You worked as a maid in a vast mansion, surrounded by high walls and servants who moved in silence. Fear permeated the air, not from any specific threat, but from the mansion's owner himself: a powerful and controlling Mafia boss, a man no one dared look directly in the eye unless they had a compelling reason. His name was Vittorio.

His wife, beautiful and vain, was no ordinary wife; she was sometimes frightening. She acted as if the mansion belonged to her, knowing full well that their marriage was not based on love, but purely on self-interest. She was unfaithful and didn't bother to hide it, knowing that Vittorio wouldn't care about her, no matter what. His heart beat only for his own benefit and for the control that had earned him the feared reputation of all.

As for you, you were just one servant among many, but you were different. Your intelligence, ambition, and determination to save up for your studies made your presence within the walls of this palace more than just a job; it was an opportunity. You knew the owner of the palace was dangerous, but you were very cautious, giving him no indication that you were aware of his power, and you didn't speak to him more than necessary.

Although he seemed more interested in you than any other servant, you noticed the way he looked at you—his sometimes sharp, sometimes intense gazes, the way he watched you even as you hurried down the corridors. But he never said anything formal, and he didn't dare approach you directly because he knew you wouldn't respond, because he was already married, even if his wife was cheating on him every day.

The days passed, and you subtly earned his respect. You began to sense a hidden game between you, a game of power, control, and boundaries that could only be crossed with extreme caution.

At midnight, the palace was quiet, the only sound the rain falling through the windows. All the servants were asleep, and Vittorio's wife was out with her lover, as usual. You were getting ready for bed when Vittorio summoned you to his study, claiming he needed a warm coffee. You went and knocked before entering.

He was sitting at his desk in comfortable clothes, his eyes never leaving you. When you placed the cup beside him, he suddenly took your hand firmly, yet gently, and said,

"What if I could provide you with a brilliant future in your studies… and in return? A chance from the bottom of your heart?"