My jaw flexed. Booked. Again. After all this. Nothing seemed to knock this bitch off her square or get her out of my house.
"Then cancel," Boss replied. "You know I'm good for it."
"I know," she replied. "But that wouldn't be fair to her other clients, would it?"
"I don't give a fuck 'bout none of that when it comes to her. Fuck them clients."
The way he said it made my breath tremble. Possessive. Emotional.Attached.
Madam must've noticed it too. I could tell by how long it took her to respond. And when she did her tone was tight. "You're becoming too emotionally attached, Bishop. And that never ends well in places like this."
Boss didn't answer right away. "I know how to handle myself," he said finally.
"Do you?" Madam countered carefully.
The silence after that was heavier. I shifted slightly, listening. Waiting. Some sick part of me still thought maybe this conversation would turn around somewhere. Maybe Madam could redirect him. Make him come to his senses. Maybe—
"You are a valued client here," Madam continued smoothly. " But perhaps you should spend some time elsewhere until the attachment fades. Monroe has some openings this week."
I froze completely. For one second, hope flickered in my chest that he would remember our time together. He had to have missed some part of it.
Then Boss spoke—"I don't want Monroe," he said sharply.
The words hit me like a slap and my head snapped back. My face felt hot instantly. The way he said it—like the thought irritated him. As if I wasn't even worth the consideration anymore.
"Then there's nothing else I can help you with," Madam stated firmly. "And just so there is no confusion, if you are unable to get a handle on your emotions, I will have to remove you from the system."
"What you trying to say, Madam?" he asked low and tense
"I believe I just said it," she stated.
The office was quiet after that.
My breath came out in slow, short trembles as I slowly backed away from the door and stalked off.
All this—overher?
That bitch had walked in here and somehow made a man like Boss forget himself. Forget me. The humiliation burned hot and vicious in my chest.
Fine.
Fuck Boss. If he wanted to treat me like I was just some trick he could discard…well then, I had something for his ass too.
Chapter 32
"What do you think about this dress?" I stepped back so Remy could see me in the camera where we were on FaceTime.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Turn around, babe."
I did a small spin, arms out waiting. "Well?" I tilted my head.
With a deep sigh he shook his head. "It's not my favorite."
"Really?" I looked down at myself in disappointment, smoothing down the fabric. "I was really hoping you liked it." I looked back up into the camera to see his lips quivering as he tried to hold back a laugh. "You're fucking with me, aren't you?" I sucked my teeth softly with a smile.
Remy laughed softly. "Of course I am. As if you could ever look anything else than beautiful in whatever you put on."
Letting out a slow sigh, I picked up the phone still smiling. "So… you like it?" I asked.
