"Itwas." I gave Ronnie a pointed look. "Bitch, behave sometimes. Damn."
Ronnie huffed softly. "My bad," she reached out to Lena, holding out her hand. Lena reluctantly took it. "You're pretty as fuck is all I was saying. Madam can’t take credit for that."
That prompted a smile from Lena. "Thank you."
Wisdom titled her head slightly, her eyes on Ronnie. "You got a vendetta against Madam or something?" she asked curiously.
Ronnie exhaled and sat back, picking back up her glass. "Not at all. I actually wanna be just like the bitch when I grow up." She smiled. "She's inspiring."
"Well then you have a long way to go, little Ms. Hip-Hop Homegirl."
We all turned at the voice, and none other than the self-proclaimed, queen bee herself strolled in with her new minion Bianca, snickering like a damn hyena at her side. I rolled my eyes instantly.
"If you want to ever become a woman like Madam, you need to work on a few things." Monroe smirked, standing in front ofus. "Poise is one of them. Class is the other." She looked Ronnie up and down critically.
Ronnie set down her glass and stood. "Bitch, I will knock every last tooth down your dick guzzling throat if you keep playing with me," she warned taking a step forward.
"Ooo. I'm soscared." Monroe mocked, fake shivering in fear. "A bitch all of 5'4 thinks she can whoop my ass."
"Bitch!" Ronnie drew back her fist.
I quickly stood and grabbed it, pulling her back. "Chill. This bitch ain't worth it. She just trying to antagonize us so we can get kicked out," I stated, my eyes locked on Monroe's smug ass face.
"Well look who just earned herself a gold star," Monroe smiled clapping her hands twice. "Smart girl. And here I thought your brain was hidden in that big ole' ass you're dragging around."
Bianca laughed obnoxiously.
I damn near had to struggle to hold Ronnie back who was now trying her best to reach over me and swing. Wisdom and Lena hurried over to our side.
"Monroe, you're far too old to be a mean girl," Wisdom chimed in. "Grow up. As I've said, there's enough money for usallto make."
Monroe's neck rolled over to Wisdom. "And like I toldyoubefore—you're funny."
We finally got Ronnie to calm down all while Monroe watched us with that devious ass smile on her face that I swear I wanted to smack off. This bitch was absolutely dreadful, and it seemed like she was making it her personal mission to fuck with me and Ronnie. But I knew how to knock a bitch like her in her place.
"How's Boss, Monroe?" I asked with a smile.
Her eyes narrowed, nostrils flaring and her jaws clenching. "You don’t need to worry about Boss, fresh meat," she gritted out.
"Maybe not." I nodded slowly. "Maybe—" I dragged out, "Boss needs to worry about me."
I licked my lips slowly. "Maybe,youneed to worry about me too. Because a man like that," I inhaled slowly, eyes fluttering softly as if I could feel his hands on my body right there. "A man like that could do a lot a damage to a woman who couldn’t handle him. But me…" I stepped closer until I was damn near in her face. "A bitch like me knows how to handle aboss. Turn his ass into a peon with the right pressure." I smiled arrogantly. "But you wouldn’t know nothing about that would you, Monroe?" I tilted my head. "I can teach you though if you say please."
The room went still as our eyes locked in a silent challenge. I could see everything on her face and in her eyes that she didn't want me to see. And one thing was clear—she had feelings for Boss.
I wasn’t sure before, but it was clear as day reading her expression. She had broken the most important rule in the game and fell for a client. Not just any client—a married one.
“Tread lightly, Gianna,” she said, her voice low now. Gone was the playful bitchiness. “You’re new here. You don’t know how things work.”
I smiled at her. “Oh, I’m learning real fast how things work.”
“Then if you understand,” she added, stepping a little closer. “You would move accordingly. You don’t know who you're playing with.”
My brow rose and I crossed my arms smoothly. "I could say the same," I responded.
I didn’t step back or break eye contact. I also didn't get loud, and I could tell that, that alone pissed her off. Women like Monroe were used to intimidating people. Picking at them untilthey shrank. Not me. She picked the right woman to play this game with.
Her jaw flexed again, but this time she forced a tight, controlled smile. “You got a mouth on you,” she muttered.