Scarred Seductress

Welcome Onboard

“How could you be so careless, Marina…” Mrs Monreo, Marina's mom, fumed, pacing and panting, her fingers tangling through her hair.

Marina sighed and lowered her gaze.

“Just days of my absence and you already have two bodies on you?” she ranted, chuckling dryly, fear and disappointment echoing through her voice.

“It's not my fault, Mom… the first woman was a nobody with her kid on scholarship and she dared to stand up to me… she looked me in the eye and suggested they hold an open vote to appoint a new president…”

“So you just shoved her down the balcony?” her mother snapped.

Marina rolled her eyes with a slight shrug.

Mrs Monreo hissed, shaking her head.

“And the second girl… talking about, do I remember Samantha…”

Her mother's gaze snapped to her instantly, her lashes blinking rapidly.

Marina scoffed.

“I had to take care of her really quickly…” she fumed.

Her mother's mouth fell open, her palm clamping over it.

“So don't blame me, Mom…” Marina cooed, lifting her gaze to meet her mom's horrified expression.

“You killed the girl even before you found out how she knew about Samantha?”

Marina swallowed into nothing and pressed a nod.

“How could you be so stupid!” her mother yelled, throwing her hands in the air as she paced even more frantically.

“But… but… she promised she was the only one who knew about Samantha… she swore no one else knew…”

“And you believed her, Marina… you believed her.” Mrs Monreo shook, chuckling in disbelief as she shook her head.

“But Mom—”

“Look around you, Marina…” Mrs Monreo snapped, cutting her off.

Marina swallowed and tore her gaze around, her eyes roaming over the magnificent glory of the mansion before them—her home.

“You're a Moretti now, Marina… you've got all this power at the tip of your fingers, but you don't go around killing people.”

Marina lowered her gaze.

“You've got everything to lose… everything.”

Marina bit down on her lower lip. For the first time since she took the Moretti name, fear curled up her spine.

“People envy you… they hate you,” Mrs Monreo said, settling into the seat beside Marina. Marina's gaze shifted to the gleaming pool in front of them, avoiding her mother's eyes.

“They'll do anything to take your place…”

A shaky breath escaped Marina.

“I know it's not easy being way up there, but Marina… you've got to be careful not to hand the people who hate you the rope to pull you down.” She intoned, taking Marina's hand, her eyes fixed on Marina's guilty face.

“I'm sorry, Mom…”

“Don't apologize. You've got nothing to worry about as long as you have me… I'm back now.” She assured her, leaving a gentle pat on Marina's shoulder.

Marina forced a smile, brushing aside the fear swirling within her.

“So tell me… you took care of the girl last night…”

Marina nodded, her face lighting up with a proud smile.

“Damien did.”

Her mother gasped, her eyes snapping wide as she shot to her feet.

“What did you just say—”

“Relax, Mom… he's totally fine with it,” Marina cut in, flipping her long hair over her shoulder and rolling her eyes, pride flickering in her gaze.

“But Marina—”

“He not only took care of it, Mom, but he kept the murder weapon… and since last night, he's been all over me more than ever before… like the incident just strengthened our bond or something.” She chuckled.

Mrs Monreo slowly settled back down, her face still etched with confusion.

“Trust me, Mom… Damien and I are fine. In fact, we're a lot better than before, and you'll see.”

Mrs Monreo pressed a reluctant nod and shoved the topic aside, moving on to the next.

“About the woman with her son on scholarship… how did you take care of that… and did the police reach out for an investigation?”

Marina scoffed.

“Who would dare…” she spat.

“Still, Marina—”

“There's nothing to worry about, Mom… if things go south, I'll just pin the murder on someone.”

Her mother raised a brow.

“Who?”

Marina smiled, her eyes catching sight of Selene just in time as she walked toward them. Her fists clenched at her sides as flashbacks of Damien devouring Selene’s lips last night surged back—so that was her plan… Damien.

She scoffed and rose to her feet, determination flooding her veins. She would make Selene regret ever walking into their lives of her own will. She would make her suffer for daring to lay her eyes on Damien—let alone kiss him.

“Her…” she said, drawing her mom's gaze to Selene, now standing before them with her head lowered.

“Ma'am?” Selene greeted.

Mrs Monreo’s eyes trailed over Selene—her aura, her beauty—unsettling her for reasons she couldn’t place.

“Who is she?” she asked, darting a confused look at Marina.

Marina scoffed and closed in on Selene, catwalking around her in a slow circle.

“Meet Selene, Mom… my new lapdog.” she spat, leaning closer and inhaling Selene’s perfume—the same scent she had caught on Damien.

She chuckled, her eyes roaming Selene’s face, spotting the small cut on her lips—no doubt from Damien’s forceful kiss last night.

“You asked to see me…”

“Yes, I did, Selene…” Marina cooed, chuckling again before returning to her seat, crossing her legs elegantly.

“Well, I'm at your service, Ma'am…”

Marina rolled her eyes and clapped her hands. An entourage of maids hurried to her side as Selene looked between them in confusion.

“You've been absent for some days, Selene… so tell me, where did you go?”

Selene’s heart sank—the realization hitting her hard. Marina knew.

“f**k,” she cursed under her breath.

“Come on, Selene… you can tell me anything…”

“I… I…” Selene stammered.

Marina chuckled, shaking her head, her anger barely contained.

“The perfume you're wearing… do you wear it often?”

Selene let out a dry chuckle. “I've been away in my hometown spending some time with my parents. I'm sorry I didn’t inform you beforehand…”

“Do you wear the damn perfume often?” Marina snapped, her voice laced with anger and spite.

Selene shook her head, her lips parting to explain when her eyes caught Damien on the balcony, watching—his expression cold and unreadable.

Selene swallowed.

Marina followed her gaze and met Damien’s eyes. A spark of mischief ignited as an idea crossed her mind.

“I'm really sorry I didn't tell you I was leaving town, Ma'am…” Selene shuddered, nervous and confused, unable to discern what awaited her.

Marina smiled evilly and flicked a nod at the maids.

“Yes, Ma'am…” they chorused, seizing Selene before she could process anything, dragging her toward the pool a few meters away.

Marina followed slowly, excitement bubbling in her chest at the thought of Selene being humiliated while Damien watched without intervening. She would finally understand her place. He never rated Selene as anything more than a tool for pleasure—she, his wife, was the priority.

“Do it,” Marina ordered.

The girls dragged Selene into the pool, forcing her head under the water and pinning her there as she struggled and clawed for air.

Marina smiled.

“Enough,” she ordered.

They lifted Selene’s head briefly, leaving her gasping.

Marina’s mother smiled proudly, satisfied at the punishment this slut of a woman was receiving. Clearly she had tried something with Damien—this was just a lesson.

“What… what is this for, Marina?” Selene choked, feigning ignorance.

Marina smirked, flicking her gaze back to Damien—still watching, coldly.

Selene met his eyes again and lowered her gaze, anger, hate, and frustration boiling inside her. Of course he would watch—he was Damien, after all.

“Marina, I'm sorry I didn’t—”

Marina flicked her finger again and Selene’s head was shoved back under the water.

“How can you even work for me if you can't endure just this?” Marina chuckled, amused.

They held Selene under until her movements weakened. Just as she was about to go still, Marina nodded and they freed her, leaving her collapsing into the water, shaking and breathless.

“Can… can you at least tell me what this is for?” Selene gasped, dragging herself upright, her body trembling.

Marina rolled her eyes. She would never tell her it was about Damien. She would keep Selene close, make her suffer while Damien watched—show her who he would choose every time. This was only the beginning.

“You want to be on my side so badly, Selene…” Marina sneered.

Selene said nothing.

“Well this is exactly what it takes to be on my side, Selene…” Marina spat, hissing bitterly as she turned away.

Selene’s fists clenched as anger coiled through her veins. Mrs Monreo caught the gesture and chuckled, shaking her head.

“Well, welcome onboard, Selene… you work for me now…” Marina jeered, stepping forward and throwing a cruel smile over her shoulder. “As my assistant…”

Selene’s eyes snapped wide, terror flooding her face.

“Dare to say no and you're over,” Marina spat, rolling her eyes as she met Damien’s gaze one final time and walked away.

Her mother chuckled proudly, her eyes lingering on Selene—shaking, stunned, and utterly speechless.