Page 66 of Boss of Her

After all, that was the most obvious explanation. Why else would Simone stop responding to her so suddenly?

“Then I figured I was probably overreacting, so I decided to wait. But it’s been two days now. She’s blowing me off. And I have no idea why.” Jade folded her legs underneath her on her bed. “Everything seemed fine when I last saw her. Except she did seem kind of upset that I couldn’t spend Friday night with her because I had plans. That can’t be why, though. Who would be so petty? So manipulative?”

Philippa, that’s who.She’d always gotten upset when Jade didn’t do what she wanted. She’d tell Jade she wasn’t mad, all the while acting cold and withholding. And in the end, Jade would always give in and apologize, even if she’d done nothing wrong.

Until one day, she’d refused. And that was when Philippa kicked her to the curb. Because what use was Jade to her if she didn’t bow to her wishes?

But Simone wasn’t like Philippa. She wasn’t using Jade for her own pleasure. She would never toss Jade aside because she wouldn’t serve her every whim.

But what other explanation did she have?

“If she thinks she can treat me like this,” Jade said. “If she thinks she can just use me and throw me away like a piece of trash—”

“Whoa, hold on,” Renee interrupted. “Don’t you think you’re being a little hasty? Whatever is going on, I’m sure there’s an explanation.”

“If there is, why isn’t Simone telling me what it is? Why is she leaving me in the dark like this? Why am I sitting here wondering if she’s going to call me like some love-struck idiot?”

“You’re right, it’s not cool what she’s doing. But you’re going to see her at work tomorrow, right? You should talk to her then.”

But Jade wasn’t going to wait. She wasn’t going to stand for this. She wasn’t going to let Simone treat her this way, let anyone treat her this way, ever again. And she wasn’t going to fall apart.

No, this time, she was going to take matters into her own hands.

“If Simone won’t speak to me, I want to know why,” she said. “And I’m going to find out.”

“Uh, how do you plan to do that?” Renee asked.

“I’m going to go to her. I have her schedule. I know exactly where she’ll be tonight. I’m going to show up, and I’m going to get her attention one way or another.”

“Wait, where is she going to be tonight? Where are you going?”

Jade got up from her bed. “I’m going to Club Velvet.”

An hour later, Jade strode through the doors of Club Velvet, Renee at her heels.

“You didn’t have to come with me,” Jade muttered.

“Yes, I did,” Renee said. “Someone has to make sure you don’t do anything stupid.”

“I’m not going to do anything stupid, Ree.”

For some reason, her friend seemed to think that she wasn’t in her right mind. But if anything, Jade’s mind was clearer than ever. Meeting with Philippa hadn’t only given her closure. It had reminded her that she needed to keep her guard up.

It had reminded her that she could never let anyone do what Philippa had done to her ever again.

She marched to the bar and ordered a drink. It was a Sunday evening, so the club wasn’t busy, but there were still plenty of people around. And they all seemed to be couples, kissing, touching, playing. A few who were daring enough were doing far more. This was nothing like the opening night party, where no sex was allowed. Tonight, in this den of debauchery, nothing was off limits.

And in coming here, Jade was sending a message of defiance to the woman who was supposed to be her Mistress.

I’m here without you. I’m free for the taking. Don’t like it? Come and claim me.

Yes, Jade was provoking her. Yes, she was trying to get Simone’s attention in her little black dress and heels, exuding the kind of sensual confidence she’d never possessed until she met Simone. Yes, she was playing games. But only because Simone was playing games with her, too.

She swallowed her drink in one long gulp, then gestured to the bartender, ordering another.

“Whoa,” Renee said. “Slow down. You’re acting crazy. This isn’t you.”

“No, thisisme,” Jade said. “This is who I am. And what would you know? You act like I’m still the girl I was in freshman year. You don’t know me. You don’t know what I’ve gone through. You don’t know who I am anymore!”

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