He is Perfect - Chapter 2 (Vanessa)

“A sixteen-year-old girl has escaped after ten months of captivity in a boarded-up room of her captor’s house,” the reporter said without a hint of emotion, reading the words with a cold, trained professionalism. “The girl had an obvious emotional dependence on her captor, exhibiting typical signs of Stockholm Syndrome, police say. She is now safe with her family and is receiving treatment.”

The poor girl, Vanessa thought. The television flashed a few images of a poorly maintained house with police tape around it. A cold chill ran through her body as she studied the image on the screen. It looked so unassuming. Who would have thought that a kidnapper lived there?

“Now, onto sports,” chirped the reporter, transitioning stories effortlessly, as if oblivious to the meaning behind the words she was reading. That was Vanessa’s cue – she picked up the remote control and flipped the television off, sitting up against the bedframe. As she did, the door creaked open and Thomas walked into the bedroom, a breakfast tray between his hands, held steady by a strong grip. A smile immediately emerged across Vanessa’s face.

It was their third anniversary as husband and wife and considering how busy he had been at work of late, she was concerned that he might have forgotten about it. He was the owner of a goods trading business and often spent long hours in the office or traveling. He was very successful, which reflected in the opulence of their home and lifestyle. She didn’t know too much about the details of his work, which was deliberate on his behalf. He didn’t want her or their two children experiencing the stress of his work life, which is something she admired about him.

He set the tray down on her lap and kissed her on the forehead. Not only did he remember, but judging by the cheeky grin on his face, the breakfast in bed was just the beginning. “Happy anniversary, Vanessa,” he said with a wide smile on his face. Her own smile broadened to match his, and she extended her neck to peck him on the lips. He hunched over and returned the kiss. As he straightened, she continued to look up at him, soaking in the image before her. He was tall, about six-one, had broad shoulders with a muscular frame and full set of jet-black hair, combed nicely to one side. His face was well proportioned, and he had dark green eyes, which seemed to glow as the morning light poured into the room. He was handsome by any standard of measurement, and she felt a surge of desire just looking at him.

“Thank you, Thomas,” she said, allowing emotion to flow into her words. “You remembered.”

“Remembered?” he replied, scrunching up his eyebrows. “How could I forget? Just wait until you see what I’ve got in store for you today. When you’re done eating, get dressed so we can get going.” The excitement rang in his voice. He strolled out of the room, craning his neck over his shoulder as he did, giving her a wink as he closed the door behind him.

Vanessa sighed deeply, enjoying the moment. Despite his urgency to get going, she ate her breakfast slowly, savoring each mouthful. After finishing the meal, she showered and picked out a dress–she picked one that was dark green with a subtle floral pattern on the bodice. It was both casual and elegant, fitting for a stroll in the park or a date at a fancy restaurant. She wanted to be prepared for whatever he had planned.

Exiting the bedroom, Vanessa headed for the front door. He was on a call, so she waited patiently until he finished.

“Make sure the delivery makes it safely. No mistakes this time...” he said to the person on the other end of the phone line, just as he noticed her enter the room. “I have to go,” he mumbled, before hanging up the phone.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Yes, yes. Everything is fine,” he said. "And so are you, if you don’t mind me saying,” he quipped as he looked her up and down.

Vanessa beamed at him as she took his arm and was escorted to the car. As was his custom, he opened the back seat of the limousine and helped her get inside.

“Will the kids be fine?” Vanessa asked.

“What kids?” he asked in reply, a stern look on his face.

“Our kids, Thomas,” she answered. “You know, the ones that I gave birth to,” she added cheekily.

“Oh yes, of course. I’ve got the nanny looking after them in the guesthouse. They will be fine. Come, let’s get going.” He helped her get into the car and closed the door behind her.

It was odd that he was so serious when she asked about the kids, but then again, he was a busy man and was likely distracted by thoughts of work.

They drove off down the long driveway to their beautifully planned and lavishly expensive date.

She couldn’t have asked for more. It was perfect. He was perfect.

Read Chapter 1 here

Matthew Norman

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