Billionaire's Pleasure-Chapter 140: Memories

Claire’s POV

I couldn’t help but grin as I watched him go off to sleep while I deliberated over my next move. I was in desperate need of the restroom, so I wriggled my way out from under him and into the adjacent washroom, all the while smiling and thinking. At this moment, Brad had reached perfection and was more than capable of handling any consequences. After I had finished, I went to fetch a new bottle of water from the refrigerator, and on the way there, I noticed a significant spill on his counter. I checked under the sink in the kitchen when I couldn’t find the paper towels I’d used earlier because I’d used them earlier. Because it seemed to be sticky, it required prompt rinsing with warm water as soon as it was discovered.

I looked all throughout the kitchen for a door that might have led to his garage, but there was none to be found. As I got closer to it, a grin spread across my face, and I slowly opened it while keeping an eye on the skin that was now on display. Before going outside to look for a light switch, I was happy to remember that there were no windows on the garage door. After going outside, I found the light switch. I noticed a brand-new pack hanging from the ceiling above the washer and dryer. As I turned around, I noticed two duffel bags that had been placed on the floor a little bit further away from the garbage bin than I was.

Even after I had moved on, I made it a point to remind myself, in my role as a therapist that it was unethical to spy. I looked down to find that they were only partially unzipped, and as I reached into the bag to feel what I thought were picture frames, I couldn’t help but take one out, even though I felt terrible about what I had just done. It was Brad and a man who was tall, slim and had dark hair who was embracing one another in a way that seemed absolutely natural and manly. The behavior of two good friends and the kind of connection they share hit me as I went through the passage again and again. I took a quick look at a few more, and some of them featured cute young toddlers, while others appeared to be seals. As soon as I saw Gerome’s name on one of the invitations, I had no doubt that he was the one who had sent Brad to see me. He was in deep anguish over the death of his friend and buddy.

Why were these bags even here in the first place? I imagine he could want to display them in a way similar to how I did with the photographs of Terrence and my father. These were, in my mind, happy experiences, ones that were full of love and laughter, and I held on to those memories with great reverence.

"What is the point of you doing that?" When he said, I had just finished looking into his history, and for a split second, I frowned before turning to face him.

"I am so sorry to interrupt, but after I spotted these I decided to look inside." After staring at the bags with ice in his eyes for a moment, he shifted his attention to me and his demeanor hardened.

"Brad, why are there items in this spot? Why aren’t they being displayed in the living room as they should be? You were definitely not far away." As I observed, he made a conscious effort to distance himself mentally from me.

As I got closer, I was able to get a better sense of the severity of his suffering as he looked over at me and took a few heavy breaths.

"Brad, what gives?" There are enough images to fill two bags entirely. After I prodded him, he turned around and started walking in the direction of the house. After hearing him slam his door, I decided to follow him since I believed he was getting ready to have a conversation with me. After that, I gave careful attention to what was going on around me as I closed the garage door. "Brad?"

While he was resting on the couch and protecting his head with his hands, I approached him with caution as I made my way over to him. I should have known better as a human, and much more so as a doctor dealing with sensitive patients from the military, not to push him. I apologize for this. Even though it was a challenging job, I appreciated it more and more as I moved closer and closer in his direction. I was conscious of the minuscule but terrifying affection I had for him.

As I fell onto the couch next to him, he shook uncontrollably in the light coming from the kitchen. "Brad..." I leaned down and put my hand on his shoulder while murmuring.

"I’m here for you. Speak with me."

"I didn’t have a choice. Oh, God... It was painful for me to see Emily today, but I had no choice but to..." In spite of his broken and strained speech, I positioned my body such that it was against his so that I could hold him. "Claire, the situation was getting progressively worse for him. I made an effort to talk to him and strongly persuade him to stop what he was doing." I wrapped my arms more tightly around his chest, and he stifled a sob as I did so. "He did not accept. As a result of his fear of falling short of his goals, he wasn’t as dedicated to his work as I had been in the past." Brad took a long, deep breath in and then massaged his eyes. "Before opening fire on a member of our group’s friend. That evening, Gerome began shooting at our group, and I had no choice but to end his life as he opened fire. As a member of the Seal team, it is my duty to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of my fellow soldiers, so I just shot him in the head. The person who was my closest buddy was killed." While he was openly bawling his eyes out, he leaned on me, and I felt tears starting to roll down my cheek. I fought back the want to cry because I could only speculate about the amount of strain and anguish he must have been through at the time. "After then, there was a surprise attack waiting for them. Gerome accidentally revealed our location to the adversary with his shot, and the events that followed took place in lightning speed. I don’t even know how I managed to get through it all. We are extremely lucky that the enemy was completely defeated and that we were only forced to lose a relatively small number of troops as a result." Brad says as a weight began to settle around the area.

"It’s okay, Brad; don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal. I won’t be talking about this with anybody." After he stopped moving while he was in my arms, I mumbled something. "I didn’t want to further break Emily’s heart by telling her the truth."

"Claire, please don’t put her in danger in such a way. Please. As a friend, I have already been an abject failure to her." When Brad started crying, I felt my breath becoming caught in my throat.

While he was desperately clinging to me, I managed to mumble, "Don’t worry, I’ll keep quiet, Brad. I give you my word that I will never do it."

Before I was even aware that he was removing his arms from me, he shook me and squeezed me even more fiercely. When I leaned back to look at him, I could still see the bloodied and exposed image of the broken man. He yelled at me to get the hell out of the house.

"What exactly are you saying?" As I questioned him in a state of perplexity, he maintained a steady focus on me that was filled with nothing but venom.

"I ask that you kindly depart." He made a statement that was firm but shook slightly.

"No, Brad. I want to make sure that I am accessible to you." While I was arguing with him, he cast a critical eye down my body.

"Dr. Wilson, the only way you’ll be able to assist me is if you spread those legs apart."

I ran into the bedroom as quickly as I could to get dressed, shaking uncontrollably, and covered my face with my hands as tears ran down my cheeks. He had just thrown everything that we had discussed up to this point this evening onto the ground, causing it to shatter into bits of what I had believed we were as a couple. He had destroyed not only my faith in him but also the affection I had thought we shared for one another.

Since my training as a therapist, I was able to accept it on that level because I knew that all he was doing was venting. That is something I could rectify.

I was in a state of complete devastation because, as a woman, I had broken several too many boundaries with my patient.

As I stumbled out of the house, clutching my handbag and the remnants of my dignity, I did not turn around to look behind me despite the fact that I was in excruciating pain and tears was streaming down my face.