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One Wine Too Many

An Instalment Of “The MISS-Adventures of Seductive Selena”

By Emerald GreenePublished 3 years ago 10 min read
1
Submitted for “Dream Date” challenge

“Jeremy, stick to your part of the plan, or you will be solely responsible for ruining everything!!”

Myrna.  Selena could recognize that woman’s shrill hiss anywhere -- even from the secluded bathroom toilet compartment tucked away in the corner of the hugely oversized, and beautifully decorated powder room. 

“I suppose I should not be surprised in the slightest; ruining things is what you do. Right, Jeremy??”

God that woman was awful. Jeremy was Myrna’s son, and Selena’s date for the evening. Selena was a professional companion, and tonight she had been hired by Jeremy to accompany him at his father’s 70th birthday dinner at their ridiculously large mansion, on the ridiculously large property on the edge of town.

The party was also a celebration to commemorate a merger of sorts, between the town's richest, most influential families: The Delaneys and the Russos. Jeremy’s family was the latter. The event had brought together the wealthy from all walks of life interested in new developments for the area.

Everyone was in good spirits, including Jeremy’s father, and their laughter could be heard all the way up to the magnificent powder room.

“Get it into his glass NOW!" Myrna whispered. “Simply put it into your Merlot and switch the glasses out like we discussed! No one will notice with all the ruckus and goings on! YOU are beside him. YOU need to do this! I am sitting nowhere near him. This is the only time! It will look like a heart attack and no one will suspect anything different with so many people around! Get it done, Jeremy!”

Selena gasped. Had she really just heard what she thought she heard? This was her first date with Jeremy. She had heard rumours of scandals in this family, but had never expected to stumble into something so serious as this. She felt lightheaded, and suddenly wished she herself had not had a second glass of Merlot.

Myrna continued. “I am in my powder room of course, you idiot! Where else would I be able to speak of this?””

Suddenly Selena’s phone buzzed loudly in her purse; a text from Jeremy:

“WRU?”

“Who’s in there?!” Myrna demanded. The sound of her Gucci heels clicked urgently across the marble floor toward the compartment where Selena sat quietly.

“Of all the bathrooms in this godforsaken mansion, WHY would you allow her to come up to MY private powder room?!” Myrna‘s voice was rising. “In fact, why did you even invite the little tramp to this event at all? Don’t you dare think that I don’t know what she does, who she is. I know she’s a professional companion. I know she charges for her time. I know everything!” Myrna was just outside of the door now.

“Selena dear, how lovely for you to join us this evening. Please come out and have a word.” Myrna said, attempting to sound sweet. Did this woman really think Selena hadn’t heard what she’d just said on the phone? Should she pretend she didn’t?

She stood and pulled her panties up, letting her designer dress flow to her thighs. Selena was dressed impeccably for the evening.

She remembered the small flower keychain vile disguised as perfume attached to the strap of her purse. Inside was a potent dog spray to ward off any would-be attackers, purchased when Selena had just gotten her Escort License. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to use it right now. She stepped out from the stall. Myrna was right in front of her, still holding her phone to her ear.

“Selena, darling, you look like you’ve seen a ghost!” She exclaimed with faux-surprise. Selena could faintly hear Jeremy on the other end. “Mother, please don’t kill her too!”

Too? Thought Selena. How many people had Myrna killed? Suddenly, a dark thought flashed across her mind as she imagined her beautiful dress covered in her own blood.

There was no time to think about that now. Myrna was reaching into her purse. What is in there? A gun? A knife?

Myrna then pulled out her chequebook with a miniature pen attached.

“Oh you silly girl. How much will it take to get you on your way and out of here?  Five thousand? Ten? How about $20,000 and we call it a farewell gift?” She quickly scribbled the denomination.

“I made it out to Cash, from a non-traceable account, so no funny business.” She handed Selena the check, then leaned in closely to Selena’s flawless face. Selena could see every imperfection in Myrna’s.

“Because no one will believe a common whore like yourself, and it won't bode well for your existence on this planet if they do.”

Myrna’s eyes were dark and cold, as Selena imagined how it must be at the very bottom of the ocean. She stared into them with her own sparkling green eyes, frightened and shivering, Then Myrna’s face lightened, “Run along now, lovely Selena, never to return.” She ushered Selena to the door which opened to Marcus -- Myrna’s henchman, who was never far from her side.

“Marcus will escort you out.”

Myrna nodded to Marcus and the two exchanged knowing glances.

What does that mean? Worried Selena.

Myrna nodded again, turned, and started down the long corridor lined with beautiful red swirling carpeting, headed in the direction of the party. “Jeremy,” she spoke into the phone. “Please advise your father that your date has taken ill and will not be returning to the festivities.” Her dress whooshed as she sharply rounded the corner and was gone.

Marcus pointed down the corridor in the opposite direction.

When Selena didn’t immediately start moving, Marcus pushed her forward by the shoulder. “GO!”

They walked down the hall and made a left, then a right, another left, and then down some stairs. As they were navigating through this maze, Selena managed to reach into her purse unnoticed, and grabbed her phone. At the landing of the stairs was a rundown door that appeared to never have been used for any guests, or even by any of the help for that matter. This unnerved Selena even more.

Marcus opened the door to the cold November night. Selena realized she didn’t have her jacket. She turned to say something but Marcus pushed her towards the Mercedes SUV parked a few feet away. He shoved her into the passenger side.

Where was he taking her? Was he going to kill her and drop her off somewhere in the private woods of this vast property? And if so, why the check?

Before she could ponder any of these questions, Marcus leaned in and plucked the check from Selena’s right hand. Her phone was in her left, tucked under her leg.

“That actually belongs to me. Payment to…dispose of the trash.” He winked at her, stuffing the check inside his suit. When his hand came back into view it held a revolver. This confirmed her fears. She tried not to panic.

Marcus shut her door and she heard a click. She was locked in. As he went around to the driver’s side, she quickly accessed her phone with her thumbprint, and texted SOS to her friend Gray. She shoved her phone under her right thigh as Marcus unlocked his own door and got in. He began to drive down the pathway toward the thick wood, using his right hand to steer while pointing the gun at her with his left. Selena knew Gray would track her phone and try to get to her as soon as possible, but would it be enough time?

Gray and Selena had been best friends since they were five. When Selena had embarked on this controversial career path, Gray had stood by her when many friends hadn’t. He was the one who had suggested this “just in case” plan when she had first started.

Hopefully, he isn’t too far. 

Hopefully, he isn’t too late.

Her mind was racing as they slowed in the thick wood not that far from the house. Marcus stopped the SUV and came around to her door, yanking her out.

“Get down on your kne-“ Selena stopped his sentence short as she unloaded the full vial of spray into his face. He staggered backwards and she kicked him in the groin. She kicked off her pumps and ran as fast as she could back toward the house, hoping her cell had service.

She stopped by a large rock and crouched down, trying to slow her breathing. Her feet and legs hurt from the brush of the woods; her pantyhose was tattered. The phone’s connection was weak. She needed to get closer to the house, out of the thick.

She scurried as quietly as she could. Several feet behind her she heard Marcus begin to growl. He was recovering and he was pissed.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” he sang.

Selena tried not to breathe too loudly as she continued to move. Her heart felt like a giant butterfly trapped in her chest and trying to fight its way out.

“Here kitty, kitty, kitty!”

Marcus was closing in. Selena looked around desperately for a weapon, grabbed a heavy stick and kept on moving. A twig snapped loudly beneath her.

“Gotcha!” He exclaimed.

Selena took off full force and ducked behind a tree near the edge of the brush.  The mansion was in plain view across the clearing. As Marcus charged forth, she whirled out from the tree and swung the stick like a bat, hitting him in the solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him. Marcus doubled over.

As she ran for the house, she noticed a figure coming toward her, stopping, taking aim.

A gun shot rang in the air. She looked behind her, Marcus had fallen to the ground. She stopped and turned back around.

“Gray!” She yelled in relief as he neared.

“Are you ok, Selena?” Gray asked, slightly out of breath as he reached her. He put his gun away and wrapped his arms around her.

“Yes, but we have to call the police! There has been or will be a murder any minute at that party!” Just as she said that, they heard sirens pulling up to the house.

Gray looked over at Marcus who was bleeding profusely and clutching his right leg, moaning. “This guy is going to bleed out!” Gray took off his jacket. Selena grabbed Marcus’s gun as Gray tied his jacket around Marcus’s leg.

“That should hold until the paramedics can help. I called 911 on my way, and it sounds like they’re here. Whether from my call or whoever’s, let’s get over there and talk to them.”

“Wait a second,” said Selena, hurrying back to Marcus. She snatched the check out of his pocket. “Payment for letting the trash build up another day.” She quipped.

Gray gave her a funny look and then they both rushed back to the house. There were emergency service and police arriving on the scene. Guests were scattered on the lawn. Jeremy’s dad was being loaded into the stretcher with Myrna at his side. Jeremy stood alone by the front door.

Selena ran up to the nearest paramedic and told him about the merlot being poisoned, and then she told the rest to the commanding police officer on the scene.

“You probably saved the mans life with that information about the poison.”, said the officer.

Officers hand-cuffed Myrna and Jeremy, and escorted them to separate cars. As the older woman passed Selena, she shot her a stare so sharp that Selena felt like she was being stabbed by Myrna’s eyes.

When Jeremy passed her, his eyes looked hollow and lost. In that moment she felt almost sorry for him.

She held the check in her hand. She had left that part out of her story. She knew neither Myrna nor Marcus would mention it, as it would incriminate them both further than they already were. It was hers now as far as Selena was concerned.

“Let’s get out of here,” she said to Gray, taking his hand. He smiled and shook his head as they walked toward his BMW. “Oh my my my, another MISS-adventure of Seductive Selena.”

literature
1

About the Creator

Emerald Greene

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