UNCONDITIONALLY YOURS

Always // FINALE

1 MONTH LATER

"The trial was today." Parker brought me a mug of coffee whilst I was on my laptop sorting out the chaos I had been left.

"Mmm." I took a sip of coffee. "I know. At least he's being locked up for the foreseeable future."

My father's company now belonged to me. He had handed it over to me because he had no time to sell it. He said he was 'trusting me to find a decent owner for it'. I didn't realise he was so idiotic. The online courses I had been occupying myself with hadn't been such a waste of time after all. I was taking over his business. And from his position in jail, there was not a thing he could do about it.

I had done a business course online and I had always been good at maths and organising, but of course, running an actual business was a different thing. That's why Parker and I planned to merge both companies. We could do it together, we could help each other and achieve anything.

"Are you alright, though?" He asked. He sat next to me, telling me he didn't want the short answer of 'I'm fine'.

"I'm tired. I'm stressed from sorting out all this sh*t my father left to me. But most of all I don't think I will ever get over the fact my stepmother is now in jail for attempted murder, and my father for murder." He looked at me with kind and sympathetic eyes and I sighed. "You are here though. It makes it all better." He smiled a bittersweet smile.

"I have to say something. You won't like it but I want you to hear me out." He explained gingerly.

"What, Parker?" I asked apathetically. Sometimes his suggestions were simply unrealistic for me or just something I hated the idea of. He always had the right intention, but sometimes he went a little overboard.

"I think you should talk to a therapist. And before you interrupt me just hear me out, okay?" I stayed silent, allowing him to continue. "What you have been through is not normal. I know you want to be strong, gorgeous, and you are strong already. Speaking to a professional won't make you less strong.

"Think back on it all. Not only the recent things but even before that you were suffering, Riley. Ever since your mother passed away, it's been one thing after the next and it's normal for you to not be okay about it. Right now, you are not at your worst, but when something like this looms over you, you won't be able to tell when it could become a problem.

"There's nothing I want more than to solely make you happy forever, and I still plan to do that. I just think a little professional input would be beneficial. I will come with you, we can do it together and it will be alright, I promise. I don't want to upset you or push anything, I just think this is something you should do and just see if it helps." He finished speaking.

"I agree." I replied quickly. He was surprised. I was half surprised by my own response.

"That's it? You want to?" He asked. I walked over to sit next to him and I hugged him.

"I know you are right. And I want closure forever. I don't want the risk of getting a life-long effect from my cr*ppy past. I want to move on, and I want to start a new chapter with you, Parker. A happy, unproblematic one." I explained as his smile grew broader.

"I'm so glad. I think this will be good for you, gorgeous. I honestly do."

*****

That same evening, Parker had told me to meet him outside the house. I assumed he wanted me to dress up nicely. He would never directly say that though, he would be just as happy with me wearing joggers and a hoodie. I dressed up nicely anyway.

He had already left the house. I walked outside, and Parker wasn't there. However, there was a car there. Just then, someone walked out of the driver's seat, and let me in. I wondered what Parker was up to. Couldn't he just drive me?