The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 65

Rachel

The pressure in my head was increasing, and I automatically put my hand to my temples, trying to relieve the pain that was starting to throb. Vincenzo looked at me with that inquisitive look he always had, as if he already knew what was happening, but wanted to see me trying to get out of that situation.

"You didn't go to the hospital after we came to the mansion... so how did you know Nancy to the point where you were sleeping in the same bed?" His voice was calm but incisive, and he alternated his gaze between me and Nancy, waiting for

an answer.

I knew he was curious, but I also knew that if I told him the truth-that I had met Nancy at the store where she worked as a saleswoman-it would only open the door to more questions. Questions that I didn't want to answer right now, especially with what had happened between Nancy and me that day. My heart raced just thinking about where this conversation could go.

I quickly looked at Nancy, looking for a way out, and avoided Vincenzo's question with the first thing that came to mind. "What do you mean... multiple personalities?" I tossed the ball to Nancy, hoping she could redirect Vincenzo's attention to another subject. Nancy rolled her eyes, clearly impatient, but seemed to accept the change of focus. "I was going to tell you about this right away," she began, her tone a little more serious than usual. "It started when I was a teenager. My childhood was... complicated, to say the least." She paused, and I shifted in my chair, not sure what to expect. Vincenzo remained quiet, watching as Nancy continued. "My mind has fragmented into three personalities. The responsible and focused one, which you see when I'm in my role as a nurse; the cute and fun one, which appears when I'm relaxed; and, well... the mischievous one, which appears when I'm, shall we say, excited." Her explanation dropped like a bombshell, but what worried me the most was the last part. I knew exactly which "mischievous" she was referring to. Memories of that moment in the store began to flood my mind, and I felt the blood rush to my face, heating my cheeks. "So... it wasn't exactly you when... when that thing happened in the store," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else, but Vincenzo, of course, took the hint.

"That what?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly interested in what I was trying to hide. I could feel his eyes boring into my soul, demanding an explanation.

I blushed even harder. Damn it. There was no way out now, not with Vincenzo watching me like that. I needed to think fast. "Oh... it's nothing!" My voice sounded shrill, even to myself. "Just... a misunderstanding, nothing important," I tried to cover it up, looking away and pretending that everything was fine.

Nancy, however, was enjoying the situation. I could see the smirk forming on her lips. She knew exactly what I was trying to hide from Vincenzo, but thankfully, she seemed willing to play along in a subtle way. She didn't say anything, just looked at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes, as if she was deciding how much she could tease me.

Vincenzo, on the other hand, didn't seem too convinced. He looked from me to Nancy, clearly suspicious, but eventually let out a sigh, as if he was willing to let the matter drop-for now.

"Okay... If you say it was a misunderstanding." His voice was calm, but I knew it wouldn't end there. Vincenzo wasn't the type to let things slide. Sooner or later, he would ask about it again, and I would need to be prepared to respond in some way.

Nancy, still smiling, picked up an apple and threw it in Vincenzo's direction. He caught it nimbly, and for a second, the mood lightened up again in the room. But inside, I was still a mess, trying to process everything that was happening and, at the same time, keep my secret safe.

As they exchanged a few more words, I just stood there, trying to hide the blush on my face and wishing that this awkward moment would pass quickly.

"So, Nancy, how's the store going?" Vincenzo asked suddenly, his voice sounding too casual for the moment. "Any news to tell me?" He glanced at me sideways, and in that instant, I knew that this was no ordinary question. He was trying to extract something, but what?

Nancy, with her carefree and cheeky manner, didn't hesitate. "Oh, it's going well! The news is that Rachel went there to buy you a surprise gift."

My heart stopped for a second, and before I could control myself, I shouted: "NANCY!" The word came out louder and more desperate than I intended, but it was too late. The damage was done.

Vincenzo turned to me, his eyes darkening with that impassive expression I knew so well. He didn't seem surprised, nor annoyed. Just... calm. Calm in a way that made my skin crawl.

Nancy, on the other hand, made a face like she knew she had said more than she should, but she didn't seem particularly remorseful. She just bit her lower lip, almost like a child who knows she's misbehaved.

I realized, at that moment, that Vincenzo had done it on purpose. He knew Nancy was in her "cheeky" state, and he took advantage of that to get the information I was trying to hide from her. That man... He had orchestrated the whole thing. Vincenzo, now with a more serious look, leaned forward slightly. "So that's how... you went there, Rachel?" The question was simple, but it carried an immense weight. He wanted to know everything, and I wasn't ready to tell him.

My mind was spinning, trying to replace a way out, but there was no way out of this one. He was watching me closely, like a predator on the lookout, waiting for me to make a mistake. I knew from the start that his change in behavior was a ruse. He hadn't suddenly become flippant or relaxed; it was all part of a game, a strategy to manipulate Nancy and, most importantly, me.

I was furious, but also impressed. It was obvious that Vincenzo had never lost control. He had been in control the entire time, playing on our emotions to get what he wanted. How had I not realized this before?

"Vincenzo, I... I just went to buy you something. It was supposed to be a surprise," I began to say, trying to stay calm and hide my nervousness, but the words came out hesitantly, as if I already knew he wouldn't believe me so easily. He arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Surprise...?" he repeated, as if testing the word, analyzing it carefully.

Yes, it was obvious now. He wasn't just interested in what I did at the store. Vincenzo was playing a much deeper game. He was trying to figure out what else I was hiding.

And the worst part of it all was that at that moment I didn't know whether I should try to keep hiding it or just confess everything.