Broken Promises

three

|Sage's POV|

As soon as my father left my side, I was engulfed by friends of the family, some distant cousins, as well as a few of my college classmates— none of whom, had been invited by me.

When my father had demanded three weeks ago that I give him a list of all the people I would like to have at my birthday, I had told him that he could invite whoever he wanted to.

That had been because I had no friends or family whom I connected with.

My mother died when I was twelve and since then, it had only ever been me and my sadistic father.

The reason why I had had such a sheltered life is because my father never allowed me to be in touch with the outside world. He has always been paranoid and skeptical about anyone lurking near me and now, years later, here he is, looking happy as ever while he stood beside the father of the man I was going to be sold off to.

"It is such a pleasure to see you, Ms. Princeton!" I hear a voice gushing from in front of me as I tear my gaze away from my father and find the man responsible for pulling off this celebration.

My lips curl into a trained smile, "Polo!" I exclaim just as he comes in for a brief hug while we air kiss each others cheeks. "You have completely outdone yourself, this arrangement is absolutely spectacular, and I have no idea how to thank you enough." I tell him with the heaviest voice of gratitude that I could muster.

"Anything for you, bonita!" He says with a bedazzling smile on his lips. He is dressed in a flashy magenta pant suit, with no shirt underneath. His bald head and kohl lined eyes are making him look as bold as his personality, while perfectly blending with the surroundings at the same time.

We chat for a bit more and then he walks off to check on whether everything is going smoothly.

I look around myself, at all these people in front of me— people who are apparently here for my birthday but ironically, I know not a single one of them.

And they know nothing about me.

I was never allowed to have any friends and now, even as I am standing in the middle of an elaborate celebration that is meant to be in my honour, I feel nothing but utter disdain and hatred for the man responsible for every plight of my life.

The only people I do know here, like truly know, are my four bodyguards— all of whom, are once again, because of Alistair Princeton as well.

I can feel my anxiety rising inside me and I know that in this moment, I have to get out of this crowd.

I look around, my eyes wildly looking for an escape— even for just a moment.

And that is when I take in a deep breath when I find the washrooms nearby.

I gather my flowing gown in my fists, making it easier for me to walk before I make a beeline towards the washrooms. I feel someone following after me with stealthy but purposeful steps but I know that it is only Jackson, peeling off from his post and coming to stand outside the washroom to ensure that he is the first responder should anything happens to me inside.

Again— that was a rule designed by papa dearest.

I huff as I enter the empty washroom and find myself standing in front of the mirror with my hands placed on either side on the granite slabs.

Just like the club, the washrooms too scream luxury and pure class. With Italian gold streaked marbles, to Moroccan coat hangers, to imported toilet fittings, my father had spent a lot into making sure that this club remained in pristine condition.

It is rumoured in the media that this is the place where all the illegal activities of the Princeton United take place. But I, know that those rumours are indeed true.

Princeton United is on paper, and in front of the world, is an energy company— one of the leading ones in the world. This multi billion dollar empire is what I am an heiress to.

But that is not the only empire I am going to be inheriting from my father.

I also know that the darker side of Princeton United has ties with the organised crime, governing every political move and decision in New York.

Only two mafia families have ruled the streets of New York since even before the second World War, namely, the Princetons and the Genoveses.

And even though initially these families were rivalling each other for the reigns of the kingdom, however, with common enemies coming to take their power, slowly things began to change.

These families began to unite and tonight, they were going to become one for the rest of eternity and all of the criminal world will know better than to ever come after either of them.

Tonight, my father is going to announce my marriage with the current ruler of Genovese mafia empire, Xavier Genovese.

And tonight is going to seal my fate as just a mere pawn in my father's power grabs.

A knock comes at the door and my shoulders jerk slightly as I look back up in the mirror and realise that I had been standing here for longer than a birthday girl should disappear for.

I straighten my shoulders and take in a few more deep breaths before I finally walk out of the washroom and find Jackson looking at me worriedly.

"Relax, no one killed me in there." I tell him dryly as I push past him and walk back out in my party.

My eyes are looking elsewhere and just when I expect it the least, my body collides with a hard wall and I lose my balance.

An arm dashes out to wrap around my waist and just when I expect myself to fall flat on the ground, I am saved.