Page 19 of Boss of Her

But Simone had taken control, snapping her out of hysterics and insisting on taking care of everything.

What happened next felt like a dream. Simone had brought her back to her home, sat there while Jade finished off her dinner. She’d run Jade a bath in the jacuzzi in her ensuite before making up the guest bedroom with fresh linens, laying out a pair of soft cotton pajamas and a fluffy dressing gown for Jadeto wear. And she’d sent Jade to bed, a glass of water on her nightstand, leaving the light in the hall on for her.

And Jade, exhausted and distraught, had acquiesced to it all without a single word. She’d passed out the moment her head hit the pillow. And now, the morning after?

She felt incredible.

She rolled onto her back, stretching out her body. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so refreshed. It was as if she was lighter, unburdened of all her problems. Her rattling car, her flooded apartment, her job—it all felt miles away.

And all because of Simone.

Her stomach fluttered. She’d never had anyone take care of her like that before. Had the same woman who hardly said a word to her beyond giving orders, who lectured her for the simplest of mistakes, really done everything short of tucking Jade into bed last night?

But maybe it hadn’t been Simone, her boss. Maybe it had been the woman Jade met at Club Velvet, who had come to her rescue, seduced her with the promise of sensual delights that made Jade’s whole body burn…

Jade sat upright, her heart thumping hard. She needed to get out of here. She shouldn’t have let Simone take her home in the first place. She shouldn’t have let those lines blur, just like she had years ago…

She took a deep breath.Just stay calm.She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was still early, but knowing Simone’s schedule, she’d be awake already. Could Jade sneak out of her house without her noticing?

She got out of bed and grabbed her phone from the nightstand, where it had been plugged into a charger. She had no memory of doing that herself, so that must have been Simone too. Spotting her purse on the dressing table nearby, Jade slidher phone into it, gathered her clothes from the day before, and got dressed.

Once she was finished, she attempted to fix her hair in the mirror, pulling it out of the loose ponytail she’d slept with it in and running her fingers through it. Without a hairbrush, trying to tie it up again was pointless, so she gathered it over one shoulder, grabbed her things, and slipped out of the room.

Shutting the door as quietly as she could, she glanced down the hall. There was no sign of Simone. The coast was clear.

She made her way to the stairs barefoot, her flats held in her hand, taking care not to make a sound on the hardwood floors. But as she reached the bottom of the stairs, a familiar scent reached her.

Pancakes? Is Simone making pancakes?

Jade glanced at the front door. It was only a few steps away. If she moved quickly, she could still make it out undetected—

“Good, you’re awake.”

Jade turned toward the kitchen. Simone stood in the wide doorway, dressed in a long silk robe. It was belted at the waist, enhancing her every curve, a long leg peeking out from under it. Her blonde hair was loose, flowing down her back and shoulders in waves.

She gestured toward the dining table. “Breakfast will be ready in a moment.”

Jade glanced at the table, where two places were set. Her boss was making her breakfast?

“Don’t just stand there,” Simone said. “Sit.”

Jade hesitated. Then, abandoning her purse and shoes by the door, she sat down at the dining table.

“Now, how do you take your eggs?” Simone asked.

“Um, sunny side up,” Jade said.

Simone nodded. “It’ll be another few minutes. Make yourself comfortable.”

As Simone disappeared into the kitchen, Jade gazed around the room, trying to make sense of her surroundings. She could hardly remember arriving the night before, and it had been dark.

But in the light of day, Simone’s mansion was breathtaking. The vast, open living space had high ceilings and a grand fireplace, antique furniture filling the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered sweeping views of the hills, and the double doors nearby were flung open to reveal a deck surrounded by plants and trees. Beyond it was a crystal-clear infinity pool that seemed to stretch out into the horizon, merging with the blue sky above.

Jade was still taking it all in when Simone reappeared, a pot of coffee and two mugs in her hands. She set them down on the table, pouring them each a cup of coffee and adding milk to Jade’s before returning to the kitchen. She emerged again a moment later, carrying two plates of pancakes, eggs, and bacon.

“Here.” She placed them on the dining table, one in front of Jade. “Eat.”

Jade stared at her plate. The food looked just as delicious as it smelled. But she could hardly believe that Simone had cooked her breakfast in the first place.

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