Captive in Plain Sight

Saisprezece || Game

"Do you think she'll like it?" Alec asked Olga, as he held the delicate diamond necklace in his hands. It cost him several grand, and if Mila succeeded, he would gift it to her.

He wasn't always the bad guy.

Their relationship was just different. A delicate balance of pain, punishment, and reward. It required tactfulness and patience. Qualities he had in spades. He was sure that with enough time, she would care for him again.

Stockholm syndrome was inevitable, as he'd witnessed before. Within the year, they would be feeding each other breakfast in bed.

"Spoiled." Olga shook her head. "That girl doesn't deserve you. She never did."

It was clear why she thought Mila ungrateful. Due to her rough beginnings, Olga couldn't comprehend why he gave her the things he did, especially when she didn't appreciate them. But they were from different worlds. 

Next to the box was a brochure for The Brockmire Institute, a highly recommended facility for memory rehabilitation. He'd researched several options, and it was the best.

Though none of the institutes claimed the therapy as a sure thing, The Brockmire Institute had the best recovery rate out of all of them. 

"You're not thinking of—" Olga's eyes turned big, and she put her feather duster to the side. Firmly planting her palms on the desk in front of him.

"Sir, you can't. The only reason things have gone as well as they have is because she can't remember."

He shoved the brochure in the back of his desk, but she relented.

"Every day I live in fear, worrying she'll ruin everything again. Please sir, don't do this."

"It's not for you to decide." he said.

"Even if you do manage, she still won't--."

"Enough." he said sternly.

The last thing he needed was another defiant woman crossing the line. Least of all, the help.

"Do we need to discuss who's in charge?"

She lowered her head and exited the room.

When everything was over, and he accomplished his task, he desired to make Mila whole again. But for the meantime, her memory loss was convenient.

He waited eagerly for Raul and Mila to come home, and once he heard sounds of their arrival, he moved from his study to meet them.

"How did it go?" he asked as they came in. Mila looked like she'd been forced to come home early from a good party.

The dog superseded her attention, and she picked him up, greeting him with enthusiasm. It was the only time he ever saw her smile nowadays.  It only bothered him slightly, but he didn't need her love right now, only her compliance.

Her reaction was understandable. He'd taken her from everything she loved in order to be with him. Ordered her around, spied on her, threatened her family.

However, he'd also spoiled and taken care of her, improved her. His own category of love language.

"It went fine." she said, avoiding eye-contact, focusing on the dog.

"We had no problems." Raul added, trying to help.

Olga came in to get Mila's coat, and Raul winked at her before heading to his office. A good sign. But Olga looked back at him with concern. Later, they would probably have a discussion behind his back and both give him grief for several weeks.