Therapist's therapy

Sides

Harry, of course, wasn't putting on the coffee shop uniform. He looked overdressed in his black tuxedo and missing tie, his hair was laid back too perfectly. He looked like a mafia boss or at least someone that worked for a million dollar car manufacturing company. He pretended not to notice Arianna until she sat down in front of him.
"You look well" he greeted.
"You don't look so bad yourself" he waved to the waiter and ordered two iced coffee without asking Arianna. A habit of his from when they were dating. Arianna brushed the memories away along with his strong cologne
"Can we make this quick the doctors prescribed a house arrest"
"I think that's up to  you but I'll go straight to the point .I want you to stop helping Travis inherit BM Motors" he said it sternly like he was asking her to throws away old socks.
"This again?" He had asked her not to work for Mrs. Julianna and she had turned him down. What made him confident it would work if he phased it the other way around.
"Now is different. You are doing this not because of your unnatural appetite for danger but because you are convinced that what you are  doing  is right. Well you are wrong" when Arianna didn't  interrupt he moved on " Travis isn't the true heir of BM motors."
"Where is this coming from?"
"It's a long story. Would your doctor approve of taking the afternoon off?"
"Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you know"
The waiter brought their drinks over and Harry thanked her with a heavy tip.
"I'm sure you know the tragic story of Juliana's marriage. Well I'm sure you know it wrong because if you did we probably won't be here having this conversation." Arianna thought back at Travis telling her the story. He looked honest. Was it all a lie or was Harry the liar. Harry didn't have anything to gain from lying to her but she didn't know anything about him at least not in this regard. If what he is about to tell her is true then she didn't know anything at all.
"You look tensed. Take your drink and relax. You are just recovering after all" when he refused to continue, Arianna did as he asked.
"Julianna was pressured by her father to marry someone on great background to help their company, which is typical in those circumstances. But Julianna was in love with someone else. But as a daddy's girl she obeyed her father and married who he wished. Coincidentally her  husband to be also had a secret lover so they stroked a deal, they would have a son to seal their marriage and business deal and be free to be with their lovers. Sounds great right?" Arianna wasn't enjoying this story as Harry expected so he continued without engaging her.
"Julianna then had an affair with her lover and had another son. That's where things got interesting. Julianna loved this son more and wanted him, to inherit the company. So without names been called, who do you think should inherit the company?"
Arianna thought hard. This was a lot of information that would turn everything she thought she knew upside down.
"This isn't about my decision so just tell me everything"
"I think you would pick a side when you know who you will be for or against" Harry drained his glass. Arianna's throat was dry but she didn't reach for her glass. "Travis is the golden son. Born from the arranged marriage of Julianna and Mr. Benson, my apologies late Mr. Benson." Arianna's eyes widened.
"Juliana and Mr.Benson were married and even had a son? That's impossible! I would have known there would have been signs!"
"We are talking about BM motors stakeholders here. Acting is a compulsory skill if you want to be something in life." Harry responded state of the factly.
"That makes Ja- "
"Yeah. The son of the lovely affair who his mother believes should sit on the throne."
"That can't be. The whole point of this was  because Julianna wanted to make sure Travis inherited the company and Jasper's mother is Matilda!"
"You disappoint me Arianna. Are you slow because of the accident or did I overestimate you?" Harry waved at the waiter for a refill. She arrived at their table in seconds hoping to earn an even greater tip.
"She used me" Arianna was so angry she was finding it difficult to breathe.
"I have to give it to her, that lady could rule a country."
"Why are you telling me this now?" Arianna managed to ask
"Because you are a valuable asset, if you would have heard it from the opposing side you would have turned against us for deceiving you"
" I don't see the difference"
"I know you Arianna you won't fight a loosing battle. You already work for Mrs. Julianna and I heard you have a thing for Jasper. All your favorite players are on our side. We apologize for using you but it was necessary"
"What makes you so confident?"
"A lot  of things actually. First, with Mr. Benson out of the way it only leaves the grandfather with five years max to live and Louis Kimberly who is hot-tempered but inconsequential. Travis on his own is a lost case, between Juliana and Mr. Benson it's hard to place where he gets a that anger from. But then again he didn't get it from any"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing that you need to worry about"
"What do you gain from doing this?" From all she heard Harry didn't have any need to be in between this crisis.
"Logically, I believe Travis is the true heir but I plan to get engaged soon having this background would be great to raise my family. That's all it is." It was wise but Arianna doubted that was all it took to get him so hooked. "I still think of you as my friend so I'm going to warn you to make the right decision if you are in the way it would be dangerous. "
Arianna had been threatened many times but this made sweat break out on her face. "Then again you don't have to make your decision in a hurry. I'll call you tonight, you should have made up your mind then."
"There won't be need for that. I think where I stand is very obvious. Send my thanks to Julianna I've learnt a lot from working with her and honestly this job was difficult  because I was trying to create an outcome in which she wins but I don't have to anymore which takes a lot of work load off my chest. I feel sad knowing I'll be seeing more of Louis, that grumpy old man but I think I can endure him for a bit. Don't jump to conclusions about the winning side yet because this team just got a substitute player who doesn't play fair or safe. I'm going to make Travis the heir and gift you your sack letter on your wedding day. Enjoy your day."  Arianna stalked out of the cafe without even looking at Harry's expression. She hailed a taxi and got in to stop her body from running back into the cafe and striking a deal she surely won't regret.
What was she thinking? She didn't think it through at all. She had let her emotions get the best of her. She was angry, irritated and sad. They had all been lying to her, Juliana, Jasper, Harry all of them fooled her. How were they expected her to overlook that? She tried to think straight but her head ached. She needed to lay down as the doctor asked, she needed to clear her head but most of all she needed to make sure she stayed alive.