The Secrets He Hides: A Min Yoongi Story [WIP]

Part 3: Ready Or Not

"Good morning," Richard greeted me as I walked through the doors of the counselling centre the following morning. "I hope we're going to see some 'Claire smiles' today rather than the 'Claire frowns' we've been getting lately?"

"I'll try," I grinned although it felt more like a grimace. I shook the wet umbrella I'd remembered to bring today, sending droplets of rain everywhere. "No more frowning. Got it."

"Excellent," Richard stretched and then flexed his knuckles. The cracking sound irritated me even more than having to fake a smile did, so I left him and ducked into my office as quickly as possible so I didn't have to endure any further painful conversation this early in the morning.

"Coffee," I said to myself as though it was a magic word but none magically appeared, so I had to make my own. My office was small, with just two small windows looking out on the rainy world outside, but it did have its own little kitchen corner, with a kettle - which I filled and switched on - and everything I needed to make drinks for myself and my clients.

"Claire?" Richard's voice came from the other side of the door, accompanied by a polite knock but he didn't wait for me to answer before opening it. "I know it's early, but your new client has arrived already. He's in reception."

"Okay. I'll just make myself a drink and get organised then I'll call him through," I said as the kettle bubbled and rattled away on the side next to me.

"He's - um - like I said yesterday - a bit of a special case, so don't keep him waiting too long," Richard said, giving me an odd look. "There's someone with him too, who'll introduce him."

"Introduce him?" The kettle finally clicked off and I poured the hot water into my cup, stirring it into the coffee and milk. "What do you mean?" I was used to some of the men I helped coming in with a parent or close friend the first time or two until they got used to my sessions but the word 'introduce' was a new one on me.

"You'll see. I don't want to say too much," Richard hesitated as if he was going to explain further but he didn't. "Just call him in as soon as you can. He's... important."

With that, he left, closing the door behind him while I scratched my head at his weird behaviour. I sat down at my desk, took a sip of my coffee and hit the intercom button.

"Louise?" I said to the receptionist. "Would you like to tell my new client that I'm ready for him?"

I wasn't ready. I'd only just sat down and barely taken one sip of coffee, but Richard said this guy was important, so I better do as I was told and call him straight in, ready or not.

When the door opened though and the two men walked in, I began to realise just how unready I actually was.