MATCH MADE IN HELL.

It's extremely hot and i put away my covers and roll to the other side of the bed. It had been a very tiresome day and had it not been for my mother's screams I believe I would have slept through it all. I wake up to smoke in my room. I open my bedroom door and see my parents through flames standing across the hall, outside their room. "Vienna, get out!" my father screams at me as I stand frozen. My room is beside the stair way, but my legs feel heavy. I look at them, I cannot leave them there. Logically I know there is no way they can make it across the fire to me, but i can't move. The fire is getting stronger and I start  feeling my skin itch from the intense heat. "Vienna Starr Kilmartin run!" this time it's my mother. I look at them as they hold each other. Whether it was to comfort each other or to keep each other from collapsing from the smoke I have never known. "It's okay love, go," my mother says softly between coughs. I turn to leave as they slide down to the floor together and I run until I am outside. 

*********

"It's not okay,  it's not okay," I feel someone nudging me. I open my eyes to see Christine, my assistant bending over by my side. "Are you okay? seems like you were having another nightmare," she looks genuinely concerned and I am grateful for that. "I am good," I tell her as I get up from the couch and walk across the room to my chair. "Your two p.m is here," she says giving me a look of doubt and I reassure her with a small smile. She heads out before ushering in Mr. Avan Ray, my new patient. 

He is the kind of person you cannot help but notice. He is over six foot tall and has a big build. His face has soft features, the kind that milds his threatening aura. His eyes are a shade of grey and emotionless. In overall he is a very handsome man and he carries himself as someone who is aware of that. I wonder what a seemingly perfect man is doing in a psychiatrist office. I smile as is my routine to try and make him feel more comfortable. He sits on the couch across from me, his eyes never leaving mine. I look down at my notes and try not to fidget. 

"So Mr. Avan how are you this afternoon?" I ask and he laughs like It have said something funny. I watch him, trying to get a read out of him. All he does consistently is watch me. He does not look at me the way one would a beautiful lady, no he watches me. He watches me like one would an animal in a zoo. He looks at me like I am his source of amusement. I try my best to keep my wits about me through the whole session. By the end of it I have learned he is an only child. He had a older brother when he was young. According to him, his brother suddenly disappeared one day. He does not know what hapenned to him and his parents never talk about it. "I think i had something to do with it but i don't quite remember," he had sayed so casually and went on about his favourite meal like he had just said nothing. He enjoys watching my reaction towards him.

He is my last appointment for the day. I can not stop myself from thinking about him as I drive to 'Roselle's'. It is a joint we frequent, my bestfriend, Jade and I. We have known each other for over twenty years. For as long as I can remember her family and mine have always been close, that was before the fire tragedy that took my parents and my brother dying abroad. Jade took care of me. She worried aboout me and lacked subtle ways of showing it. I watch the entrance as I sip my wine. She eventually appears carrrying documents and smiling at everyone who'd look at her. We order dinner as soon as she sits. She tells me all about her day in so much detail as my mind keeps wandering off to Mr Avan. 

After dinner her driver drops me off at my place. "You should stay with me tonight you know how your parents get when you go home so late," I offer. She chuckles lightly and pushes her hair slightly off her face. "I am a grown up there's nothing they can do to me even if I get home later than this," she says looking at her driver who tries to hide a smile. "Oh, they're travelling again huh," she looks down sheepishly and I laugh as I go in. "Love you," she shouts as they drive off.

I can not hold off my curiosity any longer. I search Avan Ray after washing up. After an hour of browsing the internet and what feels like a million controversies about him, only one thing is certain, he is the only heir of the richest tycoon. I feel intimidated and curious of why he chose me as his psychiatrist. I'm good at what I do, maybe even great but the kind of money and influence he has could get him the best not only in the state but also in the world. I shut off my computer as it starts to rain. It's past eleven and I can hardly keep my eyes open. I make myself honey water and sit by my bedroom window watching the rain. Just before I go to bed I notice a familiar car parked outside my gate. I can feel the stare without even seeing it. 

I check the alarm system before getting in bed.  I can not help but think of the second most popular romor about him. Apparently his parents had insisted on him seeing a psychiatrist as a condition before they handed over the company to him. He had refused until recently when he agreed  only if he got to choose his own psychiatrist. So why me? That question bugs me as I finally drift off sleep.