The Light Between The Shadows

by Tsukiko Spark

  The Light Between the Shadows / Tsukiko Spark

  All rights reserved; No parts of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information retrieval system, without the permission, in writing, of the author.

  Copyright © 2017 Tsukiko Spark

  Translation from the Hebrew: Tamar Milshtein

  Contact: tsukiko.spark@gmail.com

  For my parents,

  who have always been there for me.

  ***

  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 irr
esistible 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.

  Ben stepped out of the elevator and headed toward his office, with more morning greetings delivered his way.

  The floor where his office was had light-blue wall-to-wall carpeting along the corridor, which was lit by white fluorescents. The executives’ offices, decorated in dark brown shades of wood, were at one end of the hall. Gray and blue metallic cubicles were at the other end.

  Agnes, the receptionist on his floor, stopped him short of entering his office. Her station was close by. She sat in front of a semicircular desk and greeted visitors before they entered their meetings.

  “I’d like to inform you that your new personal assistant is arriving tomorrow,” she said. She was a slightly plump woman, always dressed in tight, clean-cut outfits. She would fill in for Ben’s personal assistants whenever they resigned. Agnes was glad she wouldn’t have to do that for more than one day this time.

  “Ah, splendid. That was quick. Lauren only resigned yesterday.”

  Ben continued to his office, made happy by the good news. He knew he had a big project starting that day with a deadline just around the corner. He was relieved to be getting help so quickly, knowing Agnes wouldn’t be able to handle all that pressure.

  He entered his office, switched on the lights, and sat in front of the computer.

  The furniture in his office was in shades of brown, with massive curtains covering a huge window overlooking the world. His desk was located in front of the window; therefore, his back was always to it and he faced the door while he worked. Another smaller desk sat next to his. Two white armchairs were situated against the wall, with a small coffee table between them. The opposite wall had a similar setup. Four standing lamps lit up the room.

  Ben hadn’t even managed to start his computer when George stormed in.

  George was one of the copywriters who worked with Ben on designated projects. He was a short man in his forties, a little on the heavy side, and balding. After an unpleasant divorce, he lost his faith in marriage and hadn’t had a stable relationship since.

  “Hey, the things I’ve read in the morning papers… You’re something else!” George said cheerfully. He always tried to live vicariously through other people’s exciting lives. “I knew you wouldn’t keep her for too long; you just earned me two hundred dollars.”

  “Are you gambling on my love life behind my back again?” Ben asked with a grin.

  “You’re living the life for a hundred guys like us. Are you that surprised?”

  “No,” Ben answered arrogantly.

  “Tell us, what happened? How was it? How did she take it?”

  “George, George, George… The sex was incredible, and that is how I’ll cherish her,” Ben joked.

  “Badass! You’re the man! I’m guessing this breakup won’t interfere with you coming to Fred’s birthday party tonight, will it?” He smiled broadly.

  “Of course not.” After all, Ben was the one who had organized it.

  “See you there, then!” George stormed out the same way he came in.

  Ben smiled to himself, turned on his computer, and started going over the emails of the day.

  One email was from his ex, Tina. Another kitten video. The next email was a receipt for a flight he had booked for his upcoming vacation.

  A few months earlier, he had planned a long trip to the Far East. It was a well-known fact that Ben loved to travel for long periods of time to distant, exotic places. He usually kept his return date from such long trips open. Three years earlier, the last time he went on a trip, he visited South America. He stayed there for six months. And now he felt that same tingling, that itch to go on one of those good-old extended vacations he enjoyed so much. He was happy his next trip fit right in with the new project deadline.

  The last email was a reminder about the party that night, with various responses from the invitees. Ben was the topic of many of these responses. Everyone wanted him to show up and share the juicy details from his latest shenanigans.

  Some responses were written by women at the office that same morning. As usual, they turned the discussion into a heated debate about Ben’s love life, with each trying to explain why she knew best what he needed in a relationship. He was bored with that old topic.

  Michelle’s response managed to stand out over all the others. She had attached a photo of herself to a message for all the correspondents in which she was wearing a tiny black dress with the heading, “Oh là là, mon chéri! Can’t wait to have a good time! And let everyone eat their hearts out!”

  “I bet she sent this prior to this morning,” he said to himself as he chuckled.

  The sound of the intercom buzzing stopped him short of reading the rest of the responses.

  “Ben, your father is asking to see you,” Agnes updated him.

  “Tell him I’ll be right up.” He rushed out of his office and headed up to the top floor.

  He knocked on the door to his father’s office.

  “Come in,” his father called from inside.

  He went in and stood by the desk.

  Amos Brattler was a tall and dignified man. He had gray hair covering his head, which gave away his age but his face hardly did. His expression was always stern and severe. Like Ben, he too wore a tailored suit with a matching tie. His office was spacious and elegant. A huge window ran the length of the entire wall, and the desk was of matching size. On it was a pile of paperwork and a computer screen, which was usually turned off. Near the desk were two black leather armchairs.

  Amos was busy with some paperwork. “You may sit down,” he said authoritatively. He was searching through his papers for another important form and didn’t look up at his son.

  “Yes, sir.” Ben sat down on one of the chairs.

  “I finalized our deal with the top dating website, I Do,” Amos said while signing his urgent paperwork. “They’ve done well for themselves due to the respect they have for what they’re doing. They view their work of matchmaking couples as a calling.” He stopped for a moment and stared at his son with a stern and critical expression.

  “As you remember, they wish to increase the number of female profiles on their site. Their last campaign targeting men worked through aggressive marketing, but the number of female profiles remained the same. Now there are more men than women, which creates imbalance.” Amos said as he continued to stare at his son. “I suppose I don’t have to tell you how important this project is. This is a large and prestigious company. Excelling in this project will buy us the kind of reputation that will open doors to this whole field.” He was serious and intimidating.

  Ben’s face was tight and
frozen.

  “Although I am displeased, to say the least, by your conduct with the opposite sex, the client has chosen us because of you.” Amos maintained his tone of voice. “They see you as an advantage… Go figure.” He went on, thinking out loud. “If only your mother, may she rest in peace, had raised you properly… But with her drinking problem… I don’t know why you can’t be more like your brother, Joe. Look what he’s become and what you’ve turned into…”

  Ben knew this tirade by heart. He ignored it.

  His father got carried away in thought. He had these moments of going off track and firing accusations at others. It usually happened when he felt things getting out of hand and affecting him personally, as they always did when it came to his relationship with Ben.

  Things were always easier for him with Joe, his older son.

  When Ben was little, Joe moved overseas and started his own private business.

  Ben waited patiently for the rant to be over.

  “I hope you can shake off the latest event I read about in the papers this morning,” his father said.

  “That won’t be a problem, sir.”

  “I need to trust you on this one; there’s a lot of work to be done.”

  “Yes, sir!”

  “I understand you have a new personal assistant. I ask that you maintain a strictly professional relationship with her. You need all the help you can get.”

  Ben nodded.

  “Get going! It’s been almost two hours since we landed the project, and nothing has been done so far!” Amos was stern.

  “Yes, sir. Don’t worry; I won’t disappoint you.” He stood up from his chair.

  “Oh, and please tell Fred to come in when you leave—I want to have a chat with him. He needs to do a better job of watching over you. I’m not prepared to have any mishaps on this project, do you understand?” Amos said solemnly.

  “Yes, sir,” Ben answered, looking down as he left.

  He took the elevator back to his floor and went straight to his office. “Don’t transfer any calls to me today,” he told Agnes, then entered his office and shut the door.