Page 43 of Boss of Her

Simone had chosen well. Jade was stunning.

And tonight, she’s all mine.

“There’s just one more thing,” Simone said. “One thing you’re missing.”

She beckoned Jade over to the dining table and picked up a small, flat velvet box, opening it up before her. Inside was a white gold necklace adorned with diamonds and sapphires.

“A gift,” Simone said. “From me to you.”

Jade gazed into the box, the diamonds’ sparkle reflected in her eyes. “It’s beautiful. I couldn’t possibly wear something like this.”

“You can, and you will. Let me put it on for you.”

Jade turned around. Simone took the necklace from the box and threaded it around Jade’s neck, fastening it carefully. Then she stepped back and circled Jade slowly.

“Look at you.” She skimmed her eyes down Jade’s body and back up again. “Just look at you. How am I going to get through dinner with you sitting beside me looking so delectable?”

Jade lowered her eyes, avoiding Simone’s gaze.

“You don’t like the dress?” Simone asked.

“I do,” Jade said quickly. “The dress, the necklace—I love them.”

“Then what’s the matter?”

“I’m just a little nervous. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited too, but all this is just…” Jade raised her hand to her neck, tracing her fingers over the necklace. “I feel like everyone is going to be staring at me.”

“So let them,” Simone said. “You’re stunning.”

Jade shook her head. “This is just a lot, that’s all. The clothes, the five-star hotels, expensive dinners with executives and billionaires. I feel out of my depth, out of place. I feel like I don’t belong.”

Simone took Jade’s cheek in her hand, fingertips caressing her skin. “You belong here, Jade. You do. You’ve worked for this. And not only the work you’ve done for me. You’ve worked all your life to get to this moment. Soown it. You’re meant to be right here. You’re meant to be at my side.”

Simone drew her thumb down, tracing it along the curve of Jade’s chin.

“Say it,” she commanded. “Tell me where you belong.”

“Here,” Jade whispered. “With you.”

Simone drew her in close, kissing her soft and slow. Jade melted into the kiss, her body yielding to Simone’s. Desire rose inside her, urging her to hold Jade tighter, kiss her deeper, claim her there and then.

But business came first. And they couldn’t afford to be late.

Simone pried herself away. “There’s no one else I’d rather have by my side tonight. Let’s get going.”

They stepped into the elevator. As they rode it down to the restaurant, it took all of Simone’s willpower to keep her hands to herself.It would be the simplest thing to push her against the wall, kiss her, touch her, tease her, leaving her to sit through dinner all hot and bothered, waiting for the moment when I take her upstairs and do all kinds of wicked things to her…

The elevator reached the third floor, where the hotel restaurant, an Italian fine dining venue, was located. Simone held the door open for Jade. But her assistant was no longer hesitant and unsteady on her heels like she had been up in the penthouse. Now she walked with the confidence of a seasoned executive on her way to a board meeting. The sight filled Simone with pride. And it made her want to bring Jade to her knees even more.

Business first. Pleasure later.

“Now,” Simone said as they made their way to the restaurant, “tell me about Ashton as if I know nothing about her.”

“Well, her full name is Marissa Jean Ashton,” Jade said. “She’s in her 40s, born and bred in LA like every Ashton before her, although she went to college in New York State. She took over the family company in her 20s after her father died, which was when she started going by her surname, reasoning that the weight of her family name would help people take a young woman like her seriously in a male-dominated corporate landscape.”

“Go on.”

“Let’s see, she’s divorced, and has a daughter who isn’t interested in the family business, so her nephew is next in line to take over. She’s been restructuring the company in recent years, strategically selling off assets, streamlining their portfolio. Most of their hotels have been sold, but she’s held onto The Ashton Star all this time.”

---