Earlier on.
Rose continued down the hallway, her heels clicking softly against the polished wood.
Just outside Mr Stern's room.
Rose adjusted the silver tray, a delicate smile playing on her lips. Tonight, she was taking matters into her own hands. Mr. Stern hadn't emerged from his room all day, and whispers amongst the staff suggested he wasn't feeling well. Rose, however, had her own interpretation of "unwell." Today's dish is a light supper of poached salmon and asparagus, a dish she Heard from Mr Brown that he favored, and she intended to deliver it herself.
She paused outside Mr. Stern's room, took a deep breath, and rapped lightly.
"Come in," his voice was deep, cold.
Rose entered, her smile widening. "Mr. Stern, I was worried you hadn't eaten. I took the liberty of preparing a little something for you."
He looked up from his seat, his brow furrowed.
"What are you doing here". Alex asked coldly.
She moved closer, her perfume, a cloying mix of jasmine and something musky, filling the air. "I brought you dinner". she replied looking at him seductively.
But Alex looked her up and down with disgust.
Rose misunderstanding it as a good sign continued her madness boldly.
She reached out a hand, her fingers brushing against his arm. He stiffened slightly, Giving her a deadly stare.
rose flinched a little. But ignored it. she was bold on the outside but on the inside she was scared to death. she had already started, so she'll end it.. no man can resist her charm she thought to herself.
Rose ignored his glare. Her eyes fixed on his lips.
"You know, Mr. Stern," she began, her voice dropping to a husky whisper, "the staff are all very concerned about you. We all admire you so much." She leaned closer, her hand now resting on his shoulder. "Especially me." That was her mistake.
Mr. Stern's expression darkened. He stood up abruptly, putting no distance between them.
In a swift, almost predatory movement, Alexander's hand closed around her wrist. The playful touch turned into a vice grip.
Before Rose could react, he'd twisted her arm behind her back. a sudden pain shooting through her.
He pined her against the wall, his breath hot against her ear, but his voice was like glacial ice.
"Never," he hissed, each word clipped and precise, "never do that again."
His eyes, those piercing silver eyes, were now dark and dangerous. "Do I make myself clear?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.
Tears pricked at the corners of Rose's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She nodded, a small, barely perceptible movement.
She'd miscalculated. She'd thought her charms, her carefully crafted persona of a devoted and desirable woman, would work their magic. She'd thought he was lonely, vulnerable. She'd been wrong.
He released her abruptly, as if she were something unclean. Rose stumbled back, clutching her throbbing wrist. The fire in her heart had been extinguished, replaced by a chilling wave of shame,regret and fear.
" Now Get the f*ck out," his voice firm and cold. Mr. Sten returned to his meal as if nothing had happened. He picked up his fork, the clinking sound echoing in the sudden, heavy silence.
Rose, humiliated and defeated, scurried away, the image of his cold, disapproving face burned into her memory. She knew, with a chilling certainty, that she had crossed a line, and Mr. Sten was not a man to forgive such transgressions. The game she thought she was playing had just ended, and she had lost spectacularly. The consequences, she suspected, were yet to come.
"And listen" Mr. Stern added, his voice cutting through the silence, "consider yourself dismissed. Your services are no longer required."
Rose froze, her back to him. Dismissed? The word echoed in her ears, a death knell to her ambitions. She'd been so close, she'd thought. So close to securing a position of comfort and security. Now, she had nothing.
She turned, her eyes flashing with anger and resentment. But Mr. Stern's gaze was unwavering, his expression implacable. She knew she'd lost. She held her aching wrist and with shame, stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.