Chapter 235: One Scratch

One scratch. One bite. That was all it would take to end Sienna Bennett. Evelyn Sinclair squeezed her eyes shut in terror. The mastiff lunged, jaws gaping. Inches from impact, Sienna’s arm snapped forward with explosive force. The blow sent the massive dog stumbling backward. It scrambled away, fleeing down the alley. Straight toward Celeste Duval. Celeste’s face drained of all color. She spun and bolted, screaming. “Help! Somebody help me!” No one heard. This was the deserted back of the venue. Her flight triggered the beast’s chase instinct.

It accelerated, claws unsheathed. They raked across Celeste’s back with brutal force. Riiip. The sound of tearing silk echoed sharply. Her gown shredded. A deep, bleeding gash tore from her shoulder down to her thigh. Celeste shrieked, a raw, agonized sound. The scent of blood maddened the mastiff. It targeted her again. She ran desperately, her injury crippling her speed. Her heel caught on uneven pavement. She pitched forward, plunging into an uncovered maintenance sewage tank.

“Arf! Arf! Arf!” The mastiff stood at the edge, barking furiously at the figure flailing in the filth below.

“Get me out! Help!” Celeste screamed, terrified the beast would leap down and finish her.

Evelyn watched, stunned and horrified. Disbelief locked her in place. What just happened? Why was Celeste Duval here? Why did the dog attacking Sienna suddenly turn on Celeste? She turned to Sienna. “Did you… do that?” A cold smile touched Sienna’s lips. “I simply returned what was given.” She strode forward and scooped up a small packet of powder from the ground. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she hurled it down the alley, away from the tank. The mastiff leaped, snapping at the airborne packet, and charged after it, vanishing around a corner.

Sienna had spotted the packet the moment the dog charged. Velcro strips covered it, meant to cling to her clothes. Celeste’s trap. With the immediate threat gone, Sienna walked to a heavy metal gate. She pulled it shut with a definitive clang. Silence descended. The danger was contained.

Meanwhile…

Celeste thrashed in the murky sewage, only her head above the surface. She clung to a rusty metal bar, preventing a complete submersion. She saw Sienna approaching. “Sienna! Pull me up! Get me out of here!” she shrieked. Sienna stopped at the edge. She looked down, her expression icy. “Who are you? Why should I help you?”

“It’s me! Celeste Duval! Director of Summit Media! The World’s Sexiest Supermodel! Now pull me up!” she demanded, gasping, her eyes blazing with fury.

Sienna calmly smoothed her sleeve. “Celeste Duval? The illustrious supermodel? What is she doing in a place like this? How did she end up in a sewage tank?” Her voice dripped with mockery. “Covered in filth. I honestly couldn’t tell it was you.”

“You… You did this! You turned that beast on me!” Celeste snarled, teeth gritted. “You vicious witch! Help me now, and I might forget this. Otherwise, my family will use every resource to destroy you!”

Her words were pure threat, laced with arrogant entitlement. Sienna merely offered a contemptuous scoff. She brushed her hands together dismissively and turned to leave. Celeste’s face flushed crimson with rage and humiliation. How dare she? Was Sienna not afraid of the Duval family’s power? Was she actually walking away?