The Firm

A week later, Thea arrived at the firm, her gaze sweeping across the imposing facade of the building. She couldn’t help but be impressed at how grand and well-maintained everything seemed. Mason gave her a tour of the facility, warmly answering any questions she had. As she passed office doors, Thea noticed that all of them were shut. There was a stillness to the air, like everyone was in deep concentration. She wondered what kind of office culture they had here but decided to reserve judgment until she had more information.

Mason opened the door to Thea’s new office and swept his arm out to the side, ushering her in. Thea stepped into the space that was markedly different from the rest of the firm. A deep purple rug was sprawled over the floor, and a black leather chair perched on one side of the room with a matching couch beside it. Mahogany furniture with touches of metallic accents completed the look. A low hum of an artificial waterfall gurgled in the background, accompanied by other soft sounds of nature, all woven together by soft music that seemed to be coming from every direction at once. Mason pressed a button on the wall, silencing the melody. “I thought you would want it to be more soothing,” he said.

“I couldn’t help but notice that I’m right down the hallway from you,” Thea said with a smile, taking in the breathtaking view of the skyline. Thea gazed at the tall buildings, particularly focusing on a shining skyscraper in the distance. She let out a low whistle, impressed by its beauty. Turning around, she saw Mason standing there with a playful smirk, “If I had put you in an office next to me…” he began to say, smiling cheekily as he straightened his tie. “I wouldn’t be able to focus on anything other than you,” he finished as he stepped closer to her, and a pleasant aroma filled her nostrils. He brushed her hair away from her face, grazing her lips with his fingertips. Her insides shuddered, and the corner of his mouth raised in a knowing smile as he leaned in. His lips found hers and tenderly moved against them as electricity coursed through her body. She felt herself sink into him as he pulled away, leaving her trembling with anticipation. His dark eyes held her captive as he whispered, “So I thought this would be better.”

“Good call,” she smiled, her lips curving into a warm expression. She tilted her head up to look him in the eyes and noticed the strain around them. He had been busy the past week, working nonstop to prepare everything for her, from the freshly painted walls to the new office furniture. Glancing around at the impeccable decor, she said softly, “Listen, I know you’ve been so busy with all of this for me. But how have you been?”

He looked down at his feet, the silence seeping into all corners of the room. He could almost feel his mother’s words swirling around him like a thick fog, suffocating him with her disappointment. Taking a deep breath, he raised his gaze and met her eyes, “A little better, but it still hurts,” he said softly.

She placed a gentle hand on his arm and looked into his eyes with a reassuring sparkle. “It’ll get better with time,” she said, her voice full of wisdom and compassion. “Trust me.”

He looked into her deep brown eyes, mesmerized by their radiating warmth. His smile widened, and he nodded, silently conveying his agreement with what she said. He trusted her implicitly, understanding that no words were necessary for them both to know he’d answer, “I do.”

They stood side by side, looking out the window at the colorful sky as it cast a rose-pink hue on their faces. She shuffled her feet, eyes darting back and forth between his face and the passing clouds. After what felt like an eternity, she finally mustered the courage to ask him something that had been on her mind all week. Her gaze locked with his; despite her best efforts, she could not hide her anxiety. “You told her that you love me,” she said.

He peered out the window, taking in the cityscape of looming structures and sparkling lights. Memories of that day resurfaced. The nervous energy coursed through his veins as he struggled to find the right words and the overwhelming sense of liberation when he finally spoke the truth. A gentle smile tugged at his lips as he whispered softly, “I meant it, Thea. I love you... even if you’re not...”

“I love you, too,” Thea said, her cheeks flush with heat as the words tumbled out of her mouth before he could finish his sentence.

His lips curled into a smile as he asked in disbelief, “You do?” Joy bubbled within him like a shaken soda can. His chest filled with warmth as a sense of relief washed over him, finally being able to shake off the days of heaviness he’d been feeling.

A spark of excitement lit in her eyes as she said, “I do,” and stepped closer to him.

His hand was warm as he cupped her cheek, his lips barely brushing hers with a whisper of a kiss. He looked over his shoulder, a hint of mischief crossing his face. “Maybe I should lock the door.” But before he could act on the suggestion, Addison’s sharp voice cut through the moment like a knife as she burst through the door.

“What’s this?!” She spat, her gaze darting between the two of them. “Mason had to tell me you’re working with the law firm before I hear it from you?”

“I’m sorry,” Thea said, her voice heavy with guilt as she looked at her friend, “I didn’t know how open I was allowed to be with you since Mason is your brother. I assumed it would be better not to say anything about our conversations since I was worried about violating patient confidentiality,” she shrugged and sighed, feeling helpless as she tried to explain.

Addison’s eyes lingered on the couple momentarily before she spoke, “But that’s done now, right? You two are dating?”

Every time Thea and Mason looked at each other, a spark flashed between them. They could not keep their eyes off each other, and it was clear to everyone around them that something meaningful was developing between them. They conversed for hours, discussing every topic imaginable, and even confessed their love for one another but never took the plunge to label their relationship officially. Mason finally declared confidently and decisively, “Yes, we’re dating.” He reached over and held her hand, sealing the deal and putting their relationship status to bed figuratively and literally.

Addison grabbed Thea’s shoulders and shook them firmly. “Great! So none of this crap. You better start talking to me again. And I mean on a regular basis.” She stared into her friend’s eyes intently, making sure her message was clear.

Thea’s eyes twinkled with endearment as she beamed brightly at her friend and said,” Of course, let’s catch up tonight, okay?”

Addison nodded with enthusiasm as she said, “That’s perfect. I’ll bring Dan by later tonight.” She clapped her hands together and stepped back, taking a few steps backward as if she expected Mason to challenge her plan. Addison flashed one more toothy grin before turning and striding away, practically skipping as if she was invincible.

Mason let out a long, exasperated sigh, then turned to Thea with a playful glint in his eyes. “Only a minute as my girlfriend, and you’re already dragging me into dinner with Addy and Dan.” He reached out to caress her cheek, then pulled away to glance at his watch. “I’m going to be late for my meeting, so I’ll leave you to get set up.” He began walking towards the door before pausing and turning back to her with a seductive look. “Thea,” he said softly, “We may be done with our therapy sessions, but don’t forget, you’ll always be my sub. You’ll always be mine,” with a smirk, he left the room, leaving her breathless.