Perfect Day

by Kris Lillyman

  However, it was now September ‘97 and Sam had since served some extremely hard time. But Miri did not know this either and instead thought he had merely forgotten her.

  Nonetheless, Vas’ letter had advised her to move on and now, two years after receiving it, she at last knew she must.

  ***

  Dr. Allan Gillespie was thirty-two years old, wolfishly good looking and an extremely successful surgeon. He was also considered to be a prize catch at St. Thomas’ Hospital. Yet Miriam had so far managed to resist his charms even though he had asked her out on numerous occasions.

  It was not because she found him unattractive, in fact quite the opposite.

  Yet she somehow thought herself to be unworthy of his attentions.

  After losing Sam her self-confidence had significantly eroded, particularly with men, and she had not dated anyone since. Furthermore, she had now convinced herself that happiness was something reserved only for others, not her.

  Nevertheless, she could not help but find Dr. Gillespie appealing.

  However, he obviously knew how irresistible he was to the opposite sex and Miriam found this somewhat less attractive.

  Indeed, he would strut arrogantly around the hospital like some matinee idol, supremely confident in his own abilities, both as a surgeon and with the female members of staff - many of whom had fallen victim to his considerable charms.

  Yet these dalliances never seemed to last long; a week maybe two, but rarely any longer before Gillespie moved onto the next pretty girl, thus ensuring his reputation as a serial philanderer stayed perfectly in tact.

  Curiously, however, none of his ‘victims’ would ever reveal much about their brief affair with the delectable doctor. Most people assumed this to be because the girls were too ashamed, knowing he had only used them for temporary amusement. Yet this was not the case and the truth of why they kept silent was actually quite different.

  Nonetheless, there was a constant stream of women eagerly lining up to be his next conquest, all believing that they would be the one to change his womanising ways.

  But not Miri, her heart had already been badly broken and she was not eager to repeat the experience with someone who had such a rakish reputation - especially as her heart had not yet fully healed and was still extremely delicate.

  However, her apparent indifference had made Gillespie all the more persistent. Furthermore, his interest in Miri was different to that which he showed in the other female staff.

  Whilst being one of London’s most eligible bachelors certainly had its benefits, Gillespie knew he needed a wife in order to progress any further up the social ladder, even though the concept of monogamy was beyond him. Nonetheless, if he was to marry then his bride must at least be someone capable of holding an intelligent conversation. They must also have wit, charm and charisma - the necessary characteristics which would help him achieve further success. From dinner parties and social gatherings to the Country Club and professional engagements, it was imperative for him to be seen with the right woman on his arm. Being a playboy was all very well but it was considered by many to be a vapid, unsubstantial existence and if he wanted to be taken seriously then he must take a wife.

  However, whilst this ‘wife’ had to have the particular qualities essential to lend him the gravitas he needed, she would also have to be his equal in looks as it would just not do to be with someone who was considered to be inferior.

  Many women of Gillespie’s acquaintance had one or two of the traits he sought but only one, in his opinion, had them all.

  But she was playing hard to get.

  Yet the truth could not have been further from that.

  Miri, in fact, was completely oblivious to her charms and had no idea that all the men at St. Thomas’ were positively vying for her affections. Nor was she aware that she was widely considered to be a trophy only the most worthy could hope to win, which presented something of a challenge to the dashing Dr. Gillespie’s rather sizeable ego.

  Indeed, her mistaken ambivalence had aroused such a fire in him that she had now become the main focus of his attentions. Furthermore, he was willing to forsake all others just to win her over.

  So it was purely by coincidence that the day after Miri decided it was finally time to forget about Sam and move on with her life that Dr. Allan Gillespie asked her out on a date once more and, as a result of determinedly wanting to change her lonely existence, she finally said yes.

  Unfortunately it would prove to be one of the worst decisions of her life.

  ***

  Gillespie took her to a little bistro in Soho where they were seated in a quiet spot next to the window. He was attentive, witty and extremely complimentary without going overboard. Conversation sparkled over dinner which was accompanied by a beautiful bottle of wine chosen by Gillespie himself, who was clearly something of a connoisseur.

  Miriam found him intelligent, interesting and very passionate about his work and not at all like the over-confident oaf she expected him to be. In fact, quite the contrary, he was most self-deprecating and quick to mock his own rather caddish reputation.

  After dinner, they walked for a while, before he at last called a taxi for her. He made no attempt to kiss her and made absolutely no mention of perhaps accompanying her back to her flat as she previously suspected he might.

  Indeed, he was a perfect gentleman and as Miriam travelled back home to her little flat in Chelsea, she thought that maybe she had been a bit presumptuous in her opinion of Dr. Allan Gillespie who, it seemed, she had quite misunderstood.

  Furthermore, she could not help but feel a little disappointed when he did not call her in the days that followed, wondering if it was she who had not lived up to his expectations as opposed to the other way around, which was typical of the insecurity she had felt for the past couple of years.

  However, her fears were misplaced, as a week later, Gillespie approached her at work saying that he had two tickets for Phantom in the West End and wondered if she might like to join him.

  Miriam was surprised by how thrilled she was by this invitation and heard herself eagerly agreeing.

  So, the following evening, Allan Gillespie duly accompanied her to the theatre, then afterwards took her to dinner once more, this time to an exclusive and very stylish restaurant in Convent Garden.

  Once seated, he asked if she might permit him to order for her, saying he was certain she would approve of his choice. Miri thought why not, if his taste in food was anything like his taste in wine then she could not go wrong, so happily agreed. This clearly gave him pleasure and she was delighted that it did.

  Indeed, the food he selected was excellent, as was the bottle of wine he ordered to accompany it. The Doctor was obviously a man of sophisticated tastes who enjoyed the finer things in life. This was further illustrated by his never less than impeccable appearance; from the bespoke shoes, handmade shirts and Saville Row suits that covered his athletically proportioned six foot frame to the vintage Rolex Submariner that casually adorned his wrist.

  Even his dark hair was neatly cut to exacting standards by a gentleman’s barber on Bond Street whose world renowned talents were frequently sought by princes, sheiks and most of London’s aristocracy.

  As with their first date, the conversation again between them flowed and by the time the meal was over and he hailed a taxi for her once more, Miriam was quite smitten. Furthermore, for the first time in many months, she had not thought about Sam once.

  So when the taxi drew up next to them, she made no attempt to pull away when the good doctor then leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Goodnight,” he said, as he chivalrously opened the door for her. “I’ve had a wonderful evening. I hope we can do it again soon.”

  “I hope so, too,” replied Miriam with a coquettish grin. “Thank you for such a lovely time.” She then stepped into the waiting cab and a moment l
ater it whisked her away.

  She was awoken the next morning by the doorbell ringing and she ran to answer it still half-asleep, wearing just the oversized T-shirt she slept in. It was her day off and she had been enjoying a lie-in, still wrapped up in the afterglow of the night before, so was ready to give whoever was disturbing her at this ungodly hour a piece of her mind.

  Yet upon opening the door, no one was there. However, on the floor, immediately outside, was an enormous bouquet of flowers and a slim black package wrapped up with a red silk ribbon, tied in a bow.

  Miri beamed with delight as she found the accompanying card. ‘La Bohème tonight? Royal Opera House, 8.30. I’ll expect you to wear your surprise. Love A.’ It read.

  Hurriedly, Miri found a vase for the beautiful flowers and popped them down on her dressing table. Then she sat back down on her bed, untied the ribbon from the slim black box and tentatively opened the lid. Inside was a layer of delicate tissue paper and beneath that, to her utter astonishment, she found an exquisite Chanel evening gown styled in rich, black velvet.

  For a moment Miri was gobsmacked, completely bowled over by the lavish gift, but excitement soon took over and she quickly stripped off her T-shirt and tried on the gorgeous dress.

  To her absolute amazement, the long, off-the-shoulder gown clung to her shapely physique perfectly - indeed, the fit could not have been bettered had it been made specifically for her.

  She studied herself in the mirror and for the first time since arriving in London, actually noticed the stunning woman she truly was. The dress looked sensational on her and in it she felt incredibly sexy - which was something she had not felt in a very long time.

  As she admired herself and thought about the evening ahead, when she would be meeting up with the dashing young doctor who seemed so taken with her, Miriam thought that she may have, at last, turned a corner.

  ***

  The opera was wonderful and Gillespie the perfect gentleman, full of compliments about Miriam’s appearance. Indeed, she was quite swept off her feet by his attentiveness.

  Afterwards, when Gillespie asked her back to his apartment for a night cap, she happily agreed, knowing where it would surely lead. Now, though, she was completely under his spell, utterly captivated by his dashing good looks and gentlemanly manner.

  His Knightsbridge apartment was modern and clinical in appearance - almost surgical in its neatness with not an item out of place, whilst the expensive, very chic leather furniture was minimalist in style.

  The immaculate kitchen resembled an operating theatre in its cleanliness with the work surfaces polished to a dazzling sheen and each knife and cooking utensil, hanging in uniformed order on the pristine walls, gleaming to perfection.

  It had not, in fact, been Gillespie’s intention to seduce Miri that night at all, but merely to impress her with his luxurious apartment. However, he had been so aroused by the soft French lilt in her voice and the sight of her glorious figure in the form fitting dress that he found himself unable to resist. Indeed, as he unlocked the door and invited her in, he was entirely satisfied that the woman he had chosen for a wife would fit his requirements perfectly.

  He smoothly kissed Miriam’s neck as he stood behind her and took her coat, sending a delicious shiver of anticipation down her spine.

  She turned round to face him and he leaned in and kissed her deeply, the smell of alcohol and cologne making a heady cocktail which further weakened her resolve. For long seconds their lips were locked together as his hands explored her curvaceous body in the tight velvet dress, igniting a fire within her which had not burned for a very long time.

  She wanted him. She was ready. Tonight was the night.

  To hell with Sam.

  A few moments later Gillespie finally pulled away. He then poured them both a drink and led her silently to the bedroom; his confidence dispelling any remaining doubts she had.

  Indeed, everything so far had been absolutely perfect, so she surrendered herself willingly to him, happily content for him to take the lead in what was yet to come.

  ***

  Allan Gillespie was a practised and skilful lover, although very certain about what he wanted and the way he wanted it, which was somewhat rougher than Miriam had expected.

  However, even though she was not particularly experienced in such matters, she was aware that some men preferred things that way so was not unduly distressed and hoped it was merely a demonstration of the passion he felt for her.

  Out of choice, she would have liked him to be more tender and mindful to her own needs, especially as the following morning, when her intimate areas were still quite sore from the night before, Gillespie insisted on making love to her again.

  But Miri knew she could not have everything. Maybe he was not so thoughtful or considerate in the bedroom as Sam had been and maybe he did not make her feel the way Sam had, but he was present. He was in her life and so in every other way Dr. Allan Gillespie ticked all the boxes.

  Very quickly, Miri found herself caught up in a whirlwind romance filled with parties, lavish gifts and interesting new people. Indeed, there was barely a second to think as within weeks her life changed dramatically, Gillespie steadily drawing her in to his high flying, very glamorous world.

  What is more, he seemed happy to take the lead in all matters and because she knew it gave him pleasure, she allowed him to do so. Before long, he was not only ordering for her in restaurants but choosing her clothes and telling her how to style her hair, too.

  Their sex life also grew more intense, with Gillespie’s tastes becoming ever more extreme. He had even taken to spanking her on the bottom whenever she deigned to disobey him. This was only playful at first, a bit of harmless fun; the flat of his palm lightly striking her naked buttocks. Yet it evidently aroused him so she did not protest. Soon, however, it progressed to him using a wooden paddle instead of his hand, often involving her being tied up and blindfold, too.

  Miri did not particularly enjoy this but, again, she could see that it gave him immense pleasure, so did not make an issue of it. Besides, he never truly hurt her, although she was frequently left sore or uncomfortable and occasionally she would suffer severe bruising to her buttocks.

  But somehow Miri just got caught up in it and did not take the time to question what was truly happening or what she was actually becoming. It was as if she was in some kind of trance.

  Deep down, however, she knew what Gillespie was doing to her was wrong, that his desires were decidedly odd and somewhat off kilter, but she ignored all the blatant warning signs. For so long she had been adrift on a sea of heartbreak and loneliness that she positively clung to him like a life raft, forcing herself to ignore his obvious flaws in the hope of finding future happiness with a man who in all other ways was perfect.

  Indeed, within a very short space of time she became entirely subservient to him, bowing to his every wish in the misguided belief that he had her best interests at heart.

  Had she paused to think, she would have realised that Gillespie was systematically taking control of her whole life, cutting her off from all that she knew and moulding her into his own twisted idea of perfection.

  They were married at Marylebone Registry Office just three short months after their first date with only a small gathering of work colleagues present to witness them exchanging vows.

  Because Gillespie had no living family, he thought it only fair that Miri should not have hers present at the wedding either.

  Miri’s mother had died years earlier, so she only had her father and a handful of other relatives whom she would have invited from France, but the good doctor had denied her. Indeed, she was only permitted to write and tell them of their marriage after the event, when Gillespie deemed it appropriate.

  Amazingly, Miri meekly agreed to these demands, so terrified was she of disappointing her new husband or being subject to his consid
erable wrath, all traces of her former self having been completely eradicated by his obsessively controlling behaviour.

  After a brief honeymoon in Spain, the attractive young couple returned to London and set up home together in his flat in Knightsbridge.

  With Miri now his wife, Gillespie’s sexual tastes became ever more brutal. No longer content with using the flat of his hand or a wooden paddle on her creamy white buttocks, he now preferred to use a riding crop or a leather belt which often left deep welt marks in Miri’s soft flesh.

  In addition, he soon insisted that she cut back on her hours at the hospital, saying that her time would be much better spent at the flat, making a home for them.

  Within four months of marriage she had given up work altogether and spent almost every day cooped up at their place in Knightsbridge with only herself for company.

  To compound her misery even further, Miri’s father suddenly passed away after a very short illness. It was yet another devastating blow which served to make her feel all the more alone.

  Begrudgingly, Gillespie accompanied her to the funeral in Paris but permitted her only a brief time to pay her respects before whisking her back to London, completely heartbroken.

  Miriam, on the contrary, was often required to accompany him to social events or professional engagements, when having an attractive wife on his arm suited his purposes. Yet he always instructed her on what to say and strictly forbade her to speak about their relationship in anything other than glowing terms.

  However, aside from these occasional excursions, they no longer went to restaurants or the theatre together. Instead he would go out alone, coming home at all hours of the night, often reeking of liquor and perfume. But no matter what time he returned, he always demanded sex, which had now become so violent that the bedsheets were regularly stained with blood.

  They had been married just six months when Miri finally found the courage to ask her husband why he smelt of another woman’s perfume, which was precisely when Dr. Allan Gillespie punched her properly in the face for the first time.