Beneath Her Bastard Boss

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Roman arrived at the three–car garage and pressed the remote button to open the door. He slid his car into an available spot. Besides the vehicles he kept at the office garage in his private section, Roman stored two other cars here. She didn’t understand why some men felt the need to own so many cars. When she had done very well without one.

Depending on how long she stayed here, that would have to change. She had a license but hadn’t needed to use it while living in the city. Roman’s estate was on the outskirts of the city. She had been here before when Roman had hosted a party here for his business partners.

Dan had attended with her that weekend. It had been a horrible weekend for her. Dan had been upset about the time she had to spend in Roman’s company. She had been expected to stand beside Roman when people had arrived. She didn’t understand it now any more than she had then.

Roman turned off the car. Unclipping his seatbelt, then hers. “Lets go inside. I had the housekeeper arrange a meal for us both.”

Housekeeper. She had forgotten he had live–in staff. She flushed, not sure how the housekeeper would take her turning up like this and staying.

They entered the house through the kitchen entrance, finding an older woman with gray hair adding finishing touches to a salad. The smell of whatever was cooking in the oven was heavenly.

Blair soon realized she had nothing to fear. The older woman had gentle eyes and a welcoming smile, which she turned on them both.

Roman introduced her as Jenny, the trusted housekeeper who had been with him for years.

In short order, Jenny had them settled in the dining room with a plate of delicious slow cooked lamb shoulder that melted in your mouth and baked potatoes and the salad Jenny had been making. Roman had found a full–bodied bottle of wine and gave her a glass. They were more than halfway through their meal when Roman bought up the subject they had touched on in the car.

“So, are you going to share your epic family drama?”

Sighing, Blair realized that she probably knew more about Roman’s background than he knew about hers. His life was plastered all over the gossip columns and social media. His life was an open book which, for someone like her to get involved with him, was a little daunting if the media found out.

She knew Roman had inherited a much smaller business from his father after he retired five years ago, growing it into the globally renowned enterprise it was now. They had their fingers in so many pies, including manufacturing, marketing, PR, and advertising and publishing. But Roman refused to use his power to control the narrative.

“I… I have two sisters. We lost our parents ten years ago when I was fourteen.” Blair picked up her glass of wine, taking a sip.

“I’m sorry. I could not imagine how hard that was on you when you were so young and to lose both at the same time as well.” Roman said empathetically.

It still hurt, but Blair could talk about it now without crying. She had loved her parents very much. “I was lucky. I had my older sister Sutton and my younger sister Keira. We had each other. We looked out for each other.”

“What happened?” Roman put his elbow on the table, resting his head on his hand.

She could see he really wanted to know this wasn’t just him being polite. “They were flying home from Texas where Dad and Mum had business, their… their light plane suffered a malfunction over a mountain range. There was nowhere safe to land. They crashed, it killed them instantly. The black box was never recovered. Leading to uncertainty in what happened in the last moments before the plane crashed.”

Roman reached over the table, taking her hand in his. He said nothing. Holding her hand was comforting enough.

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Chapter 22

“Things fell apart after that. Even though we had lived a very comfortable life, it had been all smoke and mirrors. We were bankrupt. There wasn’t even any insurance. So we were at the mercy of Dad’s brother and his wife. Peter and Vivian Warner.”

That information brought a shocked look into his eyes. “Your parents owned Warner Industries?”

“Yes, uncle Peter was just able to save it from going under. He put in a lot of his own money. From what I understand, it’s doing really well now.” Warner Industries was a supporter of clothing suppliers around the world. Using local and overseas manufacturing to insure quality. While protecting the safety and well being of all workers around the world.

“Mum was one of the designers and Dad ran the business. Who knew it was all about to go under?” Blair still couldn’t quite understand how they hadn’t known. Money had never been an issue. But the lawyer and Peter had told them everything had been on credit with no way of paying it back.

Roman was frowning. “Who handled the estate after their deaths?”

Blair wondered why that was important. “My uncle and Dad’s lawyer. I don’t remember his name. Sutton might. Why?”

Roman shook his head. “I was just interested. Part of your past. What happened after that?”

Blair watched him for a moment longer, thinking there was more to his question than he was letting on. But she didn’t understand why. What difference did it make now? “Our aunt and uncle took us in. But we didn’t have a free ride. We got jobs and paid our own way. Later Sutton got a job in Europe modeling.”

“I don’t believe I know a Sutton Warner.” Roman admitted.

Blair grinned. “She had a fake name. My cousin Laura, Peter, and Viv’s daughter had been making a name for herself. To stop any family drama, Sutton decided she would just model in Europe. She isn’t as well known here. But she hates it. She only did it for us.” Blair didn’t share her sister’s modeling name because it was a life she wanted to leave behind.

“Laura Warner I know.” Roman said.

Blair looked at him in surprise. “What? How?”

“She has been at some events I have been at. We have been introduced.” But there was a look in his eyes she couldn’t read. Not sure she wanted to know. Blair went on.

“Sutton came home a few months ago, heartbroken and pregnant. The man she loved had been using her. He had gotten engaged to someone else. Leaving Sutton literally carrying the baby.”

“I’m sorry your sister had to go through that. I can help if she needs a job.”

“Sutton is very proud and wouldn’t let me ask. She has a job at the moment. She’s working as a receptionist at Cyber10. It’s surprises me how small this world is. I think she is happy there, even though it’s a complete waste of her talents.” Blair took another sip of her wine.

right, his friend

she started at MIT after she finished school but had to drop out. The tuition costs broke her. She couldn’t work and pay for school. It’s where she was discovered and offered a chance to model. She always planned

uncle support her?” Clearly shocked that their wealthy

be joking. The only people they support are themselves and, of course, Laura. We

Roman frown.

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Chapter 22

they took us in. That should be enough” Blair explained the

why you think you need to even go home

we do owe them something. Plus I need to go home because of my broken

want to?” Roman asked. Clearly not

with shocked eyes. “Hell no. I would rather roast his testicles if

that sounds painfull Roman

look on Roman’s face and laughed. The thing that I find the hardest to get over

she had caught

a cheater. Peter, my uncle, cheated all the time. The fights that went on between auntie

theirs.” Roman hit the

she is pregnant. I don’t think Dan knows yet,” Blair admitted the

was a valid question because Laura had entered into a

a guess, yes. But I wouldn’t put money on it. Another reason for wanting to go home is to talk to

you want support? I’m happy to come with

was touched that he offered. “My sisters are going to be there. I think it’s better I handle

ride down there?”

didn’t know what to say. He was being so nice. “Keira has

happy to do it. Now talking about going out over the weekend. I have a university buddy coming tomorrow night.

home early because of me. I can entertain

to make sure I’m home early enough to enjoy you for the

eyes set her

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

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28

the remote button to open the door. He slid his car into an available spot. Besides the vehicles he kept at the office garage in his private section, Roman stored two other cars here. She didn’t understand why some

that would have to change. She had a license but hadn’t needed to use it while living in the city. Roman’s estate was on the outskirts of the city. She had been here before when Roman had hosted a

attended with her that weekend. It had been a horrible weekend for her. Dan had been upset about the time she had to spend in Roman’s company. She had been expected to stand beside Roman when

the car. Unclipping his seatbelt, then hers. “Lets go inside. I had the housekeeper arrange a meal for us

had live–in staff. She flushed, not sure how the housekeeper would take her

an older woman with gray hair adding finishing touches to a

she had nothing to fear. The older woman had gentle eyes and a welcoming smile, which

Jenny, the trusted housekeeper who had been

them settled in the dining room with a plate of delicious slow cooked lamb shoulder that melted in your mouth and baked potatoes and the salad Jenny had been making. Roman had found a

you going to share your

knew about hers. His life was plastered all over the gossip columns and social media. His life was an open book which, for someone like her to get

from his father after he retired five years ago, growing it into the globally renowned enterprise it was now. They had their fingers in so many pies, including manufacturing, marketing, PR,

lost our parents ten years ago when I was fourteen.” Blair picked up her glass of wine, taking a

not imagine how hard that was on you when you were

crying. She had loved her parents very much. “I was lucky. I had my older sister Sutton and my younger sister Keira. We had each other. We looked out

happened?” Roman put his elbow on the table, resting his

were flying home from Texas where Dad and Mum had business, their… their light plane suffered a malfunction over a mountain range. There was nowhere safe to land. They crashed, it killed them instantly. The black box was never recovered. Leading to uncertainty in what

reached over the table, taking her hand in his. He said nothing.

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Chapter 22

had been all smoke and mirrors. We were bankrupt. There wasn’t even

into his eyes. “Your parents owned

He put in a lot of his own money. From what I understand, it’s doing really well now.” Warner Industries was a supporter of clothing suppliers around the world. Using

still couldn’t quite understand how they hadn’t known. Money had

“Who handled the estate

that was important. “My uncle and Dad’s lawyer. I

head. “I was just interested. Part of your past. What happened after

now? “Our aunt and uncle took us in. But we

know

stop any family drama, Sutton decided she would just model in Europe. She isn’t as well known here.

Warner I know.”

him in

have been at. We have been introduced.” But there was a look in his eyes she couldn’t read. Not sure she wanted to know.

a few months ago, heartbroken and pregnant. The man she loved had been using her. He had

had to go through that.