Page 64 of Boss of Her

She watched as the woman stepped in close, her hand falling to Jade’s waist as she spoke into her ear.

She watched as the woman reached for Jade’s face and leaned in to kiss her…

Simone turned away, numbness spreading through her body. She’d seen all she needed to see.

Without looking back, she left the bar.

CHAPTER 27

The moment Philippa touched Jade, time froze.

It was just like that night at Club Velvet when the dark-haired woman approached her. Just like the first time Philippa kissed her when they were alone in her office one night. Just like every time in Jade’s life when she’d been too afraid to make waves.

But this time? She pushed back.

Physically, shoving Philippa away before their lips could touch.

“Stop!” Jade stepped back and crossed her arms. “Just stop!”

“Okay, okay.” Philippa held up her hands. “I’m just happy to see you again, that’s all. I’ve missed you, Jade.”

Anger roiled in Jade’s stomach. Did Philippa think they would simply pick up where they’d left off? Did she think that after everything she’d done, Jade would go weak-kneed at the sight of her like she was still that naïve student with a crush?

She took a deep breath. If she wanted the chance to speak her mind, she needed to keep her cool. And she wouldn’t give Philippa the satisfaction of getting under her skin.

“I just want to talk,” Jade said. “Let’s go somewhere quieter.”

Philippa nodded. “Let me get a drink first.”

A few agonizing minutes later, they were seated at a table in the courtyard at the back of the bar.

“Here we are again,” Philippa said. “It’s been so long since we last spoke. Miss me, did you? Or is there some other reason you wanted to see me?”

Jade took a swig of her drink, fortifying herself. “I have some things to say to you. Things I need to get off my chest.”

Philippa rolled her eyes. “Is this about the research project? You’re not still upset about that, are you?”

“This isn’t about the research project. Well, it isn’t only about that. It’s about how youusedme the entire time we were together.”

For a moment, Philippa looked hurt. “I used you? Jade, how can you say that? How can you even think that? Ilovedyou. Didn’t you love me, too?”

Jade shook her head. “It doesn’t matter what either of us felt. You were my professor. My adviser. You were supposed to be looking out for me. Instead, you took advantage of how naïve and impressionable I was, coercing me into this messed-up relationship with you. And that was wrong.”

“Oh please. You didn’t have any objections at the time.”

“How could I? How could I when you never allowed me to have any feelings or opinions of my own? When you would force me to do whatever you wanted?”

“I never forced you to do anything. And I certainly never forced you to be with me. You wanted me. Your little crush was obvious from day one. You practically threw yourself at me.” Philippa picked up her drink, swirling it around before taking a sip. “And if you were so unhappy, you could have ended things. But you didn’t. You were with me because you wanted to be.”

“All this time, I thought the same thing. But it’s taken me two years to realize that the entire time we were together, I was trapped. No, you never forced me to be with you. But youmanipulated me into feeling like I couldn’t say no, which is the same thing. I never had a choice, not really. And you made that clear when you threatened to ruin my life if I ever told anyone about us.”

“Jade, when I said those things, I didn’t mean them. I was scared. Scared of what would happen if anyone found out about us. I’d never do anything to hurt you—”

“All you ever did was hurt me, Philippa. All the while convincing me that the way you treated me was okay. You never cared about my feelings. You never cared about what I wanted. It was about whatyouwanted fromme. You were a bully, grinding down everything I was until there was nothing left of me at all.”

Philippa opened her mouth to speak, but Jade didn’t let her.

“And you knew it. It’s why you went after me in the first place. You knew that I was so infatuated with you that I’d do whatever you told me to because I was so desperate to please you. That I’d never stand up for myself because I was scared of upsetting you.” Jade’s hands curled into fists on the table. “But I’m done. I’m done trying to please everyone. I’m done being too afraid to make waves. I’m done being ashamed of what you did to me. You’re a predator, Philippa. And I’m going to make sure everyone knows it.”

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