A/N: Thanks to Precious Princess and AC for reviewing!
Mrs. Pearson offered Jack a seat, who took in the surroundings. Every attempt to deny, what this building was really for, would've been useless. Just by seeing the half-naked ladies it was quite apparent.
Smoke was hanging in the air, something that bothered Jack, although he was drawn to cigarettes himself. Fabrizio had always complained about that habit.
'I've seen many people die, due to this, Jack.'
Now, of course, this hadn't made him stop.
Mrs. Pearson was pouring out some wine, as Jack made himself at ease the best he could.
Jack had to admit that the furniture was quite nice and surely comfortable.
Need to be…
"I can see you like it here, Sir?"
Jack looked at her confused. He must've stared too obviously, but he couldn't help for his artist eyes to notice the finer things of life.
The seat he was sitting on, was embroidered and extremely comfy.
"Who's responsible for this?" he asked his eyes fixating Mrs. Pearson.
"What? The institute?"
Was she nervous?
Jack wouldn't know why. After all he was just a new client for her, someone, who would bring her in fresh money. Just then Jack recalled that he hadn't taken anything with him, which now seemed, considering the situation he was in, a very bad notion.
Whatever would she say to this? She didn't seem like someone, who looked kindly on persons with money problem.
Well, now plenty of time to find out.
"Yes…that one too. I was talking about the furniture however," he motioned around with his hands.
Mrs. Pearson had to laugh, before answering. Jack counted that she must be around forty.
Quite beautiful for her age…now, when thinking of Ruth Dewitt Bukater for example…
"Ah, I believe I've found a master here, Sir. Kind of doing these things yourself?" she spoke up.
Jack could tell that she liked to be given compliments.
A way to make her pouring out the truth to him…?
He didn't know, but it certainly worth a try.
"Kind of…," he mumbled feeling a little tense around her, like he was about dig a hole into something that he wasn't his to find out.
Come on, Dawson, you can all laugh it away with your charms.
'You know with your charisma, you're even making me feel guilty by punishing you,' his math teacher had told him 'Still, I've to,' she had added.
Jack had had to smile back then, having to ask her what charisma even meant.
This had earned him a laugh from the whole class.
Back in reality, he recognized that he didn't know anything about the woman sitting in front of him. She was some different calibre then his math teacher had been.
He wasn't uneasy were often, now was such a moment.
Maybe it would be better standing up and just go? Pretend he had never seen that paper?
And Ella?
Come on, Jack, surely this was only a mistake. You simply wanted to believe what you did. In reality nothing happened, Ella just forgot to tell her aunt. You'll see once you get home she'll be already there, safely, as well.
"Now then, from artist to artist…," she smiled threw her slightly black teeth, the only defect so to say she seemed to have, "I do believe we've something in common. At as matter of fact it was me, who did everything. Took me years to collect…," her voice drifted off, when she noticed that Jack wasn't really listening anymore.
"Where do I've my manners, I didn't even ask you, if you would like to have one too."
This time Jack declined the cigarette, though he didn't exactly now why. In a way he felt that he needed to stay clean for whatever…
Oh, stop it, Jack. This lady here may not have the most decent job, but she's surely not the devil you want her to be.
Go home, Dawson.
Consumed by his thoughts Jack didn't notice the girl suddenly coming up to him, until she was sitting on his lap. He only noticed her long hair, but nothing else. He didn't want to.
"I'm Hannah, Sir. Do you like my looks?" she was cocking her eyebrows flirting with him.
Jack was taken aback for a minute
Sure this was a whore house, it was no wonder that…and yet it shocked him.
What would Rose think of him now, if she could see him? Although she was quite obviously dead, it felt like he was betraying her.
Hell, I don't even know where to look, with observing some place I shouldn't – like her bosom.
"I…I mean…," he began muttering, knowing it made him sound silly.
Like a complete idiot, who had never…
Mrs. Pearson laughed again, her head bouncing up and down.
"You're obviously new to this, Sir. Never having been unfaithful to your wife? Ah…really…what nice men there is in the world…Hannah here is a real professional," she tried to make her palatable to him. "She'll teach you everything necessary."
"I'm sure she is. However, I…," he was once more struggling for words.
What reason could he come up with that wouldn't make her suspicious or him appearing like a little school boy?
I shouldn't have some here in the first place.
"I thought that we could talk about the furniture before," he finally stammered out.
There was an awkward silence for a moment, before both Hannah and Mrs. Pearson were bursting out laughing. Jack's face grew red in shame.
"Well, then Sir, I really didn't know you were that type of man. But of course we can continue with our conversation, if it means that much to you," she spurted out. "I guess you better go now, Hannah…"
The girl, Hannah, had just stopped laughing.
"Quite a shame, Sir…but if you should ever wish to…"
"I'm bound to call you, Hannah," Jack managed to say, his head having gotten back its usual colour.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noted Mrs. Pearson still smiling in wonder.
"Yes really, you're a strange man, Sir."
...
Upstairs Ella tried to make the other girl understand the seriousness to the situation.
"Look, I don't know about you, but I surely not want to stay here any longer," she was tugging at her sleeves.
No reaction and Ella was slightly growing nervous.
What if anyone wanted to…?
"You can go, if you want. No one is keeping you here," the other one stated. "Oh and if you should worry about Mrs. Pearson…you don't have to. I know how to deal with her. Besides everything was my fault anyway, the broken mirror, the…"
Ella couldn't believe it.
"I won't go without you," she firmly stated.
"Why?" her eyes were questioning and with a hint of hatred in them. "I'm not a concern of yours," she started, while brushing her hair again, something that she must to doing to feel less nervous, Ella thought.
The girl had turned the back to her again, facing the looking glass or better what was left of it.
"Because…because…," she muttered, realizing how stupid she must've sounded.
What should she tell her? After all she knew nothing.
Maybe I'm just confusing things.
"I know, who you're." Ella spurted out instantly regretting her words.
Yes, true, Ella, you stupid little girl. Great…Now tell her about the Titanic as well, make her think you're totally insane. She's forced to trust you.
"What do you mean, you know you who I am? Who am I for you?" she asked her voice hurt now.
Ella silently bit her lip.
"Look I…I know this sounds stupid but…"
With a man suddenly entering the room, she didn't get any further.
"Hello ladies," he smiled a smug smile. "I was told that I'll find you here."
Lygia jumped up from the chair.
Ella immediately moved closer to her, trying to protect her. Lygia was clearly shivering, while the man, already a little bit drunk, was moving towards them.
At least I can tell Mr. Dawson that I've done everything.
Ella silently moved her behind her back, her eyes staring at the man.
…..
Downstairs Mrs. Pearson was finally removing her coat. Something that on second thought she shouldn't have done and wouldn't have, if she had known beforehand what she was getting herself into.
Jack gasped under his breath, trying his best not be make her too suspicious.
I must be dreaming.
He closed his eyes for a second.
Surely, Dawson, your eyes are playing tricks on you. You simply haven't eaten properly. If you open them again, you'll see that…
Nothing, the diamond was still there.
"Something wrong, Sir?" Mrs. Pearson spoke up pouring herself another glass of wine.
Jack had declined to have one before.
"What no…," he mumbled; still he was gazing at the necklace, despite his attempts not to.
How come that I find it here of all places?
Mrs. Pearson put a hand on it, when she became aware of his stares.
"I see you have good taste, Sir," she was smiling once more.
How did you get it?
"I've never…I mean it must've cost you a fortune," he heard himself say though not quite sure, it was really him speaking. His own voice sounded strange to him.
"Probably…actually I don't know. It was a present," she told him reaching for her cigarette. "Are you sure, you don't want to have…?"
Jack shook his head again.
Who gave it to you?
Or an even better question how come the diamond made it off the Titanic in one piece, when Rose perished and…it was so bewildering.
Cal obviously hadn't known about its whereabouts.
And here I've to discover it, of all places, with the woman, who's clearly no relative or friend of either Rose or Cal.
"But you wanted to speak about the furniture. Well then, I can tell you…"
Jack nodded here and there, mumbling a few incoherent words like mmh, of course, sure. Truth to be told his interests had changed.
He wanted to know where she had gotten that necklace from.
There was no doubt about it; it was the Heart of the Ocean.
I bet she doesn't even know that.
Mrs. Pearson didn't seem like the brightest one sometimes. Jack couldn't picture her reading classical novels or museum guides for instance. She wasn't that type of person.
How can I get it?
"You're more attracted by the necklace, I can see."
"That obvious?" Jack laughed, trying to hide his own nervousness.
So here we have a woman, who's got a fortune hanging around her neck and most likely doesn't even know it. And then we've a little piece of paper telling you that this house is something different than it really is. A maniac millionaire, who's searching for this necklace and your friend, who's been kept for it…actually nothing to rely on…
His head was spinning around.
"Don't worry, I'm aware you're one of the good guys," she cocked her eyebrows.
You sure?
He had stolen quite a lot of things in his life, but only with best intention and only ever from those, who had enough to share. Still, he had felt bad afterwards. Stealing wasn't right and he had always vowed to himself that he wouldn't do it again.
"It was in fact more than a present. But ssh…," she made a sign with her hands daring him to stay quiet.
Jack nodded, putting a finger over his mouth, indicating to her that she had understood.d
"One of my girls…she couldn't pay me after I had helped her. So I simply kept it," she told referring to the necklace.
This one perplexed Jack even more.
What whore could ever make as much money to purchase such a wealth?
"She got it from one of her lovers?" Jack guessed.
"I've no idea, where she contracted it from. I only know that it's mine now."
Jack wanted to ask her some other questions, but his voice was lost to a heavy noise upstairs. Suddenly alerted Jack shot up, startling Mrs. Pearson.
Ella?
…..
"I've no idea what's your problem, ladies. Fact is I don't have all day. So would you please be so kind and finally decide who wants to be first?" he mocked them.
Ella had taken Lygia into an embrace, trying to comfort her.
If only I had told anyone, where I had gone…
She could feel the girl in her arms wincing.
She must be hurt.
Ella was shocked.
"Come on, ladies," he laughed again slightly touching Ella's curls, who instantly shoved his hand away.
Don't touch me – she mimicked.
He was angry now; it was quite visible in his eyes.
"So you want it the hard way. Well it shall be my pleasure."
Without further thinking Ella reached for the knife she was always carrying with her. Her aunt had given it to her once. She took it out and…
'You never know, when it might become useful.'
…placed it close to her neck…
"Don't come any closer or I swear I'll kill her. I'll kill her and tell everyone you attacked us," she threatened him hoping he would draw back.
Mr. Dawson will kill me, if do anything to her.
At first he started laughing.
"Ha…ha…come on now…how often have trained for for this one?"
"We didn't," Ella stared at him angrily, the best dislike and most hateful expression on her face she could come up with. Luckily for her, Lygia's eyes were helping her.
"Please, Sir…we haven't…," her voice made it clear that she had no idea.
Ella shot him another heated look.
"You really want to have her blood spared all over the floor, Sir?" her eyes must've truly been like that of a maniac woman, because the man indeed showed something close to fear now.
"You're insane. Come on, don't be silly, give me the knife," he moved forward.
Ella just shook her head and simply drew Lygia closer to herself pushing the knife further against her.
"So you can rape me? No, Sir…I'm sorry, but I've to reject."
The rain had stopped and for a quick second Ella was distracted by a sound coming out from the other door, slightly turning her head away. The guy made use of it immediately. In one moment he had drawn forward and pushed Ella aside, grabbing the knife from her hands.
Now it was him holding Lygia prisoner.
"Let her go," Ella demanded once she gotten up the floor again.
"I don't see any reason why?" he began while starting to kiss her neck. "I think it's me now making orders, right ladies?" he laughing evilly.
Lygia was trembling trying to get out of his grasp, but it was no use.
"I believe it's decided then. I'm going to enjoy her first, but don't worry, you'll get…"
He didn't get any further as Ella had grabbed the nearest candle pushing it against his body. He howled with pain and let go of her.
Ella quickly took the other one's hand, but before they could get out, he had grabbed Lygia on her ankle.
"You're staying here. I've paid for this," he growled.
Ella bit him in his hand the best she could.
"Aw, you little…," he wanted to smack her, but didn't get a chance to.
She drew Lygia up to her feet, the two of them hurrying down the stairs, the man close behind them.
"Come on, we've to get away from him," Ella shouted, her grip firmly on the girl's wrist.
Lygia, however, was stumbling over her dress. The man immediately took advantage of this.
Just as he was about to reach for them again, he was held back.
"She's my girl!" Jack's voice rang out as he was throwing him off against the wall.