Melissa fixed his eyes with her own, he was persuasive, the offer was very, very tempting and god but wasn't he damnably attractive…

She sighed again.

"The answer is no and that's my final word on this Mr. Demovic. Now either you find another therapist who might be able to accommodate your needs or we continue in therapy, real therapy, and I'll be happy to sign off on your twenty four hours when they are completed."

For a moment a flash of wild anger passed through the handsome man's dark eyes and Melissa wondered what she might just have let herself in for. If she said yes and was caught out then it would be the end of her career. One slip up might be okay, but two? The ethics committee would never hear of it. On the other hand, she really had no idea who this Jason Demovic person really was or what he was capable of if crossed. She didn't want to waste time thinking about that. Hopefully he would just take his business elsewhere and not add to the problems she already had.

"It's the wrong decision Dr. Price." He said and made ready to leave. "I hope you won't live to regret it." He stood up and pulled his jacket on. Melissa stood up as well and extended her hand to bid him goodbye. One part of her was relieved but another was strangely disappointed. Jason Demovic was no ordinary client and the mystery of why he was giving away so much of his money and why it was of such concern to his board would have to remain unsolved.

And she would never see this sexy man again unless it was in her dreams.

"I'll have my PA book in the next appointment." He said as he took her hand.

His firm, tanned grip was delicious around Melissa's soft white palm.

"I don't understand." She said. "I just refused your offer. You're free to look elsewhere."

"You're my third therapist Dr. Price. Three strikes and I'm out. The board will initiate legal proceedings if we don't work together."

Stupidly, crazily, Melissa's heart began to race. She was going to work with him after all. For better or worse she would be getting to know the mysterious Jason Demovic very personally and very intimately over the course of the next six months or so.

"I hope you're going to be worth my time and money."

She was caught off guard this morning yet again.

"I'm worth both your time and your money." She said and the n mentally kicked herself in the shins. She sounded like a cheap hooker instead of a serious Harvard educated Dr. of Psychology.

Jason nodded his head and then turned to leave with Melissa trailing behind. Outside in the reception area her receptionist Sandy was seated at his desk and the homely looking gay man's jaw dropped as he watched Jason cross the room without even a nod in his direction.

Once they were alone Sandy looked at Melissa with his jaw still hanging open.

"Girlfriend." He said, breathlessly, "have I died and gone to heaven? What I wouldn't give for one night with that man. Does it get any more perfect than that?"

Melissa rolled her eyes.

"Be careful what you wish for Sandy. That could be one night in heaven or one night in hell."

"I'll settle for a night anywhere with him boss lady." Sandy replied. "By the way, you've got mail." He said in a more serious voice. Melissa returned to the door and saw an ominously dark envelope on the desk in front of him.

"Is this what I think it is?" He said. Melissa picked it up and tore it open. Even though she knew it was coming, still her heart sank to see the actual date set.

"The disciplinary hearing is next week." She said. "So I guess you'll know if you still have a job by then or not. I'm so sorry Sandy."

She felt herself begin to tear up. She was letting everyone down. Her professors, her clients, herself, Sandy and most of all Suzy.

Before she knew it the tall young man was by her side and was holding her in his arms.

"It's okay boss lady." He said. "You're only human too you know. Come on, we'll get through this. And hell if they take away your license I bet you'll make one great receptionist. I'll even recommend you myself."

She looked up at the ridiculous expression on his face and couldn't help but laugh. He was such a good guy and a great receptionist when he wasn't arriving late. She would miss him so much if they shut her practice down.

********************

Outside on the street Jason Demovic walked down the steps of the squat building that housed Melissa's office.

A limo pulled up in front of him. The window rolled down and his brother Zach peered out at him.

"How did it go big brother?"

"How did what go?"

"The therapy session? What do you think? Don't forget that you're on to number three, so please tell me that you have an appointment with Dr. Price for next week."

Jason smiled. "Just hold on a minute." A homeless lady with a shopping cart full of garbage bags and three oddly shaped dogs lay all piled up together on the steps of the building. He walked over to them and sat down.

"Oh Jesus Christ." Zach muttered.

Jason gently shook the woman's shoulder but she didn't move. The animals lifted their sleepy heads but made no move to defend their owner as Jason reached into his wallet and slid out five new one hundred dollar bills and put them gently inside the woman's coat together with a card containing the details of a homeless shelter downtown.

His brother rolled his eyes.

"Are you booked in for next week?" he called out.

Jason moved slowly and gently so as not to disturb the old lady and then walked back to his waiting brother.

"Don't worry. She's the one." He said.

Zach looked at his brother with deep suspicion.

"Come on." he said. "Get in."

Jason complied but Zach felt ill at ease; somehow, he just couldn't imagine that his brother would go into therapy, no matter the amount of pressure on him.