Chapter 17
Anna's Secret Penthouse. 11:12 AM.
The elevator doors slid open directly into the living room.
High ceilings.
Black marble floors.
Floor-to-ceiling glass walls with a view of the entire Manhattan skyline.
Everything sleek.
Cold.
Deadly.
Just like the woman who owned it.
I tossed my keys onto the kitchen island.
Valentina followed behind me—
still looking like she was ready to melt into the fucking floor and crawl after me like a starving puppy.
I pulled out my phone casually.
Texted.
ME (text):
Come. Now. Need to plan next phase. Bring your laptop. Not your chaos.
Sent the location.
Set the phone down.
Bad idea.
Very, very bad idea.
10 Minutes Later.
DING.
The elevator chimed.
And the moment the doors cracked open—
A tiny, feral gremlin came charging at full speed.
Selene.
4'10.
No brakes.
Sprinting straight at me like a heat-seeking missile.
Valentina barely had time to move before Selene launched herself.
Impact.
Tiny arms wrapped around my waist so tight it actually made me grunt.
Selene buried her face straight into my stomach like an animal.
"MMMMMMRRRRMMMMM—"
(literal feral noises)
Clinging.
Clawing.
Whimpering.
Penthouse Living Room. 11:24 AM.
I stood there.
Completely deadpan.
Arms crossed loosely.
While a tiny 4'10 demon latched onto my body like a koala on caffeine.
Valentina slumped into the nearest armchair, looking like she was physically vibrating from secondhand chaos.
I sighed.
Reached down.
Patted Selene's head once.
Twice.
"Fine," I muttered, voice flat.
"You can cling."
Selene PURRED.
Audibly.
Like a cat who had just been handed a lifetime supply of warm laps and tuna.
She lifted her head—
glazed eyes—
and immediately started licking my neck.
Tiny licks.
Soft.
Gentle.
Like a kitten cleaning her favorite toy.
Valentina buried her face in a pillow.
Screaming internally.
Screaming externally.
I let it happen.
Barely reacting.
Pulled out my tablet from the kitchen counter with my free hand.
Balanced it against Selene's clinging body.
Opened the file I needed.
Voice casual:
"Alright.
Back to business.
Phase Two."
Selene still licking my neck between purrs.
Valentina whispering "I hate you I hate you I hate you" into the pillow.
I scrolled through the tablet, breaking down calmly:
Bank account movements Marco made last night.
Offshore shell companies he thought were hidden.
Blacklist of his secret contracts.
List of compromised politicians still loyal to him.
I flipped pages while Selene clung and nuzzled into my neck like she wanted to physically merge into my bloodstream.
Valentina lifted her face, eyes furious, teary, desperate:
"I WANT A TURN TOO."
Selene shot her a warning hiss.
I deadpanned:
"Later.
Fight club rules."
Selene licked my neck again, smug.
Valentina screamed into the pillow louder.
I pointed at the screen:
"Listen.
We're about to light Marco's empire on fire from the inside.
Focus."
They did not focus.
They clung.
They moaned.
They purred.
But I?
I planned the fall of an empire.
One hand holding a tablet.
The other casually petting a tiny 4'10 feral monster attached to my body.
Anna's Secret Penthouse. Living Room. 11:48 AM.
Fog wrapped around the skyline outside the massive windows.
Inside?
It was pure, undiluted chaos barely contained inside expensive black marble floors.
Selene clung to me tighter than a goddamn barnacle—
knees wrapped around my hips now, tiny 4'10 body fully latched—
her soft cheek smooshed against my neck.
Purring.
Whimpering.
Nuzzling.
In complete feral meltdown mode.
I didn't even flinch anymore.
One hand holding my tablet.
The other gently massaging her head.
Fingers combing through her soft, tiny hair like she was the most spoiled kitten on planet Earth.
Selene melted.
Slack.
Warm.
Vibrating with tiny demonic noises.
Meanwhile, my voice stayed cold, calm, surgical:
"Listen carefully, both of you."
Valentina sat cross-legged on the other couch, chewing her knuckles like she was trying not to crawl over and claim a leg or something.
I continued, tone sharp:
"Marco's weakness is pride.
He believes loyalty is absolute.
He believes power is permanent.
We use that."
I shifted the tablet so they could see the blueprint I sketched out:
Step 1: Act loyal. Pretend to bind deeper.
Step 2: Accept small responsibilities he offers. Build trust.
Step 3: Feed him false victories—fabricated wins so he thinks Anna Maricella is his best acquisition yet.
Step 4: Set the real trap underneath the fake wins: leaked assets, corrupted allies, political betrayal.
Step 5: Once his entire empire is tangled and bloodied under the surface—
Step 6: Rip the noose all at once.
Collapse.
I massaged Selene's hair slower.
More lovingly.
She shuddered against me.
Whimpering so softly it almost sounded innocent.
Meanwhile Selene—
On her own phone?
Hidden against my back pocket?
Selene was texting at lightspeed inside her private best friends group chat.
Group Chat Name:
"Tiny Demons"
Members: Selene, Aria, Jasmine, Bella.
Valentina and I are not included.
(Probably for everyone's safety.)
The texts exploded:
SELENE:
I'M GONNA BITE ANNA'S ABS LIKE AN APPLE.
IM GOING TO SUCK HER PERFUME OUT OF HER NECK LIKE A VAMPIRE.
I'M GOING TO CRAWL INSIDE HER HOODIE AND NEVER COME OUT.
I'M GOING TO FUCKING MARRY HER NECK FIRST AND THEN HER BODY.
IF SHE STOPS PETTING ME I WILL COMMIT A WAR CRIME IN HER NAME.
I'M GOING TO LIVE INSIDE HER PANTS POCKET.
SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO CARRY ME LIKE A FUCKING PET.
ARIA:
BITCHHHH—
KIRA SCREAMING RN
BELLA FELL OFF THE COUCH
JASMINE:
I VOLUNTEER AS HER OTHER PANTS LEG.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
BELLA:
SEDUCE HER NECK ON MY BEHALF.
I kept talking like nothing was happening:
"Marco will walk himself straight into my blade.
Not because we force him.
Because we let him believe he's the hunter."
Selene's arms tightened even more around my neck, her whole tiny body vibrating like she was on the verge of spontaneously combusting from cuddling overdose.
I massaged her hair again absently.
Voice still icy calm:
"Arrogance kills faster than bullets.
He just doesn't know he's already dead."
Selene whimpered.
Nuzzled my throat deeper.
Purring.
While secretly texting more unholy, unhinged vows to commit high-level cuddling terrorism against my body in front of her entire chaotic demon friend group.
Valentina?
Sitting across from me?
Watching.
Seething.
Dying.
Waiting for her turn to absolutely ruin my life too.
And me?
I stayed calm.
Petting a tiny feral.
Planning the fall of an empire.
Vercetti Estate. Main Driveway. 6:12 PM.
The black SUV rolled up to the massive iron gates again.
A few days had passed.
Every move calculated.
Every word a perfect chess piece sliding across the board.
Tonight?
I was returning Marco's precious daughter.
Just like I promised.
I wore the softest smile.
Subtle makeup.
Inside?
I was sharpening the knife.
Vercetti Courtyard. 6:20 PM.
Marco stood waiting by the main fountain.
Two bodyguards posted behind him.
He smiled when he saw me lead Valentina out of the SUV—
hand resting lightly on her lower back.
"Ms. Maricella," he said warmly, the arrogance dripping from every syllable.
"Returning her right on time."
I bowed my head slightly, respectful.
Voice low, rich:
"Of course, Mr. Vercetti.
A woman is only as good as her word, after all."
Valentina kept her eyes low.
Playing the shy, obedient daughter.
Clutching a small designer bag.
Silent.
Dutiful.
Perfect.
Exactly what I needed her to be.
Private Whisper.
As the guards turned to escort her back inside,
I leaned down close.
Breath brushing her ear.
Whispered low:
"Play your role perfectly, princesa.
I'll play mine even better."
I saw it—
The violent shiver that ran through her body.
I saw her nails dig into the bag handles.
Saw the way her thighs squeezed for just half a second—
barely restraining herself from moaning at the fucking threat woven into my words.
She nodded stiffly.
Slipped from my grasp.
Went inside.
Still leaking heat.
Still wrecked from a single sentence.
Marco's Office. 7:12 PM.
I sat across from Marco again.
Another glass of whiskey untouched in front of me.
He leaned back smug.
Bragged.
Puffed his chest about upcoming deals.
About "the future."
About how "Ms. Maricella" was the best thing that ever happened to the Vercetti name.
I smiled.
Nodded.
Hung onto every word like a sweet, loyal soldier.
All while mentally ticking off every bomb I had already planted under his empire's foundations.
Securities? Rigged.
Political alliances? Bought and set to betray.
Financial assets? Redirected into black holes only I could unseal.
Marco?
Still bragging.
Still blind.
Still playing checkers while I played four-dimensional chess inside his own fucking castle.
Later That Night. 11:03 PM.
Dinner ended.
Marco still smirking at his "brilliant business moves."
I stood.
Brushed invisible dust off my sleeve.
Smiled softly.
Voice polite:
"Mind if I borrow your daughter for the night, Mr. Vercetti?"
Marco chuckled.
Amused.
Blind.
"Of course.
Spend as much time together as you want."
He had no idea what time together meant to me.
Private Guest Room. 11:09 PM.
Door clicked shut.
Locked.
The light over the door flashed red for a moment.
Then green.
No cameras.
No microphones.
No guards.
Just us.
The second I turned around—
Valentina attacked.
She tackled me back against the wall.
Desperate hands clawing at my shirt.
Mouth open against my neck.
Breath hot.
Whimpering.
Grinding against my thigh without shame.
"MINE."
"YOU'RE FUCKING MINE."
She was trembling, gasping, purring against my throat like a woman completely destroyed by days of repression.
Before I could even fully react—
Phone buzzed in my jacket pocket.
I managed to fumble it out.
Answered blindly.
Put it on speaker.
Selene.
Tiny 4'10.
Video call.
Immediately—
Screaming.
"I SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I WANNA JOIN.
I'M GONNA CRAWL THROUGH THE PHONE."
Valentina half-sobbed against my neck:
"NO. SHE'S MINE. FIND YOUR OWN."
Selene shrieked through the speaker:
"I'M GOING TO LIVE INSIDE HER FUCKING SPINE.
SHE'S TOO FINE FOR THIS WORLD."
I sighed dramatically.
Braced one arm against the wall to keep balance.
The other wrapped around Valentina's waist.
Keeping her attached to my body.
Selene kept yelling chaotic confessions.
Valentina kept grinding like she wanted to weld herself permanently to my thigh.
And me?
I just stood there.
Planning the end of an empire.
While being literally worshipped.
Vercetti Estate. Outside gates. Next Morning. 7:45AM
The sun had risen.
Marco Vercetti and his goons were waiting inside the private dining room.
I walked in with confidence and a dress that could drop Valentina and Selene down to their knees.
But it was only Valentina for now, standing behind her father like the daddy's little princess she is (Acting obviously)
I came into the hall and greeted Marco.
"Morning Mr Vercetti." I said my voice low with dazzling confidence.
Valentina stood behind Marco trying not to combust but failing. Like she'd devour me if we were alone together.
"Morning Miss Maricella" Marco said his voice with respect and a unreadable face.
"Well this is my queue to leave I guess. I've had a great time here in America. But I have a business acquisiton I have to take care of back in Europe Mr Vercetti. Well let's just say thisacquisition is not any ordinary acquisition" I hinted. My voice low and confident.
Marco raised an eyebrow. "What kind of business are we talking here Miss Maricella?"
I smirked low. "The kind of business acquisition that is bigger than the Vercetti name and any Mafia family or rich family in the world."
"What is it Maricella?"
"Well, I am acquiring the United Nations New world banking system.
That means I would have control of all the money and funds of the whole UN banking system"
"And if I marry your daughter, The Vercetti bloodline will hold a share of the UN banking system and will be powerful than the whole capo and mafia itself. "
Marco who was suddenly exited and smirking hard and keeping it professional.
"Well that's great Miss Maricella. We would be also glad to pre-pone this marriage so that both of our names could gain power to rule the world"
I chuckled. "Patience Mr Vercetti. Acquiring this isn't everybody's cup of tea. I'll be away for almost a month in Europe. And by the time I get back I hope that I'll be back with what I hoped for."
Marco let out a breath. " That's fine Miss Maricella. I would be waiting patiently. Looking forward to the marriage between you and my daughter. But the important thing now is to acquire what you are aiming for. Eyes on the prize Miss Maricella."
I smiled. "Thank you Mr Vercetti, glad you understand."
Marco smiled too. "It's the least I can do Miss Maricella."
I walked over to Valentina and lifted up her face just enough to look at me and whispered.
"Will be coming back in a month princess. Try not to miss me"
in the most slutty, sultry and hottest way possible
Valentina looked like she was in between combusting, cumming and licking off my whole body.
I pulled back and got back to the professional voice.
"Alright then Mr Vercetti. My flight back to a different continent is in an hour. If I don't get going now I'll miss my flight."
Marco barked for his guards and Valentina.
"Walk Miss Maricella back to her car."
I walked out of his estate still smelling like a professional girl boss who people would sin for.
Valentina walked behind me like she would kiss me, kill me, and devour me and then bring me back to life if we were in a room together alone.
I got into my SUV.
Started the engine.
The engines roared.
I looked into the rear view mirror and winked at Valentina.
Her legs trembled and she was in the verge of combusting.
I didn't say anything.
Just drove off into the fog.
Leaving a mafia princess internally wet.