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“How could I not be? The woman is a monster and won’t leave me alone.”

“I would suggest a restraining order, but…”

“You know that’s impossible.” If she couldn’t even get Jacqueline for her abuses, then the idea of a restraining order was laughable. “Really, Helen, I’m not afraid of her. She’s purely mental at this point. I don’t worry about her trying to touch or kidnap me. What she did is too public, even if no one will punish her for it. No. I’m more worried about this business of your father and her. Is it possible for you to…” She couldn’t believe she was about to ask it.

“It’s too much money for me to pay off on my own,” Helen said softly. “I’ve been trying for years. I pay some extra here and there to get my father ahead, but Jacqueline Love is shifty with the interest rates. Even with my sister’s help, it’s still too little. We’ve discussed it plenty over the years.”

“I’m sure you have.”

Helen stood, hands in her pockets and body turning from Monique. “This is not a pleasant predicament for any of us. Just… let me extend my sincerest apologies for having kept this from you. I should have been upfront from the beginning.”

“Yes, you should have.”

“Now I know why you’ve been so standoffish lately. I don’t blame you.”

“You’re not angry?”

“No. Nor am I under any disillusion that I’m welcomed into your bed tonight.”

“Maybe some other time.”

Before Helen stepped out of her office, she turned and said, “I’m not that woman. I want to make you happy, not hurt you.”

A lump went down Monique’s throat.Don’t break in front of her.Now was not the time. “Thank you, Helen. I know that. I just need some time.”

Time. She always needed time. Like how she needed Helen’s touch to reignite her spark for life once more.

Now was not the time.

Chapter 24

The Princess Submits

That time finally came a week later, after Monique had more time to sort out her feelings. Gerome Warner owed Jacqueline Love half a billion dollars. This happened long before Monique even met Jacqueline. Long before she met Helen. But Helen had known when they met that such a relationship existed. She continued to hold that information from Monique even after she learned the extent of Jacqueline’s cruelties. Every time Monique reached this conclusion, she shook her head and had to distract herself with work.

Work was always the greatest distraction. It was the perfect mix of her ideals and an escape from reality. She could live vicariously through her employees, who were a fun fusion of bratty women looking for punishment, harsh mistresses with firm hands and firmer words, and sweet subs who reminded Monique of herself. Wanting to please through submitting andserving. Wanting to receive pleasure from the hands of their dominants.

The difference was that, even though the ladies certainly had their preferences for which roles they played, they could do all three depending on the client of the night. June liked to dominate but would purr like a submissive kitten for the right price. Chelsea wanted to pout and push her dominant to the edge until she shut her up and bound her hands behind her back. Grace wanted to kneel at the feet of anyone who came through the door but was as likely to stick a heel in a patron’s back if that’s what he asked for. And Yvette… what did she like anyway? That girl was still a mystery.

Plus, Sybil still needed replacing. Monique had gone through the stack of candidates from Midnight that June provided, but nobody stuck out as of yet. She needed a versatile employee who could fill all three roles. Someone at least intriguing to look at, if not beautiful. Someone with experience in the lifestyle but no real desire to pursue it for herself. Sybil was going out into the world to be Mr. Carlisle’s full-time sub, probably. Monique was only a tad jealous.

Except why was she jealous? She had Helen, didn’t she?

Of course. Every time she thought about Helen pulling her into her arms and taking Monique for her pleasure, she died. Died in her heart, in her mind, and the pit of her stomach.I want her so badly. The few tastes she had were not enough. Helen’s gentle side, her firm side… when was the last time Monique met a woman who understood both of her needs so well? Her need to submit and to be treated as a human being at the same time?

Women were usually only capable of doing one or the other. One was too painful. The other was too boring.

Being single was better than boring.

Helen wasn’t boring. She was… problematic.

What else hadn’t she told her? Monique wondered this as she watched Grace be led out of the Receiving Room with a leash around her neck. Mrs. Anderssen was way, way too comfortable in her new role as Mistress. Monique would laugh, but…

“Whatever is bothering you, let it go.”

Monique looked up from her leather chair. June took a seat in the one next to her. They were now the only ones in the room, meaning they could converse freely. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You think I got as far as I have without being able to read people? You make it damn difficult, but I can tell when you’re thinking poorly about something. What happened? Your girlfriend hasn’t been around lately. What did she do?”