Page 12 of The Secret Life of a Stepford Wife

“Seriously, Sadie. Please let me welcome you into the twenty-first century by helping you download TikTok.”

“I don’t need TikTok, but can we please not talk about Thatcher?” I all but begged her.

“Give me an actual good reason and I’ll consider it.”

“He saw me.” I mumbled the words into the palms of my hands, refusing to meet her gaze.

“Um, yeah. He saw both of us. What’s the problem?”

“No, he saw me last night.”

“Okay, so what’s the big — oh, wait. Weren’t you at Haven last night?” She gasped, sitting up straight again as I nodded.

“Oh, holy hell! Mr. Book Boyfriend is a kinky fucker, too!?” She kicked her feet, literally squealing with delight.

“This isnota good thing, Danielle. He saw me here, and then he saw me there!” I whined, turning to face her.

“And why is that such a big deal?”

“Because this is Apple Grove. This is not the place for mystery or nefarious things! This is my home. Jamie and I have a beautiful life here, and I want to keep it that way.” I urged her to understand.

“Yeah, nothing crazy ever happens here. Except for the fact that you and Jamie are polyamorous and you are a Domme at a sex club. Or are we pretending that part doesn’t exist?” Her snappy retort made me groan with frustration.

“You know what I mean.” I groaned, shooting her a look.

“And you know I love you for who you are. I just wish you didn’t feel the need to keep the two parts of your life so separated. People wouldn’t care, you know.”

“Yes, they would,” I said, firm in my resolve and in my curt retort.

“You told me, and I don’t give a rat’s ass,” she answered back, not missing a beat.

“I only told you because you caught me coming home from Haven dressed in my leather and lace. That was the last night I parked in the driveway, mind you.” My lips curled into a smile at the memory of the night our acquaintanceship turned into a bustling, lifelong friendship.

“All I’m saying is, who’s to say it wouldn’t be the same if you told everyone else?”

“It wouldn’t happen that way, I assure you.” I was steadfast in my resolve, and simply would not waver on this. “My life is perfect the way it is. Two separate lives lived in two separate ways, kept in two very separate boxes. Neat, orderly, and perfect. No one here in Apple Grove, other than you, will ever know the truth about me, and I am resolved to keep it that way.”

“Your intentions don’t mean shit now that Thatcher knows, Sadie. Might as well face the music. You can’t run from it.”

“No, but that doesn’t mean I have to be okay with it, either. Now, can wepleasetalk about something else?” I begged her.

“Okay, let me tell you about my new book idea instead. I was watching TikTok last night, and this gorgeous man had posted a thirst trap, and —”

“What in the hell is a thirst trap?” I interrupted her. She looked at me, blinking slowly.

“We really have to get you up to date with technology, love. This is beyond pathetic.”

I smiled as she pulled out her phone and grabbed mine from the side table, immediately downloading the app I had tried so hard to avoid. Oh well. At least we weren’t talking about Thatcher anymore.

CHAPTER4

“Get it together, Sadie,”I said to myself in the mirror. I was the perfect picture of an elegant Domme, and somehow I felt about one inch tall. I didn’t want to admit the fact that Thatcher’s appearance at Haven days before was still bothering me. Now was not the time. I hadn’t seen the man since that night, and my word had not come crashing down in the intervening days.

Yet…a small voice in the back of my head seemed to mock me. I shook my head, and leveled my gaze at myself in the mirror once more.

“You have this. You are not Sadie, the sad little girl who had no backbone. You are Sadie Day, incredible woman, and you are Lady Luxe, Domme extraordinaire.” My words fueled the confidence I needed to smooth out my outfit once more before turning away from the mirror. My corset tonight was mostly see through, made entirely of lace and small scraps of satin, along with matching fishnet stockings, and black panties. And, of course, my signature red heels. I turned on my heel, striding out of the bathroom with a faux confidence that only ran just beneath the surface. It didn’t matter. I would get out on the floor, I would be the woman I loved to be here, and I would run one hell of a scene with Christopher tonight. Fuck Thatcher Wells, and his big-ass ego. He would not best me. Lady Luxe was not one to be bested. Fuck around and find out.

Haven wasn’t nearly as bustling as it had been a few nights ago. Granted, that was normal for a Wednesday night. Waving hands caught my attention from near the kitchen doors across the room as Max and Erin beckoned me over. With a smirk, I strode across the room, my confidence growing with each person who jetted out of my path. Yes, I had made a name for myself, one I had honed and polished with pride until it sparkled like the priceless catch I was.

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