Fatal love trap

I first met Alex at a work function.

It was a Wednesday evening and one of the best days of the beginning of my career. I had been invited to a networking event with my colleagues, which was held at an art gallery. I was still getting used to the glitz and glamour of the industry. After spending so many years dreaming of being a model, I was finally working for one of South Africa’s best fashion houses.

The event was a feast for the senses, with well-known designers, photographers, and models. After socializing and taking pictures, which was one of the reasons we were there, I walked around, admiring different pieces of art, and one abstract painting caught my attention. As I was studying the painting, I felt a presence behind me. When I turned, I saw a man standing a few feet behind me, completely absorbed by the same painting.

He was something else! His physique was sculpted to perfection, and I could not help but stare.

“It’s breath-taking!” I said that, trying to break the awkwardness.

He looked down at me and smiled. Oh God! His jawline formed a very attractive shape!

“That’s art for you.” He replied and focused on the painting, holding the wine glass in a stylish and charming way.

“A man of few words,” I thought to myself.

He moved towards another one, and when I was also shifting, he turned around.

“I’m Alex, by the way, and I work as an architect for Flux Designs.”

“Nice to meet you.” “I’m Tania, and I work as a fashion model for Opulent Designs.”

That’s how we started having a conversation, and I realized how easy it was to talk to him. We spoke about a lot of things: paintings, architecture, and the love and magic of art. It came from the heart when he spoke about art and architecture, and I realized how passionate he was about his work. Besides the art talk, he was charming!

I could not hear half of the things he said because I was gazing at his strikingly handsome face. The way his angular jawline seemed to chisel out from his face and the way his eyes sparkled when he spoke were mesmerizing to me. It was like looking at a piece of art, and I couldn’t help but get lost in the beauty of it all. I knew I needed to focus on what he was saying, but it was hard to tear my gaze away from him. Ever heard of love at first sight? It happened to me. I had seen men before; I had worked with some hot male models, but Alex was something else; he was a perfect craft. I felt some connection between us, and I could bet my life that he felt it too!

After a few hours, we realized that a lot of people had left, and as hard as it was, we had to part ways. We still had a lot to talk about, so we exchanged numbers.

A week later, we had our first official date, followed by many more. Alex was a hopeless romantic, always showering me with grand gestures and professing his love in the most enchanting ways. From surprise candlelit dinners to handwritten love letters, he made me feel like the most cherished person in the world. His eyes would light up whenever he looked at me, and his words carried a tenderness that melted my heart. I was so certain that I had found the one after so many failed attempts at relationships. None of my previous relationships had surpassed the talking stage or felt so real.

I got to meet his family—oh yes, all in less than a month! He was so eager to show me how serious he was about our relationship. His mother adored me and claimed that I was a perfect match for his son. One thing I did not understand is the fact that Alex lied about our time together; he told everyone that we had been seeing each other for almost a year. Anyway, it did not matter because we were happy!

Time went by, and I don’t know what happened, but he changed, and I tried not to pay much attention to it.

I still remember how he embarrassed me in front of my colleagues and boss. It had been a tradition for him to drop by at work to surprise me with gifts or lunch, but he had never seen me in the middle of a shoot. On that particular day, we were shooting for a high-end fashion campaign that was set to be featured in a prestigious fashion magazine. I don’t know how Alex got into the studio, but he definitely did not like what he saw. He pulled me roughly in front of everyone, and I was so confused and scared; I had never seen him like that before! I’m talking about the man who knew that I was a model before becoming romantically involved with me.

He was halted by one of the photographers, and they wanted to call securities, but I stopped them. I asked for a break to talk to him.

Before I could say anything, I could see the remorse in his eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Nia, I really am.”

“Stop Alex! What were you thinking? Look at the embarrassment you’ve caused me back there!”

He leaned closer to give me a hug, but I was not comfortable at all.

“I suppose my heart just couldn’t bear the sight of you in the arms of another man.” He reached out to take my hand in his, bringing it tenderly to his lips as he planted a gentle kiss on my skin.

“I work with him, and what you saw was not even intimate! We were just doing the usual work! Or don’t you trust me now?”

He just stood there in silence, and I reached out to take his hand, feeling the warmth and strength of his grip. Looking deeply into his eyes, I spoke softly, “Alex, there’s no need to doubt my love for you. I could never cheat on you. I need you to trust me on that one.”

A smile slowly spread across his face, and my heart swelled with love for him once more. We wrapped our arms around each other, lost in the moment and the comfort of each other’s embrace, until one of my co-workers alerted me that my break was over. We said our goodbyes, and I watched as my perfect man turned to walk towards his car.

Oh, I totally got where he was coming from. I mean, with a catch like me on his arm, who could blame him for being a little over the top? I let it slide, and believe me, the eggs for the horror of my life were laid!

It never stopped. Alex became the most jealous boyfriend to ever exist, and at first, I found it all romantic. I believed that he behaved that way because of the love he had for me. I was not allowed to have conversations with any males on my phone unless it was work-related, and he had to check those messages too. It was routine to give him my phone every time I arrived at his place, and he would check everything and verify contacts! I had become so accustomed to the dynamic between us that I started to make playful comments like, “Oh, if you don’t catch any red flags, you owe me two bouquets of flowers!” Funny right?

He also stopped caring like he used to; he stopped supporting and celebrating my achievements with him, but on the other hand, I had to be there for him. Everything was about him.

I made the biggest mistake of my life by moving in with him, hoping that it would make things better. It was as if I had signed my life over to him. He controlled me in many ways, including the way I dressed. He became so possessive.

I confided in a friend about the situation, Carla. Carla knew me since childhood, and from the moment she set her eyes on me, she knew something was wrong. I had bumped into her in a grocery store when she noticed that something was wrong. I had to break it down from the beginning, and she was so surprised.

“You must be joking, Tania!” she burst. “Why would you let a man dictate your life like that, and why are you still with him anyway?”

“It’s not like that, Carla, and besides, we love each other deeply. Alex is the old-fashioned type, and it seems like he’s grooming me to be the wife he needs.” Oh yes, I defended him.

“Did you just say wife? Look at you, Tania; you’re supposed to be representing a well-known brand, but now you’re just an ordinary person. This Alex guy knew your line of work even before you guys started dating, so why would he try to change your life now? I can help if you need someone to pack your things with!”

“Look, Carla, I am not leaving Alex, not after all that we have built!”

“What is it that you have built in just a couple of months? Just know that all of it won’t matter when you leave that house in a body bag!” She left me with those words.

Carla’s last words kept ringing in my head. But I knew Alex would never hurt me; he loved me, and just like any other person in love, he was being overprotective. I gave him some more time, believing that he would change and adapt to the fact that I would never cheat on him. We would talk about it, and he would realize that he had been unfair. He would cry, kneeling in front of me, promising that it would not happen again, but that actually became a song I’d listen to every now and then.

A month later, a highly prestigious opportunity came along! I received the news that I was among the models who were given a three-month residency with a top modeling agency in Paris, where I would have access to a wide range of opportunities, from runway shows to editorial shoots to commercial work. This would be a great way to gain experience, network with industry professionals, and potentially secure long-term contracts! Since I was a child, it had been my dream to visit Paris—as a model, of course. I could not wait to share the news with Alex.

He had already arrived at home when I returned from work. He was perched on the sofa with a bottle of beer clutched tightly in his hand. From the way he was sitting, I could tell that he had been waiting for me for quite some time. His posture was tense, and his eyes were fixed on me with an intensity that made me uneasy.

Anyway, I could not wait to share the good news with him! I told him in excitement, and he slowly stood up and left the room without saying anything. I understood that he was still angry because I arrived late.

A day later, we were okay, as expected. He avoided anything about what I had told him, and it was nothing new anyway. The time for me to leave finally came. The paperwork was ready, and I was so excited—just not ready to be away from the love of my life.

The worst happened! I woke up one morning and was in the guest room. I was feeling so weak and dizzy. It took me a few minutes to realize that Alex had locked me inside and that it was impossible for me to find a way out. I tried to scream, but my voice wasn’t strong enough, and no one would have heard me. I tried so hard to find a way out, and I was even banging on the window. I was locked in there for days; he gave me small portions of food and dozes of injections that made me so weak.

When the supposed day for my flight to Paris arrived, I heard the locks turning and the door creaking open. I was hoping that he had come to free me. I tried to compose myself and act naturally as he came in.

“I’m glad you are still here; I was worried; I had an awful dream,” he said.

“Why, Alex, why are you doing this? You said you loved me.” I said it weakly, my voice barely above a whisper. I hated him so much.

He came closer and planted a kiss on my forehead, saying, “Yes, baby, I love you, and that is why I can’t let you go.” “I understand it’s only for a few months, but what will happen to me in the meantime?”

It was in that moment that I realized how messed up he was. He wasn’t behaving normally, and I hated myself for ignoring all the signs that had always been in front of me.

“I bought you some oranges to boost your immune system; please try to forget about work and Paris.” “Those things are toxic for you.”

A phone call interrupted him as he was peeling one for me; he had to step out of the room, locking me in again. I had to do something to free myself. I got up, as hard as it was, picked up the knife, and waited for him behind the door. My plan was to scare him so that he would let me go, but when he got in, he was not frightened at all.

“I did not know you were also a good actor. Okay, I really need to shoot this moment.” He tried to open his camera, but I did not give him the chance; I had to leave the room. Everything happened so fast; he did not move, so I used all the strength left in me and pushed the knife forward, hoping to create enough space to run away. In the frenzy of the moment, I didn’t realize that I had aimed the knife at Alex’s neck.

As I stumbled away from him, my heart racing with fear and adrenaline, I saw him fall to the ground. At first, I thought he had just stumbled or fainted, but then I saw the blood gushing from the wound in his neck. I froze, unable to comprehend what had just happened. It was like a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from. I had never intended to hurt him, let alone kill him.

I fell to my knees beside him, tears streaming down my face. I didn’t know what to do. I was paralyzed by fear and guilt. I reached out to him, trying to stop the bleeding, but it was too late. The reality of what I had done hit me like a ton of bricks. I had killed the man I had loved—the man I had hoped would change. I was shaking and crying heavily. I badly wanted him to wake up so that we could fix the mess. I had flashbacks of all the great moments we shared together.

Carla’s words kept ringing in my ears again. I was free from his toxicity, but at a terrible cost. Upon realizing that I couldn’t change anything, I called the police to report the crime I had committed and lay there next to him.