Page 80 of Boss of Her

Elle shot her a look before taking one of the champagne flutes from the table and sitting down on the other side of Jade. “I’mnot going to interrogate her. But Iamcurious to know what kind of woman managed to capture Simone Weiss’s heart.”

Jade gave her a sheepish shrug. “I’m nobody special. I guess I got lucky.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Simone plucked the final glass of champagne from the table, her gaze locked on Jade. “You’re more than special. You’re a beautiful, intelligent, brilliant woman who takes my breath away every time I look at you. And I’m lucky to call you mine.”

“Christ,” Olivia murmured. “Keep this up and you’ll make me wish I wasn’t single.”

Simone took a seat across from her girlfriend. Jade was taking the attention in her stride. But the night had only just begun.

“So,” Elle said, “what was it like dating Simone while you were working for her at the same time?”

“It wasn’t easy,” Jade replied. “Especially at first, when we were trying to keep everything outside work. But that didn’t last long.”

“Oh? So the two of you were sneaking around the office, having a little illicit fun?” Elle gave Jade a knowing look. “Is that big vintage desk Simone loves so much as strong as it looks?”

Jade’s cheeks flushed crimson. “T-that’s… We never…”

“For your information, we never did anythingonmy desk,” Simone said.

“Oh?” Elle leaned toward Jade, a mischievous smile on her lips. “There’s one other thing I’d like to know. Does Simone use her disappointed schoolteacher voice in the bedroom too?”

“Elle,” Valerie warned. “Stop torturing the girl.”

“What? I’m just being friendly. And you can’t blame me for being curious. How long have you two been together now? We’ve been dying to meet you, but Simone has been keeping you to herself.”

“Are you surprised?” Valerie said. “You’re giving Jade the third degree. It’s no wonder Simone wasn’t in a hurry to introduce you.”

“Is that your excuse for keeping your love life secret from us too, Val?” Elle asked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure you don’t.” Elle crossed her legs and took a sip of her champagne. “So, how’s that new nanny of yours doing?”

“Fine,” Valerie replied. “Why do you ask?”

“Has she met Madame V yet?”

“Why would she?”

Elle raised an eyebrow. “Really? You’re still pretending there’s nothing going on there?”

Valerie folded her arms across her chest. “I’m not pretending. Because thereisnothing going on there.”

“Oh please, you always make that face when you’re lying.”

Jade flattened herself into her seat as the two women argued across her. Simone gave her an apologetic look. At the very least, she was getting the authentic experience of Simone’s friends.

Eventually, Olivia steered the conversation back to Jade with some questions about her new job. It wasn’t until an hour and another bottle of champagne later that everyone’s curiosity had been satisfied and Jade was given a chance to breathe. And soon, Valerie announced that she needed to get home.

She said her goodbyes and disappeared downstairs. As Olivia and Elle fell into a conversation about an upcoming play party at the club, Simone drew Jade over to a quiet corner.

“There you have it,” she said. “You’ve met my friends.”

“They seem…” Jade paused in thought.

“Intense?”

“Niceis what I was going to say. But that too.”

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