Page 94 of Forever Mr Black

I glance at Theo, who’s guarding the door in case I make a run for it.

“Both of you are fucking crazy,” I cry.

“Tut-tut.” Aisling smirks and gestures towards the sofa. “Please, take a seat on the couch. We’ve a lot to discuss.”

“If you think I’m going to sit down and listen to your bullshit, then you’re wrong.”

“Just do as you’re fucking told.” Theo roughly pushes me down on the sofa.

I straighten up and scoot to the far end, and he takes the other.

Aisling tilts her head to the side and looks at me with renewed hatred. “You’re incredibly manipulative, aren’t you, Sophie?”

I can’t help it. I laugh. “Are you serious?”

“Completely. You’ve convinced Art that you’re perfect. You’ve reeled Barbara in too. Not to mention, how you treated poor Theo.” She juts out her bottom lip and shakes her head in mock disappointment.

“You’re a twisted, conniving bitch.” I stab a finger in her direction. I don’t care if it’s two on one. I don’t care if he’s got a knife. I’m not going down without a fight. I swing my eyes to Theo. “Why did you start going to Savage?”

He rubs his hands together. “Why not? I’m a man. I’ve got needs.”

“It helps fulfil Theo’s need for sexual control,” Aisling says.

“Is that what you call it?” I snap.

She cuts her eyes at me. “That’s where we met. We got to talking, didn’t we, Theo? And you decided to give therapy a go. It’s by pure coincidence he hooked up with Tara. Isn’t it a small world?”

Six degrees of separation.

“And that played straight into your hands. Because we thought Tara was the one feeding Theo the stuff about Art and me when, really, it was you. It was just a red herring. And you’ve never stopped going to Savage, have you? What you told Art was a lie!”

Aisling rolls her eyes in boredom. “Oh, give it a rest, will you? Honestly, all I’ve heard from Mum and Barbara is Sophie this and Sophie that.” She looks at Theo. “And like I’ve told you, Theo, they’ve all fallen for her little act, like you did. But you’re wise to her.”

“What about all the things he did to me?” I protest.

Theo snatches a hand through his hair and leans forward on the sofa, not looking at me. “It was because I loved you.”

“Fuck off,” I spit. “You hurt me. What you did was wrong.”

He swallows hard, still avoiding my eyes.

“Now, this is what I was talking about in our sessions, Theo,” an authoritative voice cuts in.

He instantly looks at Aisling.

“How you’ve been emotionally blackmailed and manipulated by her into thinking what you did was wrong when it came from a good place.”

I don’t believe what I’m hearing. “You’re meant to help people. You’re brainwashing him,” I cry.

“Aisling told me I should speak to you to get everything out in the open, so I could put us behind me. But you didn’t want to listen.” Theo glares at me with bloodshot eyes. He doesn’t look like he’s slept for a week. “It’s your own fucking fault, Sophie.”

I stare at him, aghast. “You threatened me with a knife. You’ve kidnapped me.”

“Sometimes, a little force is needed to make people realise what they really want,” she pipes up.

I snap, “Fuck you. You’re doing this because of Art. You want him, and he doesn’t want you. This is all part of your fucked up game to try and get him. He’ll never want you. Get the fucking message.”

The serene expression she’s worn so far twists with anger. “You silly little bitch. He won’t want you after tonight. No one wants tainted goods.”

---