Dubai (3 years earlier) ….
The sun shined through the open canopy doors. It illuminated the entire room. The earthy breeze brought in the smell of the sea and the sounds of cars and motorcycles as it fluttered the pristine white curtains. The room was spacious: a mahogany desk was stationed in the corner, a chandelier glittered brightly in the light, and a four-poster bed stood in the middle.
Its usually neat sheets were rumpled by the couple laying in it. The man drew light figures on the woman's bare back as she slept peacefully. Occasionally, he would place soft kisses on her shoulder and murmur sweet nothings against her skin. She began to stir at his ministrations. She rolled right into his arms giving him a warm smile. This was hardly how she thought her time in Dubai would go.
"Good morning," he spoke with his lips on her brow.
"Good morning to you too." She gently trailed her finger across his cheek. He grasps her hand turning it so he can kiss the inside of her palm. There was a comfortable silence in the air, the pair just laid their enjoying each other's company.
"Have you thought about my offer?" he asked. She did and she gave it much thought, but her father would never allow it. "I want to stay I really do; however, I fear the consequences that it would bring."
He cradled face in his hands, "You don't have to worry about that. I will protect you; we will protect you." She wrinkles her eyebrows in confusion, before she could ask a loud shriek tears through the tranquility.
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Present day, Gotham City
Persephone is awakened by the shrill of an ambulance as it races down the street. Grunting she rubs her eyes and checks the clock: 6 am. She might as well get up now, she had to be to work at 8 am. She gets out of her bed heading to the shower. She turns it on while the heat is rising, she removes her clothes.
Under the water she lets the steam awaken her mind and body. To her this was almost better than coffee. Her mama always said that a shower was a good way to start the day; it gives you time to think. She smiles as she thinks about her.
Josephine Heart was a strong black woman who would take the world by storm. She was raised by her grandmother in the slums of south Gotham. That area was riddle with crime and drugs. With her spirit you would never have thought that was where she was raised. Her grandmother kept her busy, between doing well in school, participating in soccer, and going to church. She wanted to make sure that her grandbaby would never fall under bad influences.
She had a dream of becoming a traveling journalist. She wanted to go to all these different countries and write about the people, the food, and above all the culture. She had a full ride scholarship to one of the best creative writing universities in Gotham. Josephine was on her way to achieving her dream; she was in her senior year in college.
However, things happen. In her senior year she met her father which led to Persephone. She never regretted Persephone, but her father was whole different story. She raised her daughter with love and care until Persephone was 15 when she lost her battle with breast cancer.
Persephone steps out the shower and begins her routine. She wipes her hand across the foggy mirror taking a good look at herself. Many people said she favored her mother. Beautiful chocolate skin, dazzling hazel eyes, and naturally curly raven black her. She loved her smile the most because it was her mother's smile. Every time she looked in the mirror, she liked to think it was her mother staring back at her. But it wasn't, her mother is gone, and she missed her every day.
Well, she couldn't stand in the mirror all day, she had to get to work. The dons her work uniform and heads out into the day.
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Gotham had a hierarchy and it showed in every aspect of the city. The upper echelons had fancy coats and clothes, rare jewelry, drove fast cars or had a chauffeur, and went to galas with the other rich and famous. Those who did not have much had to take the scraps Gotham gave back. The elite made it clear that there was a divide and no other seat at the table was available.
Loud noises penetrated the city, and the smog clouded the air which made it hard to breathe. It was a basic city filled with what it seems like more bad than good people. Especially, with what was on the news.
It was everywhere, everyone was talking about the attack on the stock exchange. Some behemoth of a masked man and his posse took hostages in their sneak attack. They used the crowd of hostages and made their getaway motorcycles. The police could have surrounded them if they didn't focus all their attention on the batman and abandoning the criminals all together. She was tired of hearing about the news, she wanted Gotham to return to some semblance of normalcy.
She heads straight to Lou's Diner. It was a 24-hour joint, but she would rather work the mornings. Lou's Diner use to be family owned until they were bought out by some company who wanted to franchise the place. Their words were, "There will be a Lou's on every corner!", and there was.
She walks to the back and places her jacket in her locker, revealing her pink uniform and white apron. "Hey hun!" Persephone turns to greet Dolores. Miss Dolores was one of the older waitresses. She loved Lou's and was proud to say she worked here for 10 years. She always made everything fun and was very easy to get along with.
"Well let's get cracking Stephie. We have customers!" Persephone takes a deep breath and walks into the diner.
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4 pm couldn't come fast enough. It was another regular day with regular customers. After she finished counting her tips, she bid Dolores goodbye and started her trek to her apartment. Not even halfway to her home a black Benz with tented windows pulls up beside her. Out steps the chauffeur, he nods his head at her, "Miss." Persephone rolls her eyes.
"Not tonight, Anthony. I want to go home."
His eyes fill with pity, he understands her plight. "He is in the car he wishes to speak with you." She knew it was coming, as much as she wanted to leave, in order to get home quicker she had to speak with him. She opens the door to the car before Anthony can and climbs in.
She sits on the plush seats across from her father.
Roland Daggett.
He was a wiry man, but commanded obedience. What he wanted he got. He was proud to be a millionaire and made sure every knew. He can make anyone dislike him. She could never understand how her mother tolerated him.
He met Josephine when she was a senior. He was a bored rich man who thought her mother was beautiful and wanted her company, so he charmed her. They started to date, soon into the relationship it was clear that her mother was falling for him. So, he dumped her and brutally. It was 2 years later when Roland ran into her mother again, but she wasn't alone; she had a toddler was with her.
Roland demanded to know if it was his child and has much as Josephine wanted to deny it, she couldn't do that to her daughter. Daggett went to court for custody, seeing as though he was never notified about said child the court awarded him an arrangement. Persephone was to spend two weeks with her mother and two weeks with her father; holidays were to be discussed between the parents.
Her mother was devastated at the news, but she made the most of it. While her time with her with had laughter and love, her time with her father was filled with fancy trips and galas. She felt like a princess when she was little, however as she got older truth became clear. When her mother died, she was sent to live with her father. The father she had for two weeks was not the same father she had to live with. He had no time for her, his true baby was his business.
He never spent time with her he had nannies for that, he never came to her plays, her dances, he didn't even show up for her high school graduation. But whenever Roland had a business party or needed to look like a family man she was by his side. She wasn't his daughter; she was an accessory. When she was 19 her friend Valerie had found an apartment and needed a roommate. Persephone jumped at the chance to leave her father. He wasn't happy, but what could he do she was an adult.
She signed up for a community college and made every attempt to avoid her father. In rare times, he managed to catch her, this was one of those times.
They stare at each other as Roland tells Anthony to circle the block a few times. "I need your assistance."
That was it. No 'Hi how are you doing? How is life?".
"The answer is no."
He smirks, "You haven't even heard what I need." She scoffs and sarcastically says, "What do you need, dad?" He narrows his eyes, he didn't tolerate disrespect, but this was their usual routine. "I have recently gotten in contact with a new business partner."
Well, that doesn't sound shady at all. "He explains to me that he is able to deliver Wayne Enterprises to me on silver platter." Oh lord, Wayne again. Wayne, Wayne, Bruce Wayne. That is all her father talked about. His business nemesis has all ways had the one up on him. Wayne got the inside scoop on all the multi-million-dollar deals. It drove Roland nuts. Lately, Mr. Wayne has been a recluse and his business going slowly bankrupt her father saw this as a golden opportunity for a hostile takeover.
"He has made good on his promise," Roland continues. "In a week's time, the media will announce me the new CEO of Wayne Enterprises." Persephone shrugs, "What does this have to do with me?" "I would like you to stand at my side when the news hits the public."
She chuckles, he means by his side when the cameras click. "My answer is still no. I'm not flashy like you." "How much would it take to get you to attend?" There he goes always thinking he can buy people
"There is no price." His smile tightens, "Surely there is..."
"No Roland."
He loses his smile all together replacing it with a glare. He hates when she calls him that, it is a constant reminder that she is not under his thumb. "What do you want?" he grits out.
In the same tone she replies, "Isn't it obvious? I want you to leave me alone."
The two sit in tense silent, she can tell that Roland his pondering an idea. "If I can give you that, would you attend?"
Disbelief clouds her features. "As if that would ever happen."
He narrows his eyes, "You haven't spoken to me in a year Persephone. It's not impossible. One last picture and we can be done with one another."
It's a good bargain. As much as she didn't want to go, the gain was too sweet. Never having to hear from Roland was dream come true. She sits back in her seat crossing her arms, "I want your word. One last picture and this is over."
With the confidence of a business man he agrees.
She is dropped off at her apartment and the black Benz disappears into the night. Why does it feel she made a deal with the devil.