ELEANOR
Enzo came back with a tray of food while I was still lying on the bed, my thoughts swirling in every direction. I heard his footsteps before I turned to see him standing at the edge of the bed.
“Here, try to eat something,” he said, setting the tray down beside me. “You need to regain your strength. After that, maybe you can tell me what happened. Why you were locked in there.”
I glanced at the food. It smelled good, but I couldn’t help but feel hesitant. I stared at the plate, my stomach growling, but my mind was still on high alert. I didn’t trust him-not completely. Not yet. He might not have Armando’s cold demeanor, but I still didn’t know what to make of him.
Enzo seemed to catch onto my hesitation. He sighed, and I could tell he was a little frustrated, but to his credit, he didn’t snap.
“Look, I get it,” he said, sitting down at the foot of the bed, still holding the tray. “You don’t trust me. But I’m not here to hurt you, Eleanor. If I wanted to, I wouldn’t have just saved your life.”
I didn’t say anything, just watched him warily. His tone was different now, more patient, almost… playful?
“You know,” he said, chuckling softly, “I can actually cook. Maybe that’s what’s worrying you, huh? You think I messed up the food or something?”
I didn’t react. My face stayed flat, and it was obvious his little joke wasn’t landing. He raised an eyebrow, looking at me like he couldn’t believe I wasn’t buying into it.
“Oh, come on. Really?” He shook his head in mock disbelief and picked up a spoon, taking a bite of the food himself. “See? It’s fine. And it’s actually really good, so if you don’t eat it, I might finish the whole thing myself.”
I watched him for a moment as he took another bite, clearly trying to prove a point. He passed the dish to me, his eyes softening as he said, “Here, eat. But if you’re still too suspicious, I can take it back, no problem. Or I’ll eat it myself. But you need it more than I do.”
I finally reached out and took the spoon, still hesitant but more willing than before. Enzo’s patience was surprising.
If this had been Armando, I would’ve been threatened by now. He would’ve shoved the food in my face or thrown it out just to spite me, leaving me starving for days. But Enzo… Enzo was different. He wasn’t forcing me. He was giving me a choice, and that felt strange. It felt… human.
He leaned back, waiting for me to take a bite. “No pressure. But I’m not kidding about finishing it if you don’t want it,” he added with a smirk.
I slowly took a bite, the food warming my insides. Enzo didn’t say anything after that, just watched quietly, waiting. There was no rush, no force. Just patience. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
And that made all the difference.
The plate of rice Enzo had brought looked surprisingly appetizing. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I took the first bite. My hands were trembling slightly as I ate, still feeling weak, but I couldn’t stop myself from shoveling the food in as fast as I could. The whole time, I kept my eyes on him, and he just sat there quietly, watching me.
It felt strange-almost intimate-having him there while I ate. Neither of us looked away much, like we were silently measuring each other. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but I knew I was still trying to figure him out.
After I’d finished most of the food, I finally slowed down. There was still a bit left on the plate, but I couldn’t bring myself to eat any more. I set the plate down and looked at him.
“I’m done,” I said, my voice soft but clear.
He glanced at the plate, noticing the little bit of food left. “You sure? I figured you’d be able to finish it, given… well, the situation you were in.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m fine. Really. Thank you for the meal.”
Enzo leaned back a little, smiling in a way that felt easy, natural. “You don’t have to thank me. It’s just rice.”
His tone was light, almost teasing, and I couldn’t help but wonder-again-how this man could possibly be related to Armando. There was no coldness, no cruelty in his words or actions. He seemed genuinely kind, and that made me uneasy in a way. I was waiting for the catch.
“You’re really nothing like him, are you?” I asked before I could stop myself. The words just slipped out, and I bit my lip, instantly regretting it.
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t seem offended. “Like Armando? No. But I guess I get that a lot.”
I couldn’t help but think how true that was. Physically, they were similar-same dark hair, same strong build, though Enzo was younger and slightly smaller. But that’s where the resemblance ended. Everything else about him was different. Where Armando was cold, Enzo was warm. Where Armando was forceful, Enzo was patient.
I leaned back, feeling a bit more at ease but still cautious. This man had just saved my life, but I wasn’t sure what that meant for me now. All I knew was that, for the first time in days, I wasn’t afraid.
And that confused me more than anything
Enzo watched me for a moment, then tilted his head slightly. “So… what’s your name?”
I don’t know why, but before I could even think about it, the word came spilling out of my mouth. “Stephanie,” I said.
He blinked, repeating it like he was testing how it felt to say. “Stephanie, huh? That’s a pretty name. Suits a pretty lady like yourself.”
I forced a smile, feeling a strange knot of discomfort in my chest. “Uh, thanks.”
Why did I lie? I had no idea. Maybe I wasn’t ready for him to know anything real about me, not yet.
Enzo shifted slightly, placing the now-empty plate on the small table beside the bed. He looked at me with a curious expression, like he was trying to piece something together. “So… what’s your relationship with the owner of this house? Do you know Armando personally, or is it just work?”
I hesitated. How could I explain this in a way that wouldn’t raise too many questions? I kept my voice steady. “I wouldn’t say I know him personally. He’s… a very mysterious man. But yes, I work here. Mr. Armando picked me to come and work for him. As his personal maid.”
“Personal maid?” Enzo repeated, raising an eyebrow. He leaned forward slightly, intrigued. “What do you mean by that? Armando already has a ton of maids here. Why would he need a new one? A personal one, for that matter.”
I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. “I have no idea. He just felt like he needed one, and here I am.”
The room went quiet for a moment. I could feel his eyes studying me, trying to figure me out, but I kept my face blank. I wasn’t about to spill everything to him, especially not the truth of what my “work” really was.
Enzo sat back, clearly still confused, but he didn’t press any further. He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head slightly. “Armando… he always has his reasons, I guess. Even if no one else understands them.”
I gave a weak smile, feeling a bit relieved that he wasn’t digging deeper.
“Well, Stephanie,” he said, testing the name again, “I hope you don’t mind me sticking around for a while. Just to make sure you’re okay.”
I nodded, the lie sitting heavily on my chest.
“Why were you locked in that room?” he asked. “Was it Armando? Did he do that to you?”
I felt my stomach twist as I nodded. “Yeah. It was him.”
His face shifted, and I could see the confusion and frustration washing over him. “What could you have possibly done to push Armando to lock you away like that?” He paused, then added, “And not just lock you in, but with the smart lock. That’s not a small thing.”
I swallowed, unsure of how to explain everything without unraveling the whole complicated mess. How could I tell him that I almost lost myself to Armando? That for a moment, I let myself get swept up in his intensity, in something I shouldn’t have? Then I pulled away, and Armando-well, Armando wasn’t the type to let go easily.
It was all too much. And I wasn’t ready to relive it, especially not now. My body was still weak, my mind clouded with exhaustion. I didn’t want to get into the details.
“It’s… nothing,” I said quietly, shaking my head. “I’m just glad you showed up when you did.”
He didn’t seem satisfied with that answer, his brow furrowed as he studied me. “Nothing?” he repeated. “Being locked up like that isn’t nothing.”
I managed a weak smile, trying to brush it off. “It doesn’t matter now. You found me, and I’m okay. That’s all that matters.”
Enzo wasn’t giving up that easily. His tone stayed calm but had a playful edge to it. “Come on, I just saved your life. You’ve got to give me something,” he said.
I shook my head, trying to stay firm. “Some things are just… confidential.”
He looked like he wanted to push further, but then he sighed and nodded slowly. “Alright,” he said softly. “Well, I’m glad you’re okay.”
I nodded, offering him a small, grateful smile. “Thanks.”
He studied me for a moment but didn’t push. “Alright,” he said, backing off. “You’ve been locked in here a while. You should freshen up. I’ll be downstairs in the living room, whenever you’re ready to come outside.”
I nodded, grateful for the space. He gave me one last look and politely left the room.
The truth could wait. For now, I just needed to catch my breath.