Page 13 of Boss of Her

Jade nodded.

“So why does this memo have my old letterhead on it?”

Jade blinked. “I must have missed that. It was only going out within the office, so I didn’t think to check—”

“Know this,” Simone interrupted. “When you’re working for me, you need to be meticulous about all things at all times, even when it doesn’t matter. It needs to become second nature, so that when the time comes that itdoesmatter, you won’t miss a thing. You won’t make a single mistake. Because when you’re working at my level, youcannotafford mistakes, understand?”

Jade nodded.

“Don’t just nod. Tell me you understand what I’m saying to you.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Look at me,” Simone said firmly.

Jade obeyed.

“Everyone else in this office? I hold them to a high standard. But the reality is, if they slip up now and then, it won’t do any harm.”

She crossed her arms, framing her breasts. It was taking all of Jade’s willpower not to drop her gaze. Could her boss see the flush on her cheeks?

“You, on the other hand?” Simone continued. “You are my assistant. You are an extension of me. From you, I expectperfection. And I wouldn’t have hired you if I didn’t think you were capable of it.” She leaned down toward Jade. “Tell me I didn’t make a mistake.”

“You… you didn’t.”

“That’s right. I don’t make mistakes. I already know that. But I need you to know that, too.”

“I understand,” Jade said, her voice barely a whisper. Simone’s piercing amber eyes were still locked with hers. And she was so close, just as close as they’d been in the club that night…

“Then we’re on the same page.” Simone stood up. “You can go to lunch now.”

Jade got to her feet and headed for the door, her legs shaking.Pull yourself together.But no amount of pleading would make her body listen to her.

“And Jade?”

She stopped at the door, turning back to her boss. “Yes?”

Simone rounded her desk and slid back into her chair, then crossed one leg over the other, her red heels flashing underneathher desk. “You’ve done an excellent job this week. I expect that to continue.”

Jade nodded. “It will.”

“Good girl.”

Jade’s whole body began to burn. She left the room, shutting the door behind her and taking a deep, steadying breath.

And as she gathered her things to go to lunch, Simone’s parting words rang out in her ears.

CHAPTER 6

Jade slipped into the seat across from Renee. “Sorry I’m late. My boss called me into her office at the last minute.”

“No worries.” Renee pushed an oversized iced coffee and a BLT across the table. “I got your usual.”

Jade murmured a thanks and took a swig of her coffee, then started on the sandwich. She and Renee had been having lunch together every few weeks at the same cafe downtown for years. Luckily, it was just a few minutes from Jade’s new job.

“I hope you weren’t in trouble with the boss,” Renee said.

Jade grimaced. “It was nothing. I used the wrong letterhead on a memo and got a lecture about it.”

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