Cruel Beauty

Red Carpet

When Victoria wakes up she stretches and looking over sees you are gone, her heart sinks, that you left her alone. Perhaps last night was some sort of fever dream or PTSD from all the recent events. She clutches the bedsheets against her naked body as the door opens to protect her modesty. 'Damn you are awake.' you curse as you enter with a tray. Victoria raises an eyebrow and you go to her sitting the tray on her lap. 'What's this?' she queries then her eyes light up seeing you drop your robe she basks in your nakedness. You slip back under the covers with her. 'I brought us breakfast, no arguments you have that premiere tonight, I want your strength up.' You pop a strawberry into her mouth which was already resting in an oh shape. She bites into the fruit chewing it and swallowing. 'I thought you had gone.' she admits picking at the food on the tray. 'Only to get you breakfast, I figured you'd be pretty tired from last night...' you blush. Victoria also brushes and clears her throat. 'Yes. Indeed.' she agrees with you. 'It was quite the night.' you flinch in surprise as she kisses your cheek. 'What was that for?' you look at her. She pops a grape into your mouth. 'Breakfast.'

There is still no update on the dogs which keeps her on edge she feels naked without her beloved furry protectors at her back and call. At work, her temper is extra high and everyone is stepping around her on eggshells. 'For heaven's sake can none of you do anything right?!' she throws a stack of sketching pads at a line of designers causing them to bolt. 'I want you lazy fools to produce me something of note, not this rubbish!' she snaps. You sit in an armchair in the corner of her office watching silently as she massages her temples. 'I thought last night would've helped relax you a bit.' you comment. Her head snaps up. 'Oh, you thought, did you?!' she bites. You purse your lips and she sighs. 'I didn't mean that, I'm sorry. I just hate that I don't have my dogs they have always been by my side since...' You get up and walk behind her gently massaging her shoulders. 'I know love, I know.' you soothe her. 'And that Cruella woman I am certain it was her who plotted the theft of my necklace. They say that theft and gangs are on the rise in London.' You go into her shoulders a bit deeper. 'And we will get your necklace back, look at it this way, you've had your turn she's unlikely to return to the scene of the crime.'Oh how wrong you were.

For the premiere, you dress in a simple black trouser suit, despite what you told her your defenses are up and you want to be ready to spring into action. 'Yn. Can you help me?' she calls from behind her modesty screen and you join her in helping her. 'Thank you.' she turns to you and you take in the appearance of your golden lady. 'Very Elizabethan.' you compliment. The Baroness blushes. 'How do I look?' she places her hands on your hips. You lean in kissing her softly. 'Good enough to eat.' you whisper huskily. 'Yn!' she gasps playfully slapping your shoulder. You lean in pressing kisses to her exposed throat and collarbone. She relaxes in your arms tilting her head back. 'Yn, yn, stop it, you're going to make us late.' she chastises you but doesn't make a great deal of effort to stop you. 'Mmm, as you wish.' you begrudgingly let her go and take her white-gloved hand. 'Let's not keep your people waiting. When you both exit John is making his way to her room. 'Ah, good evening Baroness. The car is out front, you are looking wonderful.' Victoria has practically no response to him. 'Any updates on my dogs?' she raises her chin.

John lowers his gaze. 'No Baroness, unfortunately, we have not been able to locate them as of yet. I assure you the team are doing everything they can.' Victoria frowns. 'Do better.' she leaves getting into the car and you follow her. Getting in beside her you once again take her hand giving it a gentle squeeze and she looks at you. 'We will find them.' you lean in kissing her shoulder softly. When you arrive the crowds are already hyped up in anticipation of the fashion Queen's arrival, you get out first and go to the other side getting the door for her. 'Thank you, my dear.' Victoria takes your hand getting out of the car then you take a step back as the crowd goes wild. Everyone is calling to her, snapping her picture it's the very ego boost that she needs, she gives a few polite waves and then makes her way up the red carpet. You follow remaining a few steps behind to let her enjoy her limelight. 'Baroness! Baroness! Over here, photographers beg her to pose for them. She reaches a group of reporters who ask her questions and flatter her, she laughs and jokes with them playfully gesticulating in the process. This is how it should be, she should be happy.

You snap around hearing the motorbike rev loudly and people gasping. Victoria. 'Baroness!' you bodily launch yourself across the red carpet grabbing her in your arms. You pull her away just in time she grips you with one hand and the other rests on her chest. You hold her tightly. The crowd is a buzz and the smoke clears you see a motorbike and glare angrily. 'What the hell do you think you are doing?!' you roar at the driver. The passenger behind the driver steps off you frown spotting the glittering black biker trousers. Victoria's heart hammers in her chest you can feel how frightened she is. The biker removes her helmet revealing it is in fact the same woman from the black and white ball she smirks triumphantly in contrast to Victoria's glare. 'Cruella! Cruella! Over here!' The reporters are no longer interested in Victoria. You steady the Baroness on her feet just as you are about to leave her and attack the power cuts out. She grips you tighter than ever and you tighten your hold on her. Looking up you see Cruella scrawled all over the building above you lit up by UV light. Your nostrils flare, and Cruella smirks getting back on her bike and leaving. The lights come back and Victoria tries to smile, the press snap up pictures of her humiliation with the utmost glee. She's shaking.

'Let's get the Baroness inside it's freezing out here!' You snap and wrap an arm around her escorting her into the building she is cold the gown wasn't made for this weather. You warm her as best you can. 'Do you want to go home?' You whisper against her ear softly. 'I just need a moment.' she wraps the gold silk fabric around herself for warmth. When you enter there are many guests with champagne glasses, you steer her into a corner giving her a moment to recuperate. Standing behind a statue with her you both hear some guests talking. 'I think Cruella is gonna be the next big thing. The Baroness is old news. My mum wears her brand and she is so old now she doesn't know about fashion. She's not really kept her figure either. It's sad really she tries to stay current.' You are furious and spin on your heel ready to voice your opinion. Victoria grabs your bicep. 'Please. Yn, don't make a scene I can't suffer any more embarrassment tonight.' You look at her hand and sigh, inclining your head. 'Thank you, my dear.' she smiles weakly.

'I'll get the car brought around.' You gently squeeze her hand. 'Certainly not.' she looks appalled. 'I am not going to cower away, I am Baroness Von Hellman.' You laugh because seeing that she will not be beaten lightens your heart. Unfortunately, she refuses to eat anything at the dinner, drinking champagne is not a problem. By the end of the event, you see she is unsteady on her feet so you keep by her side helping her to the car so no one notices. 'I never got my looks back.' she says suddenly on the ride home. 'The parasite ravished my body.' she slurs a little. 'I think you mean ravaged sweety.' you watch her fight with her seatbelt. 'Oh.' You frown hearing her speak. 'Yn, yn, stop the car, make it stop.' she rips the belt off. You bang on the roof. 'Oi! Pull over a moment!' The car pulls over at the edge of a ditch and she throws the door open just in time to vomit. You bundle her in your arms so she doesn't fall out and rub her back as she throws up. 'That's it. Get it out.' she vomits again. You wipe her mouth when she is done and help her up drawing the door closed behind her. Banging on the roof the car takes off. By the time you get to Hellman Hall, she is sound asleep so you carry her up to her room, then remove her makeup. Undressing her becomes an industrial task without damaging the gown but you manage and then remove her jewellery and loosen her hair.

You place a wastepaper bin beside her bed in case she needs to vomit again then tuck her into the blankets. 'What am I gonna do with you?' you mutter to yourself kicking your shoes off and shrugging out your blazer. You lie beside her holding her in your arms.