She shrugged, her voice flat. “You can order me whatever you feel like.”
I could see the way her shoulders stayed tight and how she wouldn’t quite meet my eyes for long. She was upset. But I shut that thought down fast. Not having to explain myself was the entire point of our setup, and I paid her well for the company, the access, and the obedience I demanded. Explanations, justifications, and all that emotional relationship s**t weren’t part of the deal. She needed to remember her place.
I turned toward the door. “Okay.”
But first, I needed a pick-me-up. All this Darlene bullshit was messing with my head, stirring up old ghosts I didn’t have time for. I grabbed my carry-on bag, pulled out the small baggie of powder, and headed into the bathroom. I tapped out a quick line on the marble
