The billionaire's sweet editor
Chapter 100: Iris: Sold off

Chapter 100: Iris: Sold off

DOCTOR WILLIAMS is a fucking magician. Every time I come from a therapy session with him I feel like a whole different person than I was before receiving his counsel.

It’s the same with today. I was a mess when he closed the door leading to Lucas’ study room, but now that we’re done, I feel a bit rejuvenated, although not entirely.

He’s still in my head. My dad I mean. I’m trying to shake the thought of him out of my head, but every time my mind recollects that cranky drunkard voice of his, I find myself subconsciously trying to remember his face.

If there was medication to forget only one person I’d pay for it gladly and delete him from my memory, but alas, this is a reality not Hogwarts. I can only do my best to keep my mental health in check or I might become a walking mad woman soon with how fast things are unfolding in my head and life.

"How are you feeling now after those mind-calming exercises?" Williams asks as we walk outside the house. For someone new to this place, he seems an awful lot familiar with it judging by the turns he’s taking at each small intersection we reach.

"I think I’m a little better than I was before."

"Good. That’s what I want to hear. Keep doing them every day until you feel calmer. You’re lucky you have such a serene view to uplift your spirits. If you can stay here for a few more days and try doing relaxation techniques like yoga or home-based exercises. That way you avoid crowded places and keep your health in check...killing two birds with one stone as they call it. Isn’t that cool?"

We come to a pause in front of his car and he turns to look at me, his face taking on this expression I’ve never seen on him. Is it sympathy, or pity? I can’t make out what it is but it’s somewhat making me feel better knowing he cares. Maybe I’m just that desperate for attention now.

"I already sent Lucas a message on what you might need during your stay here, just make sure you remind him okay?"

"Yes, Doc."

"Good," he grins, extending his arms in the air—a signal for me to hug him. I don’t waste time before wrapping my hands around his waist.

I don’t know if he does it on purpose to fill the hole in my heart my father left, or if it’s just a favor I get to experience because I’m his client, but every time I’m near him—especially during a moment like these where him being a fatherly figure to me feels realistic, the hole in my chest closes for a moment.

It’s a shame how times like these are so short-lived before we turn back to reality where beating hearts don’t make us smile anymore.

"See you next week," he waves at me as he enters his car and starts it. I wave back at him, watching as he drives out of the driveway and soon reaches the large gate about two hundred meters from the house before disappearing from my sight all whilst I still wave.

The moment I’m alone, all my thoughts recollect in my head once again like a whirlwind about to strike disaster on an entire village. Shaking my head and ruffling my hair, I quickly turn on my heel to leave the parking lot, bumping into someone and falling on my ass.

"Ouch." I yelp before my eyes fly to the man who fell along with me.

"Are you okay, Iris?" I would never mistake that posh accent for anyone else.

"I’m fine Tim, but what were you doing creeping up on me like that."

"My apologies for the inconvenience ma’am, I was just trying to wrap this warm blanket around you," he replies picking my pink Pokémon blanket off the ground.

"There you go again calling me ma’am. It’s a bit cliché don’t you agree?"

"Old habits die hard."

"Mhmm, guess they do," I mumble, accepting his help as he pulls me from the ground. Next removes all the dirt from my blanket and wraps it around me like he wanted to before I bumped into him.

"Where did you get my blanket? I don’t remember bringing it to Lucas’ house before," I try to ease the awkward air.

"We went to collect it at your house."

"Did Lucas tell you to do that? He’s getting bold now that he knows my grandparents isn’t he?"

"Actually...that was my idea," Tim says in a low voice as if he’s embarrassed to tell me he wants to take care of me.

I pause, making him stop in his tracks behind me. Flipping myself around, I close the bit of distance between us until I’m looking him straight in the eyes.

"Did you know that your boss gets jealous over the simplest of things like these?"

Tim tries to look away, but I follow his gaze and meet him halfway. "If you don’t believe me ask Paul. Or should I tell him you were flirting with me near the orchard?"

"Ah! How dare you!" Tim grips his chest dramatically. "I’d never flirt with you even if you were the last woman on earth. As long as I remember you as Lucas’, you’re forever banished from being a romantic interest of mine."

I have to admit, watching the disgust in his eyes as he says all that to my face feels a bit degrading. I find myself scrunching my brows and glaring at him even though I’m the one who started teasing him.

"Forget it. I was just joking with you," I swiftly turn around, dragging my blanket with me as I walk away from him. "Where is Lucas anyway?"

"In the greenhouses with Mary."

"Mary?"

"Yes. She begged us to bring her here when we went to pick your clothes at your house."

"My clothes? Who gave them to you?"

"An old woman whom I assume is your grandmother."

That old sly fox. She’s even selling me off without a price now.

"She said to tell you to relax and have a good time whilst you live with us. She also told me to tell you that she loves you."

Hah, really? Does hearing such simple words turn me into a high schooler who can’t control her emotions now or am I on my fucking period now?

"I’ll call her once we’re inside. For now let’s go meet up with the others, okay?"

"Yes, Iris."

★★★★★