Steam

Chapter 10

Adjusting her skirts, Victoria nervously approached the door of Thomas' office. She had since gotten dressed and re-applied her lipstick before coming down. She raised her hand and rapped on the door, waited a few seconds and then slowly unlatched it.

"You asked to see me?" She mumbled, seeing he had his back turned.

"Indeed I did, twenty minutes ago!" He seethed, suddenly spinning to face her. He was obviously irritated and he glared at her scantily clad form. He had noticed subtle changes in her, yet had restrained himself from making any comments but he was no longer able to contain himself.

"Well I do apologize but I did have to make myself presentable before I came to you!" She replied sharply, astounded at his gall to speak to her in such a manner!

Thomas stopped mid pace and looked at her in astonishment. His surprise soon melted in to anger.

"That is your representation of presentable?! I dare say your brother would drop dead if he were to see you sporting such revealing goods!" He glared her up and down, purposely stopping at her chest for a second longer, then tossed his head aside in disgust. Victoria was speechless, his outburst hit her unexpectedly. He carried on, not waiting for an answer; the fury was burning up manically.

"And yes, I did require your presence twenty minutes ago, however I have close to no time now and I am to get back to work before I fall behind! Your dawdling can not be accounted for I am afraid to say!"

"Surprise surprise! Working as always! Why can you not ever spare an afternoon or evening for the one you supposedly LOVE!?!" She screamed, suddenly exploding with emotion fueled anger.

By this point, Thomas had stalked over to behind his desk. At her words, he slammed his fists violently on the wood; making Victoria jolt, realizing the harshness of her words.

"I am trying to make money so we can live!" He emphasized the 'trying' with clenched teeth; his face red with anger and fists painfully white.

"We already have enough money, can you not see that!?" She yelled at him, confounded at his apparent blindness to her family's wealth.

He bolted upright and stormed directly at her, making her step back suddenly; there was now only inches between them.

"I want you to have the world, I want you to have everything you ever wanted because I love you god damn it!" He roared in her face; the colour had drained from her face leaving her as white as a sheet.

All of a sudden she raised her hand and struck him sharply across the face; a painful sting shot through her palm and fingers. No sooner had she slapped him, she grabbed his shirt and tie and dragged him towards her. Their lips crashed in a moment of pure bliss before she swiftly pulled away. Thomas was left dumbstruck, as she leaned in gently this time and whispered in his ear: "You are my whole world..."

She let go of him and stalked out of the office door furiously. She slammed it as hard as she could. The bang made Pip cry out from his hiding space behind the door.

Victoria whipped her head round at his whimper. She stared wide eyed at him, it soon tightened into an infuriated glare. The chocolate eyes he so loved stabbed in to him, realizing he had been discovered eavesdropping on their argument. He prepared himself for a smack like the one Thomas had received only moments before but one did not come. She simply blundered off with balled fists to her room without saying a word.

-----------------------------------