Within An Impasse

How to Play The Game

"I thought you weren't going to take that new client?"

"I didn't want to. I was dead set against it as you know, but Stephanie really believes in me and I felt guilty."

"You always do this to yourself. You know it's okay to set boundaries, even at work."

"I know. After I met her, she definitely is a piece of work...but I see that she's not as scary as I thought."

"What are you thinking? I know that look when I see it."

"Sara, I think Stephanie's right. She's a challenge for sure, a puzzle that I think I could work."

"When's you're next meeting with her?"

"Friday. We are suppose to meet two times a week during her stay here."

"Well sounds like you're rising to your challenge then."

"I am. Have a good day." I told her as she got up from the table. We were on lunch in staff building across the court yard. 

After having my first session with Alana yesterday, I began to wonder what this job really expects of me. It was definitely unorthodox of me to make snide remarks to a client. It's very unprofessional and in some cases I could get fired for that. However, it seemed to work for her. I've been in sessions where there is a long bout of silence and in that silence there was a lot of power. Noticing different ticks and cues. 

The moment Alana stepped foot in my office, a look of shock came across her face. Then her eyes dilated as she scanned me. She sat down took a lax position with her arms behind her head looking around the office. She had a particular fixation to the picture of me holding up my diploma in triumph with a huge smile on my face. Then she looked back at me. She first stared at my hair, then stared me deep in the eyes...which did cause a warm flare rise in me. It's been a while, so I know that something like an attraction can happen here and there, but I never act on such things. Her smile rose as I looked a way momentarily to bring myself back to professional thoughts and tone. As she scanned her eyes down my chest, I then had to speak to bring us back to task. 

I won't lie to myself. Alana Bailey James, is very attractive indeed. She had a wild curly bouncy fro, honey brown eyes, and a black thick choker that had the words Brat in Training on it. She wore a lose black crop top, and grey sweat pants and Converse shoes. She had a black belly chain, and a tattoo of a serpent circling her lower stomach. It would be wrong of me to continue these kinds of thoughts about a client. It's happened before when I was counseling a man named Jarrad. He was a tall, dark skinned man with these hazel eyes. I constantly had to tell myself to stop thinking about the idea of sex with him during our sessions. It's been so long since I've been touch the slightest look from someone could get me wet. 

But this is not the time to be wondering what it would be like to spend the night with Alana Bailey James. This is the time to learn how to play her game. How to make these sessions best for her. It seemed that the style she likes to talk in is through sarcasm and argument type of debate. I am flirting with crossing a professional line, but it works for her then that's the risk I am willing to take. 

As the week progressed I got more productive than I have been in a long time. My boss came back today from her vacation and was singing through the halls. 

Stephanie knocked on my door and with a flourish danced her way through the door.

"Well it seems the Bahamas did you well."

"It was so magical! I don't know why it took so long for me to head back there. Me and my husband agreed we'd come back once a year."

"That's great. Glad to have you back."