Free The Darkness of Perfection by Michael Schneider Page A

and then drained his glass, setting it down and leaning forward as he ground out his cigar, bobbing his head in excitement.
    “Son of bitch, you’re absolutely right. No more cigars. Send Jayden over to the training facility as soon as she wakes up.” He stood and walked to the window, his back to me. “The sooner they get started, the better. We need to be sure they take all the fight out of her before you get her pregnant. I want her previous life completely erased from her head. She’ll have no desire to ever run from us again. It’s going to be intense and could take a while, but it’ll be worth it. She’ll be molded to perfection as she was always meant to be.” He lowered his voice as he rubbed his jaw and I had to strain to hear the last comment. “She’ll be absolutely perfect.”
    This was the time to tell him my plans. “I’m not sending her to the facility. I’m going to train her myself,” I stated.
    He spun around to look at me. “You need to send her there. She needs this if you want her in the right frame of mind. You don’t want to risk her running away again, do you? You just got her back,” he reminded.
    “She didn’t run before. She was stolen.” I held up my hand to stop the argument I knew was coming.
    “I know that was different and she was a child, but I will train her. I saw plenty growing up and you taught me what to do. Jayden may have had twelve years to forget, but what we started is still buried inside of her and she just needs to be reminded. Once she remembers, I’ll build from there.”
    The buzz of the intercom on his desk phone interrupted us. “What?” he snapped. “You know better than to interrupt.”
    From the speaker came my mother’s soft voice. “I’m very sorry Richard, but Nicholas told me to let him know when Jayden woke. She-she isn’t feeling well and …” she paused, “and she needs the bathroom,” she explained.

    “I’ll be right there.” I stood as he ended the call.
    “Nicholas-“
    “Drop it. No one touches her but me.”
    A soft feminine voice penetrated the darkness along with the gentle hand that stroked my head. I couldn’t focus on the words being said, but the tone gave me a sense of warmth and security. The voice conjured an image of baking cookies with a woman with soft brown hair. I could almost smell them.
    “That’s right, Jayden, squeeze the handle and the cookie dough will come out of the scoop. This way the cookies are all the same size.”
    I looked up and smiled at the nice lady. “I’m-m-m d-ddoing good?” My hands were shaky when I tried to squeeze the ice cream scooper.
    “You’re doing a very good job, sweetie. I don’t know howI ever made cookies without you. You’re a wonderful helper and such a good girl. Everyone is going to love your cookies.” She put her hand on my head. “They’re even better than mine.”
    I put my head on her tummy and she kissed me on my head and put her fingers through my hair. It made me think of Momma.
    “Can I m-m-make a sp-sp-special cookie f-f-f-for my momma? Y-you could send it to her in the mail.
    You ddo-don’t have to t-tell her it’s f-f-from me,” I whispered sadly.
    I looked down, not wanting her to see the hurt in my eyes. Daddy Harrison told me Momma and Daddy didn’t want me anymore, that I was too ugly and too much trouble. He said my daddy took money to get rid of me. I was like a kitten from the pound that nobody wants and throws away. He said he only wanted me because of my pretty eyes like my momma has, but my stupid words made me ugly.
    “Shh, Jayden, it’s all right sweetheart.” She hugged me real tight.
    I was crying like a baby again. I just missed my momma and daddy and wanted to go home. It’d been a long, long time since I sawmy momma. I was bigger now and lost two teeth, and had another one that was loose. Nicky’s momma was teaching me to read and spell and I could even add numbers. My birthday was coming up soon and I knewwhat I was