The Mafia Queen's Obsession

Part 5

"I didn't expect to find you here," Ayla said, her voice a bit breathless but steady, trying to keep her cool. "But then again, you always have a way of surprising me, don't you?"

Selene's smirk widened, her eyes darkening slightly as she leaned in even closer, her lips just inches from Ayla's ear. "Surprise, huh?" she whispered, her breath warm against Ayla's skin. "I like to think I'm a bit more predictable than you give me credit for. You see, I always know when someone's watching me... and I know when they think they're playing the game. The thing is, darling, you're playing with me now. And I never lose."

Ayla swallowed, her pulse thudding in her ears. 

She had been prepared for many things tonight, but this? This was something else entirely. 

Selene was a force—the force. 

And Ayla was right in the middle of it, caught between the challenge of the woman before her and the burning need to keep control.

Selene pulled back slightly, her eyes still fixed on Ayla with that same gleam of amusement. "Tell me, Ayla," she purred, her voice almost a purr of its own, "did you think you could just waltz in here, pretend to be one of the crowd, and not get caught?" She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into something that was part teasing, part dangerous. "You really think I wouldn't notice you?"

Ayla's lips parted, but she kept her gaze steady, meeting Selene's with a fire that matched her own. "Maybe I wanted you to notice."

The words hung in the air, thick with meaning, and for a moment, neither woman moved. 

Selene's smirk faltered, a flicker of something darker crossing her face as she registered the implication. 

She shifted her stance, still pinning Ayla with her gaze, but this time, there was a shift—something like respect.

"Bold," Selene murmured, her voice softening just a touch. "I like that. But don't mistake that for bravery, darling. I'm the one who calls the shots here." Her hand slid down Ayla's arm slowly, deliberately, her touch sending a shock of warmth through Ayla's skin.

Ayla felt her breath quicken, but she kept her composure. 

She wasn't afraid—not of Selene. "I know exactly what you're capable of," she replied, her voice steady but with an underlying challenge. "And I'm not here to play by your rules."

Selene's eyes glinted as she took in the defiance in Ayla's tone. "Is that so?" she asked, her voice a whisper. "Well, I guess we'll see, won't we?"

With one final look, Selene stepped back, releasing Ayla from her hold, but the tension remained—heavy, electric. 

Selene lingered for just a moment longer, letting her gaze sweep over Ayla's body with an intensity that sent a shiver down Ayla's spine.

"Enjoy the rest of your night, Ayla," Selene said, her voice dripping with sweet mockery. "Just remember—you're not the only one with secrets."

As Ayla stood there, still recovering from the intensity of the moment, she heard the sharp click of heels return. 

She turned, expecting to see Selene disappearing into the crowd, but to her surprise, Selene had paused just a few steps away. 

The look in her eyes had shifted—darker, colder, something almost menacing flickering behind that playful smirk.

Selene turned slowly, her gaze locking onto Ayla's, her lips curling into a smile that wasn't quite a smile at all. 

It was something far more sinister.

"You know," Selene began, her voice soft, almost too soft, "You're the only journalist who's ever left this club alive." She said it with such casual malice that Ayla felt a chill creep down her spine. 

There was no trace of humour in Selene's eyes now, only a dangerous glint—like the calm before a storm.

Ayla's breath hitched. She took a step forward, trying to maintain her composure, but Selene was a step ahead, her smile widening into something far more predatory.

"You think you're special? That you can play in my world without consequences?" Selene continued, her voice growing darker with every word. "Sweetheart, no one ever walks away from the Vesper without leaving something behind. But you..." Selene's smirk turned to a full-on, devilish grin, "you'll be the exception that proves the rule."

She laughed—low, wicked, and utterly devoid of humor. The sound echoed around the empty hallway like the growl of some dark creature lurking in the shadows. It was the kind of laugh that sent a shiver crawling up Ayla's spine, an unsettling sound that made her wonder if she'd just made a fatal mistake by pushing too hard.

Selene's eyes flashed one last time with that eerie, demonic glint before she spun on her heel, walking away with that same confident, unshakable air. But before she completely disappeared into the crowd, her voice floated back to Ayla, the words dripping with cold amusement.

"Enjoy your night, Ayla... for now."

Ayla's pulse raced as she watched Selene disappear into the crowd, the words from moments before still echoing in her mind. 

She felt a shiver run down her spine, the heat of the moment still burning in her chest, but the cool rush of fear began to set in as well. 

What had she just stepped into?

She turned quickly, her heart hammering in her chest.

 The club felt suffocating now, the noise, the flashing lights, all a blur as she pushed her way toward the exit. 

She had to get out, had to gather her thoughts. There was no time for hesitation.

But then, just as she reached the door, she froze.

"Run, little fox," Selene's voice cut through the chaos, smooth and dangerous, carrying a mocking edge that sent a jolt through Ayla's body. 

It wasn't loud, but it was unmistakable—close, too close. "I'll find you."

The words slithered into her ears, cold and certain, as if Selene were already watching her, as if the hunt had already begun. 

Ayla's body tensed, a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins. 

No way in hell. She wasn't going to run scared, not from her.

But the lingering threat in Selene's tone made her pulse spike even higher. 

Every instinct told her to keep moving, to get out of here and not look back, but her mind raced in overdrive. 

Selene knew. Selene saw her. And worse—Selene enjoyed the chase.

Ayla pushed open the heavy door, stepping into the cool night air, but the voice still lingered in her mind. She had to get away.

As she hurried down the street, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps, she couldn't shake the feeling that Selene was right behind her—waiting for her to slip up, to make a mistake. 

And the worst part?

 Ayla wasn't sure if she wanted to run or face her head-on.

Selene's right. She had no idea who she was really dealing with.