Page 11 of Boss of Her

“Yes,” Jade said.

“And I assume you have no problem working in a high-pressure environment?”

“Of course. I thrive under pressure.” She always had. It was how she’d made it through grad school, despite everything else that had been going on in her life.

“I hope that’s true, because I need someone I can rely on now more than ever,” Simone said. “I’m currently working on an important deal, an acquisition thatcannotfail. And you’ll be my right-hand woman on it. There will be long days, overtime, even the occasional weekend. Your compensation will reflect this, of course.”

“That’s not a problem. You can count on me.”

Simone folded her hands on her desk. “Understand this, Jade. I have the same expectations of my assistant as I have of myself. I expect you to work just as hard as me. I expect your work to be as close to perfection as humanly possible. And if you can’t handle that, you’ll be wasting not only your time, but mine.”

Jade nodded. This was the Simone Weiss she’d heard about, the woman who had fought her way to the top through sheer force of will and a take-no-prisoners attitude. The woman in the club on Saturday night? While she’d been confident, commanding, she hadn’t been so stern. And the icy look in Simone’s eyes was enough to send shivers through her.

I’ll show you the exquisite pleasures submission can bring…

Desire swelled inside Jade’s body. She pushed it back down again. Would it be a mistake to take a job working for a woman who made her crumble with nothing more than a look?

But she needed the money, and the experience. While the position was only temporary, it was a stepping stone to something bigger. Executive assistant for Simone Weiss, CEO of the biggest hotel empire on the West Coast, the whole country, even? A recommendation from her would be worth a hundred times its weight in gold.

Jade needed this job.

Simone leaned forward, studying her intently. “Here’s the deal. My assistant chose you out of dozens of candidates. She’s been with me for years, and I trust her judgment. If she says you’re the right person for the job, you’re the right person for the job.”

Jade held her breath, waiting for the inevitablebut.

“But if you’re going to be my assistant, we need to address the elephant in the room. Yes, we had… an encounter on Saturday night. But nothing came of it. So as far as I’m concerned, there’s no conflict of interest. I’m willing to put what happened aside if you are.”

Jade nodded. “I am.”

“And you have a car?”

“Yes.” It was falling apart, and long overdue for servicing, but it was better than nothing. A car was a necessity in LA.

“Good. I need my assistant to have a reliable mode of transport.”

“Are you saying…”

“That the job is yours? Yes. I expect you here tomorrow at 8 a.m. And I don’t tolerate lateness.”

Jade nodded. “Yes, of course. Uh, thank you. For the opportunity.” She cursed silently. She hadn’t even started the job and she was already struggling to hold herself together.

Simone rose from her seat. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another appointment.” She led Jade to the door and opened it up. “I’ll see you tomorrow, 8 a.m. sharp.”

“I’ll be there,” Jade said. “And thank you for taking a chance with me, despite, well, everything.”

“Just don’t make me regret it. Do not disappoint me.”

Jade nodded. “I won’t let you down.”

She left Simone’s office, her heart pounding. As she rode the elevator down to the ground floor, Simone’s words echoed in her ears.

But in her mind’s eye, it wasn’t Simone Weiss speaking those words. Instead, it was the woman from Saturday night, clad in that black dress, standing barely an inch from her, scarlet lips whispering in her ear.

Do not disappoint me.

CHAPTER 5

“Good morning, Ms. Sloane,” Jade said, her phone balanced on her shoulder as she opened Simone’s inbox on her laptop. “I’m calling on behalf of Simone Weiss regarding your inquiry about featuring her in your magazine.”

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