The Breeding Deal: Brother-in-law's Forbidden Offer - Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Psychologists

James had found eight psychologists for his boss.

These weren’t just any psychologists – they were the cream of the crop from the city’s top clinics. Some were private specialists who only served the elite and wealthy. Even B-list celebrities might need to book a year in advance to get an appointment with them.

According to the contract requirements, each psychologist was allowed only ten minutes to communicate with Adrian, paid at their highest hourly rate. However, if they went over time, not only would they not get paid extra, they’d actually have money deducted.

The psychologists arrived early and sat in Adrian’s office waiting area, all looking extremely tense and on high alert.

They almost felt like they were the patients instead.

When signing the contracts, James had laid out several non-negotiable rules they must follow: they should only wear suits in black, white, or gray; walk quietly; speak softly; keep all phones on silent mode.

By the way, James had also mentioned some personal hygiene requirements – anyone with bad breath, body odor, or who couldn’t control their flatulence should just not come at all.

The psychologists: “…”

The first few doctors had brought colored lights, aromatherapy diffusers, singing bowls, and one even suggested playing meditation music in the office. James kindly turned them all away.

“The boss hates all music, fragrances, and fancy lights – oh, and sir, your hair gel is quite strong – please go wash your hair and come back up.”

The psychologists: “…”

As leading professionals in their field, all eight experts had asked James for Adrian’s personal information, a summary of symptoms to be consulted, or any other useful information. James had apologetically declined all requests, explaining they would have to draw their conclusions within the ten-minute communication.

The psychologists were either speechless or deeply offended, with several immediately declaring they couldn’t take the job: it was impossible – what could possibly be accomplished in ten minutes?

James remained unhurried and calm, stating that as long as the doctors were willing to come, compensation was negotiable, and if anyone could actually cure the boss’s problem, they were fully prepared to offer much more.

Now, outside Adrian’s office, the first four psychologists had finished their sessions. Each had entered his office trembling with fear and emerged looking pale – forget ten minutes, they barely lasted five before Adrian threw them out.

While the doctors suffered, Adrian’s mood grew darker with each passing minute. When he heard there were four more doctors waiting, he waved his hand dismissively and ordered them all to get out.

As his assistant, James could hear everything happening inside through the intercom.

All the psychologists diagnosed Adrian as arrogant, extremely cold, with an almost pathological need to control every detail of life, and severe character flaws.

The first psychologist pointed out that Adrian must have suffered childhood trauma, likely from an unhappy family background.

The second psychologist analyzed that Adrian had never experienced love as a child, so he didn’t understand what it meant to like someone, let alone how to express respect, care, and basic courtesy to others.

The third psychologist concluded that Adrian’s germaphobia and OCD were defense mechanisms against inner anxiety.

The last psychologist, a small elderly man with a white beard, dropped a bombshell – he said Adrian was in love with this woman.

It was precisely because he had fallen in love that he lost desire for other women – after all, love often begins with possessiveness.

Hearing this conclusion, Adrian’s response was brief and to the point: “Get out.”

James stood outside the office, paying the four experts who hadn’t even entered. Having received payment without doing any work, they had no complaints – some even seemed secretly pleased.

The boss of Blackwood Group was truly an eccentric character, the likes of which they’d rarely seen.

One doctor was particularly curious and asked James what psychological condition Adrian actually needed treatment for.

James recalled Adrian’s increasingly dark expression and the shattered glass on the floor, his lip twitching: “Ma’am, best not to be curious. Let me walk you downstairs. Take care.”

After seeing off all the psychologists, James returned to the office. He had originally blocked out the entire morning for therapy sessions, but now they had finished early, leaving lots of free time. Daniel, as the business manager, wanted to seize this opportunity to review last month’s auction item tracking details with Adrian.

James stopped him, approaching Adrian with his Pad. He meant to ask about the upcoming schedule to gauge if Adrian’s mood was suitable for Marcus to risk discussing business, but before he could speak, his phone rang in his pocket.

Looking at the caller ID, he saw it was Rebecca Sinclair, and his heart sank.

From James’s perspective, Rebecca rarely called Adrian. When she did call, it was always about tasks for her eldest son – like paying for Ethan’s treatment, discussing treatment plans with Ethan’s doctors, or reminding Adrian to visit Ethan during holidays to show their brotherly affection.

In short, she would never call Adrian just to check on his wellbeing.

“It’s your mother calling, boss. Would you like to answer?”

Adrian didn’t respond, just held out his hand, and James placed the phone in his palm with both hands. He glanced at the caller ID and his long fingers slid to answer.

“Adrian, what the hell is wrong with you?! I just heard about you beating up Marcus and Wesley yesterday! What were you thinking? Of all times – right before the New Year holidays?”

Rebecca’s furious voice filled the quiet office, loud enough for both James and Daniel to hear clearly.

They both flinched and took three steps back toward the door.

Adrian tugged at his collar. His tone was flat, but listening carefully, there was a hint of coldness, even mockery in it. His eyes darkened as he stared into space.

“Mother, this doesn’t concern you. Focus on Ethan.”

“Don’t you take that tone with me, young man! I’m still your mother – of course I’m concerned!”

Rebecca, who’d learned about Adrian’s fight early that morning, was beside herself with anger and worry.

Hearing his voice only confirmed what she’d always known – he was still that same stubborn, defiant child who never listened, which only fueled her anger:

“I swear, it’s like you haven’t matured a day since you were a kid! Do you have any idea what position you’ve put me in? How am I supposed to look your uncle in the eye after this? What am I supposed to say to everyone? Just because you’re some big shot CEO now, you think you can go around roughing people up? Listen to me – success in business doesn’t give you a free pass to treat people like dirt! The fact that your father isn’t here anymore doesn’t mean you get to act like there are no rules in this family! What would your grandfather say if he saw this? He raised you better than this! You should treat Marucs and Wesley as your own flesh and blood – that’s what he said! How could you even think about laying a hand on them?! And for God’s sake, you’re Ethan’s big brother! What kind of message are you sending him with behavior like this?

“You know what – fine, save your excuses, I don’t want to hear them. Are you at the office? Stay put. I’m coming over with some things, and we’re going straight to their place so you can apologize properly.”

“…Thanks for your long concern, but that won’t be necessary.”

Adrian said coldly, then immediately hurled his phone at the bookshelf. With a loud bang, it hit a row of awards before falling onto the carpet, its screen completely shattered.

Those gleaming awards and trophies of various shapes weren’t easy achievements for ordinary people, but now they tumbled down like plastic toys as the man knocked several of them off.

The scattered gold awards on the floor were painfully bright, as if mocking him.

Without any hesitation, James immediately retrieved a new phone box from a nearby cabinet, opened it, and crouched down to deactivate the broken phone and activate the new one.

Daniel remained silent, simply bringing over a cup of coffee while cleaning up the mess on the floor.

After finishing, James took out the office first-aid kit and replaced the bandages on Adrian’s injuries – both the wounds on his hands from last night’s fight and the marks on his neck from Christine.

Adrian stayed quiet, silently allowing his assistants to tend to him.

He sat in his office chair with an icy expression, face turned to the side, staring expressionlessly at the awards and phone fragments on the floor until they were cleaned away, leaving the gray carpet pristine again.

The assistants tactfully withdrew as he entered his office gym, changed clothes, and started running on the treadmill.

While running, he suddenly stopped and walked wordlessly to the floor-to-ceiling window.

“Bang!”

The man slammed his fist hard against the massive window.

Blood immediately seeped through the freshly changed bandages, red liquid trickling from the wound and dripping onto the carpet.