The Slave of Pleasure

Rachel

The morning was silent, but chaos reigned within me. The ringing of the phone took me by surprise, interrupting the moment of tranquility I had achieved after days of tension. I picked up the phone with trembling hands and, seeing that the number had no identification, I hesitated for a second before answering. Something told me that this call would change everything.

"Hello?" My voice was tense, full of concern.

"Miss Rachel?" A male voice answered, calm but firm. "Don't worry, we're from the prison where Vincenzo is being held."

I felt immediate relief, but anxiety still danced in my chest.

"I understand. What happened? Is there a problem?" I asked quickly.noveldrama

There was a brief pause before he continued.

"Vincenzo will be released from prison today."

My heart almost stopped. A smile formed on my lips before I could even fully process what he had said.

"Are... Are you serious? Is he being released?" I asked, my voice filled with hope and disbelief.

On the other end of the line, I heard a hint of lightness in his answer.

"We never joke about these things, miss."

My smile turned into a nervous laugh, but then confusion took over.

"Wait. What do you mean? He's in jail because he turned himself in for past crimes. Why are they releasing him all of a sudden?"

The man's voice remained calm, but he didn't answer directly.

"I'll let Vincenzo explain himself when I see him. He owes me a lot of answers, I imagine."

Before I could insist, the call ended. I stood there, staring at the phone as if it could offer me more answers. Behind me, Nancy was sitting on the couch, eating peanuts as if it were just another day.

"Who was that?" she asked casually, popping another handful of peanuts into her mouth.

I turned to her, still processing the information.

"Vincenzo was released from prison."

Nancy paused for a moment, her eyes wide with surprise. Then she let out a squeal of excitement that sent the bag of peanuts flying into the air.

"WHAT? That's wonderful!" she exclaimed, jumping up from the couch.

While Nancy celebrated, my mind was still trying to piece it together. Why was he released? What happened? Was it a good thing or a new dark twist? Vincenzo never did anything without a reason, and I knew he wouldn't have accepted such a sudden release without some reason behind it.

Nancy, noticing my state, came over and grabbed my shoulders.

"Hey, what's with the look on your face? That's great news, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. But... something doesn't make sense. Why was he released? They didn't explain."

Nancy shrugged, clearly less concerned than I was.

"Maybe they realized he's a good guy after all. Or... I don't know, a New Year's miracle?"

I gave her a small smile, but I still couldn't shake my uneasiness. I looked at her, determined.

"We need to go to the prison to get him."

Nancy frowned, hesitating.

"Well, that's a problem because... I don't have a car."

I gave a short laugh, pulling out my cell phone.

"I know where to get one."

She watched me curiously as I dialed Vincenzo's butler's number. When he answered, I quickly explained the situation and asked him to send the mansion's limo to pick us up. He readily agreed, and I hung up with a sigh of relief.

"Well, now we have transportation. Let's get ready."

Nancy jumped up in excitement, rushing to grab her bag. Meanwhile, I went to the bedroom to change, my mind still buzzing with unanswered questions. Hope and nervousness battled inside me. What would Vincenzo say to me when he found him? Would he be happy to be out, or was there more to this than I could imagine? Minutes later, we were in the limo, speeding down the streets toward the prison. Nancy continued to chatter excitedly about anything and everything, but I was silent, staring out the window. The light rain that was beginning to fall seemed to match my inner turmoil.

When we finally arrived at the prison, I knew that answers would await me. And with them, probably new challenges. But whatever came, I was ready to face them. For him.

With the phone pressed to my ear, my hand shook slightly. The voice of Vincenzo's butler came on the other end of the line, formal and welcoming, as always. "Miss Rachel, it's been a long time since we last spoke."

There was something comforting in his tone, as if this small contact brought a hint of normalcy to a world that had been turned upside down in the last few weeks.

"I missed you too," I answered sincerely. "I need a favor. Nancy and I need the limo to pick Vincenzo up from the prison." There was a brief pause on the other end, and I imagined the butler absorbing the request. Finally, he responded in a tone that mixed relief and complicity:

"I was on time. The limo will be at Miss Nancy's house in half an hour.

I hung up the phone and looked at Nancy, who was sprawled out on her couch, trying

to look casual but clearly as anxious as I was.

"Is he coming?" she asked, her eyes shining with anticipation.

"Yes. He sent the limo. It will be here in half an hour."

Nancy jumped off the couch and began pacing, clearly unable to contain her energy. Meanwhile, I tried to concentrate, but the mix of nervousness and excitement made my chest tight. The wait seemed to last forever, even though the clock said otherwise. When the limo finally arrived, it was as if the world stopped for a moment. The black car gleamed in the afternoon sunlight, its presence elegant and imposing. Nancy and I climbed in, exchanging knowing glances but without words. We both knew the weight of the moment.

The ride to the prison was silent, but not uncomfortable. Each of us was lost in our own thoughts. I wondered what it would be like to see Vincenzo again. What would he look like? How would he react? The image of him walking toward me, free, lingered in my mind like a distant dream.

When the car pulled up in front of the prison, my heart raced. We got out and stood there on the sidewalk, waiting. Nancy put her hand on my shoulder in a gesture of support, but I could barely feel it. All my attention was on the main gates.

Then he appeared.

Vincenzo walked through the gates with firm but unhurried steps, the sunlight touching his face in a way that almost seemed symbolic. He was dressed in simple clothes, but the dignity he carried was unmistakable. When our eyes met, it was as if the whole world disappeared. There was an intensity in his gaze that hit me like a wave. The tears came before I could stop them. My chest seemed to explode with emotions I couldn't name. It was relief, joy, love—all at once.

Without thinking, I began walking toward him. Each step felt like years of waiting and hoping. When I finally got close enough, my voice cracked. Everything I wanted to say seemed too small for the moment.

He smiled at me, a small smile, but a genuine one. And in that moment, I knew that, despite everything, we both finally had a chance to start over.