Work Text:
After a respectful knock, Ruskin, the secretary of Charles Augustus Milverton stepped into the study with an envelope in his hands and closed the door behind himself.
"The photographs came from the studio, Mr. Milverton." He reported to his employer and put down the envelope to the desk in front of him.
"Thank you, Ruskin." Mr. Milverton gave him a nod and he curiously reached for the envelope. He was excited like a child. Ruskin knew why. Even if he was the so-called King of Media, he rarely made photographs about himself, but now, it was necessary for an upcoming article. Ruskin remembered how much his employer prepared himself for the shooting of the photo to give his best appearance, so he was obviously enthusiastic now that he could hold the result in his hands. He took the photograph out of the paper and inspected it.
"It is perfect." He noted and a satisfied smile appeared on his face showing that he liked how it turned out. "We will bring it to the office in the company tomorrow." He stated and put the photograph into his safe under the table. Ruskin didn't move, just watched what he was doing. His gaze sparkled up only when Mr. Milverton reached for the envelope again to throw it away, but he stopped in the middle of the movement.
"There is something more inside it." He said and he inquisitively peeked inside. He took another photograph out of the envelope. "It seems that the photographer miscalculated the amount. As I remember, we only ordered one."
"Right, sir." Ruskin agreed and he didn't even flinch for the lie. "What would you like to do with the remaining one? Should I put it away? We might need a spare one in the future." He gave the advice to his employer. Mr. Milverton only thought about the matter for a moment, then he handed the photograph to Ruskin.
"Put it away then." He noted and with that, the question of the plus photograph was closed. Ruskin took it away and walked out of the room. His heart was beating heavily from the repressed excitement that he didn't show on his face. He knew that it was not the photographer who made the mistake. It was him, Ruskin, who asked him to send two photographs. He hoped that he would get the remaining one since Mr. Milverton would not need it and his plan worked out. But he didn't want to put it away for later, like he said to his employer. He knew that as he handed it over to Ruskin, Mr. Milverton already forgot about the photograph. It was now his and only his.
And he had different plans for it.
He walked to his room and locked the door behind himself. He always did that if he opened his closet. His room was otherwise open for the day so the servants were able to clean - Ruskin only closed the door of the closet. That was the place where he kept his greatest secret, something he was aware that no one could ever learn - especially not Mr. Milverton. He drew away his suits to clear his way to the back. It was covered with photographs about Mr. Milverton, which Ruskin got the same way as he got the newest one of his collection. He fixed it there and bathed in the beauty of his little shrine. He thought that the newest picture was the most beautiful where his employer's face was the clearest. He reached out and gently touched it, imagining that he touched something else, running his fingers over it with love. The pale cheek of the man he loved more than anything in the world.
Ruskin let out a sigh and his heart filled with a wish. It caused him pain. It was hard to conceal his feelings for Mr. Milverton, but he knew that this was all he could do. He could never confess them to his employer. He was a mere secretary whose dreams can never come true.
Ruskin tried to chase the sorrow away, but the joy over the new photograph became bittersweet. He closed the door of the closet and locked it again. Then he went back to work like nothing happened, like his feelings for Mr. Milverton weren't even real.
Like they only existed at the back of the closet.