It was morning.
Ben woke up disoriented.
Where was he? How did he get here? His senses were blurred, his head was foggy, and his eyes were covered.
What was happening?
He was unable to remove the blindfold covering his eyes. His hands were strapped behind his back to a belt around his waist that prevented him from reaching up to his face. He sat up slowly, his head spinning, and paused for a moment. He tried to get up but fell back down. The belt was attached to the wall by a short chain that limited his movement. His legs were chained to the floor, and he wore nothing but a pair of light, black pants—the same pair he wore for his aikido practice.
He felt as if he were in a dream, his thoughts scattered with no beginning or end. A chill went through his body as he felt the morning breeze. He tried to curl up as much as possible to keep warm.
As time passed, he slowly regained clarity. He had not been dreaming—he was completely awake, yet unable to remember the series of events that led him to his current state.
“Is there anybody here?” he called out. His voice echoed.
He waited, then asked again. “Hellooo? Is someone here?”
Silence; no response.
Sometime later, the place began to warm up from the heat of the morning sun. He tried to wriggle free again but failed. The straps and belt holding him were secure. The blindfold was also tight, with additional bandages underneath it on each eye. Somebody had made sure he would not be able to see what was happening around him.
Who could have done this to him, and why?
The thoughts raced through his head, making no sense.
Was this the result of some wild night spent with a woman? Or was it a hoax? Perhaps something worse? He gasped. Perhaps he had been kidnapped for ransom? All of these possibilities seemed irrational and extreme, unrelated to him.
Confusion and uncertainty set in as Ben awaited his fate in the darkness.
ONE MONTH EARLIER: DAY 1
Ben awoke to an entirely different bright winter morning. He opened his eyes after a good night’s sleep in his own bed. It was still early. He smiled and flicked on the bedside lamp, thinking to himself, Another fine morning for a new start.
He turned to look at the other side of the bed. La Belle Michelle (that was her pet name in the tabloids) was still asleep beside him.
He took a deep breath and jumped out of bed cheerfully to begin his morning ritual: a fifty-minute workout that included pushups, sit-ups, and jogging on the treadmill.
Ben lived in a prestigious residential building. His apartment was spacious, meticulously decorated, and immaculately clean. Brightly colored wallpaper covered the walls and windows. The black living room floor was adorned with white rugs on which white sofas stood, adding a modern, dramatic look. Designer lighting fixtures hung from the ceilings and walls. The interior decorators he’d hired to furnish the apartment to his taste had made it pristine and inviting.
After finishing his workout, he quickly jumped into a hot shower. Like the rest of the apartment, the bathroom was spotless, and it was filled with a refreshing fragrance. Its color scheme was bright, with touches of light blue and white. His shower was followed by an expert shave and a splash of strong, fragrant cologne on his cheeks. He left the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, carrying the invigorating fragrance with him into the bedroom.
The darkness in the room dissipated as soon as he turned on the main light. A neatly pressed suit and tie awaited him on the dresser.
As he finished arranging his tie, he smiled at his reflection in the mirror, his white teeth shining back at him.
Then he noticed Michelle’s reflection as she woke up.
“Good morning, ma belle. You were quite something last night.”
She blushed and smiled shyly.
“I almost regret we broke it off,” he continued, talking to her reflection in the mirror while fixing his tie so it fitted properly between his shoulders, neck, and head.
Michelle made a face. “That’s not a funny joke.”
“You’re right; it’s not a joke,” Ben said indifferently. “Whatever was said last night is final, valid, and absolute as far as I’m concerned.”
“What! Merde! C’est ne pas possible!” Michelle exclaimed. She sat up at once and pulled the covers over her. She couldn’t hide her French accent and her poor English speaking skills.
“But we spent the night together, had sex, made love… Mon amour,” she begged.
“You’re right again,” he continued in the same cheerful manner. “We had sex and it was fantastic!”
He went over to the bed, leaning in to kiss Michelle, but she slapped him. A serious expression replaced his smug smile.
“You have two hours to get up, gather all your belongings, and get out,” he said assertively, “or I’ll have the doorman throw you out!”
“Hey! You can’t talk to a lady this way!” she exclaimed. “Certainly not to La Belle Michelle.” She couldn’t help but wonder how she’d overlooked the monster nesting inside Ben Brattler. She felt humiliated. She had never been spoken to that way before. In fact, no one had ever dared speak to anyone in her affluent, prestigious family in such a manner.
Upset, she got out of bed, stormed into the bathroom, and slammed the door. Her sobbing could be heard through the door.
Ben stood up, smiled, and thought, Women… Go figure. He packed his things into a briefcase and left the apartment.
The lobby of his building resembled that of a luxurious boutique hotel—big, spacious, and impressive. As he crossed it, he was greeted by the building’s employees. One of the doormen called after him, “I hope you meet your future wife today!”
Ben nodded and smiled at the man politely.
Outside, his shiny sports car awaited him. He picked up the keys from the doorman, climbed in, and drove to work.
Ben had been declared the most sought-after bachelor in nearly all the leading magazines for two years in a row. Now, more than ever, he was in his prime. Aside from being the heir of an affluent, prominent family, he had gained his own status as a celebrity. His every success made headlines in all the newspapers, and his every move was documented in the tabloids.
He was an athlete from a very young age. At sixteen, he began training in aikido on a weekly basis. With his blue eyes, slick black hair, and brawny figure, he became the golden boy of the media as well as in the eyes of the many women who fell for his charm. He wanted all of this to go on forever. As far as he was concerned, tying the knot was an absurd ritual that meant giving up everything he had managed to achieve—and all for a woman, what’s more.
His car stopped in front of the elegant entrance to an office building, and the valet parking attendant took his car.
He entered his father’s high-class office building, which was where he worked. He truly admired the superior magnificence of the place. All of the employees knew him and addressed him pleasantly, and he returned their good-morning greetings with his irresistible smile. He had a good feeling about working for his father’s esteemed advertising firm. He was certain it was the best place for him—the top of the world.
Ben entered the elevator, where Hannah from finance caught him for a brief exchange.
“Good morning, Mr. Brattler.” Hannah smiled sheepishly. She was a tiny, thin woman with straight brown hair and brown eyes.
“Good morning, Hannah.” He smiled back courteously, his dimples showing. Hannah’s heart melted.
“Are the headlines true? Have you broken up?” she asked pryingly.
“Yes.” He remained courteous.
“What happened?”
“It just wasn’t right for us, so we parted amicably.”
Hannah knew exactly who broke up with whom and how the relationship really ended—with the woman’s heart broken, like always. She hoped that when Ben finally found the right woman, she would capture his heart and he wouldn’t let her go. Who knows, maybe it could even be her.
Hannah was not alone. A long line of female employees felt exactly like her: Lydia from administration, Gloria from marketing, Sharon from customer relations. In fact, almost any woman who knew him waited patiently, hoping that one day she would be the one to show him the beauty of true love.
