Shattered Perfection

Five

A/N Domestic Violence and SA warning.

Siobhan's heels stepped carefully onto the tiled floor as she closed the front door as softly as she could. She held her breath. Maybe he was out. But there was nothing in the diary and God forbid he do anything unscheduled.

'Come here,' the deep voice called out of the study to her left.

Siobhan's slight frame sagged slightly. She was late home and had missed his calls. He wasn't going to be happy. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. Roger was sat behind his desk writing. She stood stiffly not saying a word. Roger finally screwed the lid onto his fountain pen, closing the book before standing and placing it in the open safe in the cupboard behind him. As the safe door closed with a click, Siobhan braced herself.

'You're late and you didn't answer my calls. This is unacceptable.' Roger spoke softly and turned to meet her gaze. Siobhan recognised this Roger, dangerous, unpredictable. She tried to appease him.

'I'm so sorry Roger, I left as soon as I could, I was delivering the Ball invitations.' She was meek and humble. She gazed at him from lowered lashes. She could tell his anger was still bubbling under the surface. 'I had to explain to Marjorie why she didn't have one.'

He huffed a laugh, 'Oh that stupid woman. Not good enough for my son. Her name might be Van Gould but she doesn't have their blood. She's as common as muck, just like you.'

He turned towards her and Siobhan flinched again. She didn't mean to but it wasn't a reaction she could control. She knew it angered him. To try and change how he was feeling she reached out her hand to touch his chest hoping to distract him with her body. Roger grasped her wrist and bent her hand backwards. Siobhan cried out as her knees gave way.

'Please stop, please,' she begged.

'That's all you're good for, on your knees begging.' Roger leered down at her. 'You're useless and pathetic. Make yourself useful.' His free hand reached for his belt, loosening and unzipping. Siobhan knew the expectation but he forced his thumb and forefinger into her cheeks anyway, forcing her mouth open. With tears streaming down her face she took everything he gave her, desperately trying not to gag as he forced himself down her throat.

Panting, he released her hand but kept hold of her face lifting her up to standing. Siobhan cradled her left wrist with her right, the pulsing pain distracting her from what was coming.

'You are mine and mine alone. I own you.' He said quietly, 'Now get upstairs.' Roger pushed her away from him. Siobhan staggered back before turning and making her way up the stairs. The nightmare wasn't over. Her wrist ached terribly and her jaw felt bruised. She tried to compose herself as she stood in their bedroom. The door behind her clicked closed and her heart sank. He smirked at her as he undid his shirt buttons slowly.

'On the bed.' The order was given, she must obey.

After he was finished he stroked her hair and whispered, 'you are mine, forever, my mummy.' She lay curled where he had left her. She had tried to think of Vivian's face, her smile and her gentle teasing which made Siobhan smile. But she still felt the pain and disgust at herself for being in this position. Once he had fallen asleep, his breathing heavy and his moustache fluttering slightly, she uncurled stiffly and made her way to the bathroom. She stared at her haggard expression. Her wrist was swollen and already had bruises appearing on her wrist and her cheeks. These added to the other marks which covered her body from older 'encounters' with Roger. Yellowy, green bruises which peppered her ribs, whole handprints on her thighs and bite marks on her breasts. Her core ached, her joints ached. She felt like an old lady. She knew the stress of the merger was making him worse but she wasn't sure how much more she could stand.

It hadn't always been like this. In the beginning, Roger was charming and seductive. Using his wealth and connections to attract her like a moth to a flame. Her parents were no longer living and she had no siblings. No support. No one to help. She was resigned to her fate.

Rinsing a washcloth in warm water she tried to clean herself up but she never felt clean enough. Putting on a silken pyjama short set she descended the stairs as quietly as she could so she didn't wake him. In the large, expensively sleek kitchen she opened the freezer, reaching for an ice pack which had been helpful in reducing swelling after previous encounters. Hissing in pain as the cold came into contact with her skin. At least the pain meant she was still alive. She wasn't sure survival was an option any more. He would eventually go too far. She knew he had connections to make her disappear. No one would miss her.

Siobhan curled up on the sofa, sinking into the cushions with a barely audible groan. If she was lucky she would wake before he was up. She shivered in the cool room as her eyes slipped closed. Her last thoughts were of a raven-haired nurse with kind eyes and the bubble of excitement of their meeting in a few days.