Scarred Seductress

Unfinished Business

Selene's phone buzzed in her purse and snapped her out of her thoughts. She exhaled a deep breath and dipped her hand into the purse, taking out the phone.

“Are you there yet?” the text read. Marina's name was plastered above it. Selene scoffed, turned off the phone, and trailed her gaze to the car window, her mind wallowing in thoughts again. For some reason, since weeks ago, she hadn’t been herself. She had taken time away from Marina to re-strategize, to sink into the exact words Damien had said to her that night.

Marina had said it once to her and, to be honest, she never really believed her. But hearing Damien say the same thing—that he had really discarded Samantha to die back then—was a pill she had not been able to swallow, no matter how hard she tried.

“We're here…” the driver announced.

Selene forced a smile and alighted from the car, exhaling another heavy breath to ease her aching chest as she took in the place—the nightclub where Marina had asked her to meet Vivien's husband again.

“Thank you,” Selene said to the driver, about to proceed when he spoke.

“I’ll be waiting out here, ma'am….”

Selene turned. “You don't have to… I plan to spend the night here…” she mouthed, chuckling dryly.

He nodded reluctantly and ignited the engine, driving off as Selene watched.

“Miss Selene…” a voice cut through, drawing her gaze in that direction.

Dylan let out a cheesy smile and walked up to her.

“What a surprise to meet you again…”

Selene quickly forced her usual expression back onto her face—that sultry, slow smile curving her lips—causing the man to swallow into nothing as his eyes trailed over her body in the very exposed, leather-tight gown. As though she had chosen it on purpose, the slit above her thigh revealed just enough to keep his eyes wanting more.

“Nice to meet you too…” Selene said and stretched out her hand for a handshake. He took it quickly.

“I honestly never thought I'd see you again… I mean, you just disappeared the other day and—”

“I'm sorry I had to leave that way. Something came up, something very important…”

“It's okay… you don't have to apologise…” he chuckled, swallowing again into nothing as Selene's hand tightened around his, her thumb caressing his fingers slowly, like a quiet invitation.

“Uh… are you… are you here to see someone?” he asked shakily, already breathing hard.

Selene broke the handshake and smiled. “I'm just here to have fun…”

A smile spread quickly across his lips as he lunged for her hand, seizing it.

“Well, what do you say to being my date for the night? I'm here to meet some important clients and I'd hate to lose sight of you before the meeting is over.”

Selene laughed.

“Come on….”

He led the way into the club, and Selene followed quietly.

“This way…” he mouthed as they entered the empty elevator, its doors sliding shut with just the two of them inside.

“I don't think I can wait anymore…” he blurted, shoving Selene to a corner and pinning her in place as he crashed his lips against hers.

Selene deepened the kiss immediately, her pace on his lips desperate and urgent, as though she was dying to get to this too.

“You want me so bad, huh?” he sneered, his fingers tugging desperately at his belt.

Selene scoffed, still kissing him, frustration pouring into her veins as memories of Matteo came flooding into her mind. She had feared that with the way he handled her—unlike any other man—she would definitely crave his touch in the arms of another, and here she was, confirming her hunch.

“Well, I want you just as much, Selene….” he growled, creeping his fingers toward her thighs when she seized his hand, stopping him.

He broke the kiss quickly, his eyes meeting hers.

“What… what—”

“There's no need to rush… we can do this after your meeting,” she said, tearing a hiss out of him.

He backed away reluctantly.

“I just don't feel like rushing into it anymore… we'll have all the time in the world tonight when you're done with business,” she added.

“Fine…” he rumbled, glancing down at the watch on his wrist. “I'm almost late anyway… you're right.”

Selene tucked her face away, tugging in her lower lip as frustration still burned within her. She had agreed to be a pawn in Marina's hands again because, of course, if she refused, Marina would do anything to drag her down like she had threatened. But also because she wanted to feel another man—to get her head out of the chaos Damien and his father had thrown her into.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Damien because of what he had said that night about Samantha, and Matteo—the time they shared in his car. Either way, she just wanted a break tonight, and weirdly, her body wasn’t responding.

“Come on…”

The elevator chimed and he took her hand, leading the way out into a quiet, secluded hallway, with a few armed bodyguards positioned by the one magnificent and imposing door standing tall within it.

“Tell him I'm here….” Dylan said, and the guard nodded, pushing the door open and disappearing inside. Soon, he reappeared.

“He's ready for you…”

A smile curved Dylan's lips as he turned to Selene. “Come on…”

He led her into the dimly lit office, a tall figure strutting in from the balcony with a cigarette in hand.

“Sir…” Dylan mouthed, bowing slightly.

Selene glanced around briefly, her eyes catching on a painting hanging boldly on the wall, snatching the air from her lungs as she recognised the picture to be none other than Matteo's.

She panned her gaze toward him quickly and gasped, his features clear and hard through the barely lit office.

He had recognised her from the second she walked in.

Selene tore her hand from Dylan’s, lowering her gaze as Matteo’s eyes roamed over her—slow and deliberate.