Page 1 of Plus-Sized Bratva Prisoner

Chapter 1 - Tia

My heart beats excitedly as I stare at the e-mail open on my laptop in front of me.

I read it again just to be sure.

It’s true. It’s actually happening.

Thank you for attending the interview, we are happy to inform you that you have been accepted into our internship program. You will begin on Monday the 17th.

I can’t believe it. This company is the most prestigious one I applied for, and the one I was really hoping to get into because it’s going to do wonders for my GPA.

The pay is decent, for an intern, but the salary is not my main reason for wanting this job. This is the ultimate place for me to make a mark in the industry.

The logo in the signature at the bottom of the email, with a lion emblem alongside an ornate D, makes me think of a family crest.

Dubrov Enterprise.

It is a family-run business, after all.

I can’t believe I’m starting there on Monday.

ThisMonday.

I glance to my left. Lying next to my laptop is a pile of textbooks that I have to work through tonight. I sigh and close my eyes for a moment. I can do this.

I can do this because I never give up. I’m the girl who gets through anything, and I won’t stop now.

I stayed strong when my mom passed away after a long battle with alcoholism, and I stayed strong when I turned eighteen and found out from the local debt collectors that I had inherited all of her debts, alongside my already growing college debts—

But it’s ok. I never grew up with money. Nothing was ever handed to me. I work for what I want.

The debts are definitely something that have been holding me back, though; it’s been three years since I inherited them, and I don’t even feel close to paying them off. It’s a nightmare, and it’s forcing me to work two different part-time jobs over and above my studies, and now this job—the one I really want.

I push away from my desk and wander through to the kitchen in my small but comfortable apartment in the city. It’s a little more expensive living here, but I have so many jobs, and with my campus being around the corner, the money I save on commuting from outside the city covers the higher rent, and I save a lot of time. I don’t have extra time, so it works out perfectly.

In the kitchen I flick on the coffee machine. If I start the internship on Monday, that means that this weekend I’m going to have to make sure I’m ahead on my studies.

I’ll need to pull out my schedule and replan everything.

You’ve got this, Tia. One step closer to achieving your goals—being debt-free, being able to save for a change, and working towards an incredible career. Whatever time, and effort and sacrifices I make now will pay off later.

***

Monday morning comes quicker than I expect it to, and I’m tired but excited, when I arrive at my first day of work.

My high heels click loudly on the tiled floors.

I pause just outside the massive glass double doors to adjust my skirt and make sure everything about my outfit is pristine.

My long, wavy caramel hair is braided neatly down my back and my makeup is fresh and subtle.

I step through the doors, bold and confident, and walk towards the reception desk.

Before I can get there, a tall woman approaches me with a smile on her face. “Tia?”

I turn towards her.

“Yes. That’s me,” I smile, pushing my shoulders back and trying to look as professional as possible. First impressions matter, especially in business. And I plan to make a very good first impression today.

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