"I must say Haden, you got the one with the beauty and the brains." Richard, one of their important dealers spoke. His eyes raked Selene from the head to toe shamelessly.

She sat beside Haden on the couch opposite to them, with his arm firmly securing her waist.

"Credible, I might add," Haden smirked, sipping his whiskey.

"And perfectly capable of killing," Selene stated with a dark face, making Richard tear his gaze away from her nervously.

"Of course she is," Haden gave her a side grin, "A femme Fatale."

Selene gave Richard a challenging look but he avoided her gaze that made her smirk.

This five foot six inch of a man in his forties was despicable. Well, apparently she felt the same with every guy in her work line. He tried every cheap pick up line and showed off his money at every chance to get her into his bed.

Haden knew his intentions but he ignored it with his 'I know everything but I don't care' smile. It surprised her sometimes. She wondered if he even cared about her in the first place. She would bet all her money that he knew his brother's intentions behind his cheap remarks. But as usual he chose to ignore it.

A question always raised in her mind during situations like these. 'Is she only a trophy case for his dealers and his business?'

"How did the meeting go?" Haden's rough voice pulled a break to her thoughts.

She turned to look at him. He was staring at his guests who were now swaying around the women at the poles. They were flying money in appreciation while some of them already had their hands around them. Everyone was drunk but she doubted that their behaviour was barely to blame the alcohol.

Haden's deep breaths beside her reminded her that she didn't answer his question yet.

"Tell me about it later," He dismissed casually and got up from his seat.

His eyes were still focused on something, or rather someone. Selene traced down his vision to a redhead dancing seductively at the far corner of the room. She was eyeing him, tantalizing him with her hooded eyes and alluring body. She was a perfect tease.

Selene sighed as he walked his way to her. At least she doesn't have to explain the horrible details about the meeting. She got up as well and made her way to the bar.

"Whiskey neat," she ordered. She definitely needed a strong poison after the events today.

She glanced at the dance floor once again. Men were already busy pushing their tongues down the women's throats. Some men were dancing around with wobbly legs. Haden also got himself busy with the redhead's neck.

All of them had a predatory look on their faces and women were their prey tonight. Nothing about that was normal. There was no respect nor romance. Just plain lust of what looked inhumane.

That made her question herself, 'How are they even different from Keir? '.

Keir kills people, so do they. He is merciless, so are they. He is manipulative and so are they with their money. How are they any different from him? She asked herself again.

'He is a charmer who saves you' A voice in her head answered her own question.

Selene scoffed to herself and shook her head. She gulped down the liquid in one gulp and placed the glass in a heavy thump.

"One more!" She yelled at the waiter.

"Ooh! Slow down there, lady." The bartender passed her a polite smile.

"I just had a really shitty night and I want something that clears up my mind. So, pour me that shit," She demanded playfully.

He smiled, shaking his head to himself and filled her glass as asked. Selene threw back the whole liquid down her throat again. The burning sensation felt better than her throbbing head.

The alcohol is slowly getting into her system, she can feel it. Her mind is hazy and less coherent. She should stop, getting too drunk is risky right now.

"Are you sure this is what you need to clear up your head?" The waiter gave her a doubtful look.

"No," She paused, "-but my mind is hazy and I can't remember a thing. So I guess, the work is done," She drummed the counter and got up from the chair. She gave him a salute before making her way to the door.

She glimpsed at the corner of the room searching for Haden. But both him and the redhead were nowhere to be seen. Who probably got themselves a room finally.

It's always the same routine. Haden invites his dealers, entertains them with women and booze. They get drunk first then get themselves a woman. They have fun with them and the fun ends.

Keeping them happy makes Haden happy. Happy Haden equals less murders and more money. And ultimately the rise of his empire. Selene wants that too and would do anything being a trustworthy staff in his empire.

Even if it comes to tolerating a bunch of lecherous barbarians, then so be it.

"When does the meeting start?" Brent's voice came behind her interrupting her thoughts.

"Aren't you supposed to be in a room, naked?" She countered pinching her skin between the eyebrows.

She sat on the couch in the living room, taking a break from all the loud and the smoke. But now, his presence made her reconsider that decision.

"Women weren't pretty enough today," Brent shrugged. He sat on the couch opposite to her.

She scoffed audibly, "Oh, you have priorities now? I thought just the body matters," She mocked.

"Well both matters," He smirked, "-besides the one I've got an eye for is already busy in a room."

"Ah! I see. Who's the hapless guy?" Selene questioned uninterestedly. If she had a chance she would be anywhere but here, making small talk with Brent.

"Your guy," He answered blatantly.

Selene gave him an annoyed look remembering the redhead that Haden had his hands all over.

Brent placed a smug smile for successfully getting on her nerves, but Selene wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Aww! Poor Brent. Always after his brother's girls," She feigned an innocent pout.

His face was now adorned with a dark scowl, furious about the under meaning of her statement.

"What do you mean?" He pressed her for an answer.

Selene ignored him, twirling her hair strand with her fingers.

"The meeting will start in ten," She answered his previous question and got up from her seat.

Brent played along knowing how good she is at changing the subject.

"Hand me the money." She demanded. Brent pushed the money bag with his foot to her.

She grabbed it and they both took the stairs for the quarters connected to the pool room.

"Julia?" Brent read the name listed on a paper.

"Over here!" A voice in british accent came from the third room.

By this time every scumbag had already gone back to the pool room for the meeting.

Julia was already dressed. She stood in front of the mirror, combing her hair with her fingers.

"Two hundred dollars," He read. Selene took out two stacks of money and gave them to her.

"Two hundred?! That man was a dipshit and an old hag, and this is what you give me!?" She hollered.

Selene's head was throbbing from the punch earlier and this woman's screechy voice was making it worse.

"Fine, take it." She gave her an extra hundred and stormed off from the room.

"Woah!? You seem extra cheery today. What is it?" Brent asked following her.

"-Hey! We don't have the whole day," Yelled a woman from one room.

"It's already past midnight. We need to go home," Spoke another one.

"C'mon pay us already!"

Selene felt the whole world moving in a blurry round. Their restless yelling, the alcohol and the throbbing pain in her head was all overwhelming for her.

She had too much alcohol. Her tolerance gradually depleted when she started ordering fruity cocktails. Two whiskeys straight was a bad idea and now she should keep her head in the game, for the meeting tonight.

She clutched her head between her palms and pressed it with force.

"You okay?" Brent asked with a concerned look.

"No," She mumbled and forced the money bag into his hands, "Handle this today. Will ya?"

She walked down the hallway and sat on the stairs with her hands in her hair. He stood there for a second before resuming back to the work.

This wasn't any new to her, a routine adopted since months. The women are paid for the purpose they are brought to. 'Remuneration' is the word used for that in a formal approach.

A while later, Brent came back with an almost empty bag.

"You done?" She asked him.

He scratched his neck with a confused look, "Uh-the redhead is not here."

Selene's eyebrows scrunched up in confusion, "What do you mean- she's not here?"

"I don't know. She's not in any of the rooms. Either she took off or Haden is not done yet," He drew the last words carefully.

She shot a glare at him, "Everyone is supposed to gather for the meeting no matter if they are done or not."

It applies to Haden even.

"Let's just go downstairs," He suggested and she nodded begrudgingly.

They went down and everyone was gathered at the table. There sat Haden in all his glory among the others. He was talking enthusiastically with his guests.

Selene and Brent stopped in their tracks when the missing redhead came into their view. She was sitting on their boss's lap.

"Ah! Darling. We were waiting for you," Haden waved them over.

Brent took his seat beside a dealer but Selene stood there, with her eyes narrowed at the women on his lap. The woman smiled seductively with her manicured nails combing his hair.

Haden sensed the friction between the two. He knew how dangerous an infuriated Selene can be. He won't push her to that extreme, she is too worthy for that. He knew that there's nothing for her to be jealous of.

"It's alright, love," He smiled but his eyes secretly commanded her to take a seat, so that the meeting could start.

Selene walked past his couch, ignoring the seat beside him and sat in the empty chair beside Brent.

Haden's free arm stood in the mid air expecting her to take her usual seat. His face contorted in an angry scowl when she didn't but he soon replaced it with a conceited smile.

"Let's start, shall we?" He announced eyeing Selene with a smirk.

*****

WC 1783

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~A.