In a haze

The days after the session seemed to blur together, each passing moment tangled with emotions Miranda couldn’t name—or refused to name. She buried herself in work, pouring over the notes from Garrett’s session and analyzing every detail, every subtle shift in his demeanor. She told herself it was purely professional, but as the week stretched on, the truth became harder to deny.

By the sixth day, Miranda found herself pacing her apartment more often than sitting at her desk. She had started to see changes in herself—subtle, unsettling changes. She spent more time thinking about what she would say to Garrett during their next session, replaying conversations in her head and imagining new ones. Her thoughts lingered on his gaze, those piercing yellow-blue eyes that seemed to strip away all pretense.

She began to question what it was about him that held such a pull over her. He was everything she despised: arrogant, entitled, and completely unapologetic. And yet, there was something else—something deeper—that intrigued her. His defiance felt less like ignorance and more like a shield, and the thought of breaking through it stirred something in her she couldn’t quite place.

The Night Before

Standing in front of her bathroom mirror, Miranda stared at her reflection. Her skin was flushed, her dark eyes shadowed with fatigue, and her hair felt heavier than usual against her shoulders. She reached for a brush, running it through her hair as she tried to push away the thoughts swirling in her mind.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered to herself, setting the brush down with a sharp clatter.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t ignore the truth any longer. She had feelings for Garrett Silver. The realization hit her like a cold wave, making her grip the edge of the sink as she tried to steady herself.

“How?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “How can I feel this way about someone like him? A monster…”

The word felt hollow as it left her lips. Garrett was defiant, arrogant, and dangerous, but was he truly irredeemable? The thought made her stomach twist. Maybe, just maybe, he could change. Maybe she could change him.

The idea took root before she could stop it. If Garrett could learn humility, if he could become a good, obedient man—a true ally—then perhaps he wouldn’t be the monster she feared. Perhaps he could be more.

Her heart quickened at the thought, and a blush crept up her neck as her mind spiraled further. If he changed, if he truly understood the world the way she did, then maybe… maybe she could be with him.

Miranda shook her head sharply, trying to dispel the idea, but it clung to her like a shadow. She had spent so many nights this week trying to rid herself of these thoughts, of the tension building inside her. She had tried to find relief, but every attempt had ended in frustration. Garrett’s voice, his smirk, his defiance—they consumed her mind, leaving her restless and unfulfilled.

Slipping into bed, she pulled the covers up to her chin and stared at the ceiling. Her feelings were dangerous, reckless even, but she couldn’t deny them. Tomorrow, she would see him again. Maybe then, she could regain control—of the program, of her emotions, and of Garrett.

And maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to make him the man she wanted him to be.