Chapter 5 Chapitre 5

The days stretched slowly, like a calm sea before a storm. Elvie felt trapped in the villa, in the role Adriano had imposed on her, in this world of violence and betrayal that she had not chosen to plunge into. There were times when she felt overwhelmed, when loneliness invaded her. But something had changed in her, a trigger that she did not quite understand. She had learned to observe, to understand the rules of this power game, even if they disgusted her. She had also learned to protect herself, to no longer show her weaknesses.

She sometimes found herself staring at Adriano, as if trying to decipher the man he was, what he hid behind that impassive and authoritarian façade. But he was an enigma, a man whose emotions were as deep and inaccessible as the ocean. She knew he saw her, that he scrutinized her, but he showed her nothing. At least, that's what he thought.

Giovanni, Adriano's cousin, was a discreet man, almost self-effacing. But for a few days now, Elvie had started to run into him more often, sometimes by chance, sometimes in moments when she felt particularly alone. Giovanni had a strange calm, a sort of threatening calm. But beneath this apparent tranquility, Elvie had started to see cracks, clues that hinted at another face. A face she would never have thought she would see in a member of the Corleones.

One evening, after the other members of the family had left the villa, Giovanni approached her, his eyes shining with a special light. There was something in the way he looked at her, something different. She knew she was taking a big risk by listening to what he had to say, but curiosity, always the same, won out. Giovanni was not a man of words, but that evening he seemed to have decided to reveal everything.

"You know, Elvie, the Corleones have their secrets," he said in a low, almost whispered voice, as if what he was about to say would never leave this room. He made sure no one could hear them before continuing. "Adriano is not who he says he is. He's playing a bigger game than you can imagine."

She looked at him, her heart beating faster, her eyes locked on him, searching for any clue. Giovanni wasn't one to speak without reason, and she knew those words weren't insignificant.

"I know what you're thinking," he added, his voice even lower. "Adriano is manipulating you, isn't he? He lets you believe he's just a powerful man, but it's more complex than that. He has a plan, a plan that goes beyond simple family conflicts."

Elvie swallowed, wondering how far Giovanni would go in his revelations. She had always known there was more behind Adriano's actions, but she had never imagined there could be a secret this dark, this deeply buried.

"He seeks to regain control of the Corleone family, not just here, but throughout the country," Giovanni continued, his eyes shining with new determination. "He wants to eliminate all opposition, and he'll do anything to do it. Anything."

Elvie's breath caught. Giovanni's words echoed in her head. She had always believed that the war between families was simply a question of power, of territories, but there was something bigger behind it. A game of domination, of manipulation, where every move counted. And Adriano was the master of it.

She didn't understand everything, but one thing was for sure: she couldn't just stand there and do nothing. She was already too involved, too connected to this family, and if she wasn't careful, she might end up caught in a spider's web she'd never be able to escape.

But Giovanni's revelations were only just beginning. He told her of Adriano's all-consuming ambition, his desire to control everything, his determination to become the only master, the only man capable of leading the clan. And that ambition, Giovanni knew, could destroy them all. They would tear each other apart, and Elvie would risk being crushed in the process.

"Pay attention to him," Giovanni concluded, looking her straight in the eye. "He sees you as a piece in his game. But you can be more than that, if you know where to look."

Giovanni's words rang through Elvie's mind like an alarm, but she didn't know how to react. She was just a mere assistant in this power struggle, a small piece in a game whose rules she didn't know. But the pieces seemed to be moving around her, and she had no choice but to follow suit.

A few days later, Adriano found her in the meeting room, a silent room, hidden from view. He stood there, as calm as ever, but his gaze betrayed a certain intensity. He knew something had changed, but he didn't show it.

"You know, Elvie," he said, walking slowly toward her, his tone so measured it was almost icy, "you're doing a good job. But you know, it's not all as simple as it seems."

Elvie felt a lump form in her stomach. She knew it wasn't a compliment. It was a warning. Adriano was far too smart to be fooled, and he knew full well that she was just a pawn in his game, even if she had started to have her own ideas about how he operated.

"I'm watching you," he said, his voice low but penetrating. "You may think you're in control, but you're just playing a role. And a role, Elvie, can change at any moment."

She tried to keep her cool, but she could feel the pressure tightening around her. Every word Adriano spoke seemed a little heavier, a little more threatening. He knew how to manipulate her emotions, how to play on her weaknesses. And it terrified her.

He looked at her for a long time, as if waiting for something. Then, with a fluid gesture, he approached her, and before she had time to react, he gently caressed her arm. The simple touch of his hand on her skin made her shiver, but she didn't let anything show.

"You're more precious than you know," he whispered, his eyes boring into hers. "And more vulnerable than you think."

Those words, spoken with such conviction, echoed in her head. She knew she should be wary of him, but she couldn't help but be drawn in, feel trapped in this power play where every move brought her a little closer to the dangerous line.

But the most pressing threat wasn't there. No, there was something darker looming on the horizon. Elvie's ex. He was back.

She hadn't heard from him in months, and she'd hoped he'd forgotten about her, found someone else to manipulate, someone else to torment. But he hadn't forgotten. He never would.

And it didn't take long for him to make his presence felt. A message. A simple message, but one that spoke volumes. "I know what you're hiding, Elvie. And I'm going to reveal it all. If you don't come to me, I'll take care of everything."

Fear gripped Elvie. She wasn't the same person she'd been before. She wasn't the broken young woman he'd known. But the threats from a man like him were real. She knew he had the power to destroy what she'd built back up. But she wouldn't let him do it this time. She'd changed, she wasn't a victim anymore. She'd be ready this time.