Chapter 3 3

The silence stretched between them, not uncomfortable but contemplative, like a fragile ceasefire in a war Theo hadn't realized he was waging against himself. Nora didn't press him further, letting him sit with the weight of his own words. She'd learned early in her career that silence was as powerful as any question-it allowed people to process, to feel the gravity of their own confessions.

"Do you ever get tired of doing this?" Theo finally asked, breaking the quiet.

"Doing what?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Fixing people."

Nora's lips twitched, amused by the way he phrased it. "First of all, I don't fix people. They fix themselves. I just guide them. Second," she added, leaning back in her chair, "no, I don't get tired of it. If anything, it's the opposite. Watching someone heal, even just a little? That's what makes it worth it."

Theo studied her for a moment, his piercing gaze making her feel like she was the one under the microscope. "So what's your story, Dr. Bennett?"

She raised an eyebrow. "My story?"

"You sit here, asking me to bare my soul, but what about you? Why'd you become a therapist? What's your damage?"

Nora let out a soft laugh, though there was no real humor in it. "Nice try, but this isn't about me."

"Deflecting," he noted, smirking.

"No, redirecting," she corrected, her tone playful but firm. "You can ask me anything you want...once we're done talking about you."

"Convenient," he muttered, but the smirk didn't leave his face.

"Think of it as incentive," she said with a shrug. "The more open you are, the more I might share."

Theo narrowed his eyes, intrigued despite himself. "You're good, you know that?"

"I've been told," she replied, her voice laced with dry humor.

He let out a low chuckle, the sound unexpected but not unwelcome. "All right, Dr. Bennett. Let's make a deal."

"Oh, I love deals," she said, leaning forward with mock enthusiasm.

His eyes flickered with something mischievous. "I'll cooperate with these sessions-answer your questions, even talk about the hard stuff-but on one condition."

"And that is?"

"You let me ask questions too. I want to know who I'm trusting with my deepest, darkest secrets."

Nora paused, considering his offer. She wasn't used to her clients trying to turn the tables on her, but Theo wasn't like most people. She could see the challenge in his eyes, the need to feel like he still had some control in a situation that made him vulnerable.

"Fine," she said after a moment. "But I get to decide which questions I answer. Deal?"

"Deal," he agreed, extending his hand.

Nora hesitated before shaking it. His grip was firm, his palm warm, and for a brief moment, she felt a spark she couldn't quite explain. She pulled her hand back quickly, clearing her throat.

"Now that we've established ground rules, let's start simple," she said, returning to her notebook. "What does a typical day look like for you?"

Theo shrugged. "Wake up, work out, meetings, more meetings, dinner with clients or investors, and then..." He hesitated.

"And then?" she prompted gently.

"Nothing," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "I just...exist. Sometimes I work until I can't think anymore. Sometimes I sit here and stare at the ocean. It's not exactly exciting."

"It sounds lonely," Nora said, her tone soft but direct.

Theo flinched slightly, the word hitting closer to home than he cared to admit. "I'm busy. I don't have time for...distractions."

"Distractions?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"People," he clarified, his tone sharp.

"Ah, yes," she said with a faint smile. "People. Those annoying creatures with emotions and opinions. How dare they demand your time and attention?"

Theo's lips twitched, though he tried to hide his amusement. "You're sarcastic for a therapist."

"It's part of my charm," she replied lightly. "But seriously, Theo. You can't spend your whole life avoiding connections. That's not living-it's surviving."

He looked away, his jaw tightening again. "Connections are messy. They come with expectations, and they always end in disappointment."

"Always?"

"Yes," he said firmly.

Nora tilted her head, studying him. "You sound like you're speaking from experience."

Theo didn't answer right away. Instead, he stood and walked to the glass wall, his back to her as he stared out at the waves.

"I was engaged once," he said finally, his voice low.

Nora's pen froze mid-sentence. She hadn't expected him to open up this quickly.

"What happened?" she asked, keeping her tone neutral.

He let out a bitter laugh. "She happened. Victoria. She loved the idea of being Mrs. Theo Lancaster more than she loved me. When things got hard-after the crash-she showed her true colors."

"She left?"

"No," he said, turning to face her. "She stayed. But only because she saw an opportunity. She used my grief to push me into things I wasn't ready for-public appearances, business deals, anything that kept me in the spotlight. And when I finally ended it, she tried to destroy me."

"How?"

Theo's eyes darkened, his expression hardening. "Let's just say she's very good at playing the victim. She made sure everyone believed I was the villain, the heartless billionaire who broke her heart."

Nora's chest tightened, but she kept her voice steady. "That must've been difficult."

He smirked, though there was no humor in it. "Difficult doesn't begin to cover it."

Nora nodded, jotting something down in her notebook. "It sounds like she left a mark on you-not just emotionally, but in how you view relationships."

Theo crossed his arms, leaning against the glass. "What's your point?"

"My point," she said, closing her notebook, "is that you've built walls so high, you don't even realize you're trapped behind them. You don't trust people, and you don't let anyone in because you're afraid they'll hurt you like she did."

"And you think you can fix that?"

"No," she said, standing and meeting his gaze. "But I think you can."

For the first time, Theo didn't have a quick retort. He just stared at her, a flicker of something vulnerable crossing his features before he masked it again.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Theo," Nora said, grabbing her bag.

"Same time?" he asked, his tone casual, but there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Same time," she confirmed, heading for the door.

As she stepped outside, the warm California breeze brushed against her face, but her mind was already racing. She'd gotten him to open up-a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

What she didn't know was that inside, Theo was watching her leave, his thoughts as turbulent as the waves crashing below. For the first time in years, he felt the faintest flicker of something he couldn't quite name.

Hope.