The Master Programmer-Chapter 81: Just A Boy… Right? 2

Jason realised that this was the moment, he stood up and went to Veronica, wrapping his arms around her. "Veronica… it really isn’t fair for me to be competing with someone I can’t compete against. I wish you saw me for me, instead of the idea you have of me in your head."

Jason released her, sitting back up again, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "If you miss him, I understand. But don’t use me as some kind of stand-in. I deserve better than that."

She flinched, the pain in her eyes clear, but then she met his gaze with a quiet defiance. "And what if I don’t see you as just a stand-in? You... you don’t understand Jason…"

"I do… and that’s why I want you and me to do something, right here, right now. Call it a mental exercise. I want you to imagine him." Jason said, looking straight at Veronica, who looked at him in wonder.

"Come on," Jason said holding her, flashing her a reassuring smile. "Close your eyes if you want to. But picture him clearly in your mind, as if you’re watching a movie. And then slowly… picture the moment you had with him… is that me?"

Veronica was confused at first, but seeing the sincerity in Jason’s eyes, she soon had her eyes closed, she couldn’t help but be taken aback when Jason asked that last question. She shook her head. It really wasn’t Jason.

Jason sighed again as he saw a tear slide down her face. He then wiped it off. She must be conflicted. It’s okay. I’ll make it easier for you now.

"Exactly. It’s not me… It’s just a picture. Just a movie. I want you to open your eyes and look at me, Veronica. Push that movie away from you. As far away as you can and look at me," Jason said, watching as Veronica’s eyes opened up looking at him.

"I want you to see the image of that movie getting smaller and smaller. Dimmer and quieter… until it’s nothing more than a faint echo… You’re not in that old decrepit cinema anymore. You’re here with me. Do you see that?"

Veronica opened her eyes, staring at Jason, not knowing that he had just employed a dissociation tactic. By getting her to imagine some fond memories, and then having them shrink and get pulled away from her, she was effectively forgetting her husband.

But at the same time, by telling her to open her eyes and see him, he was effectively getting her to look at him like she looked at those memories of her husband. He was looking at him. Not some old decrepit movies. She was in the light. Not in the darkness. She was in the place where she would feel the most freedom.

Jason grabbed onto her hand, and then he smiled at her, his tone encouraging as he spoke to her. "Here’s the exciting part… Right now. Right here. You get to decide how the next part of your story goes… Imagine a version of yourself that is full of energy and joy. Can you feel that? Hold onto that feeling. It’s who you are. Its who you truly are when you let go of the things that are weighting you down. That, right there… That is the person I see in you every single day."

Jason spoke this far, gazing deeply into her eyes as he anchored a positive mental state. He was linking this positivity to their shared future together and in doing so, whenever he was around, she would be happy about it.

Jason stared at her without saying anything else, her hands in his, and he just looked at her, making sure to look at her in such an intense way that it made her almost blush, not sure where to look. With her hands in Jason’s, the sheet was completely gone, so her see-through night dress was still on there, showing a cleavage. Even worse, Jason was naked.

And then in the next moment, as the atmosphere became softer, sweeter, Veronica sighed, moving her hands away from Jason’s as she said, "But you and I… we are so different. And I know for certain that you are almost half my age. I’m an old woman!"

"Do you think I care?!" Jason said, his face sombre and serious. "You know every time I see you, I picture this… You and me… walking side by side… discovering all the amazing things life had to offer us. Laughing, exploring, and creating moments that feel effortless and real to us. That’s it. US. Nothing else matters. Doesn’t that feel like the kind of story worth writing, reading, or watching on a movie screen? And then the best part is this: It’s all ours to create. It’s all yours to create, starting now."

Future pacing… Jason was helping her along, getting her to imagine a wonderful future which would be filled with positive emotions and possibilities. And all of these futures would have something to do with him.

"Jason… it still doesn’t change the fact that I’m older than you…" Veronica said, her eyes falling low enough to see a penis that was still engorged. She looked away. "It doesn’t change the fact that... this is wrong."

"Who says?!" Jason said, standing up on his knees. "Let them come talk to me about it. I do not care. And if I don’t care, then neither should you."

Jason sighed after saying that. Before he once again kneeled next to her. "The truth is this, Veronica… You’ve already made the hardest choice. The choice to move forward. And every step you take from here only brings you closer to the happiness you deserve. Together we can make that future brighter than anything else you’ve ever left behind. All it takes is another step forward. And then another. And another."

After delivering a few more embedded suggestions, Jason got off the bed. "I’m here for you, Veronica," He began, his voice steady and his tone warm. "Not to replace anyone, but to show you how incredible the future can be when you embrace it. So… why don’t you take that step? Are you ready to write this next chapter of your book with me?"

Jason said this with a smile as he sat back down on the bed. He had all but forgotten the fact that he was naked. And it seemed Veronica had too, well almost. This was a good thing. And then in the next moment, he heard the words he had not been expecting to hear.

"I… I want to try, just… give me a bit of time…" Veronica said, her voice soft, and filled with complication, but still warm and firm.

Jason blinked, caught off guard by her honesty. Before he could respond, Veronica sighed and slid off the bed, wrapping the blanket around her shoulders as she headed toward the door.

"I’ll leave you alone," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

But Jason caught her wrist before she could escape. "Wait," he said, his grip gentle but firm. "You don’t have to go."

Veronica turned back to him, her expression unreadable. "Why not?"

Jason let out a breath. "Because I want you to stay. If that’s what you want too."

Her lips parted, her breath hitching, but then she pulled her hand free. "You’re dangerous, Jason," she murmured, shaking her head. "You make me feel things I shouldn’t."

Jason smirked, leaning closer. "That’s a two-way street, Veronica."

After Veronica left the room, Jason showered and dressed, trying to shake off the lingering heat of their exchange.

Veronica said that she had been heading off to dinner with Samantha the previous day, had she not? Jason wondered how that went… He was interested in asking her, but if he did, it might show too much interest and too much interest was never a good thing, since it was suspicious.

By the time he came downstairs, she was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee. She looked calm like the vulnerable woman from an hour before had been a figment of his imagination.

"Heading out?" she asked casually, not looking up from her mug.

Jason grabbed an apple from the counter, leaning against the doorway as he watched her. "Yeah. Got some errands to run."

She glanced at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Stay out of trouble. Samantha told me some things about you yesterday… You need to stay safe, Jason. "

Jason chuckled, pushing off the wall. As he moved to leave, he thought of something and stepped up next to Veronica who seemed to be evading his gaze with her everything. She turned her head very quickly, looking at him like a deer would look at a wolf. Was she that afraid of him after what she did last night?

Jason smirked, leaning down so their faces were inches apart. "Worried about me?"

She didn’t answer, but the way her gaze dropped to his lips told him everything he needed to know. Yep. Yet again, the system was omniscient. It knew everything and everything about everything.

|————————————

|| Master Programmer System || Stats | Missions | Items | Store |

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on ƒreewebɳovel.com.

—————

Your Current Missions:

—> Make your Sexy Boss Fall For You (83% done)

—> Take Revenge on the GrumpyMiddle-Agedd Landlord (72% done)

—> Build a Syndicate! (50% done)

————————————|

Jason grinned, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face before stepping past her. "See you tonight, Veronica," he called over his shoulder.

She stood frozen, watching him leave, her heart pounding. "Just a boy," she whispered to herself, clenching her fists. "He’s just a boy."

But deep down, she knew that wasn’t true. Jason Cross was becoming something far more dangerous… someone she couldn’t resist.

As Jason walked down the street, he checked his system notifications. His progress with Veronica had jumped to 83%. A sly grin spread across his face. But when he checked out Emily’s progress, he couldn’t help but frown. What a disgusting thing.

It seemed her progress was going down. Her progress had more to do with the man who stood behind her. Thomas Grayson must be pressurising her. So annoying. Maybe he had to finish this as soon as possible.

Thinking back to Veronica, he couldn’t help but sigh. "She’s falling for me," he murmured. "Good. But this is just the beginning." Just a bit more effort and she would be his for the taking. She would be all is.

Just the prospect made Jason lick his lips, not because he was looking forward to touching her or anything, but more because he was genuinely looking forward to being together with her. What man didn’t love exceptionally beautiful women?

His grin faded as he spotted a shadowy figure lingering at the corner of the block. Jason’s instincts flared, and his hand moved to the concealed knife at his side. Why did he have a concealed knife? He was part of the underground now. He had to.

The figure turned, their face obscured by a hood, but the glint of something metallic in their hand made Jason’s blood run cold.

What the hell was happening? Who was that?

"Looks like trouble found me after all," he muttered, tightening his grip on the blade.

The figure stepped forward, their voice low and menacing. "Jason… we need to talk."