Chapter Five
"....It doesn't mean you're weak; just showing up here demonstrates how strong you are. It takes courage to admit you need to talk to someone about something," Seline said, her voice calm and measured.
Jason's eyes gleamed with amusement, but he didn't respond right away. His silence stretched longer than she was comfortable with.
"Amusement? For what?" she wondered inwardly, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Miss Seline, you impress me, honestly, with your motivations," Jason said, his voice even but carrying an undercurrent of something unspoken. "But I must correct a misconception."
"Which one?" Seline asked, her curiosity piqued despite herself.
"I'm not one of your depressed clients," Jason continued, leaning back in his chair. "And if you think I have a 'problem,' well, that's for you to figure out."
Her patience, already thin, frayed further. So this is how it's going to be, she thought. A game.
"I think everyone has something to talk about," she countered, trying to regain control. "If you'd—"
"You'd have to make me talk if you want me to," Jason interrupted, his tone not unkind, but firm.
Seline's breath hitched. A challenge. She wasn't sure if she should be frustrated or intrigued by his audacity.
"Fine," she said, her voice tightening. "Let's see if you can outlast me."
Jason let out a quiet laugh, his gaze playful but unreadable. "You really think you can handle me, Seline?"
Before she could respond, he stood up abruptly, breaking the tension.
"Ah, how time flies," Jason said, brushing off his trousers. "Well, it's time up, I suppose."
Seline nodded, masking the frustration in her smile. "Till tomorrow, then."
Jason hesitated by the door, turning back to her. "I'll leave you with a little tip," he said in a low voice, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief.
Seline arched an eyebrow. "A tip?"
"I never reveal secrets until I'm tipsy," he whispered, his tone almost conspiratorial.
Her lips quirked. "I'm not sure how that makes my job easier, Mr. Jason. You're not suggesting getting drunk here ?"
Jason's smile deepened. "It doesn't have to be here, Seline."
The implication hung in the air, thick and lingering. Seline's heart skipped a beat as she processed his words, but before she could respond, he stretched his hand toward her.
"For courtesy's sake," Jason added, his voice still warm but shifting with a slight edge.
Seline took his hand, feeling the faintest tremor in her fingers as he brushed his lips against the back of her hand in a fleeting, almost calculated gesture.
He turned away without looking back, his stride purposeful.
Seline stared after him for a moment, her mind racing. What just happened?
Her pulse was erratic—flustered, annoyed, and most of all, determined