The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 58

Rachel

The mansion was, as always, stunning. The walls were decorated with priceless works of art, the furniture was imposing and perfectly positioned. The soft light from the chandeliers made everything seem even more sophisticated. I was already used to this environment, but for someone like the nurse it was a real spectacle. She looked like a child in an amusement park, touching everything, admiring every detail as if she were in front of a museum.

"Leave this there, if you break anything...", I said, with a warning tone as she tried, unsuccessfully, to peek inside a very expensive vase.

Before I could finish the sentence, the butler suddenly appeared at our side. "Your shopping day was busy, it seems," he said, with his typical elegance. I was slightly startled, but tried not to show it. He looked at the nurse, who now had her head bent over inside the vase, and continued: "And quite fun too, by the looks of it. Is she... your friend?"

I hesitated. Friend? I wasn't sure if "friend" was the right word, but after all the chaos we'd endured together, I couldn't deny that there was something between us. Reluctantly, I replied, "Yes, she is... my friend."

The butler nodded with a tight smile. "It's good to see you feeling more relaxed and relieved from all the stress you've been experiencing, although you still look tired." He was right. I was exhausted, both physically and mentally, but I felt a lightness I hadn't felt in a long time. As chaotic as it was, the nurse's presence had pulled me out of my emotional stupor.

"It's been quite a tiring day, indeed," I confirmed. "Can you prepare something for dinner? I'm starving."

"What would you like to eat?" the butler asked, ever polite.

Before I could answer, the nurse chimed in cheerfully, "We'd like some pasta, with meatballs, and of course, a delicious wine to go with it!"

I turned my head slowly, staring at her with a look of pure strangeness. Since when did she decide what I wanted to eat? This was my house, my butler, and yet she took the reins as if she were already familiar with the place. The butler, always professional, answered immediately: "Right away, ma'am..."

"Nancy. My name is Nancy," she said, with that childish enthusiasm that was beginning to become her trademark.

"No!" I said abruptly, perhaps a little too loudly. Both the butler and the nurse looked at me at the same time, confused. I realized the strangeness of my reaction, but I didn't want this situation to drag on. She couldn't stay here for long. It wasn't right. But at the same time, it would be ungrateful of me to deny her a decent meal after everything she would do for Vicenzo.

I sighed, trying to replace some balance. "No... just pasta. We'd also like a delicious dessert," I added, finally giving in.

The nurse smiled brightly, as if she had just won the lottery. The butler bowed slightly. "I'll do something special for your new friend." I just nodded, accepting the fact that the situation had gotten out of hand. Sometimes it was easier to just let things happen, as Vincenzo had always taught me. The nurse had somehow become a central part of this madness, and I was already too tired to fight it. Who would have thought the night would end like this? As soon as the nurse let out a little scream of joy and jumped up and down, I could almost feel the ground shaking. "I've always wanted to live this moment!" she said, her eyes shining with excitement. "What moment?" I asked, confused. "You know... that moment when you order dinner from a butler and he just... does it! It's so fancy and elegant, like in the movies!" the nurse replied, almost dancing with excitement. The way she spoke so simply about something that, for me, was already normal, almost made me smile.

"Okay, okay... but remember that you're here for a specific reason," I replied, trying to bring some seriousness to the situation. "I brought you to the mansion to make sure Vincenzo is recovering well. That's the most important thing." She paused for a second, as if she had been reminded of something essential, and lifted the hospital bag to her face. "So, what are we still doing here? Let's go!" she said, with the same energy as before.

I nodded, signaling for her to follow me. As we walked through the luxurious and silent corridors of the mansion, my thoughts began to stir. Even though I was starting to get used to the nurse's presence, there was a lingering uneasiness in me. How trustworthy was she really? Was I being naive to let her enter my life like this, and by extension, Vincenzo's?

She had helped a lot, of course. But the way she behaved It didn't matter... all that eccentricity, the way she threw herself into situations, it all felt a little out of control. I couldn't help but wonder: was I allowing her to get too close, too fast? The next thing I knew, we were standing in front of Vincenzo's bedroom door. I hadn't realized how close we were until that moment. I paused for a moment, taking a deep breath, trying to calm my thoughts. This was the room where Vincenzo was recovering, away from all the chaos outside, away from all the problems.

The nurse behind me was quiet for the first time since we'd entered the mansion. Maybe she, too, had felt the weight of this moment.

"Let's go," I muttered to myself. With one last deep breath, I turned the knob and opened the door.

The room was bathed in soft light, thick curtains keeping the space dark and peaceful. Vincenzo lay in bed, his large, imposing body looking as if nothing had happened, and just seeing him there like that, breathing normally, was a relief. He was still asleep, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

The nurse walked in right behind me, her steps more measured than usual. For a second, she looked different more serious, professional.

"Well, there's the patient," she murmured, as if she were back in her role as a nurse. "Let me take a look."

I stood in the doorway, watching as she approached the bed and checked Vincenzo's vital signs. She was doing her job with precision, despite all the eccentricity she had displayed earlier. Maybe, after all, I was overestimating my concern. Still, a small voice in the back of my mind reminded me not to let my guard down completely.