My Perfect Love Story

Chapter 16: In Control

We sat in the car, consuming the comfortable silence as the chauffeur drove on the highway, “Is everything alright?” I asked breaking his comfortable silence as the silence made my mind wander. When my mind wanders, I overthink. I hate overthinking.

“I should be asking you that,” Did I fail to mention that he makes me overthink the most? “You seem awfully quiet. Ever since we left my conference meeting.” He says in a monotone voice. I can never depict where our conversation will lead. It is hard when you’re talking to someone who doesn’t show an ounce of emotion but controls your feelings. 

“What happened to Terrance Brown?” I ignored his observation and asked about Terrance. I made sure to ask the question using the government name that he shared with me at the late-night party I was forced to attend, “You guys seemed to be in there for quite some time. I didn’t see him come out of the room.” I announced my observation. I know I shouldn’t have done that especially since my bruises were partial because of him and he called me out at the conference meeting. 

I didn’t want Michael to suspect any relations between Terrance and me but I couldn’t help but be curious. “Curiosity killed the cat, love.” He warned me. That shut me up instantly, I was starting to get familiar with his use of figurative language.  It didn’t matter what type it was, I knew it meant irritation and warnings. Warning for me to stop and be careful with my approach in conversations with him.

“You know the late Terrance Brown from somewhere, don’t you?” Michael said with a wide smirk on his face. The late??? As in, dead!?! He was my source of hope of rescuing me from this hell I have been thrown in. My heart began to beat out of my chest as Michael began to inquire about Terrance and I’s ‘relationship’. “He seemed to be very adamant on the topic of you, my ‘mistress’ as he would put it. You’ve been suspiciously quiet so I’ll ask again,” Michael gave me fully undivided attention. 

He sat up in his seat and turned his body towards me. He held my hand tightly as he bent down to look at my face that was looking at the floor of the car. As soon as I saw his darkened hazel eyes, I raised my head looking in the rearview mirror, looking at the sunglasses of the chauffeur. Although he was wearing black sunglasses, I could see his eyes through the glasses. He was looking at me, his eyebrows slightly raised. Not too his so Michael won’t suspect anything but he gave me a look of warning. Don’t lie. His eyes said. 

My lips parted deeply, ready to announce the truth. Then, he touched me. His hands gently touched my chin but roughly turned my face towards him. Such an oxymoron. His figurative language is not limited to words. The chauffeur’s eyes were begging me to be truthful but the truth may land me in a coffin. Michael’s eyes were daring me to tell the truth, and face major consequences. I couldn’t bear the thought of another punishment for simply knowing Terrance before him and meeting him unexpectedly. 

“Are you familiar with the man I have pulverized to death? Answer wisely.” I took a deep internal breath before looking in the eyes of the man who held my life in his hands. 

“I’ve never met him a day before the party.” My heart began to pour down to ribs as I lied blatantly in front of my fate. 

Michal chuckled deeply as he looked into my eyes, “You surprise me every day.” He said with a smile on his face. He left my chin and rose to sit in his seat properly. He looked out the window on his side of the car and I looked back in the rearview mirror. He wasn’t looking at me anymore. I looked down, ashamed, apprehensive, and distraught.

_____

“ Welcome back Mr. Romero, madam,” Iris said as she was the first to meet us walking through the front door. 

“Hello Iris, I trust you are taking care of the house?” Michael asked Iris, giving her no choice but to respond with a shaky nod. 

“Hello, Iris! Do you know you don’t have to call me ‘madam’? You can call me Mariana.” I said genuinely as Iris has a scared look on her face and Michael had a frustrating look on his. 

“Mariana! She will call you madam until you receive a title, isn’t that right Iris?” Michael said sternly. As he asked Iris for reassurance, it sounded more of a demand than a question.

“Yes, Mr. Romero! Alway.!” Iris shouted shakily, in fear of being punished. 

“Good!” Michael said triumphantly before turning to me, “And don’t forget it.” He whispered threateningly in my right ear. 

I nodded my head briefly at Michael. He seemed to be satisfied with my response because he led the way up to our bedroom. The one place I feel unsafe. As long as Michael is there, I feel unsafe but in the bedroom, the door is locked and there is no help. No tricks. No way out.

“Come love. Let’s get prepared for the evening.” Michael said dearly, camouflaging his true colors. 

“What is happening this evening?” I will never stop being so curious. I was always suspicious about everything when it comes to Michael because he was an abusive, mysterious person. 

“Well, dinner of course.” He said with a charming smile on his face. I thought it was only in movies that handsome men can be ruthless killers….guess not.

____

Once again, the only sounds you can hear were the forks and spoons clattering against the plates of food made by maids. The food was delicious. The environment was peaceful as Michael and I ate in silence. The look on the maids’ faces seemed to be frigid, and their body language was very strange.

I looked at Michael and he was already looking at me. He narrowed his eyes at me and said, “You seem to be very fond of the looks of my maids.” He shared his observation that I wasn’t affected by.

“I’m sorry. They just seemed very frigid and afraid when they saw you.” I addressed.

“Well, they should be. Their destiny is in my hands.” He said, showing me his hands that had a long mark on it.

“What happened to your hands?” I asked, paying close attention to my hands. I couldn’t look at him, I was too scared.

“You’ll know soon, love.” He said smoothly, a smirk on his face. “You like to talk in riddles a lot,” I said before I could think. My mouth seems to be getting more reckless every day. I looked down at my plate as Michael laughed in response to my observation. “You love to talk as if I don’t have control over your life.”

You don’t.

“I control your actions, your clothes, your body,” My eyes met his sharply as he talked about my body being in his control. No one has control over my body. I refuse to let someone depict my life story and I will fight for control, even if that means losing my life. Michael leaned forward with a smirk on his face as he said, “Every curve, every crevice, every organ, every o****m-“ 

As soon as he declared control over me sexually, I wasted no time taking my knife and stabbing him in his hand. I rose quickly and made my way past the maids who looked horrified. Something told me that their feelings weren’t towards Michael. Mainly because Michael was laughing as I could hear him getting close to me. 

I couldn’t find any exit in the house, it was like a maze. But that didn’t stop me. I ran and ran and ran. I ran for my life, my love, my body, my sanity, my control. I’ll be damned before I let someone control me. “You can’t hide from me, love. That wasn’t very nice of you, dear.” Michael said softly, I blocked his voice out of my head and just ran. I didn’t even want to look back cause I knew I would regret it. “You can’t run from me forever. Just take your punishment like a good girl, okay?”

Hell no.

I will have control. I will have control.

                                                                       ~My Perfect Love Story~