"I think we should start over" he says, holding out his right hand.
"Do you seriously want me to shake your hand?" I reply, turning my head away from his gaze and slapping out at his hand.
He ignores my question.
"My name is Yoongi. No matter you won't tell me your name.... I know all about you" he says whilst grabbing my hand between both of his.
I turn and look at him, shock apparently clear on my face, as he says "oh yes, I know who you are Mrs Santana", his face expressionless. He guides my shocked form into the chair behind me and bends to pick up the blanket. He hands it to me and watches me as I pull it up under my neck and over my legs, more as protection than for warmth. He steps forward and I flinch and close my eyes. Here it comes.... the violence!
The beatings i regularly get from Shaun often start with me giving him some lip, and he also wears that very same face.
But Yoongi doesn't hit me.
Ok, so he's going to emotionally torment me first, he'll let me think he isnt going to slap me for so long, waiting until I eventually let down my guard and that's when it will come. I've played this game long enough to know how it goes. He is leaving it a very long time though. I open my eyes and he is one pace away from me, just dispassionately looking down at me. In a flash he moves forward, I expect the crack across my face any second and turn my head to the right to try to avoid the inevitable explosive pain on its way, but again it doesn't come. Instead he is standing over me, his legs either side of mine, locking me in position. I turn my head back to face him and come face to face with his groin!
He raises a hand to my left cheek and trails his thumb along my jaw, down my neck and then around to my low bun, gently gripping it in his hand. He lets out a low growl, then sucks air through his teeth and steps back from me.
Ok Mr, you are certainly toying with me, enjoying tormenting me. I resolve to not show him my fear. That always infuriates Shaun and my beating is inevitably worse, but I have a feeling that isn't going to be the case here.
I consider what he has just said about knowing me. Ok, he knows my married surname. Lots of people do. I am married to the owner of one of the UK music industries top agencies. I'm at lots of parties and awards ceremonies with the most talented and well known artists in the world, often papped at events and appearing in newspapers and magazines. Knowing my surname isnt information... half of the UK know it too!
I smile at him. He looks surprised.
"Ok" I say. "Let's start again. You're right, I am Mrs Santana, but if we are going to be spending any period of time together then I guess you can call me Mackenzie". I've learned from watching real life crime shows that a kidnap victims survival rate can be greatly increased if they form a bond with their captor. I hold out my hand for him to shake, but he grips it between both of his again, and then lifts it to his mouth to kiss the tips of my fingers. Is that just manners for him? He is clearly not English.
I'm shocked, and confused.... and honestly, a little excited!
Wait... what?! My kidnapper is behaving like a man in love after half an hour and I'm impressed and turned on by that?!
Jesus!
Its true that I've been deprived of any loving, physical contact for a number of years now, but surely I'm not so desperate for love and attention that I'm going to fall into the arms of this Kidnapper, am I?
I try to mask my surprise. I hope that the small gasp I felt my throat make was not audible, and control my thoughts by sending a small smile his way. All those years of practice I have had in the art of appearing sincere and engaged, shaking hundreds, if not thousands of hands, making small talk with over privileged, self absorbed and spoilt artists, their managers, PR staff, record execs and producers. This role had been forced upon me by Shaun, my 'job' as his wife. I hear Shauns voice in my head.
"Shut up, smile, speak if spoken to only and don't make a fuss if anyone touches you..... anywhere! You're mine to do with as I please, and you'll do as I say, no question" he says.
I have found that it has been useful though. Controlling my feelings of nausea as Shauns gross old associates paw at my body, keeping my smile in place, laughing at their jokes and listening to their ever so dull stories with interest etched into my features is just too easy now, and has helped Shaun become the most successful music producer and promoter in England, earning the media nickname of 'Mr Music'.
He tells me I have only one talent, which is being able to size a person up within a couple of minutes of talking to them. I have an instinct. I instinctively know how to behave around people to get from them the information Shaun requires. I have yet to fail any given task, always getting what Shaun wants, although I'm not proud of the myself for helping my husband to dig up dirt on his competitors for the purposes of blackmail. I have not yet had my instincts about people proven wrong .... not even with Shaun, although I chose to ignore my gut when it came to him because I was certain I was in love. He truly did pull the wool over my eyes!