Enzo left the hotel feeling ecstatic, a wide grin plastered across his face. Ralph and Edgar followed him discreetly, keeping their distance as they headed home. However, the moment they stepped into their shared space, their demeanor shifted drastically.

Both Ralph and Edgar stared at Enzo with a mixture of disbelief and incredulity, their expressions clearly conveying their astonishment at his behavior. Enzo, feeling the weight of their gaze, returned their pointed looks with a nervous smile as he took a seat on the couch.

The air in the room felt charged with unspoken questions and tension, each of them grappling with the unexpected turn of events and what it might mean for their future endeavors.

Ralph's teasing remark broke the tension in the room, lightening the atmosphere. "Someone's in love," he quipped with a playful grin, his tone laced with amusement. Surprisingly, Enzo didn't retaliate; instead, he quietly stared down at his phone, hoping for a call from Aurora.

Observing his friend's lovesick demeanor, Edgar stepped forward, his expression serious. "Enzo, are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. He continued, his tone grave, "If anything, from the conversation, it's clear that the woman is not exactly safe. She might already be on a consignment, maybe one related to us. We sure are popular in our line of work."

Enzo's gaze shifted from his phone to Edgar, his expression thoughtful as he processed his friend's words. The gravity of the situation dawned on him, and he realized the potential risks involved in pursuing a connection with Aurora. Despite his feelings, he knew he couldn't afford to let his guard down, especially in their dangerous line of work.

Ralph countered Edgar's concerns confidently. "What's better than her joining us?" he remarked with a smirk. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, they say."

Enzo mulled over Ralph's words, considering the strategic advantage of having Aurora on their side. Despite the risks, the idea intrigued him.

Edgar, though still cautious, couldn't deny the potential benefits of turning a potential threat into an ally.

The trio fell into a contemplative silence, weighing the risks and rewards of embracing Aurora into their world.

"Oh, come on, you both," Ralph chirped, his tone lightening the mood. "We take life as it comes. For now, let's focus on the fact that our dear Enzo has a little crush on a Ms. Aurora Merwell, who happens to be pretty and sharp. Quite a deadly combination, by the way."

His playful remark elicited a chuckle from Enzo and a small smile from Edgar, temporarily easing the tension in the room. Despite the seriousness of their profession, Ralph's ability to inject humor into the situation reminded them to take things in stride and maintain perspective.

"But I must admit," Ralph continued, a teasing glint in his eye, "asking her to work with us is quite similar to asking her to move in , in a relationship. You, sir, sure are on a fast horse."

His playful analogy drew a smirk from Enzo and a chuckle from Edgar. Ralph's witty observation highlighted the potential complexities of involving Aurora in their operations, reminding them of the blurred lines between professional alliances and personal relationships.

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In stark contrast to the lighthearted atmosphere at Enzo's place, Aurora found herself grappling with Max's frantic reaction. "Rory, do you not get it?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief. "You were just invited to work with Enzo Santoro by the man himself. This is the dream of most people like us at Astor."

"Hello to you too, Enzo fan," Aurora retorted with a snarky look. Max's concern was evident, but she couldn't help but feel exasperated by his seriousness. "It's not that," he responded defensively. "But the man sure makes it his job to look after his employees. There are all kinds of rumors about him, but this is a fact known. And you want to know what's the other fact? He does not take deception kindly."

Aurora rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin as Max continued to emphasize the seriousness of the situation. "It's very serious, Rory. You could actually die," he warned, his tone grave.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Aurora replied nonchalantly, brushing off Max's horrified and tense expression. "Are you seriously considering his offer?" he asked, his disbelief evident in his tone.

"Keep your enemies closer, you know," Aurora quipped, her words carrying a weight of determination that Max couldn't shake, no matter how hard he tried to dissuade her.

Max left Aurora's room with a defeated and concerned expression etched on his face. Aurora, unfazed by his reaction, turned towards her spare phone, dialing back her contacts until she reached the name "M." The call was swiftly picked up on the other end, and without wasting a moment, Aurora got down to business.

"Guess who just got invited by the one and only Enzo Roman Santoro to join his club," she announced, her tone carrying a mix of excitement and intrigue.

"You're there to gather intel on him, not join his little group," the man's voice came through the phone.

"That's exactly what I'm doing," Aurora replied confidently.

The man on the other end let out an exasperated sigh. "Damn it, Roe. Stop trying to get yourself killed or I might actually shoot a bullet in your head. You're not doing anything like that, not in this life or any other. Gather whatever you can, but stay miles away from Enzo. I better not find you dead when I land in Astor."

"You're coming to Astor?" Aurora questioned.

"Indeed, soon we all will be. Till then, keep yourself alive and out of his sight. You get that?" he responded firmly.

Aurora sat down on her bed, contemplating the situation as she stared at the card she had received from Enzo. His name, elegantly written as "Enzo Roman Santoro," stared back at her, accompanied by a phone number. After a moment of hesitation, she found herself dialing the number, unable to resist the temptation.

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Enzo stretched out on his bed, his mind still abuzz with the events of the day. Despite his attempts to push them aside, thoughts of Aurora lingered like an insistent melody, refusing to be ignored. It wasn't just her physical beauty that captivated him, though that was undeniable—her pretty eyes seemed to hold secrets he longed to unravel, and her wavy brown hair framed her face in a way that made her appear almost ethereal. But it was more than just her looks; it was the way she carried herself with confidence, the sharpness of her wit that matched his own. Even when she passed those snarky comments, fully aware of his identity, there was something about her demeanor that intrigued him—a sense of strength and resilience that drew him in despite himself.

Enzo lay on his bed, still lost in thought, when he heard his phone ring. Instantly, his eyes lit up with hope as he glanced at the screen, longing for a sign of Aurora's presence. Seeing an unknown number, he didn't hesitate to answer, his heart racing with anticipation.

Enzo's heart skipped a beat as he heard Aurora's voice on the other end of the line. It was like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds, instantly brightening his mood. "Is this Mr. Enzo Roman Santoro?" her voice rang out, and he couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at his lips. "The one and only," he replied, his voice laced with amusement and a hint of excitement. Just hearing her voice again was enough to lift his spirits, and he eagerly awaited what she had to say next.

Enzo couldn't help but tease as he asked, "To what do I owe the honors?" There was a playful lilt in his voice, tinged with anticipation. Aurora's laughter danced through the line as she replied, "Are you seriously asking because you don't know?" Enzo's smile widened as he responded, "Well, I do, but I still want you to confirm it personally, miss." Aurora chuckled in response, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Well then, Enzo, or should I say boss?" she teased, testing the waters. Enzo's tone softened as he replied, "Nah, Enzo would do just fine. But only when it's us. You can call me Mr. Santoro before others, or boss. It's your free choice."

Aurora couldn't help but challenge his strict demeanor. "Strict much?" she questioned, her tone teasing. Enzo maintained his composure, replying, "Well, there are rules." Aurora's laughter tinkled through the line as she remarked, "Never met such a caring boss before." Enzo's voice softened as he responded, "not anyone can be Enzo Roman Santoro, can they?"

Aurora, not one to back down, reminded him of the basics. "Well then, Mr. Santoro, are you forgetting the basic employment scheme?" Enzo hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by her directness. "What's my pay? I am expensive, you know," she continued. Enzo's mind raced  "you can have me," he blurted out, earning an immediate "What?" from Aurora. He quickly backtracked, attempting to smooth over the near disaster his own words had caused. "I mean, you can have the best. You sure will not be disappointed. That's what I guarantee," he hastily assured her.

Aurora's response was filled with anticipation. "Well then, I am looking forward to it," she replied warmly. Enzo echoed her sentiment, saying, "So am I." There was a brief moment of silence before Aurora spoke up again, reminding Enzo of a crucial detail. "Enzo, you do realize we didn't set the meeting time yet?" Enzo's heart skipped a beat as he realized his oversight. If one could die of shame, Enzo would already be in his next life. "how about 10:00 am tomorrow?" he suggested, hoping to salvage the situation. Aurora's reply was nonchalant. "Sure, not like I'm a busy person," she quipped. Enzo couldn't help but chuckle at her response. "You will soon be," he predicted cryptically, before they both hung up, their smiles lingering even after the call ended, oblivious to what the future holds for them they both indulged themselves into their own happy thoughts. 

With the power of the author , I DECLARE RALPH SAMOA AS THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP !

Even a lazy one like me will work if my paycheck has Enzo on it .... Anyways Enzo my man let his intrusive thoughts out for a moment there XD