The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 28

Rachel

I was sitting on my bed, enveloped by the cozy silence of the room, as I flipped through the pages of a book I had obtained from one of the maids. The smell of old paper and the engaging story transported me to another world, far from all the confusion and uncertainty of my own life. It was one of the few ways I could feel a little more normal in that luxurious and intimidating place.

Suddenly, I heard a soft knock on the door, interrupting my reading. I closed the book quickly, my heart racing for no apparent reason. "Come in," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. The door slowly opened, revealing one of the maids. It was Cecilia, a kind woman who had always treated me with respect and a certain warmth that I had not expected to replace in this environment.

She was different today, with a pale face and wide eyes. Something was clearly wrong. My stomach churned, and I sat up straighter in bed, trying to prepare myself for whatever it was.

"Cecilia? What happened?" I asked, trying to hide the panic that was starting to bubble up inside me. She hesitated for a second, as if choosing the right words, but then she sighed, letting out an answer that made my heart stop. "Something horrible happened, Miss Rachel." My hands clenched the sheets at my sides, my entire body tensing. A thousand thoughts ran through my mind in a matter of seconds. What could have happened? Something with Vincenzo? Or worse, my mother? "What happened? Tell me!" I almost screamed, my voice sounding more desperate than I intended. I was already getting up from the bed, my head spinning with the possibility of tragedy. Cecilia took a step forward, her voice shaking. "Vincenzo... he was in a car accident. He's alive, but... it was a huge shock. He crashed the car trying to escape the paparazzi." My legs seemed to give out for a second, and I had to lean on the bed to keep from falling. An accident? Vincenzo? Her words echoed in my mind, but they didn't make sense. I didn't know how to react, what to think. Vincenzo always seemed so invincible, so in control of everything.

"Is he in the hospital?" I asked, my voice low, still in shock. Cecilia nodded, confirming my worst fears.

"Yes, but the doctors said he'll be fine. He had some injuries, but they don't seem to be serious."

I took a deep breath, trying to process the information. Part of me was relieved to know he was alive, but another part was completely lost. I knew life with Vincenzo was full of ups and downs, but this... this was something I hadn't expected. Cecilia stood there, not knowing what else to say, while I tried to compose myself. My thoughts were a whirlwind. Should I go see him? Should I stay here?

"Thank you, Cecilia," I finally said, my voice more controlled, although chaos still reigned within me. "You can leave me alone for a moment."

She nodded silently and left the room, closing the door behind her. And I stayed there, sitting on the edge of the bed, staring into space, not knowing how to process everything I had just heard.

***

My heart was beating so hard I could feel it in my throat. The drive to the hospital was too long, as if each minute dragged on, torturing me with thoughts of the worst. Vincenzo, always so relentless, now vulnerable, confined to a hospital bed. I tried to push these thoughts away, but they kept coming back, insistent. I didn't know what I would replace there, and fear ate away at me inside.

When I arrived, I got out of the limousine in a hurry, my legs feeling weak. The hospital was cold and impersonal, as if the world inside worked differently. People hurried past, but I could only focus on one thing: replaceing Vincenzo.

When I got to the reception, I saw the line in front of me and the panic grew even more. The receptionist was calmly serving people, and it irritated me. How could she be so indifferent while I was on the verge of a breakdown? The fear of being turned away began to dominate my thoughts. What if they told me I couldn't see him? What if I was just another stranger to them?

When it was finally my turn, the receptionist looked up at me with a neutral expression, as if I were just another stranger. My heart raced and, before I could think better of it, the words escaped my mouth. "I'm Vincenzo's fiancée."

It was as if the world had stopped for a second. That lie came out so easily, and at the same time, it hit me with a crushing force. Why did I say that? Why did I lie so blatantly? The answer lay in the desperation I felt to see him, to know that he was okay. But the weight of that lie hit me hard. I had never found myself in this situation before, playing with words that could have been serious consequences.

The receptionist looked at me, and for a moment, I thought she would notice the nervousness on my face. "Just a moment, I'll check his room," she said without question.

I felt a temporary relief, but my mind was racing. I had entered a dangerous game. Now, everything depended on this lie. My body was tense, as if every muscle was prepared to run, to escape this situation. What if she found out? What if someone who really knew him showed up and unmasked me?

As I waited, I couldn't stop thinking about what I had just done. I had always prided myself on being honest, on never lying. And now, here I was, taking on the role of Vincenzo's "fiancée," just to make sure I could see him. Was this what he meant to me? Something more than I was willing to admit?

There was no going back now.

In the reception area, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and worries. The receptionist, a middle-aged woman with a tired look on her face, looks at me curiously. "Name, please?" she asks, typing something on her computer. My stomach flutters, but I take a deep breath before answering. "Rachel Moretti."

She raises an eyebrow, but continues typing. After a few moments, she looks at me with an expression of understanding. "He's registered as Vincenzo's fiancée. I'll give you his room number. He's in the VIP section."

She gives me a room number and tells me how to get there. "Go down the main hallway, take the elevator to the third floor, and go to the VIP section. His room is 312."

My heart races as I thank him and hurry to follow his instructions. Each step is a challenge, but the need to be by his side drives me forward.