You?

“So everything is in motion for tomorrow right?”, I seeked confirmation and Tristan nodded his head. I was making the final arrangements for Nathan's surprise 30th birthday and Tristan was responsible for the catering and letting us book his entire restaurant for the auspicious occasion.

“What about music and entertainment though? The guest list?”, he questioned as he paged through the schedule plan for tomorrow, where I had planned everything to detail.

“Sidney will be taking care of the entertainment and Violet will email you the approximated number of people that are expected to come tomorrow night”, I said, and he gave a nod of understanding as we started packing all the paperwork away

“What time should I expect the cake to arrive?”

“Around six. It's a Chocolate with butter cream cake, in case the baker messes up my order or something”.

“I'll be on the lookout. Everything will go smoothly tomorrow, don't worry”.

“I really hope so”, I chuckled a little as I stood to my feet to leave his office. “Anyways, I'm meeting Nathan for lunch in a few, so I'm guessing I'll see you later?”

“Coolios”, he put out his hands, and we dabbed a handshake, peacing out

“Coolios”

We were trying out this new steakhouse that recently just opened across the city, and it's safe to say that all the recommendations were not at all deceiving

“Okay, that was good”, I breathed out a laugh, raising my drink to my lips and Nathan smiled as he reached over to wipe off the barbecue sauce on the side of my lips

“It really was. I hadn't had steak like that in years. Too bad I didn't even get to taste the fries though because someone ate them off my plate”, he gave me the side eye as he said that, and I shrugged my shoulders because I didn't feel bad about it, nor did I regret it because they were crispy and delicious. It's not my fault he was taking his time eating them...and this was one of the perks of having a girlfriend so yeah.

“If it isn't my favorite couple”, we both looked up to see Kevin walking towards our table

“If it isn't the most annoying person on earth”, Nathan deadpanned and Kevin ignored him as he leaned over to hug me whilst I was sitting down

“Hi Liv, how are you?”

“I'm good Kev, how bout you?”, I asked as he pulled the seat besides me

“I'm good. I'm just here to pick up my order then I'll be on my way”.

“So I'm guessing you've heard about all the good reviews this place is getting huh?”

“Hell yeah, I'm into pasty but damn this place is really becoming the ultimate competition for all the restaurants here. I'm low-key worried”, he chuckled a little.

“I don't think you should, I'd still pick your steak and kidney pie any day”

“That's comforting to know”, he smiled before turning to Nathan, who was staring blankly at him. “It's good seeing you too Nate”

“Yeah I know it is”, Nathan wiggled his eyebrows mockingly at him and I laughed. The beef between them was always humorous, if you didn't know them, you'ld bet they're swon enemies or something, always getting on each other's nerves all the time.

“Yeah, yeah whateves”, Kevin rolled his eyes before an enthusiastic smile appeared on his face. “What time should I be there for the party tomorrow?”

“Kevin!”, I scowled at him while hitting on the arm with the back of my hand, and he frowned a little

“What party?”, Nathan looked blankly confused as he looked between Kevin and I

“Oh shit I'm sorry”, Kevin covered his mouth with his hand. “Was that-”, he leaned closer to me to whisper. “Was that supposed to be a secret?”

“It was supposed to, but thanks to you managed to ruin that”, I turned my lips into a mad scowl, and he blinked repeatedly at me

“I didn't know it was a surprise. I'm sorry”, he stuttered uncomfortably, and he looked genuinely sorry.

“You're throwing me a surprise party?”, Nathan asked, and I shrugged my shoulders a little. “But baby I did say even a quiet dinner with a few friends and family will do. I don't want anything big”.

“You know what, I think my orders ready, so I'm just gonna, yeah”, Kevin stood up to leave, but I grabbed him by the arm, forcing him to sit down again

“You can't get me into this mess and just leave, you stay here and help me convince him otherwise”, I whisper shout at him before turning to Nathan again

“I know you didn't want anything big Hun, but your mother suggested we throw you a party, and she looked so excited I couldn't say no”

I watched as he heaved a deep sigh. “So like do I have to be there? I mean it can still be a party without me there in person”.

“The introvert has spoken ladies and gents”, Kevin shook his head. “Can't say I'm surprised you wouldn't want to show up at your own party”

Nathan narrowed his eyes threateningly at him, but I turned his face so that he looked at me instead

“Don't mind him babe”, I said taking his hand in mine. “You showing up is the least you could do for all the efforts we all put in planning this party, if you don't it will be like a slap on the face”

“Yeah man, plus it's guaranteed that it's going to be fun. Live a little, will you?”, Kevin added to my strong argument and Nathan seemed hesitant a little before giving a small nod.

“Okay”, he shrugged his shoulders. “I guess we're having ourselves a party tomorrow then”

Later that day, I made a quick stop at the pet shop before heading home to buy some Whiskers for Missy. Walking out, I stopped in my tracks when I saw a familiar figure quickly turn on their feet and walked in the opposite direction. You see, I knew who this person was because it's all she ever did these days, thinking that I don't see her not realizing that she wasn't really that invisible.

“So you're following me now?”, I deadpanned as I stood firmly behind her as she was unlocking her car and she immediately turned around, looking all startled like she wasn't expecting to see me

“Dr McCarthy”, she laughed nervously, brushing her hair out of her face. “I was in fact not following you, I'm just r-running a few errands”

Yeah, right

Aria Stuart was one of my few patients when I just started my private practice. She had difficulties controlling her emotions and I didn't think much about it in the beginning but the more sessions we had, the more I realised that this was way more than that because she showed signs of being schizophrenic.

That's not all though; a few months into our weekly sessions, I noticed her behavior and attitude change towards me as she started getting a bit too comfortable, making these intense sexual advances at me....claiming that she had fallen in love with me over time

I tried handling and processing the matter professionally by finding a way forward without crossing any boundaries and taking her through her feelings that what she was feeling towards me wasn't love, it just that she had mistaken my interest in helping her as a romantic interest

My advances into the situation went into vain though because she didn't seem to understand, carrying on with the inappropriate behaviour, and so I had to immediately cut our session short and sent her right home

This matter was putting me in a conflict of intrest, and so I decided to transfer her to another psychologist. The day I broke the transfer news to her, I assumed it would be the last time I saw her.....or so I thought because after that, things just got a little out of hand.

I've always had my suspicions that someone is following me, but I didn't actually think it would be this fatal. I only noticed something was wrong before the time Olivia was admitted into hospital, everything didn't just add up, getting weirder everyday, and now it was clear, it's always been her from the very begining.

“You stopped at every stop I did, turned at every corner I turned at, and you want me to believe we were just coincidently going to the same places? This has been going on for weeks now”

“Like you said, it's just a coincidence”, she shrugged off the matter lightly. “You can't be sure that it was me on all accounts following you”

“I'm not stupid Aria, just because you switch cars doesn't mean I don't know it's you”

“I never said you are, you are in no way; shape or form stupid. In fact, you're one of the smartest people I know and kind, really handsome”, she smiled, reaching up to touch my face, but I grabbed her hand, stopping her attempts as I dropped it to her side.

“Stop it okay?”

“Nathan please”, her shoulder slumped down in disappointment. “I just wanted to see you”

“What you need is to get some help, I strongly suggest you do that”

“I-”

“Aria, I'm serious. You really need to stop doing this. This crazy obsession you have with me has to stop, it's not healthy. I know it's you with the prank calls, you're following me; Just stop it”

“But I love you”, she reached up to touch my face again, but I pulled away

“I don't know what you think this is”, I pointed in between us. “But I'm not into you like that. You were just my patient, and now you're not. There's nothing going on between us, nothing will ever will”

“How do you know that if you won't even give us a chance?”

“Don't fucking patronize me”, I finally snapped angrily at her and her eyes widened a little, resulting in her keeping quiet as she pocketed her hands in the sweater she had on while dropping her face to the ground. I drew a deep breath to calm myself down a little.

“Listen Aria, I won't be having this conversation with you again. If you don't stop this, I'll be forced to file a protection order against you. Do you understand?”

She started mumbling something under her breath and I couldn't quite hear what she was saying

“I said, do you understand?”, I repeated, causing her to look up and stared me straight in the eyes

“Crystal”, she shrugged her shoulders lightly, dismissing the matter. I backed away from her, and she got in her car, turned the ignition on, and I watched as she drove off.