Epilogue

There were a handful of parties they could have attended that weekend, but nothing was better than staying in town and being around people they knew. Sometimes intimately.

"Well, isn't this big fun?" Jane had to yell over the chaos of voices echoing in the penthouse suite recently converted to a private nightclub for those with a vision. On public GPS systems, it was merely labeled as the separate LLC "Alimon Group," a portmanteau of Alice and Damon Monroe's first names. To everyone invited to be a member, though, it was merely known as The Hideaway.

Becca knew little about what happened behind the scenes between Jane telling Damon about the price drop and the Monroes jumping on this to create their new dream venture. All she knew was that she was impressed by the transformation from slightly derelict penthouse to cozy nightclub where fantasies and dreams could come true.

Tonight, for the soft launch, it was a laundry list of personal friends and Diamond VIP members of The Dark Hour. Rebecca recognized most of the faces around her as she held hands with Caitlyn to survive the initial crowd. Jane led the way, a hostess right in front, because the three of them were guests of honor at tonight's party.

"Right this way!" the hostess called over the riot of people drunkenly conversing in the dark. "Mr. Monroe asked me to take his honored guests to one of the VIP rooms."

They weren't asked for their coats – there wasn't time – but Becca was comfortable enough in her light sweater after the fake-spring heatwave that announced things were about to bloom and thrive. She also wasn't surprised to find some hooks awaiting her sweater on the VIP wall once they ducked into what was once a bedroom. By the looks of it, the primary bedroom where one Priscilla Winchester-Payne slept for countless decades.

"Isn't it lovely, watching dreams come true?" Jane offered a hug to her friend, the host who conversed with two other special VIP guests on the center couch. Caitlyn and Becca opted to shake Damon's hand in congratulations, and he was more than happy to keep it simple. "Congratulations. Looks like a smashing place to get right pissed on liquor and tits."

"I hear those are your favorite," Damon said in his usual way.

"Where's the missus?" Jane asked.

"Bed rest. I have a feeling this will be the last kid for a… well, probably ever."

"Aw, but then you have a brood of squids to inherit your big smutty empire."

Becca laughed. Caitlyn put in a drink order with the waitress who came by to pick up what they wanted.

"How many people are out there?" Caitlyn asked as the waitress waded out into the main crowd. "Is this what you have planned for a regular Saturday night?"

"Think of it like a big debut party for the new business," Damon explained from his perch on a lounge chair. "Everyone gets to know about it. They get to have fun. They get tours and ideas put into their heads. Why, what if I told you that we're already booked out for three months starting next weekend? We can even open up for the odd night during the week if you're willing to pay the extra charge."

"Fascinating." Jane's way of making herself comfortable on the couch was by leaning against Caitlyn and tossing her legs across Becca's lap. Someone pregamed, all right. Was that why Caitlyn had to drive? Jane was already tipsy after getting dinner with a client? "Tell me, what can one do with this room? Besides get a lap dance and drink their night away?"

"This is one of the experience rooms. All of this furniture can be moved out with enough notice, but ideally, it comes as it is."

"That must be why it's made out of such easy-to-clean material."

"Jane, please," Caitlyn said. "I haven't had enough to drink yet."

The door to the VIP room was left open, allowing the riotous sounds of the party to filter through until it was so loud that Jane and Becca felt like they had no recourse but to get up and go check it out for themselves. Caitlyn stayed behind, wishing to talk some business with Damon while she had his ear. Becca wondered what that was about, but Jane merely shrugged.

"Let them talk about boring bollocks, Becca." Jane slung her arm around Becca's waist. "Let's take a tour and meet some people! I bet you have some friends in here somewhere!"

It didn't take them long to find some quite eager to talk to them. Like one of Becca's closest friends, whom she wasn't expecting to see there that night.

"This is totally not your scene!" That was the first thing out of her mouth before hugging her friend Nadia, who dressed to impress in a violet purple cocktail dress and the kind of glittering jewelry that could only come with a wife who once worked in the gemstone industry. "What are you doing here? Is Eva around?"

"Oh, she's off hobnobbing, flirting, all that crap." Nadia poked Becca in the side, getting her right where her blouse separated from her skirt. "Probably would have started on you if you were around. You know how she is. Doesn't like talking to the Monroes, but if they invite her somewhere, she's the first to arrive. Says they know how to throw a party."

"It's true. They do. Have you seen this place?"

"Oh, I've heard all about it. Don't forget, Monica's my sister-in-law and lives one wing of a house away from me. I don't know who she hired as her spy to get all the info she did, but she's been keeping track of the success of this place like one might track their period."

Jane thought that was hilarious. She was also subsequently picked up by someone else for a conversation, leaving Becca to wander through the tight crowd with her friend.

"So? What do you think?" Nadia gestured to the people dressed in suits, dresses, and smart shirts and slacks. "A veritable who's-who of the kind of people who come into town to meet my boss. Probably yours, too."

"My bosses are my girlfriends, though."

"True, true, but I bet you've seen a lot of these pervs out and about before."

"Think we can find some more that we know?"

"Absolutely. I see a fun bitch right over there."

Nadia was the only one who could get away with playfully pulling on the hair of Amber Mayview, who was surrounded by a group of young men in collared shirts, each one possibly drooling over her more than the next. Talk about a charisma even I don't have. Amber was very much in a committed relationship with another woman, but if there was one thing she and girlfriend Adrienne knew how to do, it was charm every man in their vicinity. A superpower that Nadia claimed Amber said, "Makes them lots of money."

She was more than happy to ditch the bros if it meant hanging out with her girls, though.

"I thought I saw Blair!" Becca called over the party around her.

"I bet Mira is here trying to get business," Nadia said as they hunted down one of Monica Warren's employees at Le Salon. Yet Blair was also a free agent in the performance circuit, her girlfriend – and Domme – Mira one of the hottest professionals available for hire. They could make a killing doing subcontractor work here. If Mira wasn't already in the VIP room scoring first dibs on some of the parties sure to come through here, then what was she doing?

"Oh, thank God!" Blair was happy enough to see them when they approached. "People who don't want to fuck me! Get me out of here!"

As they gathered more women they knew through The Dark Hour, the performance circuit, and the various industries and sex clubs they were all members of, a hostess approached and asked if they would like a complimentary VIP room that became available. That was around the time Caitlyn caught up to them and suggested they take the Monroes up on the offer for a girl's only area and get a round of Champagne for everyone.

They were shown into one of the bedrooms that had been transformed into a social area with a sunken floor and a personal wet bar that was already stocked for that night. As half a dozen women took up more space than society usually allowed, more stuck their heads in, including some of the girlfriends of those already there.

Caitlyn sat next to Becca. "This is more fun than I anticipated! Look at this place! It's huge! How is the fire code allowing this?"

"We don't ask questions. Except for asking where Jane is."

"Last I saw her, she was talking to some guys we've done business with before. She's really ‘on' tonight. I needed a break."

"Let me go find her and let her know where we are."

"You do that, hon. Then come back here and sit in my lap."

Caitlyn's wink was the perfect send off for Rebecca to race back out into the penthouse, where people had settled into the seats provided or hung close to the walls to talk with people and drink their complimentary alcohol. The Monroes had spared no expense on this launch, and if they played their appointments right, this would be another successful business in a town not often known for its wild nightlife.

Despite her petite stature, Jane's grand presence made her easy to spot by the bar, where she talked with a Danish man who turned out to be one of her old buddies from Cambridge. Becca soon remembered meeting Lucas Blackborne before but hadn't recalled that he was such a big deal in Damon and Jane's universe that he had been the best man at the former's wedding – and had gone to the latter's as a special guest.

"Anyone who saw Cait and I get married the first time is good in my book," Jane said as Lucas shook Becca's hand. "Which is why you're the most special, love. You're the only one who saw us get married the second time."

"And your mom."

"Wa, don't bring up my mom!"

At first, Becca assumed Jane shouting in Cantonese was why people had quieted down and stared at them, but she quickly realized that guests were gaping at the entrance of the penthouse, not at Jane.

Someone unexpected had shown up.

"Go on, love." Jane urged Becca to step back. "Let me see what's going on."

Becca was fine with returning to the VIP room. I'd rather be with friends than deal with drama. And she'd rather sit in Caitlyn's lap, their friends giving them a hard time for the PDA in a place that more than allowed it.

This is the fucking life.

From the way Caitlyn kissed her, the notion was mutual.

JANE

She wasn't one to usually stick her nose in this business, but she not only had some finances tied up in the success of Damon's new venture… but the one staring her in the face.

"Ms. Wong." Monica did not remove her vintage fur coat as she stepped deeper into the club. "Please don't tell me that Damon sent you to deal with me."

"Oh, please. Despite some of the rumors, I'm not exactly his lackey. Eugh." Jane was aware that she was the first to approach Monica, who could not have been on the guest list. Not because the Monroes had blacklisted her, but because the assumption was there that she wanted nothing to do with this. "I doubt he'll even know you're here for another minute."

"If you don't mind, I would love to talk to him for a bit."

"Uh, well…"

"I'm not here to start trouble. I'm here to congratulate him and Alice on another successful venture that will only serve to make me more money as well. As you said a few months ago…" She side-eyed someone giving her a dirty look. "The success of one of us begets success of the other."

"Alice is not present tonight," Jane informed her. "Something about bed rest."

"How unfortunate. Something I certainly do not wish on anyone."

A hostess with an air of authority approached them. "Mrs. Warren," she said with a terse tone. "Please come this way."

Jane wasn't about to miss this for the world. She waved to Lucas, gesturing that they would catch up later, but right now she was heading back to the primary VIP room where Damon supposedly still hung out with his closest friends.

Monica was not one of those people, but he had something to settle with her as well.

I can only imagine what's been going on since that incident at the school. All Jane had learned was that Clarise was seeing a new therapist, with the prevailing theory being that stress around two new siblings in only three years and the ongoing rivalry between her parents and the Warrens was spilling over at school. Nobody could ascertain whether Abigail Warren was bullying Clarise in any way or if something stranger was afoot.

Not that it was any of Jane's business. This was just the knowledge she picked up after getting to know certain people so well for so long. And, well, I'm sort of a parent myself now. Cecelia was out with her latest boyfriend that night. All the more reason for Jane to go party.

Wasn't it interesting how quickly this turn of events sobered her up?

"Not your lackey," she said to Damon when she entered the room, where the hostess was already clearing out everyone else. "Just remember that, huh?"

He looked at her as if he expected her to leave.

"It's fine. She can stay." Monica sat on the edge of a seat while the hostess closed the VIP room door. It didn't do much to muffle the sounds of the party in the penthouse. "I would say that I am sorry for crashing your soiree, Mr. Monroe, but I am not. I think you know that I have my reasons to be here, despite any differences we might have in business… and our lives."

"Indeed." Damon glanced at Jane. "Would you mind getting Mrs. Warren a Manhattan? I believe that is her favorite drink."

Normally, Jane would balk at being asked to make one of his guests a drink, but she saw this for what it was. My ability to stay here and listen in. Well! If the fancy Lady Warren wanted a Manhattan, Jane would find the nearest bottles of whiskey and vermouths. She made no promises about the quality of the pour, though. She was more of a standalone bourbon woman. Fuck it, I am pouring myself a bourbon Manhattan.

"You're too kind," Monica said as Jane found a clean glass at the wet bar. "I trust that your family is doing well? How is Clarise these days?"

"My daughter is adjusting well enough to her new routine at school. Alice is on bed rest until our second son arrives, and the boy is… well, he's a toddler. He's healthy, which is what I ask for." He turned it back on Monica. "How is Abigail?"

Jane definitely noticed that they used the names of each other's children. I barely remember their names. The only reason she knew the name of Damon's oldest son was because he was a Junior.

She brought Monica her drink the moment she responded. "My daughter remains the brightest light in my life. I am pleased to say that she does not have any qualms about her schooling at the moment." If that was her way of saying, "Your daughter isn't punching her, and this is an improvement," then Jane supposed everyone considered that a win.

"Now that we have the pleasantries out of the way…" Damon said nothing as Jane leaned against the wet bar with her bourbon-based Manhattan, careful to not stain her trousers. "Why are you here, Monica? You didn't pick the launch party of my new enterprise by accident. Much like I know you've been keeping a close eye on this place, much like I've kept my eyes on you."

"I've known about this since you bought the property from The Boyle Group, but nothing is surprising about that. No… the reason I'm here is because I wanted to see it for myself. And because I have a proposal for you."

Damon glanced at Jane again, keeping his knowing smile in check. The reason the third wheel hadn't been kicked out would soon be revealed.

"Do tell."

If these two kept stealing looks at Jane, she'd have to start teasing them about being in love with her. "I feel like we got derailed a few months ago. Between the news of your most recent child and what was going on between your daughter and… well, mine… there was no real opportunity to come up with something that would make us both happy. And more successful."

"You want to go into business together, despite everything happening."

"Not together, Mr. Monroe. That would be bad for our professional relationship should things get shaky later on. No, I believe we should approach this the way Ms. Wong pitched it to us several months ago. We need an intermediary. One who stands to also become more successful should this… well, succeed."

"And let bygones be bygones," Jane muttered.

Ah, wasn't this something? Seeing her genius come to life? If Jane weren't careful, she might get an ego. The very last thing her beloved women would tolerate in their new, nice house that they purchased thanks to her networking gravitas.

Damn, this is good. She had to slow down drinking her bourbon Manhattan. Even Jane could admit that sometimes one could have too much of a good thing.

CAITLYN

Rebecca texted her about a small kerfuffle that happened in the club. Nothing to do with me. Let Jane handle it. She loved sticking her nose in other people's business. Caitlyn? She would wait in the other VIP room for Rebecca to return.

"You have got to tell me where you bought that dress." Nadia was always her most conversational when she had liquored up. "I love it. It's not every day you see a dress that accentuates without making it obvious that you're not exactly a size four."

It took Caitlyn a moment to remember where she found it. "Believe it or not, Nordstrom."

"No way. Recently?"

"It also comes in black and red."

Nadia gave her a thumbs up before finding someone else to talk to. That was certainly an interaction. Would Rebecca be interested in knowing that one of her best friends was already drunk at the party? How often did that happen?

More women had come into the private room, many of whom Caitlyn didn't know. She kept to her loveseat by the window, slightly concerned that maybe she should get up to let some of these couples and friend groups have it to themselves. I take up about two-thirds of it already. Women like her partners didn't mind getting tight and cozy with Caitlyn on a small couch, but strangers? Potential embarrassment heading my way.

She was about to grab her purse and stand up when a pair of strangers circled her loveseat, their collective perfume so strong that Caitlyn was stunned where she sat.

"Forgive us," said the sultry voice of the woman closest to Caitlyn, someone with a generous pushup bra bursting out of her crop top while her bobbed brown hair carried with it the additional scent of manufactured spring rain. "This is suuuper sudden, but my friend and I couldn't stop staring at you from across the room." She helped herself to the tight spot beside Caitlyn. "You are hot."

"Uh…" Caitlyn clutched her purse between her legs, aware of the thin woman behind her. Is she draping herself on the back of the loveseat? Right behind me? Bleach blond hair tickled the top of Caitlyn's natural color as a hand tipped with sharp red nails tickled her shoulder. "Thank you?"

The brunette chuckled, drawing Caitlyn's attention back to her and the hefty cleavage in her shirt. "We're serious. I can only speak for myself, but I've got a real thing for, uh… a femme with thighs that look like they can crush my skull open like a watermelon."

Caitlyn's mouth dropped open. "That is very forward," she admitted.

"What can we say? We're forward girls. We come as a pair, by the way."

"Funny… that's how I met my wife."

"Oh." The girl behind her spoke. "You're married? The more the merrier."

Wait until you find out there's another one. "I'm sorry, ladies, but I'm not…"

"Are these two giving you trouble?" Rebecca appeared, her laser focus on the provocative brunette and flirty blond. "I think I saw them conspiring from the moment they entered the party. What do you guys want?"

The brunette shoved herself closer to Caitlyn, grinning. "Are you the wife?"

"My wife's elsewhere," Caitlyn said, neither perturbed nor turned on that a woman with a rocking body was sidled up next to her. "This is Rebecca, the third in our throuple."

"A throuple!" the blond exclaimed. "I love it. I knew you had real Mommy energy."

Caitlyn wasn't sure how to take that. It wasn't her kink, but she wasn't about to shame a woman whose flat abs were right in her face. "Yes, I can tell with those nails. You do nothing but bite the pillow."

"She does it so well!" said the brunette. "Anyway, you caught us. We're looking for someone who checks all our boxes for some fun tonight. And you're it, sexy."

Rebecca was likewise stunned silent by this happening right in front of her. "Wow," she whispered. "Go Cait."

"What do you mean Go Cait?"

The blond strumpet oozed down the back of the loveseat. "You are the hottest woman we've found at this party. And trust us, we've been looking for the lucky lady who gets to take us home tonight."

"Really? Right in front of my girlfriend?"

The brunette licked her lips before turning to Rebecca. "You're second hottest."

"Wow. Second hottest. I'm super flattered."

"I just really love curvy girls." Soon, both women were cozied up to Caitlyn, who silently begged Becca for help. I'm not sure what kind, but… this can't be going where I think it is, right? "We both do. Especially if they've got Mistress written all over them."

"Oh, she's definitely that," Rebecca said.

"Why are you encouraging them?"

Caitlyn's girlfriend laughed. "Because I am loving every minute of this." She snapped a picture with her phone, much to Caitlyn's chagrin. "I bet Jane will be into it too."

"Did you set this up?" Caitlyn demanded. "Do you know them?"

"No, but if you're waiting for permission to let them touch you, you've got mine."

"Ooh, permission!" the blond squealed. "I love rules. The sexier the better."

Caitlyn closed her eyes to regroup her thoughts. She was well aware that Rebecca was goading this on, but some women needed a few minutes to decide how they felt.

"Well…" she said when she realized someone was rubbing up against her arm. "You two are very attractive, this is true…"

Becca's phone was blowing up. "Jane said we can leave in ten minutes if this is happening."

"You're shitting me."

"This is Jane we're talking about. She needs the least convincing."

"Ten minutes? Whatever will we do until this mysterious Jane comes and finds us," the brunette, whose cleavage was right in Caitlyn's face, said. "Sing your praises until you know how much we're dying to worship you, Mistress?"

"You're soooo hot," the blond said.

That was it. This was too much.

"How much do you two cost?" Caitlyn barked.

Both women gasped. "Um, we're not escorts," the blond said. "We're just sluts who want you to take us home. For, like, free."

"You hear that Cait? They're just sluts!"

At some point, Caitlyn would accept that this pair appeared out of thin air solely to flirt with her. Until then, she would remain agog. Her imposter syndrome demanded it.

Slowly, though. Slowly, she came around to the idea that she was that hot – and they didn't even yet know that she was Mrs. Iowa.

Just a missus of a different kind. One who thought her hands were already full with two partners who always wanted her time and attention. Because she was that hot.

"What a fun party," Caitlyn said as Rebecca came and sat on her lap. "Let's get a picture of you girls kissing. Jane would love that."

"Who's kissing?" Rebecca asked as she rocked against her girlfriend's chest.

Indeed, that was the question of the night. And Caitlyn didn't know the answer until she hit the shutter on her camera phone.

THE END