It was a card, smooth to the touch. At its center shone a circle of pure gold, sleek and flawless. Inside the ring, a laser QR code.There were no words, only that symbol—like a secret kept hidden.When scanned, a video appeared on the screen, bursting into smoke and distant laughter.Masks floated between glasses, music, and a seductive murmur.The camera rose, showing the city at night, bright and dangerous.Then it descended toward a figure identical to the guest, holding their phone.On the screen appeared the name, the rank, the caste, and a golden seal spinning.Finally, the secret code to enter the event emerged: the key was a perfume made only for him or her.
Valentina smiled—not authentically, but with condescension. Lorenzo kept explaining the details to the group, while he felt someone, slightly near their table, watching them from the corner of their eye.The meeting ended rather late, but at last, they managed to coordinate everything pending. Now all that was left was for the event to arrive.
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The Day of the Event
"Seriously, I can't go?" Andrea asked, pouting."Forgive me, I tried," Lucas replied, gently squeezing her cheeks."Poor you if you flirt with someone else. I'll be waiting for you," Andrea said, half serious, half playful.
The day of the event had arrived. Lucas was visibly stressed: there was a chance he might run into someone from his old agency. They hadn't ended on bad terms, but deep down he felt he might have betrayed some people's trust.
The chosen location was a well-known bar. Lorenzo had demanded that only the best be used for that night.
Lucas's outfit blended autumn air with classic tailoring, modern yet elegant. He wore a long black coat, straight and slim cut, no designs, adorned only with three large, gleaming buttons.The pants, straight and fluid, evoked a palazzo without quite being one; he paired them with a crimson leather belt and a plain metallic buckle. A thin white cashmere turtleneck, short-sleeved, completed the upper part, along with short chunky black leather boots by Dr. Martens. Everything impeccable, accompanied by a classic wristwatch with a black leather strap and a rebellious wolf cut hairstyle.
"You look so handsome," Andrea commented, crossing her arms and looking him up and down.
Lucas and Valentina had arranged to meet near the bar. They had to wait for Lorenzo before they could enter. Lucas was still nervous: he felt as if he were sweating, but when he touched himself, there was nothing.
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It was two in the afternoon in Maur. The sun had come out—something unusual, considering the weather was already beginning to change.
"Fuck… should I wear a girdle?" Valentina muttered deliriously in front of the mirror, undecided about what to put on.
After going back and forth (first choosing an outfit, then regretting it), she finally settled on a simple black three-quarter sleeve turtleneck. She paired it with a long ivory skirt, with a high slit on the right leg, adorned with black lace floral embroidery.Over it, she wore a black leather blazer-style jacket, plain and unadorned, finishing with knee-high boots that gave her a more dramatic, powerful air. She chose long silver earrings, a silver fantasy watch, and a choker-like steel snake necklace. To complete the ensemble, she added a small, square black bag.
She wasn't good at makeup; even though she followed many influencers, no matter how hard she tried, she always felt she looked odd. But this time was the exception: she applied a bit of foundation, outlined her eyes in a smoky-eye style, and dabbed her lips with a pink balm.
Her jet-black, shiny hair fell in a long shag that framed her face. She crossed her fingers so no one would look too closely at her that night and murmured to herself, with a flirty smile in front of the mirror:
"Mmm… my ass looks so good in this skirt."
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Night fell. Friday was always the favorite day of many—it invited relaxation and celebration of the weekend's arrival, even if it was short.
"You? Wearing makeup? What's going on? It's the end of the world," Lucas joked."Idiot!" Valentina shot back, glaring at him."Mmm… how flirty," whispered a voice very close to her ear.
Valentina let out a startled scream. It was Lorenzo, who had arrived with steps so soft they were barely noticed.
Once the three were together, they decided to head toward the entrance of the venue.
"Lorenzo, wait… aren't we supposed to take off our shoes?" Valentina asked, uncertain.
It was one of the bar's strictest policies: whoever refused would never get in. However, Lorenzo only gestured for silence with his hand, inviting her to trust him.
Inside, Lorenzo didn't lead them to the center, where the pool was, but toward the kitchen, which still had staff working. He guided them straight to the cold storage room.
"What's going on, Lorenzo? Planning to turn us into meat?" Lucas joked sarcastically.
Valentina hesitated too. The sound of the cooks pounding meat, the metallic clang of knives, and even the sensation of blood splattering on cutting boards sent a shiver down her spine.
They chose to trust him. Lorenzo opened the door to the chamber, and inside, there were two exits. They moved toward the one on the left, but before opening it, Lorenzo pulled something from his pocket: a small vial. It was the perfume mentioned in the invitation. He sprayed a little on himself, then on Valentina and Lucas as well.
It didn't smell bad—in fact, it was an expensive fragrance. But there was something strange in that gesture; Valentina glanced at Lucas for reassurance, and the fake smile he returned confirmed her unease. It felt as if they had just signed a contract without reading it.
The door revealed a dark hallway. There, two massive bodyguards stood like towers, waiting. When they stepped aside, a woman appeared behind them, her sensuality perceptible even before she was fully in sight. She wore a bodycon dress that clung to her figure—but the most striking thing were her red eyes.
"Mr. Galotti, are these your beta companions?" she asked, her voice dripping with magnetism.
She said little else. Her red eyes scanned Lucas and Valentina as if they were merchandise, then she turned with a mechanical gesture.
She led them to another door. When it opened, concrete stairs were revealed. They descended, and Lorenzo opened the next entrance. Lucas and Valentina were left speechless: this place had nothing to do with what it looked like from outside.
A colossal fifteen-meter Buddha dominated the room. To one side, a bar long enough to serve thirty people. Everything glowed in red, black, and gold lights, adorned with floating crystal chandeliers. The masked waiters moved with precision and elegance.
Lucas froze in shock: it was as if he could read the emotions in the air, tangled with the laughter and shouts of the crowd. The pressure built in his temples. He was restless, agitated.
"So then… to why we came," Lorenzo announced calmly.
They moved forward together. Lucas realized there were far too many people; Switzerland wasn't such a large country, so many of those present must have come from abroad.
Valentina was still uneasy, but she was nervous too. She thought about holding Lucas's hand, but before she could even try, someone shoved her roughly—making her feel ignored all over again…