Ian Henshaw the III made a strong exit from Dr. Prentice’s office, leaving a trail of testosterone behind him.
Aubrey called Jennifer into her office to fill her in on the session.
Jennifer wanted to hear everything. She had been waiting for a week to see how things went. Aubrey was more than happy to fill her in.
Jennifer started. “So how was he?”
“He wasn’t as mean-spirited as I thought he would be, but he is definitely a challenge. He crossed me at every turn, challenging my psychotherapy methods as well as my authority. But I held my ground and made what little headway I could.”
“Is he coming back? He made another appointment.”
“I think so. I threatened to call his grandfather if he didn’t.”
“Really? I don’t believe you.”
“Sure, I did. He is going to tell me everything about his life. His marriage, his brother, his company. By the time I’m through with him, I’ll know whether he wears boxers or briefs.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“It’s going to take a lot of time, but I’ll get there. His grandfather is a phone call away. And I see his family at the country club.”
“So what about his family? I haven’t read his file yet. I was waiting for you to talk to him first.”
“Go ahead and read it. He has a grandfather who is taking him to task before he inherits and a jealous brother who has been relegated to a figurehead position.”
“That sounds complicated.”
“It is.”
Aubrey folded her arms and stared past Jennifer, replaying the session in her mind.
“Ian’s grandfather, Ian Henshaw Senior…” she began, “he built his empire brick by brick. All by himself, or so he thinks. To him, emotional weakness equals failure as a man. Toughen up against your enemies and show no mercy to anyone.”
“Sounds like a delight.”
Aubrey gave a dry smile. “He’s new money trying hard to be old-money aristocracy. He wants to be a patriarch, like on TV, who expects his family to behave like chess pieces, not people. It’s a fantasy world no one cares about. People see his money and want to do business with him. That’s the extent of it, but he wants something more.”
“What’s that?” Jennifer asked.
“He’s determined to forge Ian into a carbon copy of himself.”
“So Ian is…what, the heir he’s molding?”
“Yes,” Aubrey said. “But molding might be too gentle a word. He shapes Ian through intimidation. No wonder Ian has doubts about himself. He treats Ian like a high-value investment, with high expectations, and absolutely no room for deviation. Every minute of Ian’s day is monitored. His marriage is considered part of the brand.”
Jennifer grimaced. “That sounds awful.”
“It is,” Aubrey replied. “He wants Ian to inherit the company, lead the board, maintain the family reputation, and produce the next generation of perfect Henshaws. And if Ian resists, his grandfather pushes harder. He’s strategic with affection, too, giving it to Ian when he behaves like a real man.”
“That explains a lot. And the brother?”
“Trent,” Aubrey said. She was thinking about how he fit into the picture. “Trent Henshaw is the eldest. He expected to inherit. But he’s, well, how did Ian phrase it? ‘A figurehead.’”
“What does that mean?”
“He has a title, but no power. He sits at the boardroom table, but he knows to keep his mouth shut; unlike Ian, who is afraid to open it. Ian Haneshaw Senior has both boys right where he wants them. And he knows it. He’s molding Ian to prevent what happened to Trent, who fucked up one of his companies and will never hear the end of it. So Trent is waiting for Ian to fail. Then tell the old man, ‘I told you so.’”
“So Ian got the crown by default?”
“Exactly. And Trent never forgave him for it.”
“That sounds like a reality show I’m watching.”
“You have no idea,” Aubrey said. “There’s jealousy, resentment, years of unresolved rivalry. Trent undermines Ian whenever he can. But Senior always backs Ian, which only makes Trent more volatile.”
Jennifer frowned. “So Ian’s stuck between a controlling grandfather and a bitter brother.”
“And a failing marriage,” Aubrey added. “And a company he doesn’t even know if he wants.”
“No wonder he looked like he wanted to punch a wall.”
“He’s cornered,” Aubrey said. “Men like that either implode or fight their way out.”
Jennifer eyed her curiously. “And you think you’re the one who’s going to guide him through it?”
“Oh, Jennifer. I’m not guiding him. I’m redirecting him. There’s a difference.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I always do,” Aubrey said. “It’s Ian who needs to decide whether he wants to be the man he was raised to be or the man he actually is.”
“So, if he’s that trapped, what’s your angle? How do you even begin to get someone like that to open up?”
“I already did it. I found his weak spot.”
“What is it?”
“He’s doubtful of his success in the company. Uncertain of his ability to stand on his own. Not worthy of his inheritance. Call it whatever you want, but the self-doubt has crept in.”
“Wow, that’s genius. You got him doubting himself?”
“He challenged me through the entire session, but he didn’t leave.”
“What does that mean? He likes to fight?”
“He’s not used to talking to someone who cares. His grandfather bulldozes him. His brother undermines him. I’m the first person in a long time who called him out on his bullshit, but then listened to what he had to say.”
Jennifer smirked. “Ballsy.”
Aubrey didn’t deny it. “He has met his match. I threatened to call his grandfather, and he caved. She paused, reexamining the session in her mind. “He wasn’t happy about it, but it gave me enough leeway to get him to admit he’s not happy and doesn’t know what to do about it.”
“What’s the next step?”
“Showing him that this office is the one place where he doesn’t need to posture. Even though he won’t admit it, he needs a safe space. And what he really needs is a woman who will listen to him, not take advantage of him.”
“It sounds like they need family counseling,” Jennifer said.
“Families like the Henshaws don’t hold onto their power without a rift in the family. The problem with the Henshaw brothers is that they can either inherit or be written out of the will just as easily. It’s all up for grabs, and their grandfather is playing them against each other.”
“So, where does that leave Ian? I mean, therapy can only do so much.”
Aubrey considered that. “You’re right. Ian also needs some help fixing the external forces in his life.”
Jennifer looked at Aubrey cautiously. “And you think you’re the one who can do that?”
Aubrey smiled faintly.
“You seem overly invested in all of this.”
“I’m invested in my work,” she said carefully. “And Ian Henshaw III is a fascinating case.”
Jennifer grinned. “That’s therapist code for ‘he’s hot.’”
Aubrey refused to dignify that with an answer, but her slight smile was telling.
Jennifer laughed. “Well. Good luck with the blue-eyed bull.”
“Oh, I don’t need luck. I just need time.”
“Then I guess we should brace ourselves,” she said.
“Oh yes,” Aubrey said. “Because this is only the beginning.”
“Did he talk about his wife?”
“Barely,” Aubrey said. “But he wasn’t ready to talk about her, and I let it go. I’ve seen them out together enough at the country club to have an idea about what the dynamic is. Plus, it’s awkward since we see each other socially.”
“Is it a bad marriage?”
“I don’t think he knows what it is,” Aubrey replied. “He’s too busy trying to be who everyone expects him to be. Husband. Heir. Leader. Golden boy. But the problem is that he doesn’t know who he wants to be.”
“Sounds like he could use three therapists,” Jennifer said.
“If only. But he’s here with me, so I’ll have to do.”
“So what’s the plan for him?”
Aubrey winced as the words left her mouth before she’d fully thought them through.
“Get rid of his wife. She’s one of the external forces I’m talking about.”
“Get rid of his wife?” Jennifer’s eyes widened. “Aubrey. Honey. Really?”
Aubrey waved a hand over her face. “Not like that. I mean, create a distance between the two. So he can see that he doesn’t need her to inherit his fortune. She’s a liability that needs to be dealt with if he’s going to succeed.
“So you're going to pry their marriage apart with a crowbar of emotional insight?”
“If that’s what it takes,” Aubrey said. “Ian needs stability. He needs to know that the people around him are there to support him. All this bitch does is sit around and work on her nails. She comes to the country club looking like a high-class call girl. For God’s sake, Jennifer, before she met Ian, she was a stripper.”
“Are you kidding me???”
“No, I’m not. I’m going to save him from himself.
“Okay. But let’s not pretend this is purely therapeutic. You like him.”
Aubrey admitted, “I care about him. And I can’t let someone who understands his past better than he does keep twisting the knife.”
“So you’re going to cut her out.”
“Ease her out,” Aubrey corrected. “Give him space to breathe. Space enough to see who’s helping him as opposed to who’s draining him.”
“Yeah, sure. And you’ll be there to comfort him when this all goes south,” Jennifer said.
“It’s not like that,” Aubrey insisted.
“And Trent? How does he play into all this? Isn’t he another external force?”
Aubrey sighed. “Trent is going to be a problem. Not now. Later. The resentment runs too deep. And Ian might not want to talk about his brother’s failure when he might be next.”
“Oh, this is a made-for-TV movie.” Jennifer could barely contain herself.
“Undoubtedly,” Aubrey said.
“So what happens when Ian finally has his own space?”
“Then he’ll be able to decide what he wants. Not what his grandfather drilled into him. Not what Trent resents him for. Not what his wife cries him into. Him.”
Jennifer studied her for a long moment.
“So you’re about to throw a very elegant wrench into the Henshaw dynasty.”
Aubrey exhaled. “If that’s what it takes to save him? Yeah.”
“And when you do?” Jennifer asked.
“When I do,” she said, “he’ll either break or change.
“What does that look like exactly?”
“I’m going to make sure he has a mental breakdown so I can get in there and remold him to my liking.
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Then I’ll use his wife to change him. Show him how positive reinforcement works.”
“And if you fail?”
“Failure isn’t an option, Jennifer,” she said, “but if I do fail, he’ll make an awfully interesting section in my book.”
“A beware at all costs cautionary tale?”
“Something like that. The man every woman should stay away from, even if she wants to be a trophy wife. Because it’s not worth it.”
“You’ll have to keep me posted.”
“Just read the file. If you have any insight, let me know.”
“Maybe I’ll learn something too,” Jennifer said. “I’ve got similar boyfriend problems myself.”
“All these men,” Dr. Prentice said. “I don’t know who is worse: the horny ones or the entitled ones.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Jennifer said. “You will have a bestselling book and a way to find the man you can mold to make him who you want to be.”
“How true,” thought Dr. Aubrey Prentice. “How true indeed.”