His Captured Princess: Claimed By the Mafia Boss

My phone continues to ring in my purse as I begin my climb higher up the winding steps of one of my fathers' mansions, my breathing fast and my heart pounding in my chest as I reach the large front door and pull it open, my hands shaking so violently I worried my grip on the large door handle would fall and send the door chasing into the side of me.

Gazing around the large lobby, I expected to see more of a commotion with the unexpected news I’d just received, but only one of my fathers' maids seeming to dust one of his prized possessions didn’t seem fazed, either she was so unbothered by the entire situation or was simply unaware of what I knew.

“Where’s my father?” I asked completely out of breath, my forehead dripping with the biggest beads of sweat, I don’t believe I have ever run that fast in my life.

“He is just upstairs in his office ma’am.” The maid expressed, her face now holding concern and shock when she looked at me as though what was happening in this moment wasn’t the biggest shock but my reaction to it.

With this information in hand, my sprint continues as I bolted up even more steps, the heeled boots on my feet threatening to send me tumbling down to the ground due to the polished flooring, but with my heart in my mouth, I arrive on the landing and throw open my father’s office door.

I should have been relieved when the scene I thought I was about to walk into wasn’t present but my father, who sat behind his desk with a glass of what I was assuming was whiskey in his hand, along with a younger man standing in a freshly pressed suit also seeming to hold a glass of whisky, his blonde hair jelled all the way back giving him a more sophisticated look as both men didn’t seem panicked in the slightest.

“Rosemary, thank you for joining us.” My father smiled taking a sip from his alcoholic beverage before placing it down on his desk, my breaths still coming out in short pants due to the terror that had been going through my body and the amount of sprinting I did in a short about of time.

“What’s going on, Jason rang me and said you were having a heart attack?!” I asked still in a state of shock watching my father, who didn’t seem to be in any life-threatening condition but the very opposite, sat with that same smile on his lips.

“That is what I told Jason to tell you, I was aware you were scheduled to have lunch with your friend, but this meeting is far more important so, I used my brain and thought of the best excuse to get you here quickly.” My father explained his masterful plan to get me here fast, but his explanation only pissed me off slightly.

“So, you thought the best way to get me here in a timeframe that was suitable for whatever meeting this was, you’d get your men to lie and say my father was having a fucking heart attack?!” I asked in a state of shock that my father had taken it this far but also beyond annoyed, this man truly wanted me to believe he was on the brink of death just to make me rush into his home?!

“Exactly dear Rosemary, now you understand.” My father grinned as though what he’d just put me through wasn’t at all unnecessary in the slightest, the worry I felt for his condition soon turning to anger.

“I can see the fire you spoke about Arnold; I like it.” The man also stood in the room smirked, the way his eyes seemed to scan my body as I stood in a sweaty mess caused a wave of uncomfortableness through me, my eyes soon staring back at him with suspicion and the same anger I felt for my father.

“And who the fuck are you?” I asked my voice still littered with that same anger as I watched the two men drink without a care in the world while for me, the last hour of my life was full of panic and fear, I thought my father was about to die!

“Of course, you have yet to be formally introduced, Rosemary, this is Justin Knight, son to the extremely successful Harold Knight and your… future husband.” My father smiled getting up from his seat and pointing towards the man I now know as Justin, where before I could protest, my hand is taken and shook by the man of the hour.

“My future what now?” I asked after my brain had taken some time to not only recover from the fake heart attack my father was said to be having but to fully understand the last three words which spilled from my father's mouth.

“Justin’s father and I have in talks for many months now discussing the possibility of the two of you becoming wed, we believe with the great power both of our families hold, coming together in marriage will only strengthen that power and allow us to move into even greater heights.” My father explained with that same smile on his lips as though all he was saying was the most normal situation, but I was still left in a state of shock.

“When my own father first approached me with the idea of marriage, I too was a little shocked and unsure of such an arrangement, until I was handed some photos of you and I must say, your beauty is unmatched. Along with as your father said, the power we all seek to gain, this marriage will only strengthen the relationship and power both our families have held for many generations.” Justin smiled cutting into the conversation once again giving me his point of view, where I was left to stand in my sweaty place completely at a loss for words in a sense.

“Now you understand why I called you here, with Justin’s busy schedule, following in his fathers' footsteps, now was the only time he and you are able to meet before the wedding at the end of the week.” My father beamed from behind his desk using the time I couldn’t find the words to form a complete sentence to truly hammer in the fact he wanted me and this man, who’d I never met before right this moment, to get married.

“That is correct, I am busy most days but ensured to find the time to meet with you before the big day and speaking of, we mustn’t forget this.” Justin smiled walking closer to me but seemed to realise something and went into his back pocket pulling out a little box which when opened, revealed the most beautiful diamond engagement ring, but it was this movement which allowed me to finally, snap out of my shocked state.

“I’m sorry, Justin wasn’t it, I don’t know what my father and anyone else for that matter has led you to believe but I’m not marrying anyone at the end of the week especially, a man I don’t know.” I announced pushing at the box which held the beautiful ring inside back towards him, where Justin could only turn his head towards my father with a raised eyebrow and smirk.

“That is where you are wrong Rosemary, you are indeed marrying someone at the end of the week and that just so happens to be Justin. All the arrangements are already in place and there is nothing you can do to stop that. Now as your father, I demand you take that engagement ring.” My father more sternly tells me once he saw I was not dropping to my knees and accepting what he was expecting from me, where I was soon looking at him with that same anger.

“Father, it’s not the 1930s anymore, you can’t just force me to marry a man I not only do not love but I don’t even know!” I exclaim throwing my arms in the air while also pushing that same ring backwards, what does this man take me for?!

“Oh Rosemary, I believe it is about time you grew up don’t you, this marriage exchange is not about love or whatever fairytale story you have created in your mind surrounding such a union. This is for the betterment of the family and is what is happening whether you like that fact or not, perhaps with time I am sure you both will begin to love each other but regardless, step forward and accept that engagement ring from Justin.” My father responded still seeming to hold the same sentiment slamming his hand down on the desk while my own hand, without my consent, was taken by this strange Justin man and the ring slipped onto my ring finger.

I could only turn to look at the man in front of me with shock and disbelief, he wasn’t truly wanting to marry a woman he doesn’t know right? I was under the assumption at first that perhaps his own father was forcing him into this situation but from his eagerness and that look in his eye, it was clear it was something he also wanted.

“And look, a perfect fit.” My father’s once stern voice turned into one of glee as though what was happening was the most magical thing, but it was the very opposite in my opinion.

“Almost as though it was meant to be.” Justin commented from beside me closing the box and slipping it back into his pocket, the heavy stone now rested on my finger but the beauty of it in that moment gone from my mind, it now resembled a handcuff.

“Father-.” I began to try and protest and even went to pull off the ring from my finger, but with Justin pulling down my other hand and my fathers loud voice, I was cut off.

“That is all we will say on the matter Rosemary now, you better run along, I am sure that friend of yours will be eager to learn all she can about your engagement. My future son in law and I have much to discus.” My father said with that same look of happiness on his face while I was left with the deepest feeling of dread in that moment, I wasn’t seriously being forced to marry this man, was I?

“Oh, and to make sure I do not have a runaway bride on my hands, I have called upon some of my father’s security detail to escort you around until we are married, we do not need you slipping away, do we?” Justin interjected with his own hand holding so tightly onto mine it started to hurt slightly, my eyes darting back and forth to each man as I once again, found myself a little lost for words.

“Off you go.” My father waved me away as four huge men in suits walk in, these were obviously the men Justin had enlisted to watch me to ensure I didn’t run away, which is all I wanted to do in this moment.

Fully not understanding what was happening, I’m guided out of the office and down the steps I had just bounded up moments before. On my journey inside, I thought I would see some things which would disturb me, but it was what I learnt in that room leading me to believe my hell had only just started. Was I now trapped with this man I didn’t even know forever?

But I had yet to meet the most dangerous man I would ever come across, who may be my only hope out of this situation.