My heart lifts at the news. Ethan has been working so hard, pushing through pain and frustration and doubt. To hear Ken confirm what I've been hoping is better than any validation I could ask for.
“I'll let him know during our session today,” I say.
“Good. Keep up the excellent work, Natalie.” Ken stands and heads for the door. “The organization is very pleased with his progress. You've done an outstanding job.”
“Thank you.”
After he leaves, I turn to my computer and start typing up my notes. Ethan's session is in an hour, and I want everything documented before I see him. The professional part of my brain knows I need to maintain meticulous records. The personal part just wants to finish quickly so I can give him the good news.
We've been careful since we got back from Wisconsin. No touching at the facility. As far as anyone knows, we're still just patient and therapist. But every night, one of us ends up in the other's apartment, and every morning, we wake up together.
It's getting harder to pretend.
A knock on my door pulls me from my thoughts.
“Come in,” I call, expecting one of the other therapists or maybe a trainer with a question.
The door opens, and my heart stops.
Brody is standing in the doorway, wearing a smug smile that once used to make me melt. Now, it makes my stomach churn.
“Oh my God, Nat, you look amazing.”
I mentally count to ten before speaking. “What are you doing here?”
“I had to see you.” He steps into my office and closes the door behind him. “You’re not answering my calls, and you’re not responding to my texts. I didn't know what else to do.”
“So you flew to New York and showed up at my workplace?” My voice is calm despite the shock coursing through me. “How did you even get in here?”
He shrugs with cocky confidence. “I know people. I made a few calls. It wasn't hard.”
Brody has always been good at talking his way into places he doesn't belong. It's one of the things that made him successful in business, and it’s also one of the things that makes him dangerous.
“You need to leave,” I say.
“Just hear me out. Please.” He moves closer, and I stand, putting the desk between us. “I love you, Natalie. I've always loved you. What happened with that woman was the biggest mistake of my life.”
“You've said all this before.”
“But I mean it now. I'm working on myself.” He spreads his hands in a gesture of openness. “I'm a different man now. I swear.”
I study his face, searching for any sign of genuine remorse. But all I see is the same Brody I've always known. Charming, manipulative, and convinced that the right words in the right order can fix anything.
The strange thing is, I'm not angry. I expected to be furious if I ever saw him again. I expected to scream or cry or throw something at his head. But instead, I feel nothing.
“I don't care,” I say calmly.
He frowns. “What?”
“I don't care that you've been going to therapy or that you think you've changed. I don't care about your apologies or your explanations or your declarations of love.” I reach for the phone on my desk. “I'm going to call security now. You have about thirty seconds to leave before they escort you out.”
“Nat, come on. You can't just throw me out.”
“Yes, I can.” I pick up the receiver and start dialing. “Goodbye, Brody.”
He raises his hands in surrender, backing toward the door. “Fine. I'll go. But I'm not leaving New York. I took a room at the Ritz, and I'm staying until you agree to talk to me.”
“Then you'll be staying a very long time.”
