Selene rushed across the hotel room, slipping on her heels so quickly she nearly chipped her perfectly manicured nails. Snatching her purse from the vanity, she strutted to the mirror with practiced grace.
With a flick of her wrist, she retrieved her lipstick, carefully painting it over her already plump, naturally red lips. She smacked them together softly, then turned to glance at the naked, lifeless body sprawled across the king-sized bed
Her gaze slid to the man's trousers crumpled on the floor.
"Huh."
She walked over, crouched, and rifled through his pockets.
"Ka-ching."
The whisper escaped her lips as she held up an ATM card, twirling it between her fingers before tucking it into her purse like a prized souvenir.
She got out of the room and started through the halls. As she stepped into the elevator and reached for the panel, a hand shot out, stopping the doors just in time.
Selene tilted her head, curiosity piqued.
A man entered. Tall. Broad. His sheer presence nearly knocked the breath out of her.
Hot. Selene thought shamelessly as she let her eyes roam. His jet-black hair shimmered naturally—it wasn't manufactured like hers, it was divine.
His face was cut from stone: sharp jawline, symmetrical, model-perfect.
Her eyes roamed upwards a little to find his eyes but unfortunately they were hidden behind dark shades.
Her intrusive thoughts attacked her like an ambush. She shook her head quickly. Focus, Selene. Focus.
He entered the elevator and stood beside her as the doors closed.
His perfume was amazing.
Heaven's Mist. She breathed in the scent, recognizing the brand of perfume. It made the man all the more hotter.
The man moved his arm, reaching dangerously close to her face. Her heart raced. Was he going to touch her? Her body tensed in all the right ways—her warmth rising uncontrollably.
But no.
He was just pressing the elevator button.
Selene blinked, flustered. She cleared her throat, shoving her thoughts back into the corner.
"You didn't press the button. So I did it for you," the man said, his voice smooth, detached, not sparing her a glance as he scrolled through his phone. They began to descend.
Selene's heart did a little somersault. That voice. It had dark romance Wattpad written all over it.
She blushed some more as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"Um… yeah, thanks," she mumbled, cheeks tingling with heat despite herself. She was twenty-five, but she sure didn't feel like it right now.
The man's phone suddenly rang. He looked at the name and his facial expression changed from neutral to annoyed. Selene noticed this and blinked.
"Hm? Yes. Look everywhere. I don't care how you do it—just get it done by the end of tonight. Or you'll find out what really happened to Gutierrez' little finger."
He spoke with terrifying calmness, like it was the most casual thing in the world. Selene's brows shot up. Her senses sharpened instantly. Who was this man?
Her hand clutched her bag, ready to bring out her dagger.
The call ended.
He turned to face her.
And finally, he took off his glasses.
Her breath caught in her throat. His eyes were amber. Warm, glowing, and yet so dangerously out of place on a man like him.
But they suited him perfectly.
"Business," he murmured with a smirk before stepping out of the now open elevator doors.
Selene stood there, stunned, her mouth slightly agape. She would've drooled right then and there if the elevator hadn't rudely threatened to close.
Snapping out of it, she quickly darted out, her heels clacking against the marble as she exited the big building.
The night was cold, but luckily a few cabs still lingered by the curb. She flagged one down and slipped inside, her mind still racing as the car drove away.
"Shibayawa District," Selene told the cab driver as she sank into the backseat, finally able to relax.
The man nodded, catching her gaze in the rearview mirror.
Selene looked through the window. Her eyes scanned the many buildings and lights.
Pretty as always. Active City was actually beautiful, unfortunately it only seemed that way outside. On the inside lots of dark things happened.
She closed her eyes, letting the soft hum of the car lull her.
Some time later, she stirred, slowly blinking herself awake.
The car had stopped. The engine was off.
Her brow furrowed as she sat up, glancing around.
Dark alley. Driver's seat empty. She analyzed
Am I being kidnapped?
Her pulse quickened as she twisted around to find the driver a few feet away, chatting with two unfamiliar men. His posture screamed business. Shady business.
Selene slipped out of the car, strutting toward them with her usual calm.
"Excuse me? This isn't Shiba—"
She stopped. One of the men casually raised a gun, aiming it squarely at her.
Her hands shot up instantly.
"Whoa!" She gasped.
The man's gaze drifted over her body, lingering far too long on her exposed legs. And thanks to the short dress she wore, it was basically an invitation to let him do so.
"You were right," he said to the driver, a slow grin spreading across his face. "She is a treat. I mean just look at 'em curves."
The driver's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with betrayal as the other man handed him a silver suitcase.
"Here. Tell the missus we said hi."
The driver bowed, grinning like a fool. "Thank you so much! Thank you, thank you!"
The gunman scoffed. "Don't thank us. Just be grateful you brought us something worth the money this time. Not like that little girl you handed over last week."
Selene's stomach twisted. Her lips parted in shock.
The man's gaze crept lower again, slow and predatory. She scowled.
"Can you not look at me like that?" she snapped, her patience thinning.
"Oooh, talkative, huh?" The second man spat on the ground and swaggered toward her, his rough hand cupping her cheek, his fingers sliding dangerously toward her curves.
Selene rolled her eyes. Men are so predictable.
In one swift motion, she slammed her knee between his legs. The man crumpled with a strangled groan.
Before he could hit the ground, she yanked him upright, using him as a shield just as the gunman panicked and fired.
The bullet punched through the man's forehead.
"Shit!" the gunman barked, raising his weapon to steady his aim.
The driver bolted in terror.
Without hesitation, the gunman spun and shot him clean through the back of the skull. The driver collapsed like a ragdoll, the suitcase clattering beside him.
The gunman whirled back toward Selene—but she was gone.
Only the second man's body remained in his sights.
"Hi," Selene's voice whispered—right beside him.
His eyes widened just in time to see her dagger plunging deep into his chest. He gasped, clutching at her hand which now had black gloves on, but she twisted the blade cruelly.
"You disgust me," she hissed in his ear, before stabbing him again. And again. And again.
His body hit the ground, but Selene didn't stop. Blood splattered across her face, flecking her lips and staining her black dress, but she kept going until her breath trembled with adrenaline.
Finally, she straightened, chest rising and falling as she exhaled sharply, her dagger slick and dripping in her hand.
She wiped a spot of blood from her cheek with the back of her hand, inspecting the mess around her.
Men. Always so filthy.
She checked their pockets for loot, but she found some useless stuff instead. Like gum and condoms.
"Ew."
After grabbing the car keys, Selene strolled back to the cab.
If she wanted to get to Shibayawa, she'd have to drive herself.
It had been a long, stressful night, and all she wanted now was to collapse into her cozy little life and pretend, for just a moment, that she wasn't constantly bathing in other people's blood.
She sighed as she drove through the quiet, sleeping streets of Active city.
I'm starving.
~~~
When she got home, she made a beeline for her bedroom, tearing off her dress, kicking off her miserable heels, and immediately running a hot bath.
Kate, her best friend, just stared at her as she rushed to the bedroom.
"Hello to you too!" Kate barked at her.
After a long soak, she ruffled her damp hair and pulled on her soft, oversized sweater—the one that practically swallowed her whole. The microwave dinged, and she popped out a bag of buttery popcorn, sinking into the little couch in their tiny apartment.
Kate looked up from the computer she was using and smirked. Selene just rolled her eyes.
She flicked on the TV, finally ready to enjoy her precious moment of peace.
Before she could even release her satisfied sigh—
Her phone rang.
Her gaze flicked sideways. The phone sat on the other end of the couch next to Kate who obviously wasn't going to get it for her.
"Please?"
"You know I don't tolerate laziness."
She groaned dramatically, reaching over and snatching it up.
"Ugh," she grumbled as she answered.
The voice on the other end was cold, business as usual.
"Mhm, yes Minerva." Selene hummed, her mouth full of popcorn.
"Already?" she whined, sinking deeper into the couch cushions. "I haven't even had time to relax."
Selene rolled her eyes. She just got comfortable. They couldn't even let her have one night off?
Her phone pinged. She lazily unlocked it, expecting another crusty politician or greasy mob boss.
Instead, her breath caught.
It was him.
The Elevator Man.
The photo showed him striding across a busy street, coffee cup in hand, wearing a perfect, cinched trench coat that hugged his broad shoulders and tapered waist. The lighting? Immaculate.
Damn it. Of course he looks even hotter in pictures. She thought, biting her lower lip.
Selene blinked, tossing another kernel into her mouth.
As gorgeous as he was, a job is a job.
And she always delivered.
If not for the money, then at least for the sake of her precious, interrupted relaxation.
___