Chapter 6

• Chapter 6
• {CATERINA}
• Alessandro led me into his mansion, and I kept looking around, admiring every intricate detail. I couldn't help but notice that the house was eerily quiet. We seemed to be the only ones there, and it felt odd because every other rich person I'd seen always had some workers around the house. I decided to ask Alessandro about it.
• “The house is awfully quiet. Do you live alone? You also don't seem to have any staff.” I uttered as I glanced at Alessandro, and he chuckled.
• “Yeah, I live alone, but my friends come over most of the time so I'm never truly alone. I also have workers, but they are all on their monthly break. That's why the place is so quiet.” Alessandro responded, and I bobbed my head. The absence of any other person meant there wouldn't be any witnesses when I started the operation. That was a good thing.
• We got to the living room, and I couldn't help but marvel at how magnificent it was. The sitting room exuded sleek, masculine elegance, dominated by deep black hues with tasteful hints of gold. The walls were lined with black marble panels, their glossy surfaces reflecting the dim light in a way that made me feel like I was in a place where every detail had been crafted to impress. A sprawling sectional couch, upholstered in black velvet, sat at the center. It looked almost too perfect to sink into, but the dark, plush cushions seemed to invite me to sit.
• In front of me, a low glass coffee table with a gold-trimmed frame caught the soft glow from the chandelier above, which had cascading gold accents that added a touch of opulence. The flames flickering in the fireplace, framed in black marble with delicate gold veining, gave the room a warm, intimate feel—something that was odd in a house so grand.
• I glanced around, noticing the carefully curated shelves filled with rare books and art pieces, all arranged with unnerving precision. It all screamed wealth, but it wasn’t flashy. The richness was in the details, the quiet power of it all.
• I could see how someone like Alessandro would feel comfortable in a place like this—every corner of the room felt like it was designed to reinforce his presence.
• “Have a seat.” Alessandro said, gesturing towards the couch, and I went to sit down on it. I was right. It was so comfortable to sit on, and my butt loved the plush cushions.
• “Do you care for some wine?” Alessandro asked, and I nodded in response. “White or red?”
• “Red, please.” I answered, and he walked away. He returned a minute later with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. He poured the wine, and handed me a glass. He took the other glass and sat right next to me. He was unnervingly close, and I could feel the heat radiating off his body. I felt squirmish under the intensity of it all.
• I took a sip of the wine, and I almost moaned at how sweet it tasted; I could taste the vanilla and plum flavours, a delicious combination. I absentmindedly twirled the wine glass in my hand, waiting for Alessandro to say something. I subtly checked my reflection on the glass to see if my lipstick was still intact, and it was.
• I was about to say something to break the disturbing silence, but Alessandro beat me to it.
• “Do you have a boyfriend?” Alessandro suddenly asked, and I almost choked on my wine because of how unexpected the question was.
• “No, I don't. Why do you ask?” I asked back as I glanced at him, and he was staring at me intently. His wine was untouched, but I could see that he was still tipsy from the drinks he had at the club.
• “I was just checking to see if I could kiss you.” He replied, and his voice seemed to drop an octave. My eyes widened as my brain registered what he had said. This was it. This was the moment I'd been waiting for.
• “Well, you didn't have to ask. I'd kiss you even if I had a boyfriend.” I spoke, and he chuckled.
• “I'll take that as a yes, then.” He spoke as he closed the tiny gap between us. He dropped his wine glass on the table, and I did the same thing.
• His lips met mine, slow at first, as if he was savoring the moment. The warmth of his breath mixed with the lingering taste of wine on my tongue, and I pressed closer, letting my fingers trace the sharp line of his jaw. His hand slid to my waist, fingers digging in just enough to make me aware of the strength behind them.
• I deepened the kiss, parting my lips slightly, and he took the invitation, his tongue sliding against mine with a mix of hunger and control. His other hand moved up, fingers tangling in my hair, tilting my head back as he kissed me harder. The heat between us built, but I remained acutely aware of the lipstick staining his lips—of what would come next.
• His breathing grew heavier, the kiss turning feverish. I let out a soft hum against his lips, pretending to be lost in the moment when, in reality, I was waiting. The drug would take effect soon.
• And when it did, Alessandro wouldn't even know what hit him.
• It was Ketamine. A fast-acting dissociative anesthetic, carefully infused into the lipstick I was wearing. Enough to make Alessandro weak, disoriented, and eventually unconscious—but not enough to kill him. I had protected my own lips with a silicone-based primer, an invisible barrier that kept the drug from affecting me. I had planned for every possibility, prepared for every outcome. Failure wasn’t an option. I would go to any lengths to complete this mission, no matter what it took.
• Alessandro groaned into the kiss, his hands gripping me tighter as if trying to anchor himself. I let him. I let him think he was in control, let him revel in the moment for as long as he could. His lips moved hungrily against mine, heat radiating between us, but I could already feel the subtle change in his movements. His grip loosened slightly, his breath hitching in an uneven rhythm.
• A few seconds passed. Then his hands faltered.
• He pulled back, blinking slowly, his brows furrowing. “I feel… weird,” he mumbled, his voice sluggish. His head tilted slightly, as if he was struggling to keep it upright.
• I cupped his face, my expression unreadable, though inside, I was counting the seconds. "Shh, it's okay," I murmured, brushing my thumb against his jaw as if soothing him.
• His eyelids fluttered. His body swayed. Then, with a soft exhale, Alessandro collapsed against me, completely unconscious.
• The room was silent except for the crackling of the fireplace. I exhaled, my heart steady.
• It was time.