Her former personal trainer and nutritionist would die if either saw how she lived now. Of course, they’d dropped her the minute they’d realized she might prove toxic for their careers.
She preferred lunch because she usually ate it with Dani while they worked.
“You ran out of here before I could ask you how the meeting went,” Dani prompted.
Vanessa felt herself flush. She’d run because she’d known damn well that Dani would want to talk about what had happened between her and the new Dom. So she went with the least embarrassing part of the meeting with Michael Malone. “He told me I have to see a therapist.”
Dani chuckled. “Well, I kind of told you that would be good for you. Though you should know Leo passed you with flying colors. That surprised me a little.”
“Gee, thanks.”
A huff came over the line. “Let’s see. If I told you I had a friend who recently lost her husband, got involved in an inheritance dispute that caused her to get kicked out of her home, lost her sister, and also had her former best friend give a nationwide interview that painted her as a less than honest person…”
“I believe the term you’re looking for is money-grubbing whore.” She was honest with herself, so why not others?
Dani did not take the bait. “If I asked you if that friend might benefit from talking to someone, what would you say?”
Well, there wasn’t any way around it. “Yes, of course. You know why I haven’t.”
“Yes, money and paranoia,” Dani shot back. “But given that your former assistant is the one on all the national talk shows, I can understand it.”
“I don’t watch TV, so I’ve only heard about it. How bad has it gotten?” Vanessa couldn’t watch live TV. She could watch streaming services when she could afford them. But live TV was a different story. Any break could bring a picture of her face with a nasty headline or some comedian taking potshots at her. She’d been watching a game show she enjoyed once where the host said the contestant had answered as many questions as Vanessa Hale had gone through men.
She couldn’t watch that show anymore.
“Honestly, it makes her look petty.” Dani’s voice had gone sympathetic. “Everyone knows she’s doing it for the money. But the point is, you could use someone to talk to.”
“I talk to you.” It was perverse, but she couldn’t admit it was a good idea.
“And I know what that means. Your trust is everything to me,” Dani replied. “But you can’t talk to me the way you can a therapist. I know you’re worried about another leak of your private information, but I assure you we can find a therapist you can trust.”
“I already have one. I’ve got an appointment with her Friday before I go to The Club.” Michael had sent her the text confirming the appointment and sending her the address she was supposed to go to. “She works at someplace called The Ferguson Clinic.”
“Oh. I’m surprised he didn’t send you to Janine. She usually works with us,” Dani explained. “The Ferguson Clinic is good, though. It has an excellent reputation. I guess it makes sense. Michael would have more connections there. His boss helped the clinic in its first days, and it’s still located close to Sanctum.”
She’d thought a little about this. She knew Michael worked for the security company Julian used, and they had their own club. The Club and Sanctum were rivals. She’d heard some of the other workers talking about how much they looked forward to the annual picnic and the shenanigans Big Tag and Julian got up to. “Why does he need a membership to The Club? I would think he would go to the club his friends probably play at.”
“It can be fun to move between clubs.” Dani’s voice took on the light tone she always got when talking about her club life. “They’re different experiences. Julian, Finn, and I have been to Sanctum many times. Also, Michael is doing a favor for us. We don’t have the same kind of training program Sanctum does. We usually send new members over there for classes. I didn’t think that would be a good idea for you.”
She wouldn’t have gone to a class. She would have had to find another way. “No, I think it’s best I have more private training.”
She couldn’t handle the gossip, the looks, the way a room would go quiet when she walked in. It would be different in a formal club setting. At least she hoped it would.
“We don’t have any Doms who can take on personal training right now,” Dani continued. “So he asked Ian Taggart if he had anyone who could take on a new sub for a couple of weeks, and he offered Michael. Was he good with you? He’s always seemed like a pleasant man. I know his sister-in-law better than him, and she’s lovely.”