Page 4 of Hacker Christmas

Dr. Robsion shifted in her seat. “I would help you with anything.”

“How can Daisy stop talking in third person? She manages it sometimes but not always.”

“There are three big reasons people speak in third person. It’s because they are narcissistic, self-obsessed, or detached from reality. From years of sitting with you, it’s clear to me that you use it to stay detached from reality. Think about what you say before you say it, and try to speak in first person if you are ready. I think you’ve been ready for a while.”

She was right. I used it to stay detached, but I wanted to show Neal and Aaron that I was trying.

I took a deep breath. “I’ll try.”

Dr. Robison wrapped her arms around me. I hugged her goodbye then walked toward the door to face my friend—at least I hoped he was still my friend. When I opened the door, he looked up from the waiting chair and set the magazine he was reading down on the table. “Are you ready?” he asked.

I nodded then followed Brock out to his black SUV. Neither of us said a word as we got settled. Dr. Robison’s words rang in my mind.Men can’t read your mind.“Are we still friends?”

Brock squeezed his hands around the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were white. I didn’t think he would answer me at first. I thought that would be it and he would tell me when we got to Neal’s that he planned to fire me.“I don’t even know why you would ask if we’re still friends, Daisy. You’re like my sister. Do you know what I felt when I walked onto the dungeon floor to see someone in my club with you on that cross and blood running down your back?” He tightened his jaw. “Your actions upset melast night. I wanted to take care of you and kill the bastard. How could you even ask if we are still friends?” He glared at me.

I thought about my words. I needed to change my life. “You didn’t talk to me last night or today. I thought you would fire me. Today in therapy, I realized why I did what I did, but I need to have that conversation with Neal and Aaron first.”

“Daisy, you’re not talking in third person.”

“Dr. Robison and Dai—I spoke about it today. I want to change.”

“I’m proud of you for trying to better yourself. Last night, I was mad at you for the scene at ClubSanctorum. If I had spoken to you then, I might’ve yelled or said something I didn’t mean. I knew about your appointment today and that you needed to talk something out. I’m glad you figured out why you scened.”

Brock slowly relaxed in the driver’s seat. The traffic in Ft. Lauderdale at six o’clock normally didn’t move, but we were about to make record time to Neal’s penthouse.

Brock stopped at a red light and turned toward me. “I will always be here for you.”

He guided the car to a stop in front of Neal’s building.

“Are you going to stay down here? I don’t think Neal wants me anymore after what I did.”

Brock rolled his eyes and pulled me into a hug. “Neal still wants you. Don’t get me wrong, he’s mad, and when you heal, your ass will be red for a while. But that man cares about you. Now, go up and grovel.”

I still wasn’t sure that Neal loved me. I exited the SUV, waved goodbye to Brock, and hoped the conversation Neal and I were about to have would go as easily as it had with Brock. After I talked to Neal, I needed to call and talk to Aaron. The conversation would have been easier if Aaron and Neal were both in Ft. Lauderdale.

2

Neal

“Did you talk to Brock again?” Aaron asked as he rubbed his eyes. I’d called him the second I hung up with Brock and explained everything that happened last night at the club. He jumped on a flight from California to Ft. Lauderdale after his dinner meeting.

Aaron sat on one of the kitchen stools at the counter and sipped a beer. I salted the water before I dropped in some pasta.

I didn’t understand why Daisy scened the night before. Earlier, when we talked on the phone, she seemed fine. She hadn’t asked another dom for a scene in six months.

The day before, I was in DC with President Tucker. We were discussing new cybersecurity software when Brock sent me a text asking if I’d okayed Daisy to do a scene. I’d felt a mixture of betrayal and anger and hadstormed out of the meeting to call Brock.

Aaron sipped his beer again. “I only talked with Brock once. Did you call him?”

“I talked with him last night after Daisy went to bed. I can’t believe she let a scene go that far. We need to explain that she is only going to scene with us from now on.”

Aaron nodded.

“Brock told me he banned the guyfrom the club. I’d never heard of him or seen him before.”

Aaron had asked if I could wait to speak to her until he made it back. It took everything in me to stay in the penthouse and not drive to Brock’s and demand answers.

“I have no clue what triggered her to do this.”Maybe it’s time to let Aaron be with Daisy.“Maybe you should take her to California.”

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