The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 91

Rachel

After more hours of intense investigation, my mind was in turmoil. Nancy and I had unraveled a web of information about Veronica that was as dark as it was fascinating. Each new discovery about her connections and her under-the-radar life brought me closer to an inevitable confrontation with Vincenzo. I could no longer avoid the subject, because he was somehow involved with this mysterious and dangerous woman, and I needed to know how far he was willing to go to protect her secrets.

Nancy seemed as involved as I was, and the tension was palpable in the air.

"Rachel, if Veronica is so connected to figures like Hiroshi Nakamura, then this isn't just a matter of jealousy or a long-standing relationship. We're talking about someone who is rooted in a dark world," Nancy whispered, frowning as she looked at her notebook. "And Vincenzo..." she hesitated. "Does he know all of this?"

The question hung in the air, cutting into me like a sharp blade. The Vincenzo I knew was confident, powerful, but there was something about him that hinted at a certain reticence. He never talked much about his past and avoided details of his life before he met me. There had always been mysteries about him, and perhaps I was blinded by the feelings I had built for him. Perhaps I was ignoring signs that now seemed impossible to ignore.

"I need to talk to him, Nancy. He needs to understand that I am not just a bystander in his life. If there is danger, if Veronica is indeed the dangerous person we suspect... then he needs to know that I am involved and that I am willing to face this with him, but I need answers."

Nancy took my hand, squeezing it lightly.

"You are brave, Rach. But if confronting him is what you want to do, be prepared. He may try to deflect your questions or downplay what we have learned. And if Vincenzo is involved in some way..." She hesitated again, the weight of the unspoken word "mafia" hanging in the air. "You will need to be very firm."

I nodded, feeling my decision firm. Vincenzo had the right to know that I was aware of everything. I stood up and walked over to the mirror, observing my serious and determined expression. I needed to stay focused and prepare myself for any reaction from him. This was a test for both him and me.

Nancy, noticing my intention to act quickly, suggested:

"Before you talk to him, why don't you calm down and organize all the information? Vincenzo is a smart man, you know. He's going to test your certainties, so you need to be sure of the facts."

I agreed. We took out the notebook and made a detailed list of the main discoveries: Veronica's public appearances alongside suspicious figures, the shell companies in her name, and the exclusive events where she was always accompanied by Nakamura and other equally sinister men. We made a timeline of the events and her acquisitions, trying to map out her trajectory and her network of contacts.

When we finished, we were both exhausted, but satisfied. I was ready for the conversation, and now it was a matter of facing Vincenzo with confidence.

**

After resting a bit and gathering courage, I walked to Vincenzo's office. He was alone, sitting behind his desk with a thoughtful expression. When he saw me, he gave a slight smile, but I could see the tension in his eyes.

"Rachel, I didn't expect you here so early. Did something happen?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.

I took a deep breath, searching for the right words.

"We need to talk, Vincenzo. And I need you to be honest with me... about Veronica."

His eyes narrowed at the name, and a slight shadow of discomfort passed over his face. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

"What do you want to know about her?" he asked, with a tense calm.

"I want to know... who she really is. And why she's so determined to stay around." My voice came out firm, without hesitation.

Vincenzo looked away for a moment, as if considering an answer he wasn't willing to give me. But before he could say anything, I continued:

"Veronica isn't just a resentful ex-girlfriend, Vincenzo. She's much more than that. I know about her connections, her shady contacts, her involvement with Nakamura and underworld figures. And I need to know if you have anything to do with any of this."

He stood up slowly, walking to the window. I watched him with my heart racing, unsure of what was coming next. Vincenzo was more tense than I'd ever seen him.

"Rachel, I..." He stopped, running a hand over his face as if trying to compose himself. "Veronica has always been a complicated woman. I knew about some of those connections, yes, but I was never involved in any of it. She... she tried to pull me to her side, but I pulled away. That was one of the reasons we broke up." I watched him closely, trying to decipher every nuance of his expression. He seemed sincere, but I knew that men like him were trained to hide their feelings and truths.

"So why is she still around?" I asked, feeling frustration overcome me. "And why does it seem like you're afraid of what she might do?"

He sighed, turning to me with a look that was a mix of exasperation and resignation.

"Veronica is a woman who doesn't accept being contradicted. She believes she can still have power over me, but I swore I would never allow that. Rachel, I want you to stay away from her. Don't get involved. I can handle Veronica." I shook my head, refusing to be pushed away like that.

"Vincenzo, I'm involved, whether you like it or not. And if you think I'm going to ignore all of this, you're wrong. I'm with you. But you need to be honest with me."

He was silent for a moment, studying my face as if trying to understand the depth of my determination. Finally, he nodded. "Okay. If that's what you want... I'll tell you everything." Over the next few minutes, Vincenzo opened up like never before. He told me about how he met Veronica, about her manipulative side and how she used people to achieve her goals. He explained that at first he had been blind to this side of her, but that little by little he had come to realize how dangerous and obsessive she was. Getting involved with people like Nakamura had only confirmed his worst fears, and he knew he had to end the relationship. "Since then, she's tried several times to come back into my life. But now that you're here, it's different. She's realized she's lost control, and it's driving her crazy." The revelation felt like a weight lifted from my shoulders, but at the same time, it brought with it a new burden of responsibility. I knew that by deciding to stay by Vincenzo's side, I was diving into a world full of secrets and dangers. But now, more than ever, I was determined. I would face Veronica head on, and nothing would make me back down.