I have the contract with Draco. Will that be enough?" Asher said after a few minutes of silence.
Mina shrugged. "Maybe. These are all the ones that don't like him. Plus, you have me, so if I look like I'm being kept against my will…"
"How would we do that?" Asher frowned.
"Get me used to handcuffs." She met Asher's eyes in the rearview mirror.
"No. We're not traumatizing you." Asher said firmly as Les shook his head.
"Yeah, not happening."
"Exposure therapy is very valid -"
"Yes, in the proper setting, with a trained professional and all the safeguards in place." Asher snapped. "None of which we have here."
"Then you come up with a better idea!" Mina snapped back.
"Drugged." Les interjected before Asher could start in on her. "She acts like she's drugged."
"Okay. That is a better idea." Mina admitted.
"Much better." Asher relaxed. He would not have her associate him with handcuffs and that trauma. "Exposure therapy." He scoffed. Les internally face palmed as Asher refused to let it go.
If the roles were reversed, I would feel honored that you trusted me enough to feel comfortable doing that with me."
Asher's expression softened. "I do Princess, but I also refuse to repeatedly reenact a traumatic event with you without knowing what I'm doing. I could do irreparable harm."
Les kept his head down and hid his smile. Holy fuck, who was this guy, and what did he do with Asher? It had to be a pod alien or a clone or something. Whatever was going on, it was nice to see him finally opening himself up to the idea he was capable of caring, whether he realized it or not.
He constantly dismissed the idea that he cared by saying he saw the value in something or someone and wanted to utilize their skills for his gain, but the reality was Asher helped people he deemed deserving of his help. He had brought Les in as his second a few years after he had taken over the business. Les's father-in-law had tasked him with finding him after he had run out on his wife and kid. He was homeless, addicted to meth, and trying to kill himself by being as unsafe as possible, sleeping with men for drugs and money, getting into fights, and being arrested.
When Asher found him and realized he was a mess, he refused to bring him back to his wife and kid that way and got him into rehab and therapy. While in therapy, they got to the root of his issue.
"I have a gorgeous wife. However, I'm not attracted to her. I don't want sex with her. I don't want affection from her. I like her. She's a great person, objectively gorgeous, and an amazing mom. But having sex with her disgusts me."
"What about men? Were you attracted to the men you had sex with?"
"Even less. I was numb and just looking to get high. I was just as disgusted with myself when it was over as I was with my wife, if not more so."
"Well, we'll have to have a few more discussions, but I think what's going on is you're Asexual and Aromantic."
"Which means?"
"You're not biologically hardwired to want or enjoy sex or affection. It's not as uncommon as you think. You're not a monster. You can still form attachments and have platonic love, but romantic, passionate love and sex are not something you need to have a fulfilling life." Doctor Sherwood stood up, went to her computer, and printed a list of books for him. "Here, read some of these, and it will help."
Four months later, he left rehab, addicted to the gym, but that was better than meth, and feeling much more confident and secure in himself. Asher had been waiting outside, leaning on his car.
"Ready to start repaying my kindness?"
"What do you want?"
"Need someone loyal to me to act as my second in command."
"You want to give me a job?"
"Yes. You owe me. At the salary I'm willing to pay you, it will take you six months to pay back my investment in your future. After that, you can choose to stay or leave." Asher held out his hand. Do we have a deal?"
Les had been all too happy to accept. his wife and kid had come to visit him, and while his wife was understanding during the therapy sessions she sat in on, she asked for a divorce, which meant Les would have to start paying child support and alimony. The first six months had been a bit of a struggle financially, but when Asher stopped taking half his check, Les could live very comfortably on what remained. Plus he found he loved working for Asher. Every job was different, some jobs netted him nice bonuses and Asher explained when he took over from his father he had fired all the workers and was now looking to replace them with people who were assets.
Lexi had joined them a few months later, followed by Greg, after they were tasked with finding the guy who had stolen a bunch of trucks carrying military tech over the course of two years. Tech returned, and a few photos of Gabriel Sullivan with a bullet between his eyes and Greg Pinsent was born. Eric joined them a year later and then Joe a few months after that. Asher had felt the team was complete and had stopped recruiting, but now Les wondered what would happen if Mina decided to stay with him and even more concerning, what would happen if she decided to leave.