"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 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.
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.