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"Good job, Miller." Charles Augustus Milverton smiled at the young man encouragingly who was standing in front of his office desk and held the documents Milverton asked for in his hands. "You got used to the Heim News Agency fast. I'm looking forward to you continuing working for me."
The young assistant's face lit up from pride. He slightly bowed his head for his employer.
"I am looking forward to it as well, Mr. Milverton."
He left the room with quick steps and the thought of his own importance. Milverton looked after him with a calculating gaze. The man he just recently employed was on a good way to become a quite useful tool. Despite the warm words he told to him, Milverton only thought about most of his subordinates like that - as tools existing for the sole purpose of serving him. He valued his tools and gave them a good salary but he didn't think about them further. Only one person existed who was an exception from this rule - his secretary, Ruskin who was currently waiting for orders next to Milverton's desk, staring at his employer without any emotions on his face. Milverton watched Ruskin softly from the corner of his eyes - his secretary was more for him than just a mere employee. Ruskin was the one who understood him perfectly, his right-hand whose advice and loyalty he never doubted and during the nights, he was also his lover who warmed him up in the bed. He cared for Ruskin deeply and he was aware that the other man felt the same despite that he rarely showed his feelings. He was currently standing there seriously as well and Milverton couldn't read him - but he noticed something strange in his secretary's appearance. Ruskin clenched his fists as he stared at the wall but he seemed to not see that, he was so lost in his own mind. Is he frustrated because of something? But why? Then the thought faded in Milverton's brain and his current case took its place. He picked up the documents that had just arrived and started reading.
Milverton actually suspected it right when he thought that something was off with Ruskin. Under his calm facade, the secretary was furious that he needed to witness how nicely Milverton treated the new employee, Mr. Miller, that nobody who didn't even deserve to look at Mr. Milverton's face directly. Ruskin loved his employer with all his heart and he worshiped him to the point of fanatic obsession but he was careful to not let the other man learn about this, nor anyone else. No one could know that behind his cold approach, there was a dangerous fire ready to burn down the entire world. Only his mouth could touch Mr. Milverton's mouth, only his lips could cover his body with his kisses - Ruskin was possessive over his employer and lover very much. He promised that if Mr. Milverton ever leaves him, he will kill him then he kills himself as well - but he was not afraid of this possibility, at least, not until now. Oh, he saw how his beloved employer looked at Mr. Miller! He was aware that he needed to do something before the situation could escalate and he would lose Mr. Milverton. But he already got an idea on how to solve the problem.
The only thing he needed was a knife.
*****
When Ruskin walked into Mr. Milverton's study after the night of the successful murder, he found his employer in an angry mood. So he learned about his new favourite puppet's death, he smiled inside. He didn't plan to tell him the truth about why Mr. Miller suddenly passed away but he was ready to make him forget about the young man forever who was not worthy of his attention anyway.
"Is everything alright, sir?" He placed his hand onto Mr. Milverton's shoulder. The other man looked at him.
"Someone killed one of my new company assistants yesterday - you know, the recently employed Miller. He got tortured to death." Mr. Milverton said and his golden eyes were glowing from the anger and the frustration. "It must be one of my business rivals who is behind the attack. They wanted to make him spill my secrets. They were probably able to make him talk before he died."
"It is also possible that his murderer had different motivations." Ruskin tried to calm Mr. Milverton down while his hand kept caressing his nape.
"They had gone too far this time." Mr. Milverton hissed like a cobra what was about to attack his prey. Ruskin gave a comforting kiss to his employer's cheek. He felt a tiny bit of guilt that the murder made Mr. Milverton worried but after all, all of this was his boss' fault. It was him who made Ruskin resort to this extreme action.
"You don't need to expect the worst, sir. And you didn't let him into your trust completely, right?" He asked to make sure and ease his own fears.
"No, I didn't trust him." Mr. Milverton shook his head and Ruskin could let out a relieved sigh. "You know that I only trust you." He flashed a sudden smile at his secretary.
"I hope so." Answered Ruskin and there must have been something in his voice that made Mr. Milverton suspicious because he curiously looked at him.
"What do you mean by that? Is that not evident?"
"You seemed to like Mr. Miller." Ruskin pointed out and his tone became slightly resentful. Mr. Milverton let out a laugh.
"I didn't like him, he was just a simple tool. People like him are only good for being used. Did you get jealous of him?" He sounded amused but this changed at the latter part of his speech like something just crossed his mind. He was clearly suspicious now and Ruskin could see it.
"I didn't." He tried to deny it but Mr. Milverton took his hand and drew him closer, looking into his eyes deeply.
"Don't lie to me, Ruskin." His voice was gentle but suggestive. "I can see that you were. Were you also the one who killed him?"
The question struck the atmosphere like an axe and turned the air cold around them. Ruskin was aware that he cannot hide what he did now and he had enough of pretending. His gaze became forceful as he spilled the truth.
"Yes, it was me."
Mr. Milverton kept staring into his eyes and he didn't seem to be surprised, neither angry anymore, only confused.
"Well, it was only wasted effort." He stated. "You should have known that I..."
"Don't you dare say that it was meaningless!" Ruskin lashed out with annoyance. "It was a pleasure to murder him, to listen to his screams while he was agonizing, to cut his throat away and watch his blood splurting to the ground! And I didn't regret it, I would do it again and again! Without you, what will become of me? I only exist because of you. You keep telling me that I have no reason to worry that I will ever get replaced but how can I know for sure that you don't just use me as your tool the same way you used him! Well, I am not your toy! I love you, Mr. Milverton, you are mine and I will never let you go. If you ever replace me" his voice became low and threatening. "I swear that I will kill you. You will never belong to anyone other than me."
Ruskin stopped to take a deep breath. He only noticed now that during his speech, his fingers clasped around his employer's throat, about to choke him but despite that he didn't see fear in those golden eyes. Is Mr. Milverton just laughing at him now? He resisted the urge to tighten his grip around the fragile neck but he still didn't let it go.
"Do you not believe me, Mr. Milverton?" He asked.
A smile appeared at the corner of Mr. Milverton's mouth.
"I know that you tell the truth but I am not afraid of you." He replied and not caring the fingers on his throat, his hand reached out and gently brushed his secretary's face. "I don't have reason to be afraid. I never planned to replace you, why would I? You are fully mine just like I am yours. We have a shared bond of pure evil and I don't want anyone else on my side, just you."
His gaze was still locked into Ruskin's eyes like he was staring at his soul.
"If you still think that I am lying, just kill me. Now." He ordered then he closed his eyes, giving himself to his fate.
Ruskin felt the buzzing in his fingertips which urged him to do something, either letting Mr. Milverton go or to strangle his lover to death. But at the same time, he sensed Mr. Milverton's heartbeat in his palm - it didn't become faster for the threat that showed that his employer fully submitted his life to him, he was ready to accept Ruskin's decision either way. This finally made him sure that Mr. Milverton truly didn't lie and this heartbeat, this soul, this beloved body belonged to him and only to him. Mr. Milverton didn't betray him, he was still his - but he better seals this promise away again. His fingers let his employer's neck go and instead, they wandered onto his face to cover his pale cheeks, then he gave a passionate kiss to his lips. Mr. Milverton didn't open his eyes, he just responded to the kiss and it lasted for long moments before they broke it to take a breath.
"I just want to make you happy, sir. For the rest of our life." Ruskin whispered and gently kissed the other man's neck. Mr. Milverton chuckled when Ruskin's lips touched his skin, it was a tickling sensation.
"I am not angry at you for killing Miller." He opened his eyes and started to talk. "But if you kill my company employees, I will not be successful in the business world. So in the future, please talk to me first if you have doubts."
"I promise, sir." Ruskin stopped kissing him to answer but he didn't look into his employer's eyes - he knew that he was too possessive to keep this promise and that if he ever felt his position threatened, he would murder again without a second thought. But Mr. Milverton better not know about this.
Ruskin raised his head to give a kiss to his lover to make him forget about everything that just happened... except that who owned him rightfully.