Page 70 of After Midnight
Chapter 18
Monroe.
I'm a woman who needs no introduction but clearly these new bitches couldn't seem to understand who ran this house. I gave Wisdom and Lena a pass—they were no issue for me. Lena was too damn soft and Wisdom was akumbayakind of bitch.
But that damn Ronnie, andespeciallythat big-booty bitch Gianna—yeah—I had to get them out of here. Even more so now that Gianna called herself trying to slide in my territory. I didn’t share clients. Once you had the experience of Monroe, you didn't seek any woman outside of that.
I was the blueprint.
Everyone knew that Boss was mine. And yeah—I'll admit I developed a soft spot for him. Might even have feelings for him. Sue me. A man like that deserves the best, and I'mthe best pieceof pussy in these walls. His wife is his wife in name only. But I'm the one who helped him to escape. Who helped him release from the stress of his day to day.
I didn't give a damn what Boss thought he wanted—he's a man. Men need to be convinced of what's best for them. AndI ambest for him. I wanted him for myself. I didn't need the ring and the paper. I wanted his money and his heart. Let his little wife continue to play the role of being a domestic servant. Bad bitches don't cook and clean—they scheme and finesse.
All I needed to do now was make sure those two little meddlesome ass birds, were booted out for good. Let them go back to the hood and shake their asses for loose bills and handbags.
I needed Madam's support in this. Me and Madam have a mutual fondness for one another. I respected and admired her. She felt the same for me. I can say without a doubt that I'm her favorite and I planned to use that favoritism to my full advantage.
"Knock-Knock," I said tapping her slightly ajar office door gently with my knuckles.
"Come on in in, Monroe."
Pushing the door open wider, I strolled in with her favorite flowers—carnations with a soft smile on my face. "For my favorite bad bitch." I placed the vase gently on her desk.
She looked over her glasses at me with that knowing smile on her face. "What do you want, Ms. Monroe?"
I shrugged innocently, still smiling. "What would make you assume I want anything, gorgeous? I can't just bring flowers to the most beautiful woman I know. The purveyor of this illustrious establishment."
Madam chuckled and leaned back in amusement. "Oh you're dragging it today. You want something or you’re plotting something."
I sighed softly and sat down at the chair in front of her desk. "I just wanna talk to my girl that's all. Get some insight into how things are going around here. With the girls."
Madam nodded slowly licking her lips. "Unh-huh," she exhaled slowly. "With the girls or with acertaingirl?" She tilted her head slightly, brow raised.
I couldn't get shit past her. Rolling my eyes, I crossed my legs. "Where did you even find them Madam?" I asked.
"I didn't. They found me," she replied. "Recommended by my nephew,"
"You don't think they're a little…too loud for this establishment?"
Her brow raised higher. "Loud?"
I shrugged. "Yeah.Loud. In tone and presentation. This is a classy environment, Madam. We're selling a fantasy here, and two hoodrats plucked from the streets hinders that aesthetic." I leaned forward, voice dropping. "I mean for God sakes, have you heard the way Ronnie talks? She's so…uncouth.Sounds like she came straight from a trap house." Rolling my eyes again, I shook my head. "The men have made some complaints."
Madam folded her hands slowly across her desk. "I haven't heard any complaints from the clients. In fact, quite the opposite. They seem to enjoy her feisty nature."
"Ugh—" I sighed. "She's going to turn this place into a cesspool."
Madam smirked. "Cut the shit, Monroe. This has nothing to do with Ronnie. You're upset about Gianna and Boss, aren't you?"
My posture stiffened—just hearing their names together made heat rush through my body. "It's disrespectful, Madam. No other girl in here would ever disrespect another like that. There is a certain decorum that we adhere to, which is why we are all able to co-exist peacefully. If this becomes a pattern—women taking long-term clients…" I shook my head again. "You're going to have a bunch of very upset women in here and our clients will feel the tension."
Madam let out a sharp breath. "No one here is under contract, Monroe. The men have the liberty to see who they want, and the ladies have the option to accept or decline a client. Now…although we have managed to avoid any issues with clients being poached, it's always been a possibility. Boss and Gianna are both consenting adults." Her sharp eyes locked on mine. "Boss doesn't belong to you."
My nostrils flared once more. "I never said he does. It's the principle of the situation."
Madam shook her head, face set in stone. "What's the main rule, Monroe?"
I huffed out another sigh. "Madam—I know the rules."
