Mr. Perfect

With a twisted grin plastered across his face, he looked directly into my eyes, exuding an enigmatic air of innocence. In an unsettlingly cheerful tone, he brazenly declared that he possessed the power to fulfill all of my desires, effortlessly granting me everything, save for one seemingly impossible request—liberation from this dreaded purgatory of hell. The audacity of his actions left me incredulous, unable to fathom his defiant nerve to hang such tantalizing promises before me while ruthlessly denying my ultimate dream of escape.

"You know what? This place sucks. You told me I could wish for anything that's normal. And all I wanted was for you to release me from this goddamn place, but you are saying NO. Isn't that normal enough, or don't you keep your word?"

I unleashed a deafening outburst, feeling the roughness of my throat as it rasped its last syllables. Deep down, I guess I already knew; my inner mind had forewarned me of the inevitable, yet his enticement had cunningly pierced through my defenses. Those first two wishes, seemingly made possible by his tactics, had engulfed me in a whirlwind of false promises. Overwhelmed by a surge of indignation, I directed my anger not only at the denial of my fervent desires but also at my own foolishness for letting my guard slip, dropping the unwavering alertness I had once vowed to uphold.

He replied to my heartfelt grief with nothing more than a mere dismissive smile. Oh, how rude of this imbecile! A bolt of rage had been summoned from the depths of my being, and it surged through my veins, igniting an intense fury within me. Without a moment's hesitation, the most perilous words escaped my lips.

"I'm hungryyyyyy."

If there's one thing that could deter me from exacting revenge on him at this very moment, it's the power of food. Right on the edge of crumbling emotionally, I hopelessly suppressed my vulnerability, refusing to let him see my tears. I was exhausted and drained, and I felt utterly incapable of engaging in any physical altercation with him, no matter how desperately I desired to unleash my rage and end his existence. Don't ask me where I get such an appetite; it's just in my blood. I eat and eat and eat, yet somehow I maintain a svelte figure with alluring curves that satisfies my confidence when slipping into a figure-hugging dress. My metabolism was no joke, and I have always been grateful to my genes for that.

With a look of guilt etched across his face, he swiftly rose from his seat and turned his gaze towards the exit, leaving me wondering if he had noticed the tears welling up in my eyes. He shouted at someone, and within five minutes, my food was served. Well, at least that was fast. As the tantalizing scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon enveloped the air, my senses became captivated. Even as the sound of my restraints being released clung to the background, my focus remained fixated on the delectable aroma. I eagerly grasped the fork and devoured the entire plate with remarkable speed, effortlessly disregarding any notions of proper etiquette in the process. Hell with ladylike manners.

Once the mission drew to a triumphant close and a slight sense of relief permeated through my being, my curious gaze wandered across the room, only to be stopped by the sight of the self-congratulatory Greek God, who seemed to be perpetually entertained. A mix of disdain and icy hatred churned up within me as I decided it was time to make my exit. However, before I could take a step, he audaciously interrupted my departure, grasping my left wrist firmly with his imposing, frigid fingertips. This idiot! His actions sparked a fiery displeasure within me.

"No, my lady, you are not allowed to leave this spot since you brought this on yourself. You need to stay confined for one more hour, as indicated by the law book, for attempting to get away. Then you can go back to wherever you want within this mansion. That's the least non-harmful punishment we could give for your misbehavior."

He emphatically stated the phrase 'within this mansion' in order to explicitly convey that I am trapped within the premises. Moreover, I have a genuine curiosity about whether restraining someone to a post for the duration of two hours can be considered harmless. I genuinely need to know who wrote that law book. You see, I typically possess a cheerful personality, but the one thing I detest is being dictated to and having my actions controlled by others. Even if he happens to be a vampire, I pride myself on being an independent woman. In fact, I reached my legal age just today, which means there is no way he can impede or curtail my exercise of personal rights. Undeterred, I dismissed him and took steps towards the exit, only to once again be abruptly halted by his presence.

"No, sweet girl, you can't just leave this place without completing your punishment. I even cut you some slack by untying the chains. Don't make me regret it."

That's it. I was on a fine string before, but right now, the situation has turned out of control.

"Who the hell do you think you are? I understand you are punishing me for leaving this stupid place, but who wouldn't when you are being captured? Do you take me for an idiot or something? You think I am some sort of toy to play with? Listen carefully, Mr. Chauvinist Prune. I am not a patient human being, and I am doing whatever it takes not to hurt your vain pride, but instead you are pushing me to my edge. You folks seize me and then punish me, and all I need to continue doing is sit quietly and make the most of your joke? Sorry, chap, but you are meddling with the wrong person. I don't care whether you are a vampire or a parasite. However, I am a human, and I need my right to freedom now."

Good God, I am super cool! Somebody ought to have snapped his photo since it was terrific. I was feeling incredibly confident and self-assured, and I couldn't help but be proud to see that his mouth was slightly open and his eyes were wide with astonishment. However, to my dismay, I realized that his gaze was not directed towards me but rather towards something behind me. This disregard for common courtesy bothered me even more than before. I was engaged in a conversation with him, and yet he was completely absorbed in something else. How intense of him! Doesn't he know anything about manners? I instantly snapped.

"Dude, where do you think you are looking at? My face is here."

Still, his appearance remained unchanged. Intrigued by his sudden interest, I turned around hastily, only to come to an abrupt halt when I laid eyes on none other than the king of the Greek gods himself. The other guy is nothing compared to this person here. I couldn't help but wonder if he was either a vampire or a reincarnation of 'Zeus' himself. The man standing in front of me defied all expectations. His unique features were beyond the wildest imaginations of any woman. His disheveled, earth-toned hair cascaded in untamed waves. His eyes, a dark, intense shade of black, were unlike anything I had ever witnessed before—not that I have seen many. His nose commanded attention, possessing a distinctive prominence, and his rosy lips exuded undeniable allure. While I observed his striking face, it struck me that his facial structure, astoundingly perfect, appeared as if it were meticulously crafted from the finest and most expensive wax materials available. As I shifted my gaze, I couldn't help but notice his impeccably framed physique. In a dapper dark suit accompanied by a crisp white shirt, a stylish dark tie, and sleek dark shoes, he emanated the irresistible aura of a sophisticated finance manager. His mysterious charm even brought to mind the secret agents from the film "Men in Black." Who might know? Maybe he is from a similar agency. Currently, I will believe anything, as the possibilities seem limitless in this peculiar world. Upon stealing another glance at this captivating figure, I noticed a mischievous smirk adorning his face. Why was he smirking?

"Finished drooling?"

In that hushed room, devoid of any sound, his velvety voice reverberated, cutting through the stillness and capturing my undivided attention. Such was the power of his deep, smooth delivery that it took me a fleeting moment or two to fully absorb the weight of his question, delicately arranging the words in the corridors of my mind. A gentle blush tinted my cheeks, but as someone who has always embraced challenges head-on, I couldn't succumb to defeat, now could I? Without hesitation, I seized the opportunity to retaliate, responding to his inquiry with unwavering resolve.

"There's nothing worth drooling over your poorly sculptured body."

A blatant lie... Even the mere presence of his eyebrows was so captivating that it could hold someone's attention for hours. Out of nowhere came a sudden gasp from behind me, causing a satisfied smile to creep onto my face. It seemed that nobody had ever dared speak to him in that manner before. How amusing! If only looks could kill, I would be dead already. The man, whom I affectionately referred to as Mr. Perfect, was piercing through me with his entrancing, deep black eyes, as though he could burn a hole straight through my soul. Stay focused, Atty. And don't let his scary demeanor drain away your last morsel of self-respect.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Are you trying to intimidate me? Because it's seriously not working."

With my heart in overdrive, I defiantly folded my trembling hands across my racing chest. Oh, the torment my rib cage endured, as if it were pleading for mercy! Yet there I stood, face to face with Mr. Perfect, fearing that he was going to snap my fragile neck in an instant. However, what truly grated on my every nerve was his stubborn silence, an unnerving stillness that prickled at my skin, making my discomfort unbearable. It was the kind of silence that drills into your soul, torturing you with its eerie presence.

"Adrian, leave her."

In the blink of an eye, his words hung in the air like an echo, vanishing into thin air just as mysteriously as he did, leaving me in awe of the superhuman swiftness possessed by vampires. Seeing it with my own eyes surpassed any imaginative boundaries I had set. It was as if he had slipped seamlessly into the realm of phantoms and apparitions. Astonished, I turned around in search of the ambiguous figure, who was supposedly named Adrian, and his gaze upon me felt as though I were an alien.

"Now, what are you looking at?"

A grin found its way towards his pink lips.

"They have been right; you are one of a kind, special indeed."

I don't have a clue what he implied by that; however, I was clearly not expecting those words from him. My cheeks were tinged with a delicate blush, like a gentle brushstroke of pink spreading across a canvas. Determined to veil my embarrassment, I offered him a nonchalant. However, the problem was that I didn't know where to go. I was currently on the third floor, and there were too many rooms. I didn't have the courage to go back and ask him; instead, I just walked ahead, hoping to find the stairway.

On my way to the steps, I heard a radio playing Cheap Thrills. It came from one of the rooms in the hall. It is extremely unlikely I will leave it undetected, as it gets a fifth position in my favorite playlist. I stopped before the door, where the melody was more audible. Shutting my eyes, I began to hum alongside the music, and afterward it advanced to mouthing words. Later, I was singing a bit loudly. However, when it reached the main part, I was shouting.

"BABY, I DON'T NEED DOLLAR BILLS TO HAVE FUN TONIGHT. I LOVE CHEAP THRILLS. BABY, I DON'T NEED DOLLAR BILLS TO HAVE FUN TONIGHT. I L...O..V..E Cheap ...thr.....iii.....lll....ssss"

My sound was scarcely heard when a youngster, presumably my age or somewhat older, materialized by the threshold of the now exquisitely widened door.

I am screwed... again!

**********************************