The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 87

Rachel

The night before had been long, restless and full of disturbing thoughts. Even so, I ended up falling asleep, although it was light and intertwined. When I finally woke up, I felt immediate relief when I realized that the morning was beautiful and quiet. The soft light of the sun crossed the curtains and filled the room with an almost invigorating shine. "Maybe I'm exaggerating," I thought, letting out a sigh. Those concerns seemed distant now, as if Veronica's threatening presence were just a nightmare I was awakening.

I got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom to start my morning routine. As soon as I started brushing my teeth, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. "I'm a strong woman," I thought. My eyes looked more alert, my skin healthier than last night's restlessness could suggest. Suddenly all that affliction and fear seemed a little exaggerated. It was as if I had been carried away from the intensity of the moment. With Veronica there, of course, I felt threatened, but perhaps things were not as apocalyptic as my mind had painted.

I put the brush back in place and grabbed my moisturizing soap. The fresh foam bubbles slid down my face, and with each passage I felt the tiredness dissolve, though the doubts and insecurities of the night before. I rinsed with warm water, and when I finished, I took the soft cotton towel that was hanging next door. After drying my face, I looked in the mirror again. My skin looked alive, and my gaze, more determined.

I went to the window and opened the curtains to let the light come in completely. Outside, the day was exquisite. The blue sky was almost perfect, with just a few white clouds like cotton. In the garden, the gardeners took care of the grass with dedication, while others watered the plants. The harmonious movement of care for nature made me smile. Really, perhaps life was not as dark as it seemed at first glance.

As I sit down again on the bed, I remembered the research I had asked for Nancy. Veronica had messed with me in a way that few people got it. But I needed to know who I was dealing with to be able to face any obstacle intelligently and cautiously. I was surprised to see a series of Nancy messages, almost as if she was following the unfolding of things while I slept. I barely had time to open the first message when the phone started to vibrate in my hands: Nancy was calling me. - Hi Nancy! I answered, trying to sound relaxed. I was curious, but I wanted to convey a lightness that maybe even myself did not feel totally.

- Rachel, are you sitting? She asked, her voice a little anxious.

- I'm... But, Nancy, why this question? What it was? I couldn't prevent a touch of nervousness from escaping in my voice.

Nancy took a deep breath, and I was able to hear her tone trying to stay serious.

"Rachel ..." she started, taking a dramatic break. "Have you heard about Yakuza?"

I swallowed. The word sounded like a warning bell in my mind. Of course I had heard of Yakuza. Everyone has heard. It was the Japanese mafia, involved in obscure and very dangerous business. But what did that have to do with Veronica and, more specifically, with my situation?

- Nancy, are you serious? My voice came out in a tone between the skeptical and the scared.

- Very serious, Rachel. It seems that Veronica has relationships with ... well, with high influence figures within Yakuza. I don't know how true this is, but I found some information that indicates involvement in suspicious international business. She has a very powerful network of contacts, Rachel, and ... she is not just a common business woman.

Nancy's words reverberated in my mind. Veronica was much more than it appeared to be, and now I understood why my intuition shouted so much. I was about to answer when she continued:

"Besides, I found some information about her past with Vincenzo." It seems that, a few years ago, she invested in a grand project of his family, and they ended up engaging emotionally. But after the relationship ended, Veronica seems to have kept a certain grudge. It is rumored that she threatened Vincenzo so that he would not stay with another woman.

I was silent, digesting what I had just heard. Nancy had gotten precious information, but their weight was overwhelming. I was really dealing with someone capable of manipulating Vincenzo and, perhaps, to interfere with his life for pure - Rachel, are you still there? Nancy's voice seemed distant, though she was on the phone with me.

"Yes, I'm here ..." I murmured, my mind still processing everything. That's ... more than I imagined. Vincenzo must know all this, aren't it?

"Probably he knows for the most part." But if he chose To tell you all, it's because you think you can protect you by keeping this information secret, "said Nancy, in a comprehensive tone.

I sighed deeply. Vincenzo was probably trying to keep me away from the problems of his past, but how could he do that now? I could not simply ignore the truth about Veronica and its influence.

- Nancy, thanks for everything. I don't know what I would do without you, "he said, trying to sound firmly despite his nervousness.

- Rest assured, Rachel. Remember, it's not because she seems intimidating that she really is a threat. Stay alert, but don't miss your trust, get it?

I knew Nancy was right. I needed to face this situation with caution, without letting Veronica take the best of me. She could have powerful contacts and an intimidating presence, but that didn't mean I should bend.

After saying goodbye to Nancy, I lay down again on the bed and closed my eyes for a moment, leaving what she had told me reverberate. I didn't know exactly how to deal with everything, but now I knew one thing: Vincenzo had tried to protect me. This conscience gave me strength. And if he was willing to do that, I would be beside him, ready to face what he came.

Suddenly a quiet determination involved me. He was tired of being afraid and hesitated. Veronica was a shadow of the past, and I would do my best to make sure she didn't compromise the future I was building with Vincenzo.

whim.