My Beautiful Seductress

The Enemy Behind The Curtains

The rain fell steadily against the floor-to-ceiling windows of Luca's penthouse, turning the city lights into blurred streaks of gold and silver.

Vivienne stood near the glass, arms folded across her chest as she stared at the storm outside. Her mind refused to settle. Too many questions. Too many secrets.

And every one of them seemed to lead back to Luca Marino.

The man was impossible to understand.

One moment he was cold enough to freeze an entire room.

The next, he looked at her as if she were the only person in the world.

A soft click echoed behind her.

She turned.

Luca entered the room, his dark suit jacket draped over one shoulder. His expression remained unreadable, but she noticed the exhaustion hidden beneath his usual calm exterior.

"You should be asleep," he said.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow.

"You say that as if you've slept at all."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"Fair point."

For a few seconds, silence settled between them.

It wasn't uncomfortable.

That somehow made it more dangerous.

Luca stepped closer.

"There's something I need to tell you."

Her stomach tightened.

"What is it?"

His gaze darkened.

"The man who ordered the attack at the gala wasn't acting alone."

Vivienne felt her pulse quicken.

"You found out who it was?"

"Not yet."

The answer surprised her.

Luca Marino always seemed to know everything.

Seeing uncertainty in his eyes felt strange.

"But I know someone powerful is moving against me," he continued. "Someone with access to information they shouldn't have."

Vivienne's heart skipped.

Immediately, one face appeared in her mind.

Victor.

The mysterious client who had hired her months ago.

The man who paid generously for information about Luca's business empire.

At the time, she had believed she was investigating a corrupt billionaire.

Now she wasn't so sure.

And the guilt was becoming unbearable.

Luca watched her carefully.

"You look nervous."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Vivienne looked away.

If Luca discovered the truth now, everything between them would shatter.

Before she could respond, Luca's phone rang.

His expression hardened the moment he looked at the screen.

"Stay here."

Without another word, he answered and walked out.

The second the door closed, Vivienne released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

And she had a feeling the worst was still coming.

Across the city, inside a private office hidden above an expensive nightclub, a man sat in darkness.

The only light came from the burning cigar between his fingers.

A nervous employee stood before him.

"Sir, the attack failed."

The man's jaw tightened.

"I know."

"The Marino security team stopped everything."

A long silence followed.

Then the man smiled.

It was not a pleasant smile.

"No matter."

The employee swallowed hard.

"Sir?"

"Every king falls eventually."

The man leaned forward.

"And Luca Marino is about to lose the one thing he cannot replace."

The employee frowned.

"What do you mean?"

The man's eyes gleamed.

"Vivienne Knight."

The next morning, Vivienne left the penthouse earlier than usual.

She needed answers.

And there was only one person who could give them.

An hour later, she entered a quiet café near the waterfront.

Victor was already waiting.

The moment she saw him, anger surged through her.

"You lied to me."

Victor calmly stirred his coffee.

"Good morning to you too."

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

His smile faded.

"Sit down."

"No."

"Vivienne."

His voice became sharp.

"Sit."

Reluctantly, she obeyed.

Victor leaned back in his chair.

"You're getting too close to Luca."

"That's none of your business."

"It is when you're jeopardizing everything."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Everything?"

Victor sighed.

"You still don't understand."

"Then explain it."

For a moment, he simply stared at her.

Then he said something that made her blood run cold.

"The people targeting Luca aren't businessmen."

"What?"

"They're far more dangerous."

Vivienne's heartbeat accelerated.

Victor lowered his voice.

"There's a war coming."

"A war?"

"One that has been building for years."

He leaned closer.

"And Luca Marino is standing directly in its path."

Fear settled deep inside her chest.

For the first time, Victor looked genuinely worried.

"If you're smart, you'll leave him now."

Vivienne shook her head.

"No."

Victor stared at her.

"No?"

"I won't abandon him."

The words left her mouth before she could stop them.

Something flashed across Victor's face.

Disappointment.

Then pity.

"Then you've already made your choice."

Before she could ask what he meant, Victor stood.

And walked away.

Leaving her alone with a growing sense of dread.

Because deep down, she knew one thing.

The battle surrounding Luca Marino was much bigger than she had ever imagined.

And soon, she would be forced to choose a side.