[ WP ] You are a marriage counselor secretly trying to destroy the marriage of a couple you counsel . It looks like you 're failing .

I anxiously glanced at my watch and glanced furtively at my door. Any minute now, the Rivertons would walk through my door. I had been eagerly anticipating this all day and now the time had finally come. 
 
 For months, I had been secretly manipulating them into destroying their marriage and today was their last scheduled session. I could hardly wait to hear them tell me that they were going to get divorced. I knew it was coming. I heard the door open and I looked up and saw their smiling faces. My heart sank to the floor. 
 
 With a fake smile, I welcomed them into my office. I noticed that they were holding hands, which made me start to slightly panic. Was all of this for nothing? 
 
 `` How are you?'' I asked. 
 
 `` Could n't be better!'' replied Erica. She looked lovingly at her husband Jeff, who returned a smile. As soon as she turned away to face me, I kept my eyes on him. His eyes immediately went cold and calculating. I felt a sickness in my stomach. *No, no no! She's supposed to hate him and leave him! Why is this happening?! * 
 
 I force a smile and look at them both. 
 
 `` Take a seat,'' I mutter, and they oblige. I look them over quickly and try to ignore the increasingly larger foreboding feeling in my gut. 
 
 `` So, I noticed that you two decided to cancel the rest of your sessions. Is that what we are here to talk about today?'' 
 
 `` YES!'' burst out Erica. We've managed to work things out. Jeff and I had a long talk last night and decided that our love for each other could get us through anything. We are staying together. We no longer need your counseling services despite how helpful they have been!'' 
 
 I try to hide my disgust, but I can feel my face starting to sour. I must not let him notice. 
 
 Too late. 
 
 Jeff notices my facial expression and smirks. 
 
 He's recognized me. 
 
 I knew it. It seems that he had n't forgotten me, as I had n't forgotten him. I recognized those cold eyes the second they walked through my door and ever since then, I had been doing everything in my power to end this relationship. 
 
 Erica is oblivious to our interaction and I am not surprised. A bubbly and naive woman, Erica had proven to be easy to manipulate. However, I had completely overlooked that Jeff had been manipulating her too. That poor woman was simply a pawn in our game. 
 
 `` Alright dear, let's thank this lovely counselor for her help and let's be on our way,'' says Jeff coyly. *No! I have to stop them somehow! * I scramble and grab papers off my desk. 
 
 `` I need you both to fill out this survey! It's mandatory and must be completed separately. Jeff, please take this out in the hall and bring it back in when you've completed it.'' Jeff narrows his eyes at me. 
 
 `` Surely that's not necessary?'' he asks. 
 
 `` I insist.'' With a heavy sigh, he grabs the paper from my hand and heads out. I do n't actually need them both to fill out the survey, least of all separately, but it gives me those few precious moments with Erica that I've never had. I must act fast. Jeff walks out into the hall. Just as I'm about to start talking, Erica beats me to it. 
 
 `` I know what you're up to,'' she says. 
 
 I'm shocked. *How? * I say nothing, hoping she'll continue. She hesitates. 
 
 `` You are trying to end the relationship. You're in love with him!'' When I hear this, I breathe a sigh of relief and I chuckle slightly. Foolish woman. 
 
 I have never loved him. 
 
 She becomes offended that I have chuckled so I quickly compose myself and flat out deny her accusation. Undeterred, she crosses her arms like a child and repeats herself. Again, I deny it. In a huff, she suddenly stands up and goes to open the door, but not before Jeff opens it and comes back inside the office. 
 
 `` Here's your survey. We're leaving now,'' he says to Erica, but she has decided to throw a tantrum. 
 
 `` Did you cheat on me with our counselor?'' He looks at her, mouth agape, and then turns to me, eyes burning. 
 
 `` Of course not, Erica. I would never do that to you.'' She looks unconvinced at first, and then walks up to him. 
 
 `` Do you promise?'' 
 
 `` I promise.'' He holds out his arms and she embraces him in a hug. His eyes find mine and I can see that he is not pleased with me. He leads her out the door, and after she is completely out of the room, he doubles back quickly in the pretense that he's forgotten something. He makes eye contact with me. 
 
 `` You'll regret this,'' he says curtly and turns around, walks out the door, and slams it shut.
