Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story. They all belong to James Cameron, Titanic 1997. This is a story I've been working on since I watched Quills. If you have not seen this movie, I highly suggest you do. It is a great film with very talented actors in it and this and Titanic is how I came up with these plots. I hope you enjoy!
Summary: Being a maid for a millionaire, steel tycoon was supposed to undoubtfully have it's benefits. When struggling actress Rose DeWitt Bukater is forced to swallow her pride, and respond to advert from her mother for the Dawson's house maid wanted, little does she know, the description of the job is far from ideal.
Jack's fingers softly tugged on the lapels of his jacket before running his fingers through his hair. His eyes wandered over his features before shoving his hands into his pockets, and having his shoes make clicking sounds on the hardwood flooring as he walked from his room down to the foyer of his home. "Father?"
Jack watched as his father walked out from the parlor, his suit in place and brandy in hand. "What is it son?"
"Did you get that message from the stable? I wanted to go riding today but not if Nicholaus was going to be busy."
John shook his head and sighed before walking up to his slightly taller son. He let a long gulp of his drink slide down his hoarse throat before looking up into the blue eyes of his son. "How many times do I have to tell you, Jack? You do not socialize with the help."
Jack held his gaze on his father, watching the butler slip on past them from the corner of his eye. "I will do as I please, father. I am no longer a young boy. All I am waiting for is to court, and then I shall leave you and your home alone." He took one hand out of his jacket pocket to rub his temple that began to ache. "Do you think you would be alright with that, father?"
A crash interrupted their conversation and both men quickly turned their heads to the sound coming from the dining room doorway, where a young maid was found kneeling on the floor hurriedly trying to clean up the spilled afternoon tea. Her hair was up in an elegant bun with one little curl hanging in her face. Her white dress covered with lint as she looked up from scrubbing the puddle on the floor, her big green eyes full of worry. "I am terribly sorry sir, I didn't mean to sp-"
"Don't even finish your sentence, Rose DeWitt Bukater."
Jack's eyes widened as he glared at his father, missing the horrified look on Rose's face as she quickly nodded, and got back to wiping up the mess she had made. Jack quickly bent down and took another rag from the sterling tray that sat by the young maid. "Here, let me help you."
Rose looked up and shook her head, her smile hesitant as she absentmindedly kept scrubbing her rag over the liquid. "It's quite alright."
"No, I really don't mi-"
"There's no need for you to hel-"
"Please, just let m-"
"Stop!"
Rose slowly lifted her head and let her eyes wander over to her boss, and she felt herself grimace as he scowled at her. "Rose DeWitt Bukater, I suggest you get up and just take your garbage into the kitchen. You don't want to make an even bigger fool of yourself."
She nodded quickly as she snatched the rag from Jack's hand and placed it onto the tray before rising. "I'm sorry sir." Before she could turn, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Rose DeWitt Bukater?"
Rose turned before sending a warm smile towards the slightly older man. "Can I help you, Jack?"
John hardened his eyes on the young woman before stepping forward, hardening his hold on the glass in his hand, "Rose DeWitt Bukater, shall I remind you of proper etiquette? You might be new around here but you are not stupid."
Rose bit her lip before nodding, sending a small smile towards the man in front of her. "May I help you with something sir?"
Jack shook his head before giving her a reassuring smile, his eyes softening at seeing how young and naive she was. "Can you tell me what I can call you? Rose DeWitt Bukater is too pronounce, and you are completely too beautiful for such an improper name."
The fiery redhead felt herself give a true genuine smile to the older man, her voice soft as her fingers continued to grip the handles of the sterling tray. "You can call me Rose. Just Rose."
Jack nodded slightly before watching Rose walk back into the kitchen. He slowly turned to his father and glared, his teeth gritted as his fists clenched. "What the hell was that father? She's a young woman and does not need such vulgar words thrown her way."
John laughed as he let the amber liquid once again slide down his throat. "She was given to me by her no good mother, the once big-shot DeWitt Bukater, and I intend to make her staying here worth my while. She only cost me a few cents and our gardner's good shovel." Jack felt his pulse race as he stepped in front of the older man. "She is worth much more than that and you well know it. She's young and beautiful and doesn't deserve to be treated that way. For all we know, she could have the potential to-"
"Women don't have potential, Jack. You should know that by now." The younger man resisted the urge to slug his father right then and there, but he just shoved his fisted hands into his pockets before nodding slowly. "Yes, father."
John smirked before nodding, and walked slowly around his son. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some new business to attend to." There was a look of pure evil that spewed across his face but went unnoticed by his son, as he backed his way through the dining room door and into his den.
Rose's fingers quickly went to work on cleaning the teacups, kettle and sterling silver tray that the tea had spilled over on, smiling slightly as the warm water relaxed the small muscles in her hands. She was too busy to even hear the kitchen door swing open as she let her hair down, putting the bobby pins onto the table next to her before accidentally spilling some water onto the front of her dress. Her frustration earned a chuckle from behind her, and her body quickly spun to see her boss with a smirk on his face. Rose's eyes widened before she grabbed the front of her dress, clutching the wet fabric in her hands before nodding to the older man, her curly hair coming across her face. "Good evening, sir." John licked his lips, looking into the girl's green eyes before nodding.
"Good evening, Rose DeWitt Bukater. Or what did you say to Jack? That he can call you Rose. Just Rose?"
Rose slowly nodded before biting down on her bottom lip. "Yes sir, I did. He asked wh-"
"I know what he asked, Rose DeWitt Bukater. There's no need to repeat." Rose's eyes lowered as she nodded again, and unclenched her hand before smoothing down the material of the front of her dress. "Yes. Of course, sir."
John took one last swig from the drink in hand before setting the glass onto the nearest table, and walking up to the young woman before him. He watched as Rose quickly backed up before hitting her back against the counter, her hands going to grip the edge. He felt a small warmth in his stomach as he saw her big green eyes widen, and her small knuckles go white. "Are you alright, Ms. DeWitt Bukater?"
The redhead quickly shook her head as she let out a humorless chuckle. "I'm not used to people being so close to me, sir." She felt her heartbeat quicken as the small tub of his belly touched her pelvis. "Could you please s-"
"Please what, Rose?"
Rose shook her head slowly as her voice lowered, her eyes softening as she looked over the older man's features. "Please just step back, sir."
"Oh but Ro-"
"Please."
John chuckled as he shook his head, his hands quickly grasping Rose's wrists.
Rose bit painfully into her bottom lip drawing blood as his hands tightened their grip around her wrists and tugged her arms in front of her face.
"Have you ever pleasured a man before, Rose?"
The woman quickly shook her head and fear was apparent in her eyes as she gave a small wince when he pushed her wrists against her chest, which involuntarily pushed her back harder into the counter. She let out a shiver as he brought his lips to her ear. "I'm going to make you happy, Rose."
Rose forcibly pushed him away, feeling satisfied as he stumbled back just a bit. "Stop it!"
"Rose DeWitt Bukater, you never do th-"
"I am a lady and you will not touch me like that!"
John immediately picked up his hand and struck the young woman across that face, smirking as he heard a defying smack enter the air around them. When she looked back up at him, her eyes wide and her hand over her cheek, he grabbed her long hair and pulled her head back to get a real good look at her pale neck. "I will touch you in any and every way I please, Ms. DeWitt Bukater. You are not a lady, you are a young girl and trust me when I say you shall never amount to anything. That's why you are working here, under my roof."
Rose felt tears enter her eyes as her boss let go of her hair and shoved her back against the counter. She quietly nodded before wiping her cheek clean of tears, her hands going back behind her to grip the edge of the wooden counter.
"Yes, sir."