The Submissive by Cynthia Dane & Hildred Billings

Author:Cynthia Dane & Hildred Billings [Dane, Cynthia & Billings, Hildred]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barachou Press
Published: 2024-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

What She Needs

It was the sweetest day of the year. The sun was warm, but not punishing to those enjoying its splendor. The breeze brought with it a nice chill but was not strong enough to blow over the lunch Monique laid out for her guests.

She was dining on the balcony with two of her friends. Well, if a woman like Etta Coleman could be called her friend. Ex-girlfriend. Business partner. Confidant. When Monique made her great escape from Jacqueline’s prison, it was Etta who was there for her. The same woman who once shared Monique with her former best friend before deciding the ménage life wasn’t for her. Too bad. In truth, Monique and Etta made better friends than lovers. There was mutual respect, but without the drama Jacqueline infused everywhere she went, there was little romantic passion. Just as well. Monique had her life, and Etta had hers.

Part of that life was also dining with them that early afternoon.

“This place is a lot bigger than I expected.” Jamie, Etta’s girlfriend said as she looked around. Even though she came from a lower middle-class background, she hid it well with her girlfriend’s money adorning her body – in the form of a black and white dress and a wide-brimmed sunhat that covered most of her dark hair. Yet when Jamie picked up a regular spoon to eat her soup, Monique saw the tell-tale sign of a woman new to the world of old money. Took me two years to figure that out. She hoped she wasn’t too obvious when she picked up the large soup spoon and swirled it around her bowl.

“For the amount we paid, it better be big,” Etta looked at Monique across the table.

She picked up her iced tea before answering. “It’s adequate for the job. Still a few rooms leftover if I decide to hire more personnel.”

Etta jerked her thumb to the woman sitting at the end of the small table. “She needs a job. She’s unemployed now.”

“Etta!”

“What?”

Jamie stuck her tongue out and Etta pretended to be offended. Another one that was almost destroyed by Jacqueline. She wouldn’t bring it up today, but Jamie was the poor soul Jacqueline kidnapped and intended to “break-in,” consent be damned. Only because of Monique’s fortitude did they escape. Oh, and Etta providing the getaway car, of course.

Monique didn’t get to see them often enough. They lived farther away, although Etta made a concerted effort to keep in touch weekly – and not just because she was Monique’s #1 investor. She put up most of the start-up costs and gave Monique the money necessary to buy the Manoir. In turn, Monique made sure it was a good investment for Etta.

She wished she could see what few true friends she had a bit more often.

“Oh, excuse me.” Yvette appeared in the doorway, wearing her tanning bikini and a straw hat on her head. In her hand was a tablet, although Monique had no idea how she read it in this sunlight.

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