Page 67 of Boss of Her

Renee threw her hands up. “Because you don’t talk to me! You don’t tell me anything, not anymore. How the hell am I supposed to know what’s going on with you when you’re so closed off all the time? I don’t know what happened to you, but you changed, Jade. We used to be best friends, but you shut me out. It’s like you’re a complete stranger! And this, the way you’re acting, I’m not sure I like the person you are right now.”

Jade winced. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”

Renee’s face fell. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said all that.”

“It’s fine. You were just being honest.”

“I didn’t mean it. I was—”

“I said,it’s fine. Look, I really can’t do this right now. I just need some space, okay?”

“Sure. But I drove you here. Why don’t I give you a ride home?”

Jade shook her head. “I just want to be alone.”

“If that’s what you want. I’m going to stick around and mingle for a while. I’ll be here if you need me.” She put a hand on Jade’s arm. “And again, I’m sorry.”

Jade turned back to the bar. And with a murmured goodbye, Renee disappeared into the crowd.

Jade sipped her drink, trying to wash away the sting of Renee’s words. But her friend was right. These last few years, Jade had been so wrapped up in her problems that she’d letthem consume her. She’d been so self-centered and closed off that she’d pushed Renee away, along with everyone else.

But she was trying to change. She was trying to let people in again. Hadn’t she done that with Simone? Opened up to her, opened her heart to her?

And this is what I get?

Jade took another gulp of her drink and looked around the club. She couldn’t see Simone anywhere. But she had to be here. She had the evening blocked off for an informal meeting with the other owners of Club Velvet.

Did she know that Jade was here?

Did she even care?

As Jade took another sip of her drink, she looked up at the glass-walled room at the far end of the club, high above the main floor. There were a handful of women gathered in it. And among them, leaning against the glass, a drink in her hand, was a statuesque woman in a dark dress, her blonde hair pulled back into a bun. Jade couldn’t see her face, but she’d recognize her anywhere.

Simone.

Jade chugged the rest of her drink, then turned to the bartender and ordered another.

You want me, Mistress? Come and get me.

CHAPTER 29

Simone watched the crowd down in the club below, a glass of champagne in her hand. Elle had ordered a bottle to celebrate Simone’s acquisition of The Ashton Star.

But Simone had steered the conversation toward club business as quickly as possible. She wasn’t in the mood to celebrate.

“Simone? Are you listening?”

She turned away from the glass, focusing her attention on the other owners of Club Velvet, who sat gathered around a table. It was Olivia who had spoken to her. In her designer pantsuit and heels, her dark hair flowing down one shoulder, olive-brown skin glowing in the dim lighting of the club, she gave off the distinct impression that she’d just stepped off a private jet. Knowing Olivia, she likely had.

“I’m listening,” Simone said. “What is it?”

“The situation with the bar staff?” When she didn’t respond, Olivia continued. “We’ve lost three since we opened. Apparently, they didn’t have the constitution for working at a place like this.”

“We’ll hire replacements. And up the base pay rate for new hiresandthe existing staff. If we want the best, the pay needs to reflect that.”

Olivia nodded. “That should help. Our pay rate is already higher than most upscale establishments, so we’ll have no shortage of applicants.”

“I’ll spread the word that we’re hiring,” Elle said. “There are always staff at my other clubs who are looking for extra work. And this time, so we don’t run into this problem again, we should make sure any potential hires know exactly what they’re getting into working at Club Velvet.”

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