Cruel Beauty

Time

You wake the next morning and see she's still curled into you looking down you see her head still resting peacefully on your chest. In the morning light, she looks so defenseless, so vulnerable, so angelic. You think of all the horror this beauty has endured and how she still stays so strong is beyond you. She's asleep so you treat yourself to a little forehead kiss, looking over you see the clock one minute left and she wakes up like clockwork. At first, she flinches realising someone is holding her she immediately recoils. Placing a hand on her chest she steadies her heart. 'Sorry, I'm used to waking up alone.' You hear the car draw up outside, early, he doesn't want to risk the Baroness's wrath by being late. 'It's okay.' you gently pat her hand. 'Ugh I was having such a peaceful sleep.' she yawns. 'No matter, work to do.' Victoria gets up and goes to her wardrobe to select an outfit for the day. The woman has more clothes than you have had hot dinners. You change back into your outfit from the night before. Again she does not bring up how she spent the night in your arms, you sigh. The car arrives and you go to the stockroom upon arrival to select a fresh outfit for the day, black trousers and a silver asymmetrical blouse.

You tie your hair up and climb the stairs to Victoria's office you stop halfway and turn, and you frown seeing the staff all seem to be buzzing about something. You brush it off and head to her office pushing open the door, Victoria is frozen still newspaper in hand. 'Baroness?' You enter closing the door. 'Everyone is laughing at me.' You hear the pain in her voice and her hand starts to tremble. You go to her taking the paper from her. "Mystery woman crashes the Baroness's party and adds a hint of style. Rats crawling everywhere. Is this the Baroness's replacement?" You read a few lines and look at the picture that has been published to embarrass her. It is not a great picture she looks ridiculous but all you see is a vulnerable woman in fear. Not exactly your type of comedy. Victoria walks away and stares out the window trying not to cry a hand rests on her hip. 'I'm not.' You set the paper down. 'Mm?' she replies in thought as usual totally indifferent to your existence. 'I am not laughing at you.' You say a little louder and a little firmer. Victoria turns and smiles weakly. 'You are such a good help to me.'

You clench your jaw. 'Help?' Victoria ignores you and turns away again. 'Can you focus on me for one fucking second?' The Baroness snaps around at your tone in surprise and feels irritated her morning has been bad enough. 'Do not speak to me like that.' You grab the newspaper tearing it to shreds. 'Screw them, who cares about them, I don't care about them I care about you I have been by your side for years. For years I have been your one constant, but still, you act like what we have is nothing!' Victoria bristles. 'What on earth do you mean?' You groan in exasperation. 'You spent all of last night curled up in bed with me!' Victoria's eyes widen. 'Yn! Keep your voice down!' she quickly goes to her office door, dropping the blind as though that will make a difference. 'It was perfectly respectable.' she hisses. 'You're winter ball I believe you wanted to keep the wig on as I pleasured you, we had sex.' Victoria starts to blush. 'We both had too much alcohol.' 'Oh, okay what about during your pregnancy when I fucked you until you screamed with pleasure.' Victoria blushes. 'That was merely you doing your job, I paid you.'

You feel a surge of fury. 'I never asked you to and I never spent the fucking money, I wasn't with you for a payout, for someone so smart how can you be so bloody stupid? It was never about money.' Victoria is visibly irritated. 'Then what do you want? If it isn't money what do you want yn?! Spit it out!' she raises her voice. 'You! It had always been you I have loved you silently all these years no matter how you act like we are nothing. No matter that you treated me like a whore, that you use me as an emotional crutch and treat me as just an employee. I have been in love with you this entire time!' You feel tears sting your eyes Victoria is frozen. 'I-' The phone rings, and you stare at her waiting. 'I have to take this.' You bite your lip to hold back tears as she lifts the phone. 'Fuck you.' You slam the door as you walk out and a second later John walks in hearing an agitated Baroness. 'Watch it!' you snarl. 'Apologies, so sorry.' she smirks giving a small bow. You grab her wrist. 'Oh!' Estella jumps in surprise. You look into her eyes the smirk vanishes, there is something that irritates you.

You search her face but can't quite work it out. 'May I have it back?' she smiles awkwardly nodding at her wrist, you let go. 'Mm.' Jeffrey approaches Estella at a rapid speed.'She wants you, hurry up. Come on.' he rushes her away. You roll your eyes. 'At least she wants someone I suppose.' you say bitterly then leave. Estella enters the office of designers and it is obvious the Baroness is already tense with multiple forms of anxiety. 'Ah. Here she is. Late. Grab a pad.' Estella pushes through the line of designers to grab a pad. 'My spring collection. I need 12 pieces, and I have...' Victoria paces in front of her team like a sergeant readying her soldiers for battle. 'Let me count.' she rips the designs off the wall. Estella watched the performance with a smirk safe in the knowledge that she would take everything from the old hag. Her business, her status, and most importantly her confidence, she would break her. 'Go!' The Baroness barks causing Estella to jump as she retreats from her dream. 'Thank you.' she inclines her head. 'Gratitude's for losers.' Victoria snaps back. 'Oh. Good advice, thanks.' The redhead replies to further irritate her employer, Victoria shoots her a look. 'What did I just say?'

The phone rings and the Baroness answers it. 'What do you mean my dogs are missing?!' Her heartbeat increases not her dogs, not her beloved dogs. They had protected her as their mother before them she felt ice pierce into her heart. 'Find them!' she roars slamming the phone down. Rubbing her forehead she concludes she can't trust those idiots to find her beloved creatures she will look for them herself. 'John! Bring the car around!' Victoria heads back to Hellman Hall throwing the door open on arrival she looks up and sees you head downstairs with a bag over your shoulder. 'Yn...where are you going?' 'I'm leaving Victoria I can't do this anymore.' Victoria's heart drops. 'L-leaving?' You continue downstairs and head for the door. 'Please, don't go.' You turn to her. 'There is nothing here for me.' Victoria's breathing increases. 'Wait, please! My dogs are missing.' You frown and turn to her. 'What?' Victoria walks over to you anxiously wringing her hands. 'My dogs, they have been stolen, please, don't leave me too. Not now, I need you, please.' her eyes start to tear up. 'I...' the word catches in her throat.