"All right Daisy, which one would you like?" asked Kate.

  "I-I'm not

  sure. Don't you have some plain cotton ones?" asked Daisy,

  looking at the various bras Kate held out to her in exotic trims and

  fabrics.

  "Unfortunately

  not. However, these lace ones with reinforced padding should be quite

  comfortable for you," said Kate.

  "Um well Sophia

  said a corset might help me, do you have those?" asked Daisy.

  "Yes, as a

  matter of fact I do. Wait here, I'll be right back," said Kate,

  dropping the bras and going out of the changing room.

  ----

  Kate returned a few

  minutes later, holding a black leather corset in her hands.

  "Aaron picked

  this one, you want to try it?" asked Kate holding the corset out

  to Daisy.

  "I-if this is

  the stuff Aaron likes on girls I'll try it!" said Daisy.

  "Don't force

  yourself just because your boyfriend has a thing for it," warned

  Kate.

  "He's not my

  boyfriend!" protested Daisy, blushing furiously.

  "Well, your

  knight in black armor then. Still, don't force yourself,"

  chuckled Kate.

  "No, I want to

  try it," said Daisy, taking the corset from Kate's hands.

  "You fasten the

  front first, then pull the laces tight at the back," said Kate

  as she helped Daisy into the corset.

  Daisy gasped as the

  corset pulled her waist in, her spine and shoulder blades cracking

  and popping as the steel boning forced her out of her hunched

  posture.

  "Wow! What a

  rush," she whispered, her eyes wide as she looked at herself in

  the mirror.

  She ran her hands

  over the soft, supple leather and the firm steel boning. "Is

  this really me?" she asked.

  "I take it that

  you like it?" asked Kate.

  "I love it!

  Aaron has such good taste! It feels so good!" exclaimed Daisy.

  "Come along,

  and let's see what Aaron thinks," said Kate, pushing Daisy out

  of the changing room.

  Aaron turned to see

  Kate emerge from the changing room with Daisy in tow.

  "Wow, you look

  beautiful," he whispered, his Stoic countenance cracking for a

  second.

  "That's the

  highest praise he gives," said Kate gently as Daisy blushed

  redder.

  "T-Thank you

  for saying that Aaron. It means a lot," said Daisy, holding back

  tears.

  "Aaron, could

  you leave us alone for a minute?" asked Kate.

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  Aaron nodded curtly

  and left the lingerie section.

  It was almost an

  hour before Kate and Daisy emerged from the lingerie section.

  Daisy was back in

  her uniform, but it now looked far more awkward and ill-fitting on

  her.

  "Thank you for

  the corsets and the advice Ms. Kate," said Daisy clutching a

  large black bag.

  "Think nothing

  of it, sweetie," said Kate warmly.

  "Um Aaron it's

  a bit late, can your dad give me a ride home?" asked Daisy.

  Aaron nodded and

  pulled out his phone to call his father.

  ----

  Parking the BMW M5,

  Ivan strode up the steps and entered Summer's Shoe Shop. "Hello

  Kate," he greeted.

  His eyes fell on

  Aaron and Daisy, Daisy hanging onto Aaron's arm.

  "You must be

  Ms. Daisy Eddington. Aaron has told me that you are the only person

  whom he talks to at school," he said warmly, extending his hand

  to her.

  "It's nice to

  properly meet you Mr. Zakhrov," said Daisy, shaking his hand.

  "All right

  Aaron. I'd like an explanation now," said Ivan after shaking

  Daisy's hand.

  "It's my fault

  Mr. Zakhrov. My blouse had ripped, and Aaron noticed, and protected

  my dignity by taking me to the school outfitter for an alteration.

  Ms. Sophia said I needed a new bra, and with my friend Emily already

  gone, I asked Aaron to help me. His solution was to call Ms. Kate,"

  explained Daisy breathlessly.

  "It seemed the

  better course of action than calling Mother. I was not sure how she

  would react to my explanation," said Aaron.

  "I suppose it

  was the better course of action," sighed Ivan.

  "Mr. Zakhrov,

  can I speak with you in private?" asked Kate.

  Ivan nodded, and

  both adults disappeared into the back of the shop.

  Daisy sighed and

  leaned her head against Aaron's shoulder.

  ----

  "Aaron has

  stepped into something a lot bigger than a wardrobe malfunction, Mr.

  Zakhrov," said Kate.

  "What are you

  talking about?" asked Ivan.

  "Daisy's

  parents are employed by Emily Clarke's parents," said Kate.

  Ivan sighed wearily.

  "I assume that Emily is the daughter of Senator Sarah Clarke?"

  he asked.

  "The one and

  only," said Kate.

  "And how does

  Aaron, Daisy and a ripped blouse fit into this?" asked Ivan.

  "I noticed that

  Daisy's uniform was a bit... off, when she first came. She finally

  told me that it was Emily's old uniform that was patched and altered

  for her," said Kate.

  "Sounds bad,"

  said Ivan.

  "Worse than you

  think. It's because Emily set fire to Daisy's uniform the second she

  had it delivered," said Kate.

  Ivan's eyes widened

  in shock. "She did what?" he asked incredulously.

  "It's been

  going on for a while now, that's why Daisy asked Aaron for help

  instead of Emily," said Kate.

  "That's sick!

  And Senator Clarke lets Emily do this? Why can't Daisy's parents step

  in?" asked Ivan.

  "Daisy's

  parents don't have much of a choice. They're deep in debt, and are in

  no position to push back," said Kate.

  "OK, I get it

  the picture. Daisy needs a place to stash her stuff," said Ivan.

  "Exactly. I

  know it's a big ask, but Daisy's home situation is steadily becoming

  worse," said Kate.

  "How so?"

  asked Ivan.

  "Puberty and

  growth spurts do a number on a girl's self-image in the best of

  times. I'm sure you can imagine what that means in a house where one

  girl is essentially a domestic servant to another," said Kate.

  Ivan's face

  darkened. "All right, I'll do it," he said.

  Aaron and Daisy were

  deep in their homework when Ivan and Kate emerged from the back of

  the shop.

  "Come along,

  you can finish that at home," said Ivan.

  "Home?"

  asked Daisy.

  "Yes, our home.

  You can finish it with Aaron, and then I'll drop you off," said

  Ivan.

  "Thank you so

  much, Mr. Zakhrov," said Daisy as she packed away her books.

  "Are you sure

  that's prudent Dad?" asked Aaron as he packed away his things as

  well.

  "In this case,

  yes," said Ivan, a look of fierce determination on his face.

  ----

  "You drive

  really well Aaron. I wish I could learn as well" remarked Daisy

  as the BMW M5 rumbled through the Boston traffic.

  "You could

  practice with us during winter break, Dad is an excellent instructor"

  said Aaron as he drove.

  "I would love

  to!" squealed Daisy. Her phone buzzed and she picked it up.

  "Where the hell

  are you?" demanded Emily through the phone speaker.

  "I'm going to

  Aaron's place to finish homework and study computer science."

  replied Daisy.

  "Listen here

  you dumb bimbo, I need you to get your fat ugly self here and finish

  your chores pronto OK? No more spending time with that moron!"

  yelled Emily through the phone speaker.

  "I'm sorry

  Emily, I'll be home as soon as I can," said Daisy contritely

  before hanging up.

  "Emily does not

  have the right to belittle you like that. For what it's worth, I

  think you are beautiful," said Aaron from the driver's seat.

  "Thanks,

  Aaron," said Daisy blushing.

  "The two of you

  go straight to Aaron's room and finish your homework. I'll deal with

  Annette," said Ivan as Aaron pulled into the driveway.