Broken Submission

Words of Wisdom

"Since when are you not here all day, every day?"

Derek raised an eyebrow. "That's an exaggeration." He moved to snatch a pile of membership applications off his desk. "Besides, the few days I haven't come in, you guys always manage to have some sort of catastrophe."

Jack lifted his hands in an "exactly" motion. "That's my point! You're always here! But you were gone all day yesterday, on a Saturday, the busiest day of the week."

"For your information," he flicked through the papers he held, "I was recruiting."

Jack frowned. "Are we looking for more people on the floor? I thought that the guys and I had that pretty well covered. Well, and Patricia."

Derek shook his head. "No, new bartender."

Jack waved a dismissive hand. "We've got subs lined up around the block for that job, you hardly needed to personally recruit. Besides," his eyebrows drew together, "isn't that Tara's gig?"

Derek winced. Tony and his sub needed to either tell people that they were expecting or come up with some excuse. This community was the worst when it came to small town type gossip.

"She's cutting back her hours," he said. True. "Tony thought she was on her feet too much and wanted some more time to play." Almost certainly true. The two were one of the longest lasting couples at the club, and Tony made no secret of how their desire for one another never faded.

"Huh." Jack shrugged. "So, who are you thinking?"

"Amelia." Derek squinted at the application in front of him. Either he was going nearsighted or this applicant had redlined—stated that a certain type of play was off limits—every single box. Well that would make him a popular addition. Derek added it to the rejected pile.

A choked cough sounded from the doorway. "Amelia? I thought she left?"

Derek frowned as he looked up. His friend was staring at him with an odd expression.

"She did," he said slowly. "But I offered her the position that night." He studied his friend. "Why do you look like that's a problem? You didn't seem to have an issue with her before."

Jack blew out a breath. "It's just that she doesn't really get along with a lot of people. I mean," his face scrunched up as he thought about what he wanted to say, "I don't think I've seen her interact with another sub since she first became a member...what, three years ago? Plus, she has a couple doms she plays with, but it doesn't go farther than that. I don't know man," he shrugged, "she just doesn't really seem to fit into the community."

Derek grimaced. He wasn't wrong. Derek had kept an eye on her for a while when she first started. The members that he tried to recruit were people who added to the atmosphere, people who made friends and connections. It's what set them apart from other clubs. Obviously, not everyone fit the mold, but those weren't the people he put in the position—like employees—of representing the club.

Jack continued, "It's entirely your decision, obviously. I was just surprised."

Derek sat down. Jack was perceptive. His ability to read people made him a tremendous asset as an employee, and as a friend.

Derek blew out a breath. "And you? What do you think of her? Not about her interactions with other people or how she plays. Her."

Jack moved to the chair across from him. "What's going on with you, man? Since when do you not trust your instincts about a sub?"

Derek leaned back. He did trust his instincts. They were telling him that she was sensitive and afraid and running from something. But she'd been here for years. What could she be running from?

"I like her, Jack." He shook his head. "That scene we shared right before she left did me in. We have a connection, and I haven't felt anything like it before. I want the chance to see where it takes us. But you're not wrong. I watched her—you know I did—for weeks when she first showed up, trying to figure out if she really belonged here. Because she doesn't fit in. She doesn't make connections with people, she doesn't follow through with her scenes.

"Hell," he raked a hand through his hair, "what sub doesn't need some form of aftercare? It makes me think that she doesn't connect emotionally to her scenes at all. And that...." he trailed off. "I don't know what to do with that."

Jack stared at him before he let out a laugh. "Man, I don't know that I've ever seen you so tied up in knots before. Mr. Emotionally Available, Mr. Know Thyself. So she's a bit different." He shrugged. "I was surprised by your choice, but I'm not suggesting you kick her onto the streets. Who knows, maybe we've all missed something in her." He stood. "It's good to see you invested in someone. You do alright, but I know you've just been filling the time with other subs. Maybe this one—this distant, closed-off, conundrum of a sub—is exactly what you need."