The Gotham Queen

Chapter 26

When I get to work, I get through the front gates without much hassle. I make it into the building with a small bounce and skip in my step as I smile at everyone. A few people look confused as I wave at them, and I snicker to myself as I look at their funny faces. A few even say hello to me, but I don't stick around to talk to them. They didn't try to be my friend before, so why would I give them a chance now?

Making it to my office, I unlock the door as I hum to myself. I shut it behind me and start to walk across the room, but I freeze at the sight of a single red rose and paper on my desk.

"I wonder who put you in here." I say as I walk over to my desk and place my purse inside like normal. I pick up the rose and smell it as a smile comes to my face. It matches the red on my lips, and I have a feeling I know where it came from.

As cliche as it sounds, red roses are my favorite flower. I breath the lovely scent in for a few more minutes before I turn my attention to the paper. I open up the note and read it aloud to myself.

"I like your spirit and fire, doll face. I hope I get to see and play with it again." I feel my heart flutter at how Joker wants to see me again. "A mutual friend said to ask about an engagement. Oh, I do hope you aren't leaving me already, doll face. We just started to play."

"How can I leave someone I'm not even with?" I laugh to myself at how Joker thinks I'm leaving him, but then a thought sends shiver down my spine. "Oh my...what if this is his way of saying I'm his next target?"

The thought makes my heart race, but I can't decide if it's in excitement or fear. I'm playing with fire by getting involved in any way with Joker, and I'm not sure if I want to get burned or not. The thought makes my heart race even faster and I smile at the thought of being with Joker, but there's still that fear of being hurt. Would he hurt me like every other man in my life has?

I reread the note a few times before I sigh. The mutual friend is obviously Ivy, but is it really okay to talk to Joker about everything? How would I be able to even talk to him? That session was a one-time thing, and unless I get his file to be his doctor, I can't have any more with him. And there is no way I'm spilling my guts to everyone in that cell block, so how?

I shake my head before opening the lower drawer and shoving the note in my purse. I close the drawer and grab the rose again, smelling it some more. I wonder if he knows that this is my favorite flower.

"Probably." I chuckle to myself and look at the flower dreamily. "I'm going to have to get a vase to put you in." I tell the rose, but before I could go looking, there's a knock on the door. I didn't say anything as Dr. Smith lets himself in without my permission, and I watch him close the door behind him.

There's no smile on his face, or even a light in his eyes. He's cold and closed off as he starts to make his way to my desk. His sudden change has me on edge because it seems like nearly every man that is in my life turns out to be a woman beater. I take a quick look at the door and decide that I wouldn't be able to get by without having to face him.

I don't think I can take him in such a small area, or would I know how to if he started to hit me. Would anyone come if I screamed, or would they ignore it because we're in an Asylum? I ultimately decide that if he does try to hurt me that I'll use whatever I can to beat him. If that makes me a monster, so be it. I don't really care anymore.

He walks over to my desk and sits on a chair in front of it as I lean slightly back in my own chair. I'm going to need to stay out of his reach if I have a change of getting the upper hand on him. My rose is still in my right hand, and I smell it to remind me that I do have friends here that would come running if they heard me scream.

Dr. Smith's eyes catch sight of the rose, and he glares harshly at it. This causes me to bring the small flower to my chest, as if to protect it from him. What the hell is his problem? What the fuck could have this flower done to him already? He just got here.