Black Rose

Her defeat

Blake took the remote from me and flicked off the TV, then held out a hand. I ignored it and got out of the chair without him. He shook his head but didn't say anything.

We went to the kitchen first to grab a roll of garbage bags and some surface wipes. Then he smiled at me and headed out and down the hall. I quickly followed. As I passed, I opened Jackson's door and ducked my head in. He was sitting in one corner, craning his head to look at the bruises on his arm, but he quickly looked away when I came in. I felt a flash of sadness, and I wanted to say something to console him, but Blake cleared his throat, obviously letting me know I had to hurry up. So I just smiled at the boy.

"Blake and I are going over to clean up from last nights party, will you be okay playing for a bit?"

He nodded, looking down at the train track nearby. "Yep, Mum leaves me on my own all the time."

Once again I felt that sadness, but I wasn't sure what to say so I just nodded. "Okay, bud. Come find us if you need us."

He nodded, looking down at his toys. I gently shut the door again. The moment it was closed, Blake gently took my hand and lead me away, down to the ballroom.

When we came in, I knew Blake was right. Even if the party hadn't gone on for very long, it had certainly wreaked havoc. It had hardly been a rave, but the room was misshapen, chairs were strewn where they didn't belong, tables crowded with wine and champagne glasses, and the floor dappled in crumbs, dirt, and the remnants of finger foods.

"God, your rich friends are pigs," I said, looking out at the chaos.

Blake laugher. "Yes, they are. Lucky for them, we're here to clean up their mess."

I glanced across at him, surprised. "You're helping too?"

"Of course. But you should know, I don't like to work in silence." He said, then grinned and pulled a phone from his pocket. He fiddled with something, and suddenly, Blake's alt-rock playlist was playing over the speakers.

He grinned at me, obviously wanting me to be impressed, but I was too wound up to buy into his attempts at connecting to me. I gave him a weak smile, but that was all I could manage.

He sighed. "Come on, Rose, have a little fun. Dance with me."

"I thought we were here to clean," I said tiredly, gesturing to the mess around us. Blake's smile faltered.

"Right. We are." He said. He looked like he wanted to say more, maybe even chastise me for my moodiness, but he ended up just ripping off a plastic bag from the roll. He was about to hand it to me when he paused, his face lighting up with an idea.

"What is it?" I asked warily.

He grinned. "Rose, on one of your first days here, you broke a plate and Gwen was kind enough to clean it up for you. Do you remember what you said to me?"

My mouth dried up, remembering that moment. Gwen, crouched over broken porcelain in nothing but her underwear, putting on a show. For me, or for Blake, I didn't know. In any sense, it had terrified me, and Blake bringing it up terrified me more so.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember, Blake," I said quietly.

He smiled, stepping closer. "You said that you didn't want to be a topless maid for me. Do you remember what I said, Rose?"

"No." I said, looking away, not wanting to look at his face, scared of what he wanted me to do.

He let out a small, content sigh, and gently took my hand with his free one. "I told you that I would never make you do anything you weren't ready for. You weren't ready then, my rose, but I think you're ready now. Aren't you?"

I wanted to scream, I wanted to wrench away, I wanted to curse him out, tell him he was sick for even suggesting that, but I couldn't.

I was tired. I was worn down. Defeated.

So I nodded. He smirked, letting go of my hand and leaning down to whisper into my ear. "Take off that shirt, Rose."

I obeyed, trying to ignore the hunger in his eyes, and the disturbing emotions stirring within me.

"Now clean."

I obeyed.

Blake didn't make any move to do anything more. He mostly just watched me, a smug look on his face. I expected him to do more, but he didn't. I couldn't figure out whether I was relieved or disappointed.

I worked until the hall was completely clean. I washed up the glasses in the sink behind the bar, and then dried them and hung them all up underneath. Blake got out the broom and we took in turns sweeping until the hall was spotless.

Eventually, we were done, and Blake picked up his shirt from the floor and handed it to me, glancing one last time down at my chest then looking back up. He didn't say anything, so I silently took the shirt from him and put it back on, feeling relieved.

We left the rubbish bag we'd been using to clean up in a cubby by the elevator, hung up the tea towels to dry, and headed back into the house. As we were walking, Blake reached out and squeezed my hand.

"I love you." He said.

He leant across and kissed me, and I sipped, battling with myself on whether or not to say something back. Luckily, I was spared the decision by Blake's phone ringing in his pocket. He frowned, pulling it out and glancing at the screen. Then he let out a sigh.

"I'm sorry Rose, I have to take this." He said. "Why don't you go grab Jackson and watch a movie?"

I silently nodded, and his hand slipped from mine. He threw me one last smile, then headed to the stairs, climbing them as he answered.

"Hey Daniel, I'm just heading to my office, give me a minute."

I frowned, recognising the name. I had heard it before, but I couldn't figure out where from.

Blake went quiet as he disappeared upstairs. I heard a door open and close, and then silence. There was no way I would be able to hear what was happening from down here.