Chapter 1 I Get What I Want

• Valerie Davis leaned back on the plush leather seat of her father’s limousine, admiring her freshly manicured nails. She had begged him to let her take it on a spin and he finally obliged after several No’s. What could be more befitting for a princess? She’s the daughter of one of the wealthiest business men in the city. The cityscape glistened through the tinted windows, but she barely noticed it - her mind was on her next purchase. She had already bought a new designer handbag and two pairs of shoes that afternoon, but a sparkling diamond necklace in a boutique window had caught her eye on her way back and she promised to get it for herself. Valerie never let a price tag stand in her way; after all, money was just a number, one her father could always increase.
• Growing up as the only child of Richard Davis, a wealthy businessman, Valerie had never wanted for anything or lacked anything. Her mother had passed away when she was young, and her father had raised her, doting on her every whim. For Valerie, life was an endless stream of luxuries: high-end fashion, exclusive clubs, private jets, and all the indulgences a girl could dream of. She wore her wealth as effortlessly as she wore her clothes, believing that the world existed to cater to her desires.
• As the car pulled up in front of the boutique, Valerie stepped out, flicking her straightened long hair over her shoulder while the chauffeur held the door open for her. Inside, she was greeted with the usual smiles and offers of assistance, she knew they were fake, the whispers of envy from the staff as well as other customers enthralled her, and she made sure she put up an attitude to match their disapproving stares. She moved through the store like a queen, picking up items and discarding others with little thought. The overzealous sales attendants trailed her like their lives depended on the choices she made – one wrong move and they are fired, murmuring compliments and bringing her new options.
• She finally settled on the diamond necklace and a pair of earrings, and just when she was about to reach for it, a man shoved her aside and picked it off the showglass. All he said was; “Excuse me”.
• Valerie’s eyes widened as the stranger’s hand grabbed the diamond necklace off the display case, and she felt a surge of indignation.
• “Excuse me?” Valerie’s tone dripped with disbelief as she spun around to face him.
• The man barely spared her a glance, coolly examining the diamonds under the boutique lights. “I said, excuse me,” he replied flatly.
• “Excuse you? You just shoved me!” Valerie’s voice rose, drawing glances from the other shoppers. “And that piece is mine! I was here first.”
• He turned to her, clearly unruffled, his expression cold and unimpressed. “Doesn’t look like it’s got your name on it, does it?”
• Valerie scoffed, raising her chin defiantly. “I may not ‘own’ the store, but I was about to buy that necklace. And if you have any manners at all, you’ll hand it over.”
• The man gave her a slow, almost patronising smile. “Manners? Over diamonds? Look, if you can’t get what you want, maybe you shouldn’t be here.”
• Valerie’s blood boiled, and she yanked out her father’s card, practically waving it in his face. “Oh, believe me, I can get what I want.” She turned to the cashier with a commanding nod. “Go on, run the card. Now.”
• The cashier hesitated, torn between the two of them.
• “Run. The. Card,” Valerie repeated, each word clipped with irritation.
• With a wary glance between them, the cashier processed the card and then, frowning, leaned forward. “I’m terribly sorry, Miss, but the card’s been declined.”
• Valerie’s confident smirk faltered, and a blush crept up her cheeks. “Declined?” She barely whispered the word, then squared her shoulders and laughed. “This is ridiculous. My father’s card doesn’t ‘decline.’ Run it again.”
• The cashier obeyed, but the card refused once more.
• Valerie’s gaze sharpened. “This must be a mistake. I’ll just call my father.” She dialled her father’s number, her annoyance growing with every unanswered ring until she reached his voicemail. The line clicked, and her father’s calm, detached voice came on.
• “You’ve reached Richard Davis. I’m currently unavailable. If this is Valerie, I’ve decided you need a break from my credit cards. This will be good for you. Goodbye.”
• Her hand froze, clutching her phone. The realisation hit her like a cold wave. Her father had actually cut her off. A smirk grew on the stranger’s face as he raised an eyebrow. “You were saying?”
• Valerie squared her shoulders, forcing her confidence to return. He must not win, she thought to herself. “just give me a moment,” she announced, spinning away and leaving the boutique.
• Once outside, she pulled out her contacts and dialled one of her shadier friends, Ramon—a reliable, fast-money man who could arrange loans with no questions asked. Within moments, they struck a deal, and Valerie returned to the boutique, her pulse racing. She re-entered with a cool expression, she handed over her card to the cashier, “Try this one”
• The cashier nodded a successful withdrawal had been made. “I believe that settles it,” she said, eyeing the man triumphantly.
• He observed her, a hint of surprise and mild irritation flickering in his gaze, then shrugged. “Enjoy it. Not worth the stress, anyway.” He turned his attention to another display and let the necklace go without another word.
• “Just like that?’ she thought. ‘How rude!” she scoffed.
• Valerie watched him walk away, a strange mix of triumph and frustration brewed inside her. She clutched her hard-won jewellery tightly and muttered to herself, “Unbelievable.” She cursed him under her breath as she allowed her chauffeur pick up the jewelry from one of the sales attendants and chase after her to the car.
• …
• Valerie stepped into the grand foyer of her mansion, the heels of her designer shoes clicking against the polished marble floors. What a day it has been, she thought as she savoured the familiar scent of lavender candles that filled the air, a calming touch that her housekeeper, Mrs. Marshall, always insisted on. But tonight, nothing could soothe her irritation. She didn’t know who was more annoyingly working up a storm within her, her dad or the strange man at the boutique. Lost in thoughts as she mindlessly strode past the dining room, Mrs. Marshall appeared from the kitchen, carefully placing a plate on the already-set table.
• “Dinner’s ready, Miss Valerie,” she said with a warm smile, straightening a napkin. “Your friend Layla is upstairs. She arrived a little while ago.”
• Valerie shot her an impatient glance. “Not hungry,” she said, brushing past her towards the staircase.
• “Are you having a bad day?” Mrs. Marshall managed to ask.
• “The day is over Mrs. Marshall and it’s been a hell of a day!” Valerie shot back.
• As she ascended, she could hear music drifting from her room, Layla’s carefree laughter blending with it. Valerie’s irritation flared again. She burst into her bedroom, her eyes immediately landing on Layla, who was twirling in front of the mirror, trying on one of the new dresses she had gotten earlier that day.
• “Layla!” Valerie exclaimed, hands on her hips.
• Layla turned around, feigning innocence. “Val, you didn’t say I couldn’t try it on,” she teased, admiring herself in the mirror.
• Valerie folded her arms. “Those are brand-new! I haven’t even worn that dress yet.” She flings her purse on the bed.
• Layla rolled her eyes. “Relax, Valerie. You have a wardrobe full of new clothes. Besides, I look good, don’t I?” She gave a playful spin.
• Valerie’s irritation melted slightly, but she managed a mock glare. “You can’t just help yourself to my stuff, Layla.”
• She slips out of her shoes, her feets sinking into the warm furs beneath her feet.
• “Fine,” Layla laughed, rolling her eyes as she slipped out of the dress and tossed it onto a chair. “Now, what’s with the mood?”
• For a moment, Valerie was silent, but then her shoulders slumped, and she sank onto the bed, letting out a deep sigh. “It’s my dad,” she muttered, feeling the frustration bubble up again. “He actually cut me off. Blocked me from his cards, wouldn’t answer my calls, and just left me in a ridiculous situation today.”
• Layla’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, seriously? Your dad cut you off?”
• Valerie nodded miserably. “Yes. He said I need to ‘become responsible,’ or something equally ridiculous.”
• Layla looked at her friend with sympathy. “Wow. That’s... harsh.”
• “I know right? I had to even involve ramon somehow”
• “No way! Ramon? Okay this bad!” Layla exclaimed.
• Ramon was the wrongest person to get any sort of help from as he involves all sorts of rhetorics to get something in return. He had once tried to ask Valerie out and was rejected, whatever help Valerie got from him would either involve something far more bigger than whatever help he rendered. Layla knew this, hence her reaction.
• “What did he ask for in return?” Layla asked, her tone sharp and inquisitive.
• “We are yet to discuss that?” Valerie said, quite dismissively.
• “And then, to make things worse,” Valerie continued, her irritation rising again, “I went to get this necklace today, and some rude guy—some arrogant jerk—just shoves me aside and picks it up like he owns the place!”
• “Oh no.” Layla’s mouth twitched as if trying not to laugh. “Who is this mystery man?”
• “I don’t even remember his name. I tried to buy it, but my dad’s card declined, and he was just... there, watching me like I was some—some dumb dingbat in a clownshow.”
• Layla stifled a laugh. “Okay, that’s actually terrible. But come on, Val, you’ve handled worse.”
• Valerie looked away, blinking back the frustration that burned in her eyes.
• “Maybe I have, but it’s just... different! Men fall at my feet! I have never been disrespected by any man in my entire life but today I encountered this lunatic that had me feeling like a joke! You should have seen how he acted like he was talking to a peasant; I am No peasant! I am Valerie Davis! Nobody treats me like a pushover! And my dad adding salt to injury got me feeling completely powerless, Layla. First my dad, then that insufferable man.” Valerie ranted, almost choked with emotion.
• “Slow down baby.” Layla sat down beside her, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Hey, you’re still Valerie Davis. You don’t need all these negative energies. Have you tried calling your dad again?”
• “He won’t take my call” Valerie cooed.
• “You know what? We would try again and dawn, do not let anybody make you feel less yourself or feel bad, you need to cheer up and lets go eat dinner, your housekeeper must have prepared something delicious” Layla said, trying to pull Valerie away from the bed.
• A small smile crept onto Valerie’s face. “You’re right. I’m not letting anyone make me feel like this. Get dressed,” she said, shaking off the mood. “We’re going out. I need a drink, maybe three, and I need to forget all of this.”
• Layla grinned, leaping to her feet. “Now you’re talking! But what about dinner?”
• “Oh please forget about dinner, Let’s hit the club and dance all this drama away.”