2025-04-30 21:39:47Clandestine Fashion was a name that echoed opulence across every elite corner of the country. With a valuation of $2 billion, it wasn’t just a fashion brand—it was a symbol. Its Hollywood University branch, located within the most luxurious plaza near campus, was where the city’s young elite came to flaunt their privilege and burn money on imported Italian leather, silk scarves, and designer accessories. The chandeliers glittered like stardust, and the air inside was chilled to a precise 19°C, diffused with a fragrance that cost more than some students' tuition.
And yet, in that glimmering temple of vanity, stood Jamie.
Dusty, worn, and bruised from life’s most unforgiving trials, he held several shopping bags filled with clothes he intended to buy—if they’d let him. But his mere presence was causing tremors. The air changed the moment Olivia Feng made that call.
The manager emerged moments later—Ms. Tricia Monteverde, the iron-clad guardian of Clandestine Fashion. She was a vision in a navy-blue pantsuit, her stiletto heels clacking like a judge’s gavel. At five-foot-seven, with high cheekbones, piercing gray eyes, and an aura that demanded submission, she was feared and admired by all employees. The staff straightened up the moment she appeared. Even customers quieted their chatter. But not Olivia, Meghan, or Amanda. They rushed to her like lion cubs to their mother.
“Aunt Trish, thank God,” Olivia said, flipping her hair. “You have to get rid of this pest. He stinks, and he’s been trying to steal clothes. I mean, really? This is Clandestine Fashion, not a soup kitchen.”
Ms. Tricia offered a warm hug to Olivia. “Darling. You look radiant. Still slaying Hollywood?”
“Always,” Olivia replied, grinning.
Jamie stood silently a few feet away, watching the theatrics. Meghan chimed in next, “That’s Jamie. He’s a wanted man. Mick Dalton’s people are looking for him. I heard he owes a hundred grand in damages for robbing that dump, Momentum Nightclub. And guess who Mick hired?” She lowered her voice dramatically. “Ray Fenix.”
Ms. Tricia froze for half a second. Even her mascara seemed to stiffen. She didn’t question Olivia’s half-truths—Amanda and Meghan nodded along, sealing the lie.
Ray Fenix.
The name had the weight of a tombstone. The Red Fenix gang—his gang—was the whisper in every alley, the shadow in every dark deal. They were one of many arms under the AS99 organization, the most feared global mafia syndicate, rumored to be backed by dark political dynasties and underground empires. It was even whispered, in hushed tones, that the Ashfords, the enigmatic family at the summit of societal control, had built AS99 in the first place and currently controls it.
“Ray Fenix?” Tricia said under her breath. “This Jamie—that Jamie—crossed Ray Fenix?”
Hiring Fenix meant deep pockets or deeper connections, and crossing him was a death sentence.
Amanda, whose voice always carried more venom than sense, stepped up. She leaned in, eyes glinting with malice. “Dating you was a nightmare—always begging for a common grand, me threatening to dump you just to make you hustle. Couldn’t even save your mom’s corpse—penniless and pathetic.”
The crowd tittered, students pausing their shopping to gawk.
That struck Jamie deep. His fists clenched slightly, his eyes narrowing. He could easily have told them that he now owned the hospital. That the corpse they mocked was now preserved under his direct authority. That their words were punching the air.
But he said nothing.
Ms. Tricia turned to him. “Jamie, I suggest you leave now. Not just because of your... condition,” she waved her hand dismissively toward his clothes, “but because I do not want Ray Fenix’s wrath in my establishment. This is bigger than you, bigger than your ego.”
She rambled on, her voice tight with dread. “When Fenix can’t handle something, he calls up the chain—AS99’s got layers even he can’t touch. Unbeatable. If he’s after you, kid, you’re already dead.” Her words weren’t just a warning; they were a verdict.
Jamie smiled, a slow, defiant curve. “Let me pay for this and go. That’s all.” His tone was calm, but steel lay beneath it.
Ms. Tricia scoffed. “Pay? You? I won’t risk Fenix’s wrath—or my store’s reputation. Get out.” Her fear of the mob outweighed her disdain for his stench, though she didn’t spare him the barbs. “You’re a walking sewer—go rot elsewhere.”
The insults stung—Amanda’s giggles, Olivia’s sneer, Meghan’s smug nod—but Jamie’s resolve hardened. Ten billion dollars burned in his account, a fortune that could swallow Clandestine Fashion, the Reynolds, all of them, without a hiccup.
The attendant, standing by the cash register, spoke up. “What he picked is worth over five million.”
The room erupted in laughter. “Five million? That’s my net worth.” Olivia crowed. “Harari’s after him for a hundred grand he can’t pay, and he thinks he’s got that?”
Tricia blinked in shock. “You have five million dollars on you?”
The girls burst into laughter. Amanda almost fell over. “Five million? This is the same guy who borrowed two hundred bucks from me to fix his phone.”
Olivia cackled. “He should clear his debt with Mick before dreaming of luxury. I mean, Jamie, come on. If you ever become as rich as me—five million net worth minimum—maybe we’ll consider letting you back in.”
“Until then,” Meghan added with a smirk, “go shop in a thrift store.”
Ms. Tricia laughed, though her voice held a trace of unease. “She’s right. We serve elites, Mr. Jamie. Not delusional men hiding from mobsters.”
Jamie smiled.
Not with joy—but with the subtle rage of someone betrayed, mocked, and underestimated for far too long.
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. Everyone paused as they heard him say, “Hello, Mick? Tell Ray Fenix’s men to meet me at Clandestine Fashion. I’m here, waiting.”
The entire store went still.
A girl by the fragrance aisle dropped her perfume tester. Meghan gasped audibly. Even Tricia lost a touch of color in her face.
“You what?” Amanda asked, stepping back.
“You idiot!” Ms. Tricia hissed, eyes wide. “You’re bringing Ray Fenix here?”
Jamie ended the call, strolled over to the lounge area, and reclined on the black velvet chair like a man on vacation. “I’m tired. Had a long night. I’ll be sleeping while we wait.”
“Wait for what?” Tricia asked, trembling.
He didn't reply.
He shut his eyes.
And slept.
Fifteen minutes passed.
Panic spread like perfume through the store. Customers left quietly. Staff began hiding high-end items. Olivia paced frantically. Meghan opened and closed her compact mirror repeatedly. Amanda chewed a nail for the first time in years.
Then came the screech of tires.
Black SUVs. Four of them.
Out stepped giants.
Men with crimson phoenix tattoos crawling up their necks and forearms. Black trench coats, silver rings, eyes that hadn’t blinked in years. And at the center of it all was the man himself—Ray Fenix.
Six-foot-five. Scars like war medals. A jawline sharp enough to slice stone. And behind him, five of his most trusted killers.
Everyone froze.
Ms. Tricia ran up, pleading. “Mr. Fenix, please, not in my store. I had no idea this would escalate. Please... we’ll send him out—”
But Ray brushed past her like she was smoke. His mind was locked on the boy who had dared call him.
Amanda tapped Jamie.
“Get up, you moron. Look what you’ve done!”
Jamie stirred, blinking into the glare of Fenix’s cold curiosity. The man loomed, a predator sizing up prey too small to warrant the hunt. Jamie’s pulse spiked—Fenix was terrifying, a legend of blood and bone—but a flicker of calm steadied him. This thug was a flea in the Ashford empire, miles below Raymond’s orbit. Could the old man be watching again, like at the hospital?
The girls huddled, pity softening their scorn. “Poor bastard,” Meghan muttered. “Fenix is his funeral.” Olivia nodded, almost solemn. “No one deserves this.”
He faced the mob boss.
Ray tilted his head. “You’re Jamie?”
Jamie nodded.
The store watched the showdown like it was a gladiator match. Even the lights seemed dimmer now.
Ray’s hand moved toward Jamie’s collar. “You got guts. Calling me here. You think you're invincible?”
But before he could touch him, his phone rang.
Ray stopped mid-motion.
It wasn’t his regular burner.
It was his main phone—the one only his superiors in AS99 could ever contact. He never got calls on that line unless it was urgent.
He pulled it out.
His face shifted.
The name on the screen was... Don Atorro.
Everyone watched Ray Fenix—the fearless, brutal warhound—begin to tremble.
He stared at the name, confused, scared, almost childlike in his silence. He didn’t even know that someone like Don Atorro knew he existed. Let alone had access to his private line.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
Rise of the Rich and Powerful Jamie Ashford Chapter 8
The phone call was unlike anything Ray Fenix had experienced. He'd been in the presence of powerful men, criminals, and gangsters, but this—this was a game-changer. The name that appeared on his phone's screen was one he'd heard only in hushed whispers: Don Atorro, the head of AS99's North America operations.Don Atorro was an enigma, a near-legendary figure within the organization, a six-star general of the mafia world. Ray Fenix, by comparison, was nothing more than a mere captain, a foot soldier commanding a few hundred men, with dreams of one day rising through the ranks—he was four levels away from gaining his first star in the organization’s ranking. But Atorro? He was three levels away from the apex, from the true rulers of AS99. The 99-Degree Supreme Lords, who are nine in number—the ones whose mere presence could command entire continents—were the legends, and the Ashford clan, rumored to be their true masters, controlled it all. Only a born Ashford can be the Supreme Leader
Rise of the Rich and Powerful Jamie Ashford Chapter 9
Ray motioned for his men, and they moved swiftly, stepping out and clearing everyone outside the store with military precision. The manager, Ms. Tricia, returned, her face pale with fear. She trembled as she approached Jamie, but there was no longer any hint of defiance in her gaze—just an overwhelming dread."Please, Mr. Jamie," she begged, her voice shaking. "Let me settle this with you. You can pay for what you took... and I am sorry for my misconduct earlier and those of the girls."Jamie didn't even blink as he swiped his card, clearing the five million-dollar bill without hesitation. Ms. Tricia stared at the receipt in disbelief, but there was nothing she could do. Her hands trembled as she handed Jamie his purchases, and with a nod, he turned and walked out of the store. Questions filled her head to ask but she wouldn’t dare, Ray Fenix was very clear with his instructions, the consequences of disobedience would be dire. He lingered at the plaza’s gate, the sun glinting off his
Rise of the Rich and Powerful Jamie Ashford Chapter 10
The night at Lady Goodwin’s yacht was alive with an air of elegance, wealth, and exclusivity. The boat was buzzing with conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the low hum of private deals being made in the corners. The crowd of seventy elite guests was a mix of Hollywood’s high society, top-tier business moguls, and powerful political figures. Among them were the Reynolds brothers and their circle, and, of course, Stacy, Sonia’s closest friend.Sonia, the birthday girl, glided through the crowd, a beacon of charm and grace. She greeted every guest with a smile and a warm thank you for attending her celebration. Despite the glamorous setting, Sonia’s humility stood out. Unlike many of her HU colleagues, she wasn't caught up in the opulence of it all. Instead, she exuded an easygoing nature that made her more relatable to those around her, despite the elite crowd she was a part of.Beside her was Tyson Crook, his arm draped possessively around her shoulders. He was practically attac
Rise of the Rich and Powerful Jamie Ashford Chapter 1
The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the hospital room like an unwelcome guest. Jamie Reynold sat quietly by his mother’s bedside, his fingers lightly curled around her frail hand. Tubes and beeping monitors surrounded her like mechanical vultures, ticking down the moments she had left. Her skin had turned pale and parchment-thin, and each shallow breath she took rattled like a fading whisper. But to Jamie, she was still the strongest woman he'd ever known.He hadn’t slept in over a day. The nurses had offered to relieve him, to let him rest in the waiting room, but he refused. He wanted to be present for every second she had left. He wanted her to feel him beside her when she slipped away—not a stranger in white scrubs. He wanted her to feel loved.His phone buzzed in his pocket. He hesitated, glanced at his mother’s face—eyes shut, chest barely rising—then slowly stepped into the corridor. The name Amanda lit up his screen in soft white letters. He answered.“Amanda,” he said, his
Rise of the Rich and Powerful Jamie Ashford Chapter 2
Jamie stepped out of the hospital into the gray morning, his mind spinning with grief, confusion, and a gnawing dread he couldn’t quite place. His mother’s final words played on repeat in his head, and though they should’ve comforted him, they only left him with more questions. “You’re not a nobody… You matter more than anyone else in this world.”He didn’t feel that way now.At the entrance to the hospital, two familiar figures stood waiting: Billy Carson, his best friend since sophomore year, and Stacy Reynold, his stepsister. They rushed to him as soon as they saw his slumped shoulders and red eyes.“Jamie…” Stacy said softly, stepping forward with outstretched arms.He collapsed into her embrace, his body trembling. She held him like a sister should—not bound by blood, but by shared struggle.“I’m so sorry we’re late,” Billy said, voice quiet. “We were trying to finish your final essays and those lab reports. You know, to keep your grades intact. Thought it’d give you more time wi
Rise of the Rich and Powerful Jamie Ashford Chapter 3
Jamie couldn’t afford to lose his job—not now. Not when everything else had crumbled around him like an ancient ruin left to the mercy of wind and time. His mother was gone. His home—the only one he had ever known, however cold and cruel—was now a memory erased in a single night. The Reynolds, as vile as they had been, at least gave him a roof to sleep under and two meals a day. That roof was now gone. That allowance of $500, which came with bitterness and humiliation, had vanished along with any hope of financial reprieve.Still reeling from the sting of Ben Reynold’s cruelty, Jamie sprinted through the city’s busy streets, the dried tears on his face cracked by the wind, his mind cluttered with grief. His clothes still smelled faintly of the hospital room where his mother had died. But there was no time to mourn properly. Life in Hollywood never waited for the broken or the poor. It only moved for the rich and powerful, and Jamie knew all too well he was neither.He reached Momentuu
Rise of the Rich and Powerful Jamie Ashford Chapter 4
Jamie stood at the far end of the winery, clutching the chilled bottle of champagne like it was the last thing tying him to this world. His hands trembled—not from the cold, but from the chaos boiling inside him. The warehouse-like backroom was dim, humid, and reeked of stale liquor and broken dreams. Echoes of laughter and music boomed from the club, the sound of a world he wasn’t invited to.He leaned against a rack of dusty Merlots, staring at nothing. It had been only a few hours since his mother’s passing, and everything was crumbling. He couldn’t afford the hospital bills, the funeral, or even a quiet moment to grieve. He had nowhere to go and no one left. His stepbrothers had made sure of that. His body still smelled faintly of the alley he slept in last night. His shirt clung to his skin, stained and stiff. His eyes stung from lack of sleep and too many tears.A roar of cheers erupted from the main floor, a distant storm he couldn’t muster the energy to care about. All he want
Rise of the Rich and Powerful Jamie Ashford Chapter 5
Jamie had spent the entire night dancing in the rain — soaked, cold, and mad with euphoria — on the same bridge he had nearly jumped off hours ago. His limbs ached from the wildness of his movements, but his soul, for the first time in years, felt alive. He twirled and spun and laughed like a man who had just wrestled with the gods and won. He sang aloud, arms flung wide to the heavens, the rain hiding his tears — both the old ones of grief and the new ones of redemption.Eventually, sometime before dawn, he slumped down on a wooden bench nearby, exhausted and half-conscious. The rain had stopped. His eyes fluttered open only when the early morning sun pierced the cloudy sky and kissed his wet face with golden warmth. Jamie groaned softly and sat up. His neck ached, his clothes clung to his body like damp rags, and he was shivering, but he had one thing on his mind.He fumbled into his pocket and pulled out his phone.With trembling fingers, he unlocked it and stared at the banking ap
Latest Chapter
Chapter 10
The night at Lady Goodwin’s yacht was alive with an air of elegance, wealth, and exclusivity. The boat was buzzing with conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the low hum of private deals being made in the corners. The crowd of seventy elite guests was a mix of Hollywood’s high society, top-tier business moguls, and powerful political figures. Among them were the Reynolds brothers and their circle, and, of course, Stacy, Sonia’s closest friend.Sonia, the birthday girl, glided through the crowd, a beacon of charm and grace. She greeted every guest with a smile and a warm thank you for attending her celebration. Despite the glamorous setting, Sonia’s humility stood out. Unlike many of her HU colleagues, she wasn't caught up in the opulence of it all. Instead, she exuded an easygoing nature that made her more relatable to those around her, despite the elite crowd she was a part of.Beside her was Tyson Crook, his arm draped possessively around her shoulders. He was practically attac
Chapter 9
Ray motioned for his men, and they moved swiftly, stepping out and clearing everyone outside the store with military precision. The manager, Ms. Tricia, returned, her face pale with fear. She trembled as she approached Jamie, but there was no longer any hint of defiance in her gaze—just an overwhelming dread."Please, Mr. Jamie," she begged, her voice shaking. "Let me settle this with you. You can pay for what you took... and I am sorry for my misconduct earlier and those of the girls."Jamie didn't even blink as he swiped his card, clearing the five million-dollar bill without hesitation. Ms. Tricia stared at the receipt in disbelief, but there was nothing she could do. Her hands trembled as she handed Jamie his purchases, and with a nod, he turned and walked out of the store. Questions filled her head to ask but she wouldn’t dare, Ray Fenix was very clear with his instructions, the consequences of disobedience would be dire. He lingered at the plaza’s gate, the sun glinting off his
Chapter 8
The phone call was unlike anything Ray Fenix had experienced. He'd been in the presence of powerful men, criminals, and gangsters, but this—this was a game-changer. The name that appeared on his phone's screen was one he'd heard only in hushed whispers: Don Atorro, the head of AS99's North America operations.Don Atorro was an enigma, a near-legendary figure within the organization, a six-star general of the mafia world. Ray Fenix, by comparison, was nothing more than a mere captain, a foot soldier commanding a few hundred men, with dreams of one day rising through the ranks—he was four levels away from gaining his first star in the organization’s ranking. But Atorro? He was three levels away from the apex, from the true rulers of AS99. The 99-Degree Supreme Lords, who are nine in number—the ones whose mere presence could command entire continents—were the legends, and the Ashford clan, rumored to be their true masters, controlled it all. Only a born Ashford can be the Supreme Leader
Chapter 7
Clandestine Fashion was a name that echoed opulence across every elite corner of the country. With a valuation of $2 billion, it wasn’t just a fashion brand—it was a symbol. Its Hollywood University branch, located within the most luxurious plaza near campus, was where the city’s young elite came to flaunt their privilege and burn money on imported Italian leather, silk scarves, and designer accessories. The chandeliers glittered like stardust, and the air inside was chilled to a precise 19°C, diffused with a fragrance that cost more than some students' tuition.And yet, in that glimmering temple of vanity, stood Jamie.Dusty, worn, and bruised from life’s most unforgiving trials, he held several shopping bags filled with clothes he intended to buy—if they’d let him. But his mere presence was causing tremors. The air changed the moment Olivia Feng made that call.The manager emerged moments later—Ms. Tricia Monteverde, the iron-clad guardian of Clandestine Fashion. She was a vision in
Chapter 6
Jamie and everyone else stood in stunned silence, the kind that presses down like a sudden snowfall—quiet, cold, and impossible to ignore. Dr. Jason Trein, the same man who had arrogantly called the guards just moments ago, was now trembling, his phone clattering to the floor like it had burned his palm. His knees buckled beneath him, and before anyone could register what was happening, he collapsed onto all fours like a man struck by divine lightning.“Please... forgive me,” he whispered, his voice raw with desperation. “I had no idea... I didn’t know...”Jamie took a step back, genuinely puzzled and more than a little unsettled. Was this a prank? Some cruel hospital hazing ritual? But one look at the man’s face told him everything—this wasn’t performance. This was pure, undiluted fear.“What are you doing?” Jamie asked, narrowing his eyes.Dr. Trein lifted his tear-streaked face, lips quivering. “Sir, I just received a call from the president of our hospital chain at the headquarter
Chapter 5
Jamie had spent the entire night dancing in the rain — soaked, cold, and mad with euphoria — on the same bridge he had nearly jumped off hours ago. His limbs ached from the wildness of his movements, but his soul, for the first time in years, felt alive. He twirled and spun and laughed like a man who had just wrestled with the gods and won. He sang aloud, arms flung wide to the heavens, the rain hiding his tears — both the old ones of grief and the new ones of redemption.Eventually, sometime before dawn, he slumped down on a wooden bench nearby, exhausted and half-conscious. The rain had stopped. His eyes fluttered open only when the early morning sun pierced the cloudy sky and kissed his wet face with golden warmth. Jamie groaned softly and sat up. His neck ached, his clothes clung to his body like damp rags, and he was shivering, but he had one thing on his mind.He fumbled into his pocket and pulled out his phone.With trembling fingers, he unlocked it and stared at the banking ap
Chapter 4
Jamie stood at the far end of the winery, clutching the chilled bottle of champagne like it was the last thing tying him to this world. His hands trembled—not from the cold, but from the chaos boiling inside him. The warehouse-like backroom was dim, humid, and reeked of stale liquor and broken dreams. Echoes of laughter and music boomed from the club, the sound of a world he wasn’t invited to.He leaned against a rack of dusty Merlots, staring at nothing. It had been only a few hours since his mother’s passing, and everything was crumbling. He couldn’t afford the hospital bills, the funeral, or even a quiet moment to grieve. He had nowhere to go and no one left. His stepbrothers had made sure of that. His body still smelled faintly of the alley he slept in last night. His shirt clung to his skin, stained and stiff. His eyes stung from lack of sleep and too many tears.A roar of cheers erupted from the main floor, a distant storm he couldn’t muster the energy to care about. All he want
Chapter 3
Jamie couldn’t afford to lose his job—not now. Not when everything else had crumbled around him like an ancient ruin left to the mercy of wind and time. His mother was gone. His home—the only one he had ever known, however cold and cruel—was now a memory erased in a single night. The Reynolds, as vile as they had been, at least gave him a roof to sleep under and two meals a day. That roof was now gone. That allowance of $500, which came with bitterness and humiliation, had vanished along with any hope of financial reprieve.Still reeling from the sting of Ben Reynold’s cruelty, Jamie sprinted through the city’s busy streets, the dried tears on his face cracked by the wind, his mind cluttered with grief. His clothes still smelled faintly of the hospital room where his mother had died. But there was no time to mourn properly. Life in Hollywood never waited for the broken or the poor. It only moved for the rich and powerful, and Jamie knew all too well he was neither.He reached Momentuu
Chapter 2
Jamie stepped out of the hospital into the gray morning, his mind spinning with grief, confusion, and a gnawing dread he couldn’t quite place. His mother’s final words played on repeat in his head, and though they should’ve comforted him, they only left him with more questions. “You’re not a nobody… You matter more than anyone else in this world.”He didn’t feel that way now.At the entrance to the hospital, two familiar figures stood waiting: Billy Carson, his best friend since sophomore year, and Stacy Reynold, his stepsister. They rushed to him as soon as they saw his slumped shoulders and red eyes.“Jamie…” Stacy said softly, stepping forward with outstretched arms.He collapsed into her embrace, his body trembling. She held him like a sister should—not bound by blood, but by shared struggle.“I’m so sorry we’re late,” Billy said, voice quiet. “We were trying to finish your final essays and those lab reports. You know, to keep your grades intact. Thought it’d give you more time wi
