The Slave of Pleasure
CHAPTER 20

Rachel

Going downstairs seemed like a risky idea, but curiosity was getting the better of me. What could be so important to make Vincenzo change his behavior like that? I was determined to replace out. I hid from the employees, taking the opportunity to not be noticed. My mind was full of questions as I moved carefully down the hallway, trying not to make any noise.

I reached the office door, where an important conversation seemed to be taking place. I took a deep breath and approached, trying to listen through the crack. The conversation inside the office was in a low but firm tone. Vincenzo's voice, normally so imposing, now sounded a little strained. He was talking to someone who seemed to be exerting considerable pressure on him.

The words came in fragments, but I managed to catch a few snippets that intrigued me. Vincenzo mentioned something about responsibilities and future commitments, and the other person seemed to be insisting that he make an important decision. The conversation was loaded with a weight that I could not fully decipher. I could hear the sound of chairs creaking and the soft clink of cups, as if someone was drinking tea or coffee.

My heart was beating fast and I pressed myself closer to the wall, trying to hear as much as possible. However, the other person's voice was a little muffled, and the conversation seemed to revolve around a topic of great importance to Vincenzo. He seemed to be resisting, but he was also trying to be respectful, which only increased the mystery of who was with him.

As I tried to better understand what was being discussed, I noticed that the surroundings were getting busier. The sound of the butler's footsteps approaching the office made me shiver. I moved quickly to the corner of the door, trying not to make any noise, but the fright made me slip a little. The tremor in my hand made a slight noise, and I froze, trying not to breathe too loudly.

Then, what seemed to be a quick movement from one of the servants made my heart race even faster. The butler was checking to see if Vincenzo needed anything, and I knew that if he found me there, I would be in trouble. I tried to move away as quietly as possible, but my anxiety caused me to bump into a small object on the table next to the door. The sudden noise seemed too loud in the silence of the night.

The butler turned his head quickly, and I felt a chill run down my spine. There was no way I could escape without being seen. With my face burning with shame and my heart racing, I started running up the stairs. Each step felt like a loud thud on the floor, and the fear of being discovered only grew.

I reached my room panting, with my legs shaking and my mind racing. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, trying to calm my breathing. I was full of adrenaline and also a sense of guilt for having invaded Vincenzo's privacy. Still, my mind was buzzing with unanswered questions. What was at stake in this conversation? And why did Vincenzo seem so uncomfortable?

I looked around my room, trying to distract myself from the intense experience I had just had. Things in the room seemed to be in order, and the maid had done an excellent job. But tonight, everything seemed different. The words and tone of the conversation I had overheard still echoed in my mind, and I knew that this situation was only beginning to unfold.

I decided to take a shower to cool my head.

As the hot water ran over me, I tried to use the time to cool my head and calm the whirlwind of thoughts that tormented me. The steam from the shower enveloped the room in a thick cloud, and I allowed myself to immerse myself in the sensation of warmth that penetrated my tired muscles. The heat of the water seemed to mix with the tension and discomfort I felt, trying to soothe the anxiety that was consuming me. I stood under the hot spray, thinking about the conversation I had tried to overhear between Vincenzo and the unknown visitor. The muffled sound of voices, the concern in Vincenzo's tone, and the sense of something extremely important being discussed-all of it kept playing incessantly in my mind. I struggled to recall the fragments of the conversation I had caught: individual words, tones of voice, but most of all, the sense of urgency and concern that had permeated the encounter. The hot water was a temporary comfort, but it could not completely erase the mystery surrounding the visit and the uneasiness Vincenzo displayed. For a moment, I closed my eyes and let the water run, imagining what could be happening.

I had just gotten out of the shower, feeling the hot water still running down my arms as I dried myself with a towel. The steam from the shower still hung in the air, and I was trying to compose myself, thinking about all the confusion that had happened.

My hair was tied up in a towel, and I paced around the room, trying to replace a suitable outfit for the evening.

When I finally decided to get dressed, the last thing I expected to think about was someone coming into my room. However, without warning, the bedroom door opened with a soft creak. I almost dropped the towel in surprise and turned sharply to see who was there. My heart raced when I saw Vincenzo in the doorway, his presence imposing and his gaze fixed on me.

I stood frozen for a moment, with the towel still wrapped around me and shock written all over his face. Vincenzo, with a serious expression and a look that left no room for doubt about his intentions, just watched.

When I saw Vincenzo in my room, I almost dropped the towel. "What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to remain calm. He looked at me with a serious expression and replied, "I'm the one asking the questions. What were you doing downstairs in the office when you should have been in the bedroom?"