Page 23 of The One
My scalp prickles. I can feel her eyes on me.
“Hello,” she says again, her voice still laced with reserved optimism.
It’s hard to remain silent when, for my entire life, I’ve been told to be polite and responsive to everyone around me.
I purse my lips as I set the tray down awkwardly.
“Please! What’s your name?” the girl asks, an edge of desperation in her tone now.
My pulse speeds up.
I don’t like this.
Why is she locked away in here?
My fingers tremble as I pick up the old tray. Without looking at the girl, I flee the room, pulling the door shut behind me.
Dario looks up from the newspaper. “All good?” he asks, and I give him a nod.
I don’t want him or Giulia to doubt my ability to deliver a simple tray of food.
But as we walk back to the kitchen, I can’t help but wonder who that girl was.
Did she misbehave, and he’s punishing her? How long has she been in that room? What will happen to her?
And how many more gorgeous blondes has Mateo stashed around the place?
So many questions. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask Dario. He’d know for sure. He seems well informed, and from overhearing Father’s goons chat sometimes, I’ve learned that men gossip just as much as women.
But I keep my mouth shut. Given I only just arrived, I don’t want to come across as nosy.
Best to stay out of it, even though those questions are burning holes in my insides.
After the delicious risotto Giulia prepared, she showed me to my room. It’s not in the staff part of the house like I had expected, but in the upstairs part of the guest wing.
The room is large and airy, with lush green potted plants in each corner. It even has a small balcony that overlooks the vast gardens. It’s so much more than I expected. I feel like I’m on vacation or an honored guest.
I take in the expensive art hanging on the walls and stop at the bookshelf against one side of the room.
Everything is so… homey.
I run my fingers over the spines of the books, searching for something light to settle my mind. The top shelves are filled with thrillers. I wrinkle my nose. I’ve never read one and can’t imagine enjoying the genre. My life is thrilling enough as it is. I don’t need more excitement.
On the lower shelves are books about the history of Sicily and Rome, alongside volumes on ancient Roman culture. Being in Rome, it’s only right to brush up on some of its history. I’m hoping to get a chance to go sightseeing soon. It would be tragic to be surrounded by this city’s rich past and never truly explore it. I may never have another chance.
Before I can choose a book, a message alert chimes from the bedside drawer where I left the phone Isa gave me.
I jump up onto the bed and let myself fall backward. Just like this room, it’s huge, comfy, and the duvet so soft, I want to rub my face all over it. But not while I still have makeup on. I can almost hear my mother’s voice scolding me.
I sit up and cross my legs to read my sister’s message.
Isa: What a day! How are you holding up? Have you settled in?
What a day indeed!
When I got up this morning, I never could have imagined the day would end like this.
If everything had gone according to Father’s plan, I’d be in bed with Renaldo now, losing my virginity to a man who doesn’t care one bit about me.
