My original idea for this chapter was that Nefario would (reluctantly and under pressure from Wild Knuckles) try to seduce Marlena, but I didn't like it, because I didn't want to play a guy being uncomfortable with a woman pursuing him as a joke. Later, while writting this chapter, I've got an idea for Marlena but I was worried if it might have some unfortunate implications. Finally a friend on tumblr, annchanorsomethin, gave me some suggestion that helped me make it a bit nuanced.

Either way, I think I'm starting to develop Marlena's backstory.

Please, leave a review!

We need to talk with Marlena

The next day, about ten am, Nefario found himself standing at the Gru family's porch, wearing his best light brown suit, yellow shirt and black shoes (a get-up that both Minions and Wild Knuckles deemed sexy). He was also sprinkled with Wild Knuckles' musk cologne ("Works on every woman!" he said).

The mad scientist felt really stupid right there. He clicked on one of the buttons of his jacket, activating radio-communication of his own design.

"I still don't get why I have to flirt with her."

"She would be much more open for confessions if a handsome man gain her trust." Wild Knuckles' voice said through the small earpiece in Nefario's right ear. "It's a standard spy strategy."

"You watch too much Bond movies."

"I prefer Charlie's Angels actually."

Yeah, the show started to air only recently and Wild Knuckles was mesmerized by it. Nefario had some theories as to why a known elderly villain would like a show with three attractive young women.

"And why won't you try to seduce her? You clearly have much more experience with it."

"It's clear that Mommy Dearest likes younger men. She wouldn't fall for my silver fox charms. Either way, take one for the team." Wild Knuckles suddenly added seriously: "Remember why are we doing this."

"Yes, I remember." The scientist gave a soft sigh and pushed the doorbell.

While waiting for something to happen, he felt increased nervousness. He didn't know if what they were about to do was right. Not only because the thought of him being one on one with Marlena Gru made him tense (because what if she tries to go beyond just flirting?), but also because he was barging into his young employer's privacy. Granted, Gru was now in school and wouldn't come back until four o'clock, but what if he decide to drop out of class?

Nefario still remembered how Marlena was hitting on him for the first time and how Gru reacted to it…

They were sitting in the kitchen and talking about some project, when suddenly Marlena came in, just like that, and sat with them at the table. Gru instantly noticed it and shot his mother a cold glare, but she moved along and gave Nefario her sweetest smile. It took the inventor a moment to realize that she was wearing purple dress with a cleavage.

He also smelled a sweet perfume… the aroma seemed familiar to him somehow, but he couldn't put his mind into where he knew it from. However, his senses were instantly on alert and he was fighting with an urge to cover his nose.

"Hello." She spoke finally. "We don't know each other. I'm Marlena Gru."

The scientist decided it would be wise to not be rude. So he smiled politely and introduced himself too:

"Doctor Joseph Nefario. I'm working under your son."

"Oh, a doctor!" She exclaimed and gave Nefario a look indicating that she's impressed. "That's pretty amazing. Are you a pediatrician?"

This question took Nefario aback. He was going to explain himself when…

"Mother, not now." Gru growled at her. "We're in the middle of something. Besides," He composed himself. "doctor Nefario isn't a medical professional. He's a scientist."

This made Nefario feel a bit better. With new confidence he started:

"I have PhD in engineering, biochemistry, quantum physics…"

"Oh, that's even more interesting." Marlena came closer to the scientist, and the sweet smell attacked his nostrils again. She gently took his arm with one hand and moved the other down his forearm. "Tell me more, doctor."

Nefario felt panic raising inside of him. The smell was nauseating, making him feel dizzy. He cleared his throat and carefully moved his arm away, escaping Marlena's squeeze and her strange perfumes. He moved his chair more towards Gru. She seemed really surprised by that, meanwhile the inventor noticed that her son was clenching his fists on the table.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Gru." Nefario began, smiling sheepishly. "We really need to go back to work…" He suddenly felt an urge to breathe some fresh air, so he stood up and asked: "Can I open the window?"

But before he could do it just then Gru punched the table, turning attention of both adults at himself.

"That's enough! Mother, you can't just flirt with all of my employees like that!"

"Well, none of your employees are handsome men like this one." Marlena retorted.

"From now on you're not allowed to speak with him." Gru replied and then turned to his inventor. "Let's go talk in the lair, doctor Nefario."

"Of course, Gru." The man stood up and his employer took him by his hand and led to his bedroom and then to the secret elevator.

Gru was red from embarrassment… or maybe it was anger? Nevertheless, deep down Nefario was glad they were leaving.

Back then the mad scientist thought it was just Gru being protective of his mother. But the more Nefario was working with the kid, the more he noticed that Marlena was often spending time with various men who were visiting her once or twice but never coming back. Gru acted like he didn't care all that much about what his mother was doing with her free time ("She doesn't pry into my business and I don't pry into hers.", he explained once), but the inventor could see by the boy's expression, that he was bothered and even hurt by all these men. Maybe it was jealousy, because Marlena was caring more about them than about him, or maybe it was loneliness.

Nevertheless, he didn't want Nefario to be just another man his mother flirts with.

Suddenly someone's steps from inside the house brought Nefario back to reality. Then he heard the sound of the lock being opened. Soon he found himself standing face to face with Marlena. She smiled widely at the sight of him.

"Oh, doctor Nefario! Nice to see you!"

He smiled too, trying to act natural.

"Hello, Mrs. Gru." He began. "Can I come in? I would like to discuss something with you."

"With me?" She asked with light surprise. For a moment Nefario was worried she will ask what Gru thinks about it, but then she just grinned and said: "Well, of course, come on in."

In the lair, sitting at the radio communicator, surrounded by very curious Minions, was Wild Knuckles. So far it seemed that everything was going according to plan, but right now everything depended on the mad scientist and his (very basic) seduction skills. Just in case the elder was prepared to give him some advice.

Nefario finally entered the house and Marlena immediately led him to the living room, where she pointed with an open hand one of the armchairs.

"Please sit down."

He hesitantly did that and his hostess took a seat at the sofa next to him. Immediately after that Nefario's nostrils registered the familiar sweet scent, but this time he came prepared. Marlena leaned toward him and batted her eyelashes with a flirtatious smile.

"So, doctor, what exactly brings you here?"

"Remember: act natural." Wild Knuckles instructed him.

The closeness between them made Nefario nervous. Back when he was working for Criminal Records, he got used to acting natural in front of customers, but also the police who was occasionally coming in to look for one of the Six. It shouldn't be hard to act natural in front of one small woman, right? And yet he felt like he was already compromised.

Nevertheless, he remained calm and explained:

"We didn't have a chance to get to know each other."

"Well, as I recall certain someone didn't want me to talk with you. I assumed that he imposed a similar injunction on his employee."

"He actually did." Nefario admitted truthfully. He told himself again that he was doing it for Gru's sake, however, out loud he replied: "But he doesn't have to know."

He was glad that Gru didn't hear that. He also hoped that he will never find out.

"You're right, doctor Nefario." Marlena said. "Personally I stopped caring about what he thinks long time ago. I am the grown-up here, after all…"

"And yet your son is more grown-up than you." Wild Knuckles apparently couldn't help himself. To be fair, Nefario shared the sentiment.

"But I don't want to cause you any trouble with your boss," She continued. "however young and annoying he could be. So let's get on with it."

She touched the scientist's hand, squeezed it lightly and looked into his eyes.

"Tell me, doctor Nefario, aren't you lonely spending all day in the lab?"

"No, not at all, Mrs. Gru. I find the work with your son very rewarding."

"Way to miss the point, man." Wild Knuckles commented.

"But I can't imagine you having time for personal life." Marlena continued. "Is there a Ms. Nefario somewhere?"

"No, but that's okay. I'm married to my job." He said quickly moved his hand out of Marlena's grip.

Back in the lair, Wild Knuckles wanted to hit Nefario in this big head of his. This wasn't the plan. The egghead was supposed be sweet, charming and seductive. In that moment he should play a poor, lonely nerd who would gladly welcome some woman's touch in his life. They spent three hours last night, talking the strategy over and worked on Nefario's swag for the next two. And now it seemed like the scientist threw the whole plan away to improvise, which could be really risky.

Well, maybe nothing was lost yet. Maybe the egghead could work this out somehow. Wild Knuckles could always send some Minions upstairs acting like they were surprised by Nefario's sudden appearance and dragging him into the lair for some urgent matter. This was the two men's escape plan.

The mad scientist could see by Marlena's slightly raised eyebrow that his reaction wasn't what she expected. And maybe Nefario should have played along a bit longer; pretend that her little plan was going great, but he had a different idea. A more… direct one.

She smiled at him politely and asked:

"Would you like something to drink, doctor? Coffee? Tea?"

He expected this offer too. After all, a drink could be easily tempered with. Calmly, he returned the smile and said:

"No, thank you, Mrs. Gru."

She barely concealed her disappointment. She must have realized already that he was onto her, because this time she actually gave him a suspicious look.

"That's not my business or anything," She began. "but if you're with AVL, doctor, I will have to kill you."

Somehow he suspected that she was telling the truth. The fact that she was reaching for something behind her back, indicated as such.

"Now look what you did!" Wild Knuckles said, his voice a bit panicked. "I'm sending Minions to save your ass. Don't do anything stupid."

"There's no need for rush decisions." He said, to both Marlena and Wild Knuckles. He gave his hostess a friendly smile, before he continued: "I don't think you're really what you seem either, Mrs. Gru. Tell me: do you produce those magical perfumes yourself or get it from a trusty source?"

Wild Knuckles stopped the Minions from going up and listened. What Nefario was talking about? What perfumes?

She smirked at his words but then her smile softened, as if some kind of realization befell her.

"Of course you would know. You are a biochemist, after all…"

"During our first meeting I recognized the smell. It's a mixture of pheromones and psychoactive substances that make the person smelling it vulnerable to suggestion and enamored with you. Really nasty stuff if I say so myself… but good for manipulation and seduction."

The retired villain at the radio communicator finally realized what was Nefario's plan. His lips formed into devilish smile. Maybe they will get the truth out of her yet.

Of course, it will only work, if the egghead will play his cards right. Nevertheless, Wild Knuckles was intrigued enough to let the scientist lead this mission… at least for now.

"So how did you managed to resist it, doctor?"

"First time it was just my own organism sending me warning signals. Long time ago, through various medical procedures I gave myself an ability to spot poison, even if it has no smell. My nostrils know when the air has dangerous chemicals. In fact, your perfume actually made me nauseous."

"I don't buy it even a bit, but, please, continue."

"And today, well, I prepared an antidote and sprayed myself with it before coming here. That way I could speak with you with clear head." He couldn't help himself to grin at her with satisfaction.

"So this is why you smell so bad?" Marlena replied, smirking again. "I thought it was just a cheap cologne."

"No, that really is a cheap cologne. But it's good with covering any other smells."

"Hey! It's a Siberian tiger's musk! Do you know how many guys would kill to have it?!"

"Anyway, you have either knowledge or access to a really dangerous substance, Mrs. Gru." He continued and got serious. "Which begs a few questions. Such as: how did you acquire it? Why are you wasting it on seducing men? And most importantly," This time he was the one who leaned towards her. "Who are you really, Marlena Gru?"