Claimed By The Ruthless Enzo

{Naomi's POV}

"So you're telling me you'll just walk into the Vitale mansion and walk out with fifty-million-dollar cufflinks like it's the easiest thing to do?" Chloe, my best friend asked, her voice faltering in fear.

I turned to face her, still holding onto the red lipstick in my hand. "Yes. It's not like I have any other choice." I turned to face the mirror and brushed the lipstick on my lips, staring at my reflection, my hand slightly shaking-betraying the fear I was trying so hard to hide.

"You have a choice that won't cost you your life," Chloe exclaimed as she stood up from the chair, walking toward me. "You can get a job and use the money to pay for your mom's hospital bill."

I turned to look at Chloe, wondering where she got that idea from, but I knew she was reacting out of fear, and that's not what I needed at the moment.

"Jeez, Chloe. You're acting like you're the one going to do it," I mumbled with an eye roll. "And which job in New York would offer me thirty million dollars in a day to pay for my mom's surgery bill?"

I turned to face her and she lowered her gaze.

"You're right. But if anything happens to you, I don't know if I'll be able to survive the guilt of letting you do something as stupid as stealing."

I sighed, letting the weight of fear off my chest as I placed my hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, Chloe. Nothing bad is going to happen to me, aside from the fact that I'll get the cufflinks, sell them to Vanta Andres as we've planned, pay for my mom's surgery, and keep the rest for her upkeep."

"I'm scared, Naomi," Chloe mumbled. "That cufflink belongs to the Vitale Empire, and it's in possession of Enzo. That guy is mysterious, and the last time someone got close to the cufflinks... that was the last I saw of her."

I grabbed the expensive cashmere sweater I borrowed from the boutique Chloe's friend owns.

"Are you saying he killed her or something?" I asked, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

When I got no response from Chloe, I turned in her direction. My heart raced, but I refused to show it. The worst thing that could happen to me right now wasn't getting caught by Enzo, it was losing my mother, the only person I had left, when I could at least try to save her.

Chloe looked at me with so much sadness.

"No one knew what happened to her."

"Jeez, you're scaring me, Chloe." I bit my lip and walked over to pick up my purse from the bed.

"Because I don't want you to do it," she said. I rolled my eyes and started making my way to the door. She followed closely behind and stopped when we got to the car.

A man dressed in a black suit stood waiting. He smiled and waved at Chloe when he saw her, giving off the hint that she had helped all the way. She talked to her friend to lend me a dress, and also persuaded her friend's husband to take me to the mansion in grand style for the Vitale party so I could blend in, and even snuck my name onto the guest list. But now, at the dying moment, she was getting too scared.

The man opened the car for me, and I got in. I blew Chloe a kiss before he closed the door. Watching her stare at the car in horror with her hand wrapped over her chest, I rested my back on the seat and prayed to whatever I believed in that everything tonight turn out right.

Just like Chloe had described the Vitale mansion, it was massive and majestic. Tall, royalty-crafted with marble pillars and golden fixtures. A red carpet stretched across the entrance, and rich people, men in tuxedos and women in glittering dresses, walked around in a glamour of wealth.

The moment the heels I had on touched the concrete floor of the parking space, that's when the height of everything hit me. My heart pounded in my chest. I took a deep breath to calm myself, waved to the driver, and started walking into the mansion. I walked in and gave my name to the man at the entrance. He nodded and stepped aside to let me pass.

With my heart still beating rapidly, I made my way to grab a drink and scanned the environment for the hallway Chloe had told me about. Taking a sip of the cocktail, I tried to recall the details. The study was straight down the hallway, then up the stairs, and a little further up again. Once I saw a brown double door with golden knobs, that would be the place.

I took another sip and looked around once more to ensure no one was staring before slipping away toward the hallway. My heart eased a little as I climbed the stairs, seeing that no one was around. With just the sound of my heels clicking against the stairs, I smiled, though my hands were shaking. I kept walking until I saw the golden knob. I looked around hastily before grabbing it.

I pushed the door open. It creaked softly, revealing the lavish interior of the study, dressed in rich brown and black tones. I stepped inside, remembering Chloe had said the cufflinks were in the lower drawer of the desk, inside a brown box with a security code-579.

I had Chloe to thank for being such an observant friend and for staying loyal as a good maid at the Vitale mansion for years. I pulled out the box carefully and stared at it, smiling. I looked around to see if there was anyone, or anything, that could give away my identity, but there was nothing.

Pressing the passcode, I stared down at the rare cufflinks, one of the most expensive in New York, glistening in gold under the chandelier light. I picked it up from the box, slid it into my purse, and closed the box exactly as I found it.

Straightening up and walking carefully out of the study, I took a few steps down the hallway. I looked back and around one more time. Just as I turned to face forward again, my body collided with someone.

{Naomi POV}

I stumbled to fall but the man didn't move, it was almost as if he was made with stone. He shifted slightly and I fell to the ground, my heart falling along with me. I could hear it thumping in my ear as I asked myself these questions.

Have I been caught? Will I get killed?

I rubbed by hand against my forehead, pretending to be high on alcohol not to be able to see properly. "Jeez, who the hell are you?" I winced, looking around confusedly. "Can't you help a lady up."

"A lady?" He muttered, his voice as cold as ice and I sluggishly looked up to see the face of the man. His pair of black stared at me suspiciously and I looked away facing the ground hoping he didn't see my face.

He stepped closer to me and I scrambled on the floor like a lost cat drenched in rain. I moved backwards and he scoffed. "Who the hell are you?"

I gulped the bile in my throat and push my hand hair to the front still on the floor. "Oh shit, I'm so drunk. And I only had two drinks. I tried to look for the restroom l must've miss the way." I mumbled burying my face in my palm.

The man stayed perfectly still with one hand burying in his pocket exposing his expensive black waistcoat. "I asked a question, I don't care if you're drunk or not." He said flatly.

A cold chill ran down my spine as I think of what next to do. With the sound of his voice and the way he acted I tried to think if I've heard Chloe talked about someone of his status, the only person she had describe with such cold words was Enzo and no one had seen him rather than few people.

I didn't know what to do, words got caught in my throat as I still sat on the floor with my face buried in my palm. I felt a shadowing figure enveloping me and I lifted my hand off my face slowly to have a peek and was shocked when I saw the man crouched beside me.

"Are you getting up that floor or should I get security?" He asked, codly.

I lifted my hand up and shook it, giving him the sluggish look again, thinking he would help me up but he didn't. From this close, I noticed how delicate his features were. His lashes were thick, his nose perfectly straight. And his pitch black eyes had an intensity that would make any girl weak.

"No need for security," I slurred, helping myself up and I staggered about falling thinking he would help me, but he just stood there watching me make a fool out of myself.

"I don't tolerate guest at my party getting drunk," he said coldy. "If you need to go to the restroom, go down the hallway and out of this building."

With that, he turned and walked away leaving me standing there with nothing but my heart beating faster than a sport car. I took in a deep breath and brushed off the fold in my dress before walking away and then I was out of the Vitale mansion, thanking good riddance that I had the cufflinks and wasn't caught.

Once I was far away from the mansion, I brought out the cufflinks from my purse staring at the beauty. It was small but cost more, in triumphant I kissed it softly.

"I can't believe this turn out to be easier than I thought," I mumbled and put it back in my purse before picking out my phone to call Chloe. She picked it up almost immediately.

"Naomi, are you okay? Did you change your mind?" She asked hastily and I rolled my eyes.

"No drama queen," I looked at the cufflinks once more. "I got the sugar."

She laughed. "Oh, really. Like you expect me to believe you successful stole a fifty million dollar worth cufflinks without getting caught?"

I didn't reply her immediately and she spoke up. "Wait are you serious? Naomi?"

I grinned softly. "Meet me in Kirby park let's go sell this baby."

"Woah," Chloe exclaimed and the call ended. With a smile I put my phone back to my purse breathing in the cool evening breeze.

Not long after Chloe stepped out of a car, dressed in a brown shirt and black pant with her hair pulled up in a bun. She rushed to meet me looking side by side.

"Are you serious, Naomi. You got the cufflinks?"

"Yes," I replied. I gave her my purse and she stared into it and gasped like her breath had left her lungs. "Jeez, how did you do it."

"Let's just say, I had the universe backing me up," I replied. "Now enough of the drama, let's go sell this. My mom only have two more hours to her death if I don't pay for her surgery."

Chloe nodded hastily and we took the next cab to the boutique, Chloe who knew the man excorted me inside but about entering the place where the man men are, I held her hand stopping her.

"You've done enough Chloe, let me go alone," I told her. "Incase this turn out bad, I don't want you to be dragged along with it."

Chloe gave me a worried look. "Okay, but please be safe, don't let him cheat you on this."

I smiled and nodded before stepping forward into the colder room, a man dressed in black approached me. "I'm here to see Venta Andres, to discuss business."

The man looked at me assesively before speaking. "He's been waiting for you, follow me."

I followed him into the interior part of the boutique until I was standing before a brown door, he opened it and indicated for me to go in.

Warm light spilled over rich wood shelves as I walked in. My gaze fell on the tidy desk where Venta Andres sat with a smile that never reached his eyes.

I walked up, set the cufflinks on polished oak. The cufflinks glimmered like trapped sunlight.

Venta lifted one with gloved fingers, whistled softly. "Forty million," he said.

I folded my arms. "Make it forty-five. They're rare, and you know it."

His smile tightened. He turned the cufflink, studying the tiny Vitale crest. "Forty-two."

"Forty-five," I repeated, locking eyes with him. My knees quivered, but I held the stare.

A long moment. Then he sighed. "Fine. Forty-five. No receipt."

"Fine."

He typed on a sleek tablet. A ping from my phone confirmed it, forty five million dollars, sitting in my account. My breath hitched.

Venta picked up the cufflinks and slid it into a drawer, before waving me off.

Chloe was pacing outside when I got out of the office. She turned towards me and grabbed my shoulders. "You did it?"

I showed her the bank alert. Tears shone in her eyes as she hugged me. "Now go save your mom," she whispered.

{Naomi POV}

A wave of relief washed over me as I stepped out of the hospital, staring at the remaining balance of the money on my phone. With the thought of what to do, I waved my hand to signal a cab, but a cold voice from behind me distracted me.

I turned hastily to see three men dressed in black. Dark shades covered their eyes, making it hard to read their expressions.

"Miss Naomi Ray, my boss requests your presence," one of the men said in a stern voice.

My heart skipped, and beads of sweat gathered on my forehead as I stared at them in horror. "I'm sorry," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I can't follow you. I don't even know who your boss is or why he wants to see me."

The men scoffed and stepped closer to me. "That's not necessary, Miss Ray. I believe you know why we're here."

I blinked innocently, even though I could hear the thumping of my heart in my ears. My palms were clammy, my mind racing, but I forced my face to stay straight and calm. "I don't know what you're talking about," I muttered softly, trying to make eye contact with him. "And I'm not following you anywhere."

The man looked away from me and nodded at the other two. I tried not to think about what might be their next move, but before I could gather my thoughts, my gaze flickered over the man's shoulder.

The door of a black Mercedes parked not far from us slowly opened.

My breath hitched when I saw a man dressed in a black turtleneck and trousers step out and walk toward us. My legs threatened to buckle beneath me as I recognized him, the same man I had bumped into at the Vitale mansion.

He walked toward me, calm and cold, like the world would pause for him if he asked it to. When he stopped in front of me, he looked me dead in the eye.

"You have something that belongs to me, Miss Ray," he said. "Something you stole."

I swallowed hard. My pretense shattered instantly, replaced by fear.

"It's simple," he continued. "You can come with me now, or I can hand you over to the cops. Either way, you're coming."

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He gave a slight nod, and the two men flanked me again, no force needed. My legs moved on their own as I slid into the back seat of the waiting car.

The door shut behind me with a soft but final click.

I placed a hand on my chest, as if trying to hold my heart in place as the car pulled out of the hospital parking lot and into the road. I didn't even get the chance to call Chloe. My thoughts were a mess, a storm spinning around what my fate might be.

I didn't even realize how much time had passed until the door opened again. I looked around and saw that we were at the Vitale mansion.

The three men escorted me inside. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor of the same study where I had stolen the cufflinks.

The coldness of the marble-tiled floor seeped into my skin, a painful reminder of Chloe's words.

"I'm sorry. This must be a misunderstanding," I pleaded, completely clueless about how to survive this situation.

"You're sorry? And what misunderstanding are you talking about?" a stern voice said from behind me.

I looked up and saw the man on turtleneck walk in and stop in front of me. "I have evidence that yesterday, during the Vitale annual party, you snuck into this study and stole a pair of cufflinks worth fifty million dollars." He paused and looked at me in disgust. "Where is the cufflinks? I want it now."

I gulped down the lump rising in my throat. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," I said, forcing a voice I barely recognized as mine. I was sure no one had seen me take the cufflinks. Maybe he was only suspicious because I bumped into him.

The man scoffed and signaled to the guy next to him. The man picked up a tablet from the table and tapped the screen. A video began to play.

It was me, pressing in the code and opening the glass box containing the cufflinks.

I froze. Tears stung my eyes, and I lowered my gaze.

"Where is the cufflinks?" he asked again, his voice lower this time but more threatening.

"I don't have it," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I sold it... I used the money to pay my mother's hospital bill."

"I don't care what you used the money for," he snapped. "It's either you return the cufflinks or you pay me fifty million. And because you stole it, that adds another fifty million. One hundred million total. Try anything smart, and I won't hesitate to throw you in jail."

My heart raced, and my breathing grew shallow. How could I pay back one hundred million? All I had left in my account was fifteen million.

Even if I gave him that, it would be like tossing a pebble into the ocean. Tears spilled down my cheeks as panic gripped my chest.

"You have a third option," he finally said, taking a step closer. "Wait here while I call the cops. You'll be taken to prison for theft."

"No-please," I blurted, falling to my knees and grabbing his trouser leg. "Please, don't do that. I can't go to prison. My mom is all I have. No one will take care of her if I'm gone. She needs me... please."

He looked down at me, stone-faced. "You should've thought of that before stealing from me."

I sobbed silently, my face pressed against the cold floor, shaking from fear and helplessness.

He leaned down suddenly, his face inches from mine. His voice was cold and slow. "I'll give you one last option."

He signaled to one of his men, who disappeared for a moment and returned with a thin white folder. The man took it and handed it to him.

He opened it and took out a paper, then stretched it toward me.

"Your last option is this-" he said, his eyes narrowing. "Sign this marriage contract. Become my wife... until you pay off the debt."

My heart nearly stopped. I lifted my gaze slowly, staring at the paper in his hand as if it were poisoned.

"W-what?" I whispered.