantly her father always told her to be smart, pay attention to everything, and to always depend on yourself. These were values that Jacqueline applied in her everyday life.

As the years pass, Jacqueline learned little pieces of information about her father criminal life even after his death. She still didn’t know how deeply rooted her father was in the underground world.

Despite whatever her father did, she still loved him and respected him.

When it came down to her mother there was no love lost with her.

Jacqueline only respected Katherine, for the simple fact that she gave birth to her. She was only loyal to her, because despite everything they were family. But it didn’t change the pure dislike she felt for her mother.

Mothers and daughters tended to get into pity arguments it was simply genetics. When it came down to Katherine and Jacqueline it was like a Cold War each one was on edge to see who was going to press the button first.

The only reason they tolerated each other was because of Michael and when he passed everything changed.

Katherine was selfish and she made it known that she could give two shits about her daughter. So at the age of fourteen, the life that Jacqueline was use too was gone. She had to become more independent minded going to school, taking care of the house, and going to work.

The money that she had, she placed it in her saving account waiting, for the right moment to leave her mother house altogether and be on her own.

Taking up a trade of being a hair stylist. Jacqueline at the age of twenty-two had sustained a large client list and a saving account that some her age never even had.

“It’s nice, but I don’t think I need two bedroom,” she said looking around the apartment.

Today, she had decided to go searching for apartments. It was pass time for her to leave the nest and she couldn’t deal with Katherine any more.

For the pass three days Katherine was up to something and knowing from past experiences that was never good.

“Is there a one bedroom apartment for rent?” she turned to see the landlord checking her out. Jacqueline couldn’t stop herself from showing the look of disgust on her face.

It was bad enough that the man was old enough to be her father it was worse that he was obese with a revolting stench to go along with it.

“You know what never mind,” walking out of the apartment as the sleaze landlord called her back. 

This wouldn’t be the first or last time that she been checked out by men whether unattractive or attractive. She knew she was beautiful and she wasn’t shallow about it either. But it was the simply the fact how disrespectful men gawked openly at her and not even try to be discreet about it.

There’s been plenty of time that Jacqueline walked off from a date due to them either gawking at her or saying some of the most unintelligent things she ever heard in her life.

 These were the few reasons that she simply stopped dating all together. There was no point of finding the man that was perfectly suited for her.

Her cousin Monique always teased that her stander were to high that even god, himself couldn’t stand up to them.

Looking at her phone she knew it was time for her to be heading to work.

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She was finished with her last client of the day when her phone ringed. Looking at the caller I.D she couldn’t help, but to bite her tongue at the name that flashed before her.

Pressing the green accept pad on her iPhone with a neutral voice she spoke.

“Yes Katherine?”

“Jacqueline, I need you to pick up an important package for me before you come home today.”

This was typical Katherine, always wanting her to do something for her, but never the other way around or caring what she had planned.

She had planned too continue searching for apartments after work before going home. But knowing her mother, she knew that if she refuse or said she was busy all hell would break loss.

“Okay,”

“You know where Chinatown is located,”

“Yes,”

“Go there and turned on Seventh Street, my package is in the building next to the Golden Dragon restaurant.”

“I’m off right now, so I’ll be there in twenty minutes,”

“Don’t forget,” was the last thing that she said as she hung up on her.

“Bitch,” was the only words to summon up how she felt at this minute.

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Katherine hung her phone up glaring daggers at a very amused James. She was going to get back at the no good sniveling bastard, as god was her witness she was going to make him pay.

“Happy?”

“Not until I see her for myself Katherine, you may go you did your part,” he said.

She turned away from him with one of his men escorting her out as she reached the door she was stopped by the sound of his voice.

“Before you leave I wanted to let you know…if your daughter do not arrive, your life will be forfeited and I’ll still have everything of yours even your daughter.”

Katherine bitted her tongue not trusting her temper to say anything remotely civil to him. She proceeds to leave the room following his men as they went about their business.

With the sight of that exasperating woman dismissal James took a better look at the photo in his hands.

Jacqueline, it was name after one of the most beautiful and stylist First Lady in the twenty century a very befitting name to give to such a vision in the photo.

She had high check bones, her complexion could easily be compared to caramel and brow sugar. Her hazel irises were warm and inviting with long sandy brown hair.

“Ace she’ll be a perfect assets,” James said handling the picture to him.

Ace took the picture from his boss staring at the photo with the young woman in it. He had to admit that she was a beautiful woman and he couldn’t help, but feel sorry that her mother would do such a thing.

“Are you sure the girl will come?” as he placed the picture back down.

“She’ll come…she has no choose in the matter.”

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She couldn’t help but let out a frustrated sigh as she pulled her purse close to her shoulder all the while stepping inside the building. Taking in her surroundings the place looked more like an office then a packaging company. She didn’t have time to fully register her surrounding when a tall Asian guy who looked to be around his late twenties early thirties stood in front of her.

“Jacqueline Reed,” he said her name as if he all ready knew who she was, which didn’t set right with her.

“Yes, I’m here to pick up a package for my mother?”

“Follow me please,” not wasting a second to walk away Jacqueline couldn’t help but to shack her head as she followed.

They walked up to the second level of the building, she helping to notice a few people working, while others was standing around as if they were on guard. It only made her suspicious about this place and what her mother was up too.

The man that she was following stopped suddenly. Pushing the doors open he stepped aside for allowing her access inside.

Something wasn’t right about all of this, her better judgment told her that she should turn and haul hell out of there.

But she was after all Katherine and Michael daughter; both known for their infamous stubborn attitude.

She let out a sigh and proceeded to walk inside the office as the door shut behind her.

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There in front of her was a two men, the one that was standing looked to be in his late thirties slash early forties. From the way his suit fitted him; he was tone for a man his age.

Her eyes then turned to the one behind the desk; he was by far one of the most attractive men that she has ever seen.

He had to be in his late twenties, his frame was built and tone that she had to assume he was very tall. He had high check bones with a clean complexion a sure sign that he took care of himself.

The air that he put on he looked to be a man that was very confident and…cold.

And a sudden chill creep upped her spine just by being in his presence. Yeah she was getting the wrong vibes in this room.

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A picture could never tell a thousand words, but seeing someone in person could. Her picture did her no justice nor did it compliment her the way it should had.

Beautiful wasn’t even a word to describe her…their couldn’t be a word to describe her features. His eyes moved down to take in her body.

She most definitely wasn’t petite; she had curves that wouldn’t suit magazines but that of a man’s wettest dreams.

This was a setup it was the only reasonable thing that ran through her mind. If all she had to do was pick up a package then what was her purpose of being here in this room with these men?

It just made her want to know what did Katherine do now?

 And how was she going to get herself out of it.

“Ms. Reed,” she left her musing when she heard the sound of someone speaking.

She looked towards the one that spoke, her eyes landed on the one behind her desk.

“Ms. Reed please make yourself comfortable,” his voice was silky and crisp that it sent involuntary shivers down her back.

“No thank you, and call me Jacqueline,” she cross her arms across her chest.

Something wasn’t right here and she needed to know what was up, especially who was this man before her.

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James looked at her, never did anyone refused a simple command from him. If anything they did what he said even if it was a pretense of simple manners. Usually, he would be very angry with such, yet it only made him curious about this woman before him.

“Jacqueline, my names James Wong and this is Ace Lee,” she looked at the man that was standing next to James.

“Nice too meet you,” her tone was jaded she really didn’t care about stupid formalities of greetings.

She wanted to know what situation that Katherine once again placed them in.

James wasn’t fooled; he could tell by her tone that she was in no shape or form happy to be here she looked annoyed. After being in a foul mood with that bitch of a mother of hers he was welcoming the amusement from breathtaking beauty.

“Not to be rude, but I’ve had one hell of a day and I really want to go home, so can you please tell me why I’m here? And what did Katherine do to cause offense.”

She was quick. He had to admit that and it save him plenty of energy without having to explain why she was here.

“Your mother owe me a large sum of money,”

Of course Katherine owe some money to somebody it was the story of that annoying woman’s life.

Jacqueline decided to take him up on his offer for a seat. Placing her purse on her lap she rummaged through the bag pulling out a pen and checkbook to the emergence account she set up for mess like this.

James couldn’t help but to raised an eyebrow at the woman before him. He wasn’t expecting that, he glance towards Ace a smirk pull up to his lips.

“How much does Katherine owe you? Two thousand? Five thousand?” she said writing out the check.

“She owes me seventeen hundred thousand dollars,”

She stopped as she looked up at him and not believing the sum he just said…

“Come again?”

“Your mother owes me seventeen hundred thousand dollars.”

That was all that she needed to hear as she tore the checkout and balled it up.

It would have to take her emergency account, and the three separate accounts that she already had to barely get half of the money that was owe.

Then again it was always the money her father left her. No she wouldn’t dare touched that money.

This was Katherine problem; she wasn’t about to bail her out this time-hell it wasn’t like she had anything to do with this in the first place.

“I’m sorry to hear about that, but you have to take that up with Katherine. Nice meeting with you James and Ace,” she said standing up.

“You call your mother by her name?” his voice was laced with humor and Jacqueline was fighting the urge to roll her eyes.

Over the years, people asked her this same question and it was always the same the reply.

“Katherine h not the mothering type,”

He could definitely believe it.

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Jacqueline proceeded to turn and walk away when James stopped her again.

“I have taken it up with your mother and we came to a settlement,”

“So, since you’ve all ready confronted her about the money she owe you what does it have to do with me?”

She was tired and all that she wanted to do was go home and take a hot bath and go to sleep. Not deal with this extra bullshit that her mother and this guy were giving her.

“It has a lot to do with you Jacqueline,” now her attention was turned to him.

“I don’t know what your insinuating, but can you make yourself clear?”

“Your mother gave me you,”

It was one of those moments when you know you heard something that was so bizarre your mind couldn’t even comprehend and that was how Jacqueline felt at this moment.

All she could do was stand there and look at him. Hoping that what he just said was completely false.

Katherine willingly gave her to some stranger?

She knew Katherine and herself didn’t have the best relationship in the world, but that didn’t mean anything.

After all she was her daughter!

What kind of woman would give up their children? This is the type of shit that belongs in a Lifetime film a fucked up one at that.

Jacqueline knew her mother wasn’t the best mother short from it.

That she was selfish and manipulative at times, but damn she was still human she couldn’t be void of any emotions.

Maybe it was the doubt that was speaking, but there was no way right?

“What?”

“Your mother have failed to give me my money…”

“I understand that part, but what do you expect from me? It’s not going to change the fact that she still owes you your money.”

He smiled and somehow Jacqueline didn’t like it when he smiled it sent unnecessary shivers down her spin.

“You’re a virgin?”

“That’s none of your business,”

Whatever doubt about her virginity was gone; she was indeed a virgin and he had made up his mind about her.

“I’m not worried about the money since now I own all of your mothers property,”

“Then what do you need me for,” she couldn’t stop her temper from getting the better of her as she glared down at this bastard in front of her.

“You came with the whole package and I do not settle well with half deals.”

“Do I look like a animal? What about a house or car? I don’t think so…those are things to be own. And from what I remember I’m a human being not something to be own.”

“Your feisty,” his voice was calm and it irritated her to no end.

“I was thinking about placing you in one of my brothels…but I have better plans for you,” he said as he nodded his head.

Before Jacqueline could say anything she could feel herself being pulled against something hard and a cloth over her face.

The last thing she could see before blacking out was James…