Chapter 1 - Redemption

Natalie's POV

Nikolas.

Nikolas Viarchi. His name has a nice ring to it.

Damn.

Natalie and Nikolas. Nate and Nik. The two N's. Even our names fit.

I snapped myself out of that dreamland and focused more on my actual job here, "How about you tell me a little about yourself first," I checked the file over my desk, "I see you haven't filled out the form yet," I still don't even know what brings him here.

"Like what's your job? Your age? Where do you live?" I started, "You know consider this our first date and tell me everything about yourself." I added, trying to lighten the mood but it didn't seem like he got the humor in my words.

"Job?" He asked, the corner of his lips pulling up, as if its funny, "You can say I own a business."

Oh, him in a suit. I can build all of my fantasies over that image only.

Jesus Nate, get back to yourself. So damn unprofessional.

"Age?" I asked.

"Thirty four."

"Oh, great! " The words left my mouth without permission. The excitement in my tone alone gave me away.

Confusion tightened his brow and I immediately cleared my throat, "You know, thirties are a good age I mean, great age even, you're not in your twenties, so not too young, neither in your forties and people look at you as too old," I started to ramble, trying to hide the fact that I am so excited that his age checks perfectly on my man-of-my-dreams list, "So, thirties. Great age. Yeah."

He started back at me, his gaze pure clueless, as if trying to understand but failing miserably.

I am so taking advantage of this session and I really shouldn't. Back to being professional Nate. Back to earth.

"There is some papers you should sign first and all, but since this is only a trial session, we can leave that out for later." I informed him and he nodded.

"Now, Nikolas," I leaned back into my seat, "What brings you to me?"

His lips parted, ready to talk but he decided otherwise and pressed them shut. His fingers raked through his hair, messing it even more. His feet impatiently tapping over the floor. Every action he does screams that he is on the edge.

One push and he'll fall. Fall into where? That's the question I am trying to solve.

"I really don't have an answer to that." He admitted, honestly.

"You told me that your friend pushed you to get here." I said, my eyebrows pulled together, "Why do you think he wants you be here?"

"He thinks that this is supposed to," His eyebrows pulled together as if trying to find the answer somewhere far in his mind, "To help me overcome the problems that I have."

"What are these problems?"

He smiled, a small one, more like a sneer. I felt him mocking me and my question.

"You know, for this to work," I pointed between us, "You need to share a little bit more than that with me," I held him with a smoldering gaze, not backing away, "You gonna need to trust me."

"You see, that's why this would never work." He said, his eyebrow raised, "I am not big on trusting."

I placed my notepad and the pen over the desk and leaned forward in my seat, "You know, I am a doctor, it's my job, this...is my job, so trusting me would do you no harm." I assured him, "But you act as if the whole world is out there to get you."

"It does feel like that at times." He said and I wondered, what did this world do to you, Nikolas?

Conventional methods would do me no good in his situation. So, I got to my feet and walked toward him. I felt his eyes confusingly follow me as I went and sat beside him on the couch, "Then for now, forget that I am a doctor," I said, sitting so that my body faces him, "I am just a stranger, who you'd never see again, who'll forget everything you tell her right after you go, so what would be the first thing you'd tell her?"

His chest rose as he sucked into a deep breath, his eyes stayed focused on me, as if trying to decide if I am worthy of him sharing his secrets with me. He blinked and I breathed, my eyes flickered all over his handsome face, from the few strands of the black hair that keeps falling over his forehead, to his stressed eyebrows, moving down to the best part of him there is, those forest-green eyes.

People always praise the color of my eyes, telling me how beautiful they are. But I am sure that his could win over mine, anytime. From the first look, the hardness of the color reflects danger, it has an edge. But the longer you look, you notice how soft it is, so smooth.

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I caught myself shamelessly checking him out again. This man has managed to draw me to him in a matter of seconds and without even muttering a single word.

I am intrigued. Very.

His gaze left me and they dropped down to the floor, "It's just that," He paused a bit, "That I don't know how to be normal anymore." He admitted over a heavy whisper, "How am I supposed to act, what am I supposed to say or do...I really have no clue."

"For my whole life, there is only one way that I used to deal with everything there is."

"What is it?"

He turned me, "Violence," He shook his head, "It's the only way I know."

"Guess that's not the default way of dealing with things though," His eyebrow raised, this time mocking his own self. His body turned so that it's facing me now, "So tell me, doctor, how am I supposed to change a habit I've been accustomed to for the past thirty years?"

For a couple of seconds, I stayed silent and thought, "So, you're looking for...redemption."

His eyebrows creased at my out-of-the-blue observation, and at how true it is.

I smiled and gave him a light shrug, "I am a good profiler," I explained, "It's what makes me good at what I do."

"Maybe," He said, somehow accepting my observation, "But I keep thinking, what if not everyone is capable of redemption," His eyebrow raised, "What if I am not?"

"The fact that you want it, is actually the first step toward it." I said, "It's not easy, you need to work on it, on yourself. It needs commitment, and it definitely needs you to stop doubting yourself."

The corner of his lip pulled up, "It's hard not to do that."

"Why?" It didn't feel like my usual sessions anymore. It's just two strangers, disagreeing on the matter at hand.

"Redemption means a second chance." He stated.

I nodded, "And everyone deserves a second chance."

He shook his head, "You don't know the things I've done."

"Well, I always see the good in people," I said, "And Nikolas, I believe that there is a lot of good in you, even though you don't believe in that yourself." I added, another obvious observation.

He just stared back at me, assessing my words and trying to decide whether I am being honest or I am just trying to gain another patient. I am hundred percent honest, I do see the best in people and call it a gut-feeling, but this man ahead of me, opposite to his own beliefs, is just a victim.

A victim to what? That's another question to answer.

"Now, at least, I have a small idea about what brings you here to me, and I really think that I could help you get what you want." I added, "Even if it meant having to do this over my usual working hours," I nodded toward outside, where the sun has went down and the darkness blanketed the city, "I just think it'll be worth it."

He stayed silent so I carried on, "What scares you Nikolas, is that you can't change the past," That why he thinks he doesn't deserve to be redeemed, it has to be, "You can't change the beginning, but let me tell you something," I added, "You can start where you are now and change the ending."

Something about my words seemed to hit something in him.

"So, Mr. Viarchi," My tone had a challenging edge to it and I extended my hand toward him, "Are you in?"

His gaze dropped to my hand and I patiently waited. A small smile lifted his lips before he placed his hand in mine, his gaze flickered back to my eyes, the same challenging tone took over his words and he nodded, "I am in."

I tried to ignore how warm his hand is, how it perfectly wrapped around my small one, how the brush of our skin had me shifting in my seat, while he didn't seem bothered at all.

Oh, I am really stepping into a dangerous territory and I really shouldn't. But the curious psychologist in me is no where near done, she is a wanderer, and nothing can stop her now. Not even this handsome dangerous broken man.

He retreated his hand back, "How many times a week we'll have to meet?"

"Let's start with three times a week," I answered, "And then, when we notice an improvement, we can make it two."

He nodded and I added, "You can call my assistant later and arrange the days and the time most suitable for you," I quirked my eyebrow at him, "Although, I am pretty sure they will all be after the sun goes down."

He nodded, "I function better at night."

I shook my head, "I am the total opposite of you."

He drew a breath out of his lungs, "I am pretty sure you are."

I didn't get exactly what he meant, but I decided to ignore it nevertheless.

I got to my feet and walked back to my desk, "Okay, so, we can start next week I guess," I gathered my belongings and sighed dreamily, "Now, I have a long-awaited, much-deserved weekend ahead of me."

He stood up as well, his expression back to neutral again, "Have a nice weekend then," He said.

I offered him a smile, "Thanks, you too."

With one last nod, he turned around and walked out of my office and I took full pleasure eyeing his tall strong figure from the back as he left.

Damn. Not getting laid for way too long is finally catching up to me.

*************

Nikolas's POV

I threw the keys over the table and walked inside the house. I rubbed at my neck tiredly before I shrugged my jacket off. The lights shinning from the living room and the noise coming from the TV had me rolling my eyes in annoyance.

I walked toward the noise source and when my eyes fell on him, I sighed, "I gave you a key for emergencies, not so you can come and watch TV whenever you feel like it."

"Oh, you're finally back," He said over an annoyed sigh before he turned the TV off and gave me his full attention.

I sat on the couch facing him and he leaned forward, "So, how was it?" He asked, a bit of excitement flickered in his tone, "What did you talk about? How was she? Did you like her?"

My eyebrows furrowed together at his choice of questions. He cleared his throat and leaned back in his seat casually, "I mean as a doctor, is she good?"

My lips curled up, thinking it through, "I am not sure," I answered, "What made you chose her, anyway? She is young, I doubt she has any experience."

I still doubt that she'll be able to help me, but for some reason, I am willing to give it a try.

Alex smiled, "Oh yeah, she is young alright," At my confused expression, his smile dropped, "I mean, you're young, she is young, so you both can understand each others better."

"We'll see about that."

"Okay, tell me now, come on, what did you talk about? How is she like?"

Why is he that much excited?

"We didn't talk that much anyway." I answered, "She is..." I tried to find the best word to describe her and Alex waited patiently, "She is a bit weird."

Alex looked so disappointed, as if he was expecting something else. He shot me a glare and huffed out, "You can't be my brother, I swear." He stood up, "I can't deal with you, seriously."

"They probably switched one of us in the hospital, I am sure." Mumbling more words, he angrily stormed off and I stared at his back in confusion.

What the-

Did I say something wrong?