Vicious Circle

8. “Your punishment is about to begin.”

Remembering the past with Wayne was different. Knowing that we had been happy together did not make me happy. We were young and carefree. Our relationship was our priority. Perhaps the destructive end of that relationship was what tied us so closely to the past. If it had ended like a more ordinary relationship, things would not be this way.

“Mr. Holmes, please keep our communication formal during the session.”

Ela looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Brie, our past is very important to me. I can't be formal. You shouldn't be either.”

I took a deep breath and leaned back in my chair. “Mr. Holmes, you are preventing me from doing my job. I don't talk to my patients like that. No matter who they are.”

“Authoritarian Brie. I missed that.”

I closed my notebook. I didn't want to entertain him by responding. I turned my head and looked outside. Wayne was watching me. I was well aware of this, but I didn't want to make eye contact. After a while, my eyes began to close. I tried to resist, but I realized I had failed when Wayne covered me with a blanket.

“Brie,” he said. “Naughty girl.”

Elementary school was very difficult. Of course, I knew all my friends. It was a small town. Everyone knew each other. I wasn't a popular student. I wasn't pretty enough. That's why I was bullied. But after a while, I had a group of friends. I liked having fun with them and going on picnics. During that time, I was sad that I didn't see Wayne. He was always out of town. His father sent him away for training and racing.

After the teacher said, “Children, don't forget your homework,” we gathered our things. When I picked up my bag, Steve came up to me.

“Brie, shall we walk home?”

Steve was a very sweet boy. He was polite. He wasn't like the other children. “Sure.”

He was very attractive with his blond hair and blue eyes. Being a sweet and polite child also made him quite popular. Even though we were in elementary school, he was tall. When we left school together, we talked about our homework. He teased me a lot about my difficulties with math. But he was also helpful...

“Did you study your multiplication table?”

I shook my head no. He smiled slightly and said, “If you want, I can help you while we eat ice cream.”

I eagerly said, “Yes,” because I wanted him to help me.

We went to an ice cream shop not far from my neighborhood. We both got the ice cream we wanted and sat down while Steve explained the multiplication table to me. We were laughing and joking all the time. I didn't realize how time had passed.

“Steve, should we go now?”

“Sure.”

When we left the barber shop and continued on our way, Steve noticed that I was scared when we saw a big dog, so he held my hand. We passed by it, a little scared. When we entered the neighborhood, Steve was still holding my hand. As we approached my house, I saw Wayne. He was waiting for me. His eyes darted between Steve and me, and then he saw our hands. He started walking toward us angrily.

He pulled our hands apart and said, “Stay away from Brie.”

Steve narrowed his eyes. “Why should I stay away? She's my friend.”

Wayne pulled me behind him. “Brie is mine.”

I couldn't understand why he was holding me back. I broke free and went over to him. “Wayne, talk to my friend properly. I wanted you two to meet.”

Wayne didn't take his eyes off Steve. “We've met.”

Steve turned his eyes to me. “See you tomorrow, Brie.”

When he turned and walked away, Wayne turned to me angrily. “I didn't like that encounter, Brie. Don't talk to that guy.”

I sighed. Instead of listening to the rest, I wrapped my arms around him. He hesitated at first. But then he wrapped his arms around me.

“I missed you, Wayne.”

“Me too, Brie. I missed you so much I was going crazy.”

What caused me to open my eyes was the flight attendant making the landing announcement. As I sat up, Wayne was still standing in front of me. He was watching me. I noticed that he had put his jacket on me. I slowly straightened it and placed it on the table between us.

“Thank you.”

Instead of answering, he was still watching me. When he turned his head away, Mateo turned to me and started chatting. He was talking so fast that it was hard to follow him. When the plane stopped, we got up to get off. As I watched Mateo and Wayne, I realized that it was as if this life had been created for them. I felt a slight dizziness as I descended the stairs. Wayne immediately grabbed my waist and checked on me with his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

The air was slightly windy. The scent reached my nose. “I'm fine.”

I straightened myself up, gently pushed his hand away from my waist, and continued. When we got into the car waiting for us, my eyes were outside. The car was very luxurious. There were four seats. Wayne and Mateo were in front of me. The passenger was right behind them. However, the partition between us was closed. During the ride, Mateo read the newspapers in his hand and gave information to Wayne. I understood that he respected his job very much because he listened to Mateo very carefully and answered his questions.

Mateo took a tablet from the side of the seat. After opening the tablet, he said, “We're going to have a very busy week. As you know, you have a trial race first. We also arranged dinner with the team. There will be a commercial shoot.”

Mateo nodded to everyone and said, “Okay.” He turned his eyes to me. “Where will Brie be staying?”

I turned my gaze to Mateo. Mateo swallowed slightly and said, “You'll be staying in the same place. Brie will be on the lower floor, and you'll be on the upper floor.”

Wayne remained silent, so I took a deep breath, but Mateo continued. “However, the team wants to meet Brie. They're even considering her for Oliver, the other driver.”

Wayne turned his head so quickly toward Mateo that he said, “Absolutely not.”

Mateo took a deep breath. “Wayne, everyone is under pressure and stress in this business. Besides, it was Chris, the team boss, who came up with this idea.”

“I don't care. Brie will only be working with me. They can find another psychologist.”

“If Brie only works with you, there will be rumors. Your father won't like that.”

I suddenly felt my hair stand on end. “This is nobody's business. Not even my father's.”

“The sponsors won't like this. They'll think the problem is too serious and won't support you.”

I felt the need to intervene. Wayne had become so serious that it seemed as if he was about to turn on Mateo at any moment.

“I'm here to help you get better, Wayne. I don't want to interfere with your work. It's easier for me to watch you work. That way, I can understand you. Your recovery could be short.”

He turned his eyes to me. “You can watch me work. You don't need to worry about anyone else.”

I frowned at his bluntness. I couldn't stop myself from arguing with him. “I accept. I'd like to meet the team.”

Wayne raised his eyebrows and looked at me. When the car stopped, Mateo got out quickly, not wanting to stay between us. As I was about to get out, he put his hand on my leg.

“Brie, there will be a price to pay for your mischief.”

His hand moved up my leg until it reached my groin. Almost his entire body was on top of me. When his hand pressed against my pants, I involuntarily shifted. When I closed my legs, his hand was still there. I heard a masculine chuckle in my ear.

“You seem to want your punishment now.” He raised his voice, “Close the door. Take another lap.”

When I saw the door close, I started to get up, but he grabbed my shoulder and sat me down. His other hand was still between my legs.

“Your punishment is about to begin.”