CAPTIVE OF A CRUEL MAFIOSO

"How come the pictures are blurry?" Francis asks, in front of pictures placed on his desk by Jerome, Francis' friend since childhood.

Jerome: "Do you want me to eliminate the detectives?"

Francis: "Why?"

Jerome: "For doing a bad job."

"No. No need to kill them, I should have gone to see her myself, after all I'm the one getting married" Francis said, standing up revealing the dragon tattoo he has on his right arm.

Jerome: "Do you really have to marry her? You don't know her, you've never seen her, yet you want to marry her? I think you should think about it again "

Francis: "I already told you. It's father's last wish and I intend to make it come true. How are the new recruits?"

Jerome: "They're fine. Gray and Victor help them settle in and there is a guy arriving from California today, as soon as he arrives their training will begin"

"About your wedding, I still think you don't have to do it" Jerome quickly added.

Francis: "I've already made up my mind and you can't change it. Send word to the Lopez family that in five days our wedding will be and I want Cassandra here"

Knowing that he won't be able to change Francis' mind, Jerome left to carry out his orders.

Francis was standing alone in his office, staring coldly at the garden when a lady burst in.

"Have you made up your mind?" The lady asked and slowly, Francis turned to give her his attention.

"I'm getting married in five days" he said coldly.

___"So you chose to dump me, didn't you?"

Francis: "You knew all along that our relationship was temporary, Naomi"

"Why? Is it because you're the boss and I'm just a f**king slave?" Naomi yelled, feeling hurt that he chose to marry some stupid rich girl from California over her.

Francis: "You want the truth?"

"You're just a materialistic woman. Yes, you're good in bed and we had a wonderful body to body but that's it. You're not someone who can stay with one man for long, I know that Naomi.

___" Or do you think I'm an idiot? Do you think I don't know that you f*ck with my men all day long? "

As soon as he said that, Naomie turned pale.

Naomie: "These men mean nothing to me. You're the only one I love."

Francis: "Love? You know very well that word doesn't exist in our dictionary. We get pleasure from each other and that's it. "

Naomie: "But Francis I..."

"Enough! I'm getting married in five days, you've already heard everything I have to say and so, get out" Francis said in his usual authoritative tone.

Knowing that she couldn't contradict him when he was like this, Naomi left his office.

Twenty-two year old Flora MARTIN could be seen sitting next to a guy as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I told you to stop crying, you know it breaks my heart when you do" Christopher BLAKE said as he crouched down in front of Flora to take her hand.

"I want to stop the tears, I really do but the thought of you going to Italy for a year breaks my heart" Flora said as she wiped her tears as others were already rushing over.

Chris: "You know I'm leaving to make money and prepare for the future for both of us. Once I get to Italy, I'll make sure to call you all the time and when I make enough money, I'll come take you to Italy to live with me, you trust me, don't you? "

Flora nodded.

The two hug each other fiercely, Christopher pulled away, wanting to kiss her when the call for Italian passengers went out.

"This is my flight," Chris said, standing with Flora by his side.

"Take care of yourself and promise me you won't put yourself in danger," Flora said, doing her best to hold back her tears.

"I promise," he said, hugging her once more before leaving.

Flora stood there watching him and suddenly, he stopped, running towards her.

"What are you..." Flora's words were cut off as Chris claimed her lips.

They kissed passionately and if it wasn't for the announcement that was made again, they wouldn't have let go.

Chris: "I'll come back for you, I promise."

Flora knew how painful it was for them to be apart while he went to his new job in Italy. If she could, she would have made herself rich and had Chris by her side.

But as it is, they are both poor and Chris feels that he has to make money for them if they want to build a life together.

"I'll wait for you," Flora mumbles, watching Chris leave until he is out of sight.

"I feel bad, mom," Cassandra said as she sat on her bed while her mother, Crystal, stood by the window, watching her.

Crystal: "Bad? You want to go in her place then?"

Cassandra: "You know I don't want to"

Crystal: "Then why feel bad? You have no intention of marrying Francis KING but we found a solution. A solution that involves sending Flora in your place, so stop feeling guilty and start thinking of a lie for Flora"

Cassandra: "You're right and about the lie, I could ask her to help me deliver a package to someone. She'll have no idea who she's meeting until she gets there"

"That's not bad. This wouldn't be happening if your crazy father hadn't made a marriage agreement with that creepy Anthony KING" Crystal said stamping her feet on the ground in anger.

Cassandra: "They were friends and both thought they could continue that bond by marrying their children, but their reasoning is old school. They should have thought a little more, not everyone likes the idea of getting involved with a man they know nothing about except that he is the leader of a dangerous group."

"She's here, Cass. Flora is back" Crystal informed, with Flora walking into the house with no idea what they had planned for her.

Cassandra: "Then it's time"

Flora had just walked in when she saw Cassandra and her mother waiting in the living room.

It's weird since her employers are never around at this time of day.

"Good morning Mrs. Crystal and you too Miss Cassandra" Flora said, heading towards the kitchen but they called her back, asking her to sit down.

___"Are they going to fire her? "Flora thought, squeezing her hand.

Cassandra: "I have something to deliver to someone in Italy and I want you to do the delivery"

Flora: "Italy? But I've never left the country and..."

"That's easy. You just have to give the necessary document and that's it" Crystal said cutting Flora off.

If she travels to Italy she will be able to see Chris and it will also be her first trip out of town.

Flora: "Okay I will deliver it but for how long will I be there?"

"A week, a month... Take your time, think of it as paid leave for all the service you have done us but come back as soon as you can ." Crystal said acting like she didn't want Flora to stay there long when she knows Flora will stay a long time.

"Really? Oh thank you very much, tell me what document I have to deliver" Flora said and when they told her she quickly went to get it.

"And if Flora finds out and tells Francis that she is being set up, what are we going to do?" Cassandra asked her mother.

"Nothing. I'm sure Francis would have married her by then" Crystal said with a cruel smile.

Flora in awe stares out the window as the plane lands on the soil of Italy.

Some time later, with her bag in hand, Flora walks out of the airport.

She tried Christopher's number for the twelfth time but he still doesn't pick up.

"Should she just deliver the package and leave?" Flora thought as two men in black approached her.

"Welcome to Italy, ma'am" one of them said as they both bowed to her.

Cassandra told her that two men will be waiting to escort her but she didn't expect this special treatment as she is just a simple girl

"We are escorting you to the STONE castle, you can get in the car ma'am" The guy told

Flora again, "Um, you don't have to be formal. Just like you I am also hardworking, feel free to call me by my name"

"I'm sorry but I can't do that. You are very high and I am... low. So I can't call you that" the guy said urging her to come in.

Flora got into the car and remained silent, looking at the buildings and streets of the city.

As they entered the castle premises, Flora couldn't help but notice the red roses attached to some of the doors and the building.

"Is there a wedding going on?" A smile lit up her face as she asked the guards.

She read somewhere that whenever there is a wedding in Italy, red roses are attached everywhere since they symbolize love.

As soon as the car stopped, Flora was surprised to see more guards waiting and as soon as she got out of the car, they all bowed down saying.

_____ "Welcome Madam"

What exactly is going on? Why are they giving her the treatment of a queen? Is that the package she has with her?

Just before she left, Cassandra had warned her not to open the package and now she regrets not opening it to check it.

"You're finally here. You're pretty in real life, come with me, I'll show you to your room" a lady Flora assumed to be in her early sixties said as she pulled Flora in.

Flora: "I don't need a room. I just want to see Mr. Francis and...."

"Don't be in a hurry to see Francis, he should have been here to greet you but he has something to do, he'll be with you soon and my name is Lolita but I prefer you call me Lita, let me take you to your room" Lita said as she led a confused Flora upstairs.

As Lita helped her unpack, Flora stood against the window looking out.

Flora: "I saw red roses around. There's a wedding going on right?"

"Of course there is. It's your wedding after all" Lita said and at the same time the door opened revealing a Greek God.

"Thank goodness you're here, Francis. Your fiancée just arrived, isn't she pretty?" Lolita asked the intimidating man standing at the entrance looking at her.

Francis: "Looks like Dad picked out a beautiful bride for me..."

Flora: "Huh?"