Page 25 of Boss of Her

“Simone invited her assistant here tonight,” Valerie said. “Personally.”

“Oh?” A smile spread across Elle’s lips. “Is she cute?”

Simone gave her a sharp look. “Don’t even think about it. She’s off limits.”

“Someone’s feeling possessive.” Elle swirled her drink around before raising her glass to her lips. “You must really be into this woman.”

“I won’t deny that. But it’s nothing serious. It’s purely physical.”

Simone rarely let things go further than that. She’d had her share of lovers, but only a couple had lasted long enough to be considered girlfriends. One couldn’t accept that for Simone, her career came first. The second dealt with that fact by having an affair with a coworker. It only confirmed what Simone had learned as a girl. Love was nothing more than a fantasy. Believing in it, indulging in it, was a weakness she couldn’t afford.

“Whatever you do, tread carefully,” Valerie said. “If you get involved with your assistant and it gets out, it could turn into a scandal.”

“Then we’ll be careful that it doesn’t get out,” Simone said. “Not that anyone in the corporate world gives a damn. Half the execs in Los Angeles are having affairs with their secretaries.”

“Just relax, Val,” Elle chimed in. “I know you like to think you’re everyone’s mom and all, but Simone is a big girl. She’ll be fine.”

But Simone didn’t hear what Elle said next. Because at that moment, a woman walked through the door to the club. A young woman, with long, dark hair and curves that teased and tempted her even from a distance. And while Simone couldn’t see her face, she would recognize her anywhere.

Jade. She’s come to me at last.

Elle’s gaze flicked between Simone and the club’s entrance. “That’s her, isn’t it?”

Simone said nothing, watching Jade as she slipped deeper into the club. She was still wearing the dress she’d worn to work, but she’d freed her hair from its ponytail, letting it flow down her back, just like the night they met. And just like the night at Simone’s house, after she came out of the ensuite wrapped in Simone’s bathrobe.

That entire night, and the morning that followed, Simone had fought to resist her attraction to her assistant, the chemistry simmering between them. But no more. Jade had made her choice.

She was Simone’s to claim.

She rose to her feet. “It’s been a pleasure catching up with you, ladies, but I need to go show someone the ropes.”

She picked up her drink and swallowed what remained of it in one swig. She would show Jade what it meant to serve her in the most intimate of ways. She would give Jade the sweet surrender she desired.

But she would guard herself from anything more.

CHAPTER 11

Jade stood in the middle of the club, butterflies flitting in her chest. It had taken all of her willpower just to walk through the door.

She glanced toward the bar. A drink would help settle her stomach. But she needed to keep her head. And she needed to find Simone before she lost her nerve.

So why couldn’t she move?

What would Renee do?After all, this was her kind of thing. If she were here, she’d give Jade the push she needed.

But Jade hadn’t told Renee she was coming here tonight. She hadn’t told Renee about the kiss. She could hardly believe it had happened herself.

She brought her fingers to her lips. She could still feel the echo of Simone’s kiss on them, like it had only been moments ago. And she wanted to feel it all again. Simone’s lips, her touch, the press of Simone’s body against hers, the whisper of her voice in her ear as she tempted Jade with all kinds of wicked pleasures.

Jade glanced around the room. Everything Simone had spoken of, everything in the club, was entirely new to her. She’dnever been interested in any of it until the night she first set foot inside Club Velvet.

And now, Jade couldn’t deny how much she was drawn to these seductive games of power and submission. She’d never had the chance to explore them before, never allowed herself to indulge in any kind of erotic fantasies. Sex and relationships? They were distractions she couldn’t afford.

Living out those fantasies, with her boss, no less? What could possibly be more of a distraction, a risk? Jade had risked it all like this once before. And it had left her shattered.

It isn’t too late. The door is right there—

Jade felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun around.

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