The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 73

Rachel

As I walked down the stairs, a flood of thoughts invaded me. It was impossible not to reflect on how my life had changed since Vincenzo brought me to Italy. Everything happened so quickly. Not long ago I was just Rachel, living an ordinary life, and now I found myself wrapped in a web of secrets and mysteries, in this opulent and shadowy house. It seemed as if I had plunged into a completely different world, where the rules were different and where everything happened with an intensity I had never experienced before.

When I reached the dining room, I saw Vincenzo sitting at the head of the table, like the true master of the place, the personification of control and power. Nancy was more in the middle of the table, already eating without ceremony, as if life was going on as normal. The scene struck me strangely. How could she be so comfortable? Maybe because, for her, this was normal. But for me, there was something deeply disconcerting about it all.

Vincenzo, on the other hand, was calmly waiting. He always had this attitude of someone who knows he is the center of everything, of someone who controls the environment around him with an almost natural ease. The butler was there, attentive, serving Vincenzo with precision. But as soon as Vincenzo saw me, he dismissed him with a simple wave. "We won't need anything for now," he said in a firm but controlled voice.

The butler nodded in acknowledgement and left the room, leaving us alone-me, Vincenzo, and Nancy. Vincenzo, without looking directly at me yet, pointed to a chair next to him, signaling that that was where I should sit. I felt a mix of nervousness and curiosity. The fact that he had placed me next to him, in such a close and almost complicit position, increased my desire to understand what was really going on there even more.

I sat down. Vincenzo then looked at me for a few seconds that seemed to last an eternity. There was something in his eyes that made me uncomfortable, as if he could read every thought that passed through my head. But at the same time, there was a veiled promise that some answers would finally come.

"So, Rachel," he said as he began to serve himself, with the same controlled calm as always. "What exactly do you want to know?"

That was it. The question I had been waiting for. The door that would open so that I could finally begin to understand everything. My heart beat faster for a moment. Vincenzo was giving me permission to ask anything, to finally explore the mysteries that surrounded this house and our relationship. I knew I had to be careful, but I also knew that this was my chance.

I took a deep breath and began to organize my thoughts. What were the questions that were bothering me the most? What did I need to understand first?

"I want to know how this house works," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. "I want to understand what really goes on between you and Nancy, what she means to you. And most of all, I want to understand you, Vincenzo. I want to know what's going on in your mind, what you really want from me, what you expect me to do here."

He watched me closely as I spoke, each word I said meticulously analyzed. There was a palpable tension in the air, as if what I said could change the course of that night, or even our relationship. Nancy, on the other hand, seemed to be on the sidelines of the conversation, even though she was a central piece in the puzzle I was trying to solve. She ate with an almost disconcerting nonchalance, as if she already knew the answers I was looking for. But for me, everything was still shrouded in fog. Vincenzo, after a moment of silence, put his cutlery on the table and looked at me with that deep gaze that seemed to probe my soul. "Do you want to understand how everything works here, Rachel?" His voice was low, but it carried a weight that made me feel the seriousness of the situation. I nodded, waiting for him to finally begin to reveal the secrets that, until now, had been only shadows surrounding me. That conversation would be the starting point for everything that was to come. And I knew that from that moment on, there would be no turning back. I was ready to replace out, even if the answers were darker than I could have imagined.

I took a deep breath before asking the first question. There were so many things on my mind, so many questions that needed answers, but I knew I had to start somewhere. "Vincenzo, how are you feeling?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual, but the tension in the room was palpable. "You woke up a short while ago from a state of... oblivion. It seems that it has passed. I wanted to know how you are feeling now."

He looked at me with an expression I had not expected. There was something calm in his gaze, a tranquility that contrasted with everything he had shown before. "I am feeling very well, Rachel," he said, his voice steady, but as kind. "And I must say, your help did not go unnoticed. Thank you for taking care of me."

I was surprised, almost astonished. I had not expected Vincenzo to be so grateful and calm when talking about what had happened. It was not the behavior I was used to seeing from him. During the whole time I was by his side, he had always been enigmatic, controlling, but this genuine gratitude took me by surprise. The truth is that I never imagined he would recognize what I had done for him, not even in such a direct way.

But I did not want to waste time. There were many questions to ask, and this was only the first. "What is your relationship with Nancy?" I asked, looking at him seriously. "It is obvious that you have known her for some time, and not just as a 'nurse.""

Vincenzo nodded, as if he had expected this question. "I met Nancy at the hospital, yes," he began, glancing at her briefly before turning his gaze back to me. "And unlike everyone who knew about her mental state, I never discriminated against her. I always knew how to deal with her personalities. And over time, we ended up becoming friends." I looked at Nancy, who was enjoying a bowl of ice cream. She nodded, agreeing with what Vincenzo was saying, her mouth still full. That left me a little confused. I knew there was something deeper in their relationship, something that might have yet to surface, but the ease with which they talked about it left me disconcerted. Vincenzo noticed my doubtful expression and continued. "Her mind is chaotic, Rachel. Very chaotic. But I understand that chaos. The difference between us is that I have learned to control it, and she has not yet." Those words echoed in my mind. The idea that Vincenzo, with all his coldness and control, could see himself as someone with a mind as chaotic as Nancy's was something I had not expected. He always seemed so sure of himself, so in control of every situation. I thought about it for a moment, trying to digest it, but there was still something I needed to know.

I took a deep breath before asking the next question, feeling like I was treading on dangerous ground. "When did you start having... more intimate interests, let's say, as intense as the ones you show?"

The silence in the room was immediate. Vincenzo became serious, his eyes fixed on mine. Nancy, who until then had been distracted by her ice cream, stopped eating and watched the interaction between the two of us intently. The air grew heavy, and for a moment, I thought I had gone too far.

But I needed to know. The way he handled these moments always left me intrigued, as if there was something deeper, something I hadn't yet fully understood. And now, in that silence, I felt like the answer was about to be revealed-as disturbing as it might be.

Vincenzo finally took a deep breath, and I braced myself for what was to come next.