Not all that glitters...

is gold. Selina Benavides. 28. Oxford graduate. McKellan 's star. Certified Princess.

[justicemadisonporter]

She had to hand it to their princess, Adelaide had put up quite an event. To think of how far the young princess had come since the years of her father’s rule was impressive in Madison’s mind. Pulling herself together had shown initiative, and embracing the roles she was born into even more so. Though in Madison’s eyes, it showed equally how far again the girl could fall. But now wasn’t the time to think of such things. 

The best and brightest, the most influential and well known names graced her presence tonight, but there were two that she focused her gaze on. Katherine and Selina still needed to be properly vetted, and as such,  Madison’s keen eye remained on them as they wined and dined through the evening. She was not alone in this endeavor - she knew that plenty of her fellow Coalition members would be here tonight, if not all of them. She had made sure that the invitations were sent out accordingly. The princess could plan the party - but Madison wouldn’t be denied her company. 

Her hand found two glasses of champagne as a waiter passed with the tray, eyeing a potential target. With both in hand, she approached, a smile playing on her lips. “Just who I wanted to see. Champagne?”

[selinabenavides]

If money was a drug, then power was an aphrodisiac. It made her simultaneously sharp and light-headed, practically licking her lips at the sight of the faces she had once scrolled through on her cellphone. Most weren’t much to look at, but they made up for it with the pretty boys and girls attached to their arms like peacock feathers. The Windsor ball was beauty, it was opulence, it was gold – it was intoxicating.

And for all her foolishness, Selina Benavides knew a gold mine when she saw one. That night, it seemed to come in the form of an aging rock star with an equally golden tooth and a proclivity for gossip that rivaled her own.  A shame, that he’d stopped being entertaining after the third drink. So rather than putting up with the incoherent ramblings of an old man, Selina waited for the click of the photographer’s camera and then excused herself to the bathroom.

She would have been sorely disappointed to have made it there, but hadn’t expected to be so lucky with the source of the drink. Even in a room with power of every form known to man, Madison Porter was a beacon of it. “Thank you! It is so wonderful to see you” – neither the sentence nor the smile that accompanied it were fabricated until she realized the judge had been looking for her. “Oh my, what could I have done to earn your attention?” Neither the giggle nor the look of feigned shock seemed suspicious. The way she drained her champagne with a single sip might have been.

[selinabenavides]

Windsor Winter Ball

Short, bright and childish - much like the woman herself. A Rani Zakhem dress that only sins by belonging to the 2013 collection, and that manages to remain innocent looking while showing the vast amount of leg and cleavage Selina truly cares to.

[archbishop-augustin-blog]

“Your Grace,” he corrected her softly, but there was a hint of warning hidden in his voice, masked perfectly by the neutral expression he wore. With the small numbered ticket now in the palm of his hand, he turned away from her, just barely catching sight of her moronic wink. He was uncertain what he felt. Maliciousness, perhaps? Murderous intent? The strong desire to jam a hangar down her throat and see what the hook might catch on? Then again, it very well might have been a mixture of each. 

“Ah, six-hundred-sixty… five,” the grin on his lips was infernal as he stepped through the cloakroom, sifting through the numbered hangars. Was he surprised by the irony of her ticket? No, of course not. But a part of him did feel humored, almost as if she had intentionally made it so. Finally, he found her coat, and whatever fragment of a good mood he had left in him dissipated at the sight of the scarlet garment.

Red, like blood. Like lust. Like passion. Red, like the rage and disgust he felt at the sight of it’s owner.

He pulled the hangar from the rack, only barely listening to the girl as she blathered on, being her irritating self. Certainly, it was a surprise her own mother hadn’t attempted to drown her as a toddler for her lack of silence and respect. “The extent of your potential–” Definite “– damnation will be determined by the Lord. Speaking of it aloud is your own decision… but the Holy Father is watching. Always.” 

No doubt when Selina Benavides spread her legs for just about anything with considerable endowments, God cringed, eager for Gabriel to be done with her.

 “Here we are, my dear,” he extended the hangar toward her and his smile did not falter. Not even once. “Do pray tell, if it isn’t too much to humor an old man, just how do you plan on finding your way home? Certainly, it isn’t my place, but if you require transportation, I’m certain the limousine can fit more than just myself.” 

And hidden in the words, was that unspoken challenge. That threat. It was the spider leering at the fly, daring them to enter their web, to see if they could leave the same as when they had entered. 

[selinabenavides]

“Your grace”, she cooed. It sounded silly and outdated, but infused with a grandeur Selina couldn’t help but to beam at. Rubbing shoulders with the elite always brought her a certain sense of accomplishment, even when the power they held was a symbolic and insignificant as the one of a glorified priest.

It didn’t take much for her mind to drift from his words and into the golden threads that dug into the flesh of her feet. After the mention of the number, perhaps, insignificant as they were when they didn’t dictate what one could get – or perhaps once the hope of getting under his skin began to fade. It was far easier to concentrate on the pain, to twirl her foot and pity herself for the damage the shoe ought to have done to it.

And then she held out her hands to receive the hanger, and the smile had returned once again. The ghastly black coat she had coveted paled against the red Valentino she ran her fingers through, after all. There was a fleeting moment of happiness, of pleasure, before she turned her attention back to the archbishop.

“Me?” Open mouth, genuine bewilderment – she never thought she’d live to see the day that a man of god offered her a favour without expecting her to get on her knees. For a moment, Selina found herself hesitating. Not out of fear or suspicion that he was only offering out of politeness, but out genuine doubt of her own willingness to listen whatever trite and moralistic bullshit he was bound to spew on their way home. And yet, none of that dampened the enthusiasm in her tone when she replied. Puta madre, era una limusina! “I mean, I’d take the cab, but I’m sure you’re much better company.”

She smiled, and could almost hold herself back and keep her mouth shut. “Let’s just hope you’re not expecting more than a kiss on the cheek as a thank you. I have to watch for my immortal soul, after all.”

[gilded-vaughn-blog]

Don Giovanni was hardly Vaughn’s favorite opera–the music repeated itself too often and the moral was outdated and trite–but he would never pass up a chance to appear in high society. Performing in an active social life was his primary job, and Brighton just an afterthought. Unfortunately, the event was even less enjoyable he had predicted and Vaughn had found himself wandering out about ten minutes into the second act. He had already made his appearance; there was no need for him to linger any longer.

The young woman in the cloakroom, however, was a different story. He knew she was lying, but he also knew he didn’t care. Whatever she was up to was her business and she was welcome to do whatever she wanted.

“That’s quite a tragedy,” Vaughn mused, giving her a smile that almost reached his eyes. “Do you remember when you came in? Often places like this organize by time.”

[selinabenavides]

“Ah!” It was an expression that had always come naturally to Selina, one that she had harnessed to perfection during her years begging for scraps: the wide eyes and open mouth in feigned surprise, a brief pause before letting out a girlish giggle. “Well, aren’t you clever? I’d never even noticed that!” Not a lie. She hardly ever noticed anything that didn’t concern her and the prospective content of her own pockets. That, and fun. Thankfully, the man before her seemed handsome and wealthy enough to hold potential for both.

So rather than turning her back on the stranger to locate the bright pink coat that was sure to stand out against the mass of black ones, Selina decided to indulge him. “Well, fashionably late, of course! Maybe, like, ten thirty?” Likely a little later, Mrs. Ronan seemed to be enjoying the effect of her early night drinks already. With a shrug, she held out her manicured hand for the man to shake, sticking out her cleavage in the process. “Selina Benavides. It’s a pleasure to meet you Mister...”

[maleki-tahan]

“We both know lying is a terrible pastime and frankly just makes you seem daft and weak. If you’re going to cause trouble, at least own up to such.”

It was only partially a joke, one that Julian knew wouldn’t be seen as dreadfully funny considering who it was coming from. After all, he had been part of the mishap that had gotten her cut off in the first place, not that he felt any guilt over it. She had been just as guilty as he with the way she moved around the room with every movement meant to seduce. Perhaps there was a lingering of guilt seeing her this way though deep down Julian knew that this wasn’t particularly necessary for survival or anything. Or perhaps it was slight relief that he hadn’t been one to leave his coat in the cloakroom that evening.

“If you don’t mind, I’m here to pick up my date for the evening’s coat. It would be that one you’re stroking as if you were in a twisted love affair with it.”

He reached out, not really caring for any lip, but stopped as he then held the coat in his hands looking from it back up to Selina. “No, this wouldn’t do for you at all. It’s too dark. Wouldn’t be your color. Stick to something a little brighter and form fitting. This would just make you look as though you were drowning in fur.”

[selinabenavides]

It started with a sting.

A blurred memory of pleas and tear-streaked faces, the strong taste of whisky burning through her throat, Manuel’s booming voice echoing through the office as she gasped in pleasure. And then the hatred would spread through her chest like spilled ink – thick and black and Julian Crenshaw’s loathed face would float in her mind until she felt like screaming her lungs out.

Only now, there was no need to image it. Before her stood the hijo de puta himself, held as high by the stick up his ass as he had always been. The years hadn’t shrivelled or destroyed the body that Selina had once lusted after, and that itself struck her as a slight, a provocation.

“Oh. My. God!” The rage flashed in her eyes, barely disguised by the sugary sarcasm. “Well, if I’m taking lessons on lying, it might as well be from a fucking lawyer, right?” Selina’s smile turned mocking, and she darted out her tongue in amusement. “Is your date what, sixty?”

And then she bumped into Julian. Just to fuck with him, just to see if she still could, if he’d hit her, if he’d snap, if he’d flinch - and locked her gaze with his for a lingering moment before proceeding to get her coat. Electric blue, matching some of the details in her gown.

“You know what? I liked you soo much better when you just stuck to telling me when to undress. And now that I don’t want to - you’re boring, and you can fuck off.”

[maiaventurii-blog]

Maia walked briskly through the crowds, smiling politely but not wide enough to welcome conversation. Her mother had asked her here to the opera tonight, but it was her father’s dirty work that called her away at intermission. High society raised the hairs on the nape of Maia’s neck, and the events that accompanied ones admission amongst the ranks of wealth and power had become child’s play to her at twenty-three years of age. Her position in London’s elite had made it all too easy for her to slip into the sophisticated settings which adorned each weekend’s schedule when she was just seventeen. Now, six years on, not even the allure of politician’s dirty secrets or snakes under the rugs of celebrity could keep Maia for long – at least not when her father called, assigning her a target. 

Strangely, the cloakroom door had been left slightly ajar and the attendant was missing from her post. In the air hung the unmistakeable feeling of secrecy and hushed actions. To any other woman in her early twenties in this building tonight, the scene wouldn’t have raised the slightest bit of suspicion. To Maia, a trained assassin, her senses were alight with attention to detail.

Carefully, she opened the door to the cloakroom and was met with a young lady; a flash of flesh indicated that her hands had been burrowed between the expensive coats – interestingly, her own black fur one. Maia looked her up and down, and nodded when she explained herself. However, her excuse didn’t quite stick. Maia took a few intimidating steps forwards in quick succession, moved between her company and the rails, and gently pulled her coat from the rack. “I can tell you that this one isn’t yours.” 

Maia slipped it from the hanger and held it out to the girl. She raised her eyebrows, silently suggesting that the girl help her into it. 

[selinabenavides]

Manuel Benavides had taken many things from his daughter. Her wardrobe, her idleness, her wealth, her prized pink 57 T-bird…And yet, there were things neither a lifetime of hardship nor of what Selina considered hardship could truly take from those born in wealth. It was one of them that transformed her sullen expression into one of utter disgust, that kept a shrill scream in the depths of her lungs.

And it was only a moment later, when the light struck her face in a different manner, that Selina became the picture of innocence once again. Her lips curled into a sugary smile, and not a single person that watched her hold out her little hands to take the dead fur would have been wiser to the fact that she was showing her fucking teeth. But she needed the girl to keep her mouth shut, after all.

“Black was never my colour!” It was hers, though – with those deadly pale limbs. And with something else, something vaguely familiar. So Selina tucked her right into to that ghastly coat, and ran a single red nail against a hem with feigned coyness. “It suits you! Was it your grandmother’s or?” Puta de mierda.

[lilliana-brighton-deactivated20]

The theater proved to be a bore this evening. The diva was slightly nasal, which Lilliana dismissed as being a cold, but she refused to waste her evening hearing her favorite production being butchered. She had other more pressing matters to attend like organizing a Christmas party. Which is why with she was currently sneaking out as the rest of the patrons were taking their seats. She still needed to get her coat though. She would have let Vaugh get it for her hand she not left her keys in her pocket.

Seeing someone shifting through the coats in the room, Lily sighed in relief that she would not need to track down the attendant. With the claim ticket in hand, she quickly squeezed through the crowd toward the tiny room. Peaking her head around the corner, she was surprised to discover that the teenager tending coats had been replaced by a rather familiar brunette. Lilliana merely watched as Selina stroked some ghastly coat that had once been an animal of some sort. 

“Would you care for me to help you find it or shall we wait for the attendant?” She stepped back waiting for the other woman to exit the room. Surely she could not mean to take her coat should she have been able to find it. The woman working for the theater would certainly be scolded for her negligence of missing the extra claim ticket and possible missing coat.

[selinabenavides]

“Lily!”

She was wounded by Lily’s lack of enthusiasm. It showed in the fluctuation of her voice, the loss of brightness of her smile, a glimpse of affection that soon gave away to an even more heart-shattering pout. Weren’t they friends, after all? Of a sort, at the very least, and Selina refused to believe that her effort to tolerate Lilliana Brighton’s profoundly tedious benevolence had been for naught.

The coat was forgotten, and Selina took a few steps further in order to wrap her arms around the most valuable thing in the room. Miss Brighton, who sat on a mine as golden as the hair draped over her shoulders, was surely deserving of a hug.

“Is something wrong?” Even in heels, she still found herself staring up to meet her target’s gaze. And in her earnest face lay the unspoken question, the one whose answer she didn’t really care to hear, but that demanded to be asked either way. Did I do something wrong?

[donnezmoiduvin-blog]

[archbishop-augustin-blog]

There was little that Gabriel enjoyed less than being forced to make his appearance known among the general public. For decades, his life had required near constant upkeep. There was the church to deal with; the diocese to worry about; moronic underlings who doted after him as though he were their father in the literal sense. Beyond this, there was (of course) the matter of dealing with the Coalition and his own social standing– the latter of which he cared little for. 

Having entered the Royal Oprea House nearly an hour ago– accepting the invitation of a lovely socialite whose wife (how unholy, that a woman may lie with another woman. A waste) was the prima ballerina for the Royal Ballet. The woman wished nothing more than to have the Archbishop attend to witness the show, and were she not a potential pawn for manipulation, Gabriel would have laughed and burned her invitation and corresponding ticket in her face.

But the time for that was over, and here he was, ready to take an early absence. If the socialite had a problem with it, he would conjure up an excuse oriented toward his terribly old age. And there would be a pitiable smile here, a sad look there, and the entire matter would be done with.

Stepping into the cloakroom, he saw her. The moronic little thing that Madison believed could take up Silver’s seat. The very sight of her disgusted him. What was she, if not a nuisance? A pest meant to be exterminated? And how else did one deal with unwanted blights than by disposing of them entirely? 

He had watched her for a moment as she examined the coat. The judgement in his gaze was unavoidable. He had hoped that his escape from the Opera House might be swift, but perhaps he would have no such luck tonight.

“I do believe they give you a ticket. Surely you can count high enough to locate your coat,” said Gabriel, reaching a hand into his suit jacket’s pocket and removing his own numbered slip. He waved it through the air, once, striding past her with a look of disinterest; of indifference as he began to sift through the numbered hangars. His footfalls were soft. 

“Ah, here we are,” he removed his coat with a flourish, only then meeting her eyes. The smile on his face was charming, but beneath it lay sinister intent. He extended a hand toward her, palm exposed. “Might I find your coat, my dear, if it has proven too difficult?”

[selinabenavides]

Oh, if only he had been another.

The art of being shameless was one Selina had long perfected. She could have flashed him her brightest smile, spun the loveliest compliments, taken a few steps closer – so many old people loved her youthful attentions. But not the Archbishop of Canterbury. Truthfully, she’d have a better chance of charming a coat hanger.

“Oh, only on a good day!” It wasn’t the convoluted implication that got to her. Men who insulted her intelligence were a dime a dozen – and Selina loved nothing more than to bask in their hostility while she rubbed her effortless success in their faces. No, it was the affront of indifference that stung. The man didn’t even stay long enough to hear her giggle at his weak attempt at a jest.

But the anger had long evaporated into boredom when she met his gaze. And for a brief moment, Selina was almost frightened. She recognized the feeling, akin to the unease caused by Ezra Diamond’s presence. Only, she had nothing to fear from the man before her. He was a living anachronism, a man of the cloth, and what power could they truly hold in those godless days of theirs? He was even offering to get her coat.

“Thank you soooo much, father! It’s the red one.” The hesitant expression had faded as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a bright smile. And still, Selina didn’t feel too compelled to take the man’s hand. She dropped the ticket into it instead, giving him her best attempt at a playful wink. It was an effort to annoy rather than please. “Honestly, the ticket had totally slipped my mind. It was a rather eventful night, after all… But oh my god, I should shut up! I don’t wanna risk eternal damnation by being too chatty, do I?”

[nadiarousseaus]

Colliding head first with the woman who might prove the newest addition to their table brought her head away from the clouds and back down to reality. Coincidences, it seemed, were at an all time high today - the universe determined to do its damn best to drag her into the drama when she was trying to salvage its peace. Perhaps there was a greater truth at work here, that the coalition never ceased to be part of your life, creeping into every crevice. She wasn’t sure whether she minded that or not.

Seeing her brought the reality of the situation they faced back into view - seeking a replacement after the murder of one of their own. It had to be someone who could conform to their view, someone who could work with them, not against. The vetting process was extreme and Nadia couldn’t yet be sure what it was she was supposed to be searching for within each individual? Ruthlessness? No one got to the top of their fields without a little bit of it - perhaps with Lily excepted. Intelligence? That they all had in great amounts. Determination? From first appearances, Selina didn’t appear to have any of that - but appearances could deceive, Nadia knew that best. Besides, why couldn’t a woman love lipstick and be a leader in her field in her own right?

Fan encounters - she was about ninety percent sure that Selina was a fan of hers - was something Nadia was used to in plentiful amounts, especially when pounding the streets of London. Over time, she had adapted the perfect technique at handling them - although this one provided a new opportunity entirely, the chance to get to know one of their potential members on a more personal basis than any gala could ever provide. Jumping in head on, Nadia took the coffee and curled her lips into a smile.

“Don’t worry about it, happens to the best of us. And you wouldn’t believe me if I told you, especially if I gave the away the price.”

[selinabenavides]

The lips, the hair - Nadia Rosseau was always stunning. But then again, all the dolls in her playroom had been. She imagined herself with her arm intertwined with the movie star’s, gossiping together at a gala, the look of jealously in her rival’s faces, arriving together at an event where the lights flashed for her too... Her friendship would compliment Selina better than any ruby necklace she could pry from another pasty CEO’s grubby hands.

“Oh my god, do tell!” Bargains mattered little too her. Thoughtless spending was half the fun as far as Selina was concerned, but this was a different matter altogether. It was an opportunity to engage someone whose friendship she rightfully deserved.

The blue haired barista laid a drink on the counter before them, and Selina took a sip of it far before the caramel taste proved that it was, indeed, hers. “You must have every brand fighting for you to wear their creations anyway. Perks of stardom, right?”

[selinabenavides]

Stealing was a bad habit.

Another one to add to her growing list, and perhaps the only one that wasn’t a drain on her resources. As a teenager, it had a been a dare, a pastime. A coveted necklace here, a stolen love letter there, things she didn’t need and never would. Selina stole because she could, because all of the world was hers to take while Manuel Benavides hovered over her with his benign and wealthy presence.

Now, now it was more. There was still a distinct thrill, followed by the anxiety she could never quite shake off even after more than a decade of experience. Only now, she didn’t just stick to the trinkets she once had – no, now it was a rolex watch, a hermes scarf, a series of crumbled bills a wealthy gentleman had so kindly left in his pocket. The world, or the cloackroom, was Selina’s for the taking once again.

A dreamy sight left her lips while her hands ran through the fur. The coat was black, and gloomy, and one she would have never worn – but the sting of knowing she would have to work to afford it made it all the more desirable. She heard the sound of the approaching steps a moment too late, removing her hands from the item only after the intruder had seen her.

“I think the girl’s taking a break…” Her pout came without effort, and so did the nearly babied voice that so often left her lips. “And I can’t find my coat!”

[coalitionxiiirpg-blog]

INTRODUCING SELINA BENAVIDES TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OLD STOCK BROKER AT MCKELLAN HOLDINGS LOYAL TO MCKELLAN HOLDINGS PLAYED BY GINA RODRIGUEZ

YOU CAN'T HAVE PEACE WITHOUT A WAR

She’s always been Daddy’s little girl. Her parents’ divorce took place when she was too young to have paid attention, leaving baby Selina in the arms of a loving single father. From her earliest memories, it was always just the two of them. A financial mogul, Manuel Benavides was ready and willing to give his only child the world. Selina was showered in material things, never left wanting for a moment; if her greedy eyes had settled on it, it was as good as hers. She was spoiled by circumstance — that, and a father who couldn’t stand to watch his little girl be denied of the lavish pleasures that were well within their reach. His intentions were good, but when things came so easily, a sense of entitlement began to flourish within young Selina. She knew what she wanted, and she knew she wanted it right then — anyone who dared keep the impatient princess waiting would discover exactly what kind of hell that high-pitched screech of hers could be. All eyes had to be on her, by whatever means necessary. With an unquenchable thirst for attention, Selina knew exactly what kind of theatrics could work a room and direct the spotlight in her direction. Her pouty bottom lip was a signature, and that innocent little face of hers begged the question, “would I lie to you?” The answer, though no one would guess, was yes — if it got her noticed, she’d say whatever was necessary. If playing nice didn’t work, Selina had no qualms with throwing her sympathy-stealing act out the window, resorting instead to tantrums and screams that simply couldn’t be ignored. Through her princess smile or her no holds barred meltdowns, Selina would do whatever it took to get her way, not satisfied until she knew she’d managed to pry the room’s gaze off of another and direct it upon herself. Even as she grew into her teenage years, that trademark pout got her far more than it should’ve. Feeling entitled to do whatever she wanted, Selina learned it was better to bawl for forgiveness than to ask for permission, and each time she was faced with consequences she pulled that bottom lip and a few manufactured tears from her arsenal, weaseling her way out of any accountability. Enabled by her father’s love, generosity, and inability to utter the word “no” — which, coincidentally, Selina couldn’t stand to hear — she grew into a brat of a girl, spoiled and selfish. The girls at her private school flocked to her, yes, but because they knew of the wealth that accompanied the Benavides name. It was easy to call them her friends, but maintaining those friendships often included bribing the girls with gourmet lunches, designer shopping sprees, and trips on Daddy’s yacht; standing beside Selina Benavides brought status, but that status was accompanied by a grating migraine. Feeling entitled to all she pleased, she often found herself stepping on the toes of her so-called friends — sleeping with their boyfriends for sport, undermining their reputations, all out of little more than boredom. It was an easy fix; an ingenuine apology paired with a bat of her eyelashes and a new Prada bag was often enough to make up for whatever girl-on-girl crime she’d committed. Through it all, her father was her world. He’d given her everything except valuable life lessons, leaving Selina ill prepared to handle the harsh realities of the world — she knew not of how to handle disappointment, or how to share. When her father had gotten remarried, Selina refused to allow that gold digging hussy to come between the family of two that had always gotten them by. Withdrawing ridiculous sums of money and making ludicrous purchases on the cards he’d given the woman was enough to convince Manuel that his new wife wanted little more than his money — which was far from the truth, and yet Selina waved goodbye to the bitch with a sickly sweet smile on her face. With the next wife, she had to be more creative; setting up false clues of the woman having an affair was finally enough to pry her from their lives as well, leaving all as it should be — with no one to steal her father’s time away from her. Oblivious to his daughter’s manipulations, Manuel tried his best to prepare a growing Selina for the world ahead of her. He attempted to preach the value of hard work, but Selina was already too far gone; she was drawn to the easy way out, always seeking maximum effort for minimum results. Besides, it wasn’t as if Manual practiced what he preached — she’d known for years that their excessive wealth could be attributed to the money her father had been embezzling since the beginning. Still, when he pushed her towards studying economics, Selina reluctantly agreed to pursue a career in business, finding comfort in the knowledge that, no matter how she fared in school or in what was yet to come, she’d always be taken care of. She’d always taken what she wanted. Her father’s friend Julian had come and gone for years, but it was as she woke up one morning, mind numbingly bored by her Oxford schedule, that Selina decided she wanted him. All it took was a few well-timed glances that lingered for a moment too long to draw his gaze, and once she had it, a bite of her lip and a hike of her skirt made it clear exactly what she was looking for. He was deliciously hot — and even sexier when he got angry, which was more often than not — but best of all, he was forbidden. The secrecy was part of what made their affair so exciting, and each time Julian came over for dinner with her father Selina would toy with him, seeing just how much she could subtly tempt him before he had no choice but to fuck her in the bathroom while her father checked on dessert. Months went by, and as Selina finished her final year of school, she had a taste of Julian to look forward to after an excruciating lecture. The day Manuel had caught them together, she’d thought it would be another sticky corner her trademark tactics would be able to get her out of; she’d been wrong. Citing her involvement with his best friend as his final straw, Manuel cut his daughter off — no more trust fund, no more credit cards, no more private wing in his estate. She was ungrateful, she was selfish, and he was done enabling her. From that moment forward, she’d be entirely on her own. Selina had never thought she’d actually need to put her degree to use; it was just going to be a shiny piece of paper to frame and hang in a living room that was furnished with designer pieces purchased for her by Daddy Dearest. Instead, she found herself sleeping in the guest rooms of friends itching to get rid of her, flashing that degree to any firm that might have a use for her. Landing a job selling stocks at McKellan Holdings was enough to help her set herself up in her own flat, but at the end of the day she was not only exhausted, but falling asleep on a set of sheets that’d have been put to shame by the Egyptian cotton she’d once rested her head on. She’d never known the responsibility of paying bills, and had been shocked to see how little she was left with after everything had been taken care of for the month — no money left for weekly blowouts, or seven-course sushi tastings, or impulse pairs of “it was a really hard day” Louboutins. There had to be a better way — in fact, she knew there was; she’d watched her father take the easy road for years. With what she’d learned from watching him, coupled with how easy Leo made it look in Wolf of Wall Street, Selina figured out exactly how to play the market to her advantage — how to push stocks that weren’t worth a dime until they’d turned to gold, then cash out while she was on top. Her rise was meteoric. In a few short years Selina was one of McKellan’s top sellers, and while her clients occasionally profited from her deals, Selina herself always did. It wasn’t exactly legal, but for a girl looking to receive the maximum result with minimul effort, it was too tempting a scam to refuse. Dumbfounded eyes couldn’t understand how the girl managed it all, to which she’d reply with a bat of her eyelashes and a cute little shrug, citing her secret as mere beginner’s luck. The more unsuspecting victims she lures in with her practiced tactics that have always worked to get her what she wants, the more Selina profits under the table at their expense — and the closer she is to living the life of luxury she’s always felt comfortable in. Success, as she soon discovered, looks quite good on her. With her rise to the top came access to all new circles — circles that now cared about her, and not simply the prestige that accompanied her last name. Never once did she lose her sense of entitlement, or her instinct to put her selfish desires above else, but to go from Daddy’s little princess to rubbing elbows with real royalty, Selina is exactly where she wants to be. Little does she know the nature of the attention she’s been receiving from London’s most elite, or that she’s on the verge of something much bigger than herself.

WE GIVE AND TAKE A LITTLE MORE

JULIAN CRENSHAW ❤ ex-fling

When she’d decided she wanted him, nothing would stop her. Doing all in her power to tempt her father’s best friend past the point of resistance, it took little more than a few signals to get him into bed. He was forbidden, which was what made him so enticing — she’d never taken well to being told she couldn’t have something. After being caught by her father, Julian had been the catalyst that led to her being cut off. She’s always resented him for it, finding it easiest to blame him for what her father did to her. Though she can admit to herself that she’s doing far better now than she had been before, she’d never tell him that; he doesn’t need another reason to feel so high on himself.

DAMIEN SILVER ✘ rival (deceased)

Damien was one of the best there was, and it had always infuriated Selina. His firm was undoubtedly her biggest competition, from securing IPOs to day to day deals. There had been a few occasions on which she’d attempted to seduce him, if only for the thrill of fucking the enemy, but he’d always been so disgustingly faithful to his wife. Finding details about his murder in the paper hardly struck a chord with her; if anything, Damien being out of the way only made Selina’s life easier.

KATHERINE YEUNG ✘ rival

She’d been a few years ahead at Oxford, but she’d always stuck out as bitchy, unapproachable, and as if she took all of this way too seriously. Selina tired of her quickly, and it was hardly a surprise when they ended up working for rival firms. There’s little she loves more than screwing Katherine over, and stealing clients out from under her is one of her favourite pastimes. For some reason beyond her, they’ve ended up in the same social circles as of late, and even around those who deserve her respect, she won’t hesitate to tell Katherine exactly what she thinks about her.

WREN WHITLEY ✥ annoyance

They’re annoying, and how they think they could possibly be worth her time is beyond her. Selina can’t quite understand what one of Carlos’s weird little developers could want with her, or why they keep hanging around.

ADELAIDE WINDSOR ✔ friend

However she managed to earn the Princess’s attention, Selina is determined to keep it. Having cocktails and going to parties with the future Queen is a dream, and Selina has admittedly adored Princess Adelaide since birth. They’re the same age, and she’s always felt as if it were destiny for them to meet; now that they have, Adelaide is not only a personification of everything she admires, she’s a status symbol that Selina won’t let go of.

EZRA DIAMOND ✘ acquaintance

With so much to hide about how she’s risen so quickly, Ezra makes her nervous. She’s been running into him a strange amount lately, and she can’t help but wonder if perhaps the police know more about her business than she’d like them to.

LUCIANO VENTURI ✥ acquaintance

The Venturis have always been a staple in high society; her father rubbed elbows with Luciano on multiple occasions, and Selina loves any opportunity she can find to rub her success in the face of a man who clearly never thought she’d amount to much, no matter how immature of a decision it might be.

GABRIEL AUGUSTIN ✥ acquaintance

She’s met the Archbishop a handful of times, and she finds him far too rigid for her tastes. She’s hardly ever been a woman of God — if she ever got down on her knees, it certanily wasn’t to pray. She’s never acquired a taste for Gabriel or his silent judgments, and she finds a thrill in watching the expression on his face as she talks far too loudly about the stranger she lost sleep with the night before.

MADISON PORTER ✔ acquaintance

When Madison continued to appear at the events Selina frequented, she began to realize it likely wasn’t a bad idea to get a judge on her side, just in case her scams catch up with her. Selina has been going above and beyond to try to secure Madison’s approval.

NADIA ROUSSEAU ✔ acquaintance

She’s a huge fan of Nadia, and the moment she caught her eye at a party, she knew she had to go over and say hello. Nadia has been civil and friendly so far, but that’s not enough for Selina. She won’t stop until the two of them are best friends.

DANTE FORRESTER ✥ acquaintance

She’s not as dumb as she looks; she knows that, in her line of work, especially with the way she conducts her business, the press could make or break her — and, admittedly, there’s little she loves more than to see her name in press. She’s been working to get Dante in her pocket, knowing just how valuable of an asset he could be to her.

LILLIANA BRIGHTON ✥ acquaintance, prospect

Admittedly, she finds Lily a bit boring for her own tastes, but she knows just how valuable the CEO of Brighton could be to her. Brighton stock is like gold, and having her ear to the lips of Lilliana could easily give Selina the inside knowledge she needs to make a fortune off of them.

CARLOS ESTRADA ❤ fling

The night she met him at a party, it took all of a few minutes before they ended up on top of each other in a bathroom stall. He’s absolutely shameless, and Selina can’t get enough of him.

WESLEY XIAO ✥ acquaintance

Selina doesn’t understand him. Whenever she’s run into him, all he does is sulk in a corner and act like there’s a million other places he wants to be. If she can’t get him to loosen that tie of his, no one can.

JAMESON KENT ✥ acquaintance

The American Ambassador has little direct value to her, but he is a powerful man whose approval would carry a heavy weight. She’s been working on sucking up to him, eager to see what kind of benefits his influence could bring her.

ISLA WESTIN ✥ former lecturer

Selina never cared much for her academics; if not for her father’s pull at Oxford, her acceptance to the school would’ve been far more questionable. Isla Westin lectured a few of her classes, and Selina never cared much for the woman or her holier-than-thou attitude. Isla clearly thought Selina wouldn’t amount to much, so now that she has, she’s perfectly happy to rub that success in the face of the woman that had doubted her.

SELINA IS CURRENTLY TAKEN. ALTERNATE FACECLAIMS INCLUDE: ODETTE ANNABLE, DIANE GUERRERO, NAYA RIVERA

[nadiarousseaus]

London at Christmas was a sight to see. Bundled up tourists fighting the cold to take selfies over the bridge, Hyde Park transformed into a Winter Wonderland - (the name was hardly an original one), a Christmas tree standing tall in Trafalgar Square and  markets sprung all along the South Bank of the Thames. As the day began to draw into night and the sun slunk beneath the clouds, the brunette buried her chin and cheeks into her scarf, attempting to ward off the worst of the Winter winds. Turning right onto Oxford street, she lost herself among the crowd, the throng of people serving as anonymity, the perfect disguise. Her intention was not to fade, just to conceal - to hide. It was easy to forget what it had felt like being a stranger - a nobody. No one could ever make her feel that way again. But sometimes, remembering was as important.

Side stepping into Starbucks, Nadia joined the queue of coffee drinkers, each looking for a fix of caffeine before beginning the long trek home. Glancing up at the menu, she supposed there was one other advantage of the most wonderful time of the year - Starbucks continued to outdo itself. Ordering a Peppermint Mocha through chapped lips, Nadia scrolled the internet while she waited - promising a long overdue dinner to her girlfriend. Hearing her name called, she stepped forward to collect her cup, colliding with another who sought to do the same. Framing her face into a smile, ever polite, she caught their eye.

“Sorry, I think you have the wrong one.”

[selinabenavides]

The strain work inflicted upon Selina’s small body was never anything short of barbaric. She could feel the callouses appearing in her feet, the raging headache that came with any conversation with the CEO of Lattimore, the anxiety that took over whenever she was called to the head partner’s office – all working towards an ache in her back that only a good massage and a shopping spree could cure.

She spoiled herself as others once had, buying the occasional Christmas gift for someone else out of sheer boredom before slipping into Starbucks with more bags than she could carry. Of course, Selina didn’t truly like coffee. It was far too strong for her sweet tooth. But she did like the cuteness of it all, of having her name carved into a pretty cup and acting like those NY girls from the TV shows. What she hated was waiting.

Three minutes – three agonizing minutes since she had ordered her caramel macchiato.  Her glittery red nail pressed the off button on her phone, and Selina decided to strike. Either by stealing someone else’s order or yelling at the barista, she would get her drink.

“Oh my gosh!” The collision almost brought her down from her impossibly high heels. But before she could yell at the idiot responsible and assert that she could have broken her bloody ankle – there was a familiar face staring back at her. A beautiful face, nonetheless, seen countless times on the screen. “Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry for that. It’s been a looong day!” She rolled her eyes before giving Nadia Rosseau her brightest smile. “You look, like, so stunning today. I need to know where you bought that lipstick!”

[mockingselina]

Lolita Ya Ya; Lolita 1962 OST

“It’s a terrible burden, growing up rich. Daddy gives you too much, and never enough…”

Boarding School: Lana del rey

If you wanna get that scholarship, Loves not a problem, let’s solve it, Educated in the language of doin’ it, Get down like your tutor taught you to, And do it.

Pacify Her; Melanie Martinez

Someone told me stay away from things that aren’t yours But was he yours, if he wanted me so bad?

Primadonna; Marina and the diamonds

Primadonna girl, yeah All I ever wanted was the world I can’t help that I need it all The primadonna life, the rise and fall You say that I’m kinda difficult But it’s always someone else’s fault Got you wrapped around my finger, babe You can count on me to misbehave

Boring; The pierces

Nothing thrills us Anymore No one kills us Anymore Life is such a chore When it’s…. Boring

Died in your arms tonight; Bastille

I keep on looking for something I can’t get, broken hearts lie all around me and I don’t see an easy way to get out of this.

I should’ve walked away.

Hypocrates; Marina and the diamonds

I know you only want to own me And that’s the kind of love you show me You tell me one thing and do another Keep all your secrets undercover Who are you to tell me, tell me Who to, to be, to be?

The Fear; Lily Allen

I want to be rich and I want lots of money I don’t care about clever I don’t care about funny I want loads of clothes and fuckloads of diamonds I heard people die while they are trying to find them

And I am a weapon of massive consumption And its not my fault it’s how I’m programmed to function I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror I’m on the right track yeah I’m on to a winner

Alphabet boy; Melanie Martinez

I’m not a little kid now Watch me get big now Spell my name on the fridge now With all your alphabet toys You won the spelling bee now But are you smarter than me now?

Money, Power, Glory; Lana del Rey

I want money, power and glory I want money and all your power, all your glory Hallelujah, I wanna take you for all that you got Hallelujah, I’m gonna take them for all that they got