Chapter 4: The Power Play
The night was long, the mansion so still it freaked Amelia out lying in her small, Spartan room, her mind a mess. She could not erase from her mind what happened earlier-once Enzo had looked at her, his cold and calculating eyes; the way his presence seemed to take over the room once he stepped into the kitchen. And then there was Lily-her confidence, her unnerving ease in the midst of it all. She could already tell that Lily wasn't just a maid; she was someone who would stop at nothing to rise through the ranks in this crazy world, which unnerved Amelia all the more.
But it wasn't just Lily. It was Enzo.
Something about him stirred something dark, forbidden deep inside her. Something she hated for feeling but couldn't help. He wasn't like anybody she'd ever known. Cold and ruthless, there was just an undeniable magnetism in the way he commanded the space in the room, the way he could silence everybody with a single glance.
She had no family, no other place to go, and thus Amelia had no choice but to stay here. Yet, every day in this mansion felt like being pulled deeper into a dark world, and each encounter with Enzo pulled her further down.
The next morning Amelia proceeded through her routines with weight in her chest. She had seen yesterday how Lily and Enzo were looking at each other-quiet, knowing looks that Amelia didn't quite get. It appeared as though Lily wasn't here to merely assist but to carve a place for herself in Enzo's world. And that makes her a threat, much the same way that Enzo himself is a threat.
Plunking himself down in a chair at the head of the long dining table for breakfast, Enzo was one stark contradiction to the simplicity of the rest of the mansion. Sharp features and dark eyes reflected quiet confidence that made people ill at ease around him. Even the most hardened men in his employ knew better than to speak out of turn when he was near.
Amelia stood at the far end of the room, serving him as always, her heart racing with every step taken toward him. Every step taken felt like walking on a razor's edge. The weight of his presence overwhelmed her; the very air vibrated with the tension between them, unsaid.
"Amelia." Enzo's voice was low but carried. She froze, her hand still hovering over the platter she was about to serve. Her breath hitched.
"Yes, Mr. Romano?" she replied, barely above a whisper.
"You've been doing your work well." His eyes locked to hers, and for a moment, the rest of the world melted away. "But I think it's time for you to learn how things truly work around here."
Her heart raced as she registered his meaning. Was he threatening her, or offering something more? She had no idea which. She had never seen him focus on her quite so intently before, and his eyes sent a shivering sensation down her spine.
His gaze flicked sideways, settling on Lily, who stood a little to the side, her eyes light with curiosity. "Lily," he said silkily, "you're with me today. Amelia, you're dismissed."
The coldness in his tone made Amelia flinch, but she masked the reaction just in time. She barely inclined her head and turned away, but the presence of Enzo's eyes against her back didn't shift once.
The succeeding hours were hazy for Amelia, trying to fix the things inside the house. Trying hard to keep her mind onto what was at hand to be done, she couldn't help but let her mind dwell a bit on what had transpired earlier that morning. Why did Enzo single her out? What does he want from her? And why is Lily so keen to please him? The competition filled the air and the uncertainty gnawed.
Later in the afternoon, Amelia was in the kitchen preparing Enzo's dinner when she heard the familiar fall of footsteps approaching. Immediately, her heart had skipped a beat. She didn't need to look up since she had known that was him. The air had shifted as he came into the room, thick with his presence.
Enzo's movements were silent ones, but power was something one did not see or hear. He stopped just behind her, close enough that Amelia could feel his body heat, his cologne dark, intoxicating in the way it filled her senses. A strange dizziness settled over her.
"You've been busy," Enzo said, his voice low, a thread of amusement running through it. "But I think you've missed something." His hand brushed her arm, the contact brief but deliberate. Amelia's skin tingled where he had touched her, and she fought to suppress the involuntary shiver that followed.
"I. I don't think I have, Mr. Romano," she managed, though her voice was weak, betraying her.
Enzo didn't say anything, and for a second, the silence between them gained some weight. Before she could do anything, he was gone, leaving her alone in the kitchen with more deep silence than before. The impression of his presence clung to her, cold and commanding eyes.
She was a few moments later; her eyes scanned the room, settling on the place where Enzo had been standing. She didn't say anything immediately, but Amelia could sense the weight of her curiosity.
"What did he want?" Lily asked casually, though her eyes were razor-sharp.
Amelia hedged, not wanting to say too much. "Just some little instruction," she said neutrally.
Lily's lips arced into a small, knowing smile. "Instruction?" she repeated leaning against the counter. "Enzo doesn't give instruction without purpose. He's testing you, Amelia. I can see it."
Amelia's stomach dropped. "What do you mean?" she asked, though she had a sinking feeling she already knew the answer.
Lily's eyes sparkled as she met Amelia's gaze. "He's trying to see how far you'll bend, how far you'll go for him. Don't lie to yourself. You're already caught in his game."
Amelia felt a cold wave wash over her. She wasn't quite sure which was worse-the acknowledgment that Lily was right, or the fact that she couldn't seem to escape this dangerous web she was entangled in.
END
As night began to fall, Amelia had this feeling that someone was watching her. She did her chores with the exactness of precision, but with every move, it felt like scrutiny. She felt it in her bones that something was going to happen. Something that would alter everything. And deep inside, she knew it would already be too late to hinder it.
Later that night, Amelia found herself outside Enzo's study, waiting for him to call her in. The house was dark, except for the distant hum of the city outside. Amelia's heart was pounding in her chest as she stood there, with the pressing silence down upon her.
Finally, the door opened and the frame was filled with Enzo's silhouette. His sharp eyes caught hers in an instant, and a faint, unreadable smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Amelia," he said, his voice soft, yet commanding, "come inside."
She forwarded one step to cross the threshold into the room, and the door clicked shut behind her.