Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 77

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After their shower, Blair wrapped herself in a towel and padded back to the bedroom, her body still humming from their morning activities. She was reaching for her clothes when she heard Roman clear his throat behind her.

She turned around and her breath caught. Roman was on one knee, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, holding a small velvet box.

“What are you-” she started, but the words died in her throat.

Roman opened the box, revealing a stunning diamond ring that caught the morning light streaming through their windows. It was perfect. Classic but not boring. Elegant, but not ostentatious. Exactly what she would have chosen for herself.

“I bought this weeks ago,” Roman said, his voice rough with emotion. “Before Peter, before the investigation, before everything went to hell. I’ve been carrying it around, waiting for the right moment.”

Blair’s hands flew to her mouth. “Roman…” Her heart swelled not just at the proposal, but at how romantic he was being, getting down on one knee properly.

“I know we’re already engaged because of the Jessica situation, but that’s not how I wanted to do this. I wanted to ask you properly. Because I love you, not because we needed to fool anyone.”

Tears were sliding down her cheeks now, and she didn’t even care.

“Blair,” Roman continued, his eyes never leaving hers. “will you marry me? Not because of fake death schemes or crazy relatives or office politics. But because I’m completely, desperately, stupidly in love with you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you? I want us to grow old together.”

“Yes,” Blair whispered, then louder, “Yes, of course yes, you manipulative, controlling, wonderful man.”

Roman’s grin was blinding as he slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, because of course it did. He’d probably measured her finger while she was sleeping or something equally sneaky.

As he stood up, Blair threw her arms around his neck, kissing him hard. “I love you,” she mumbled against his lips. “Even when you’re being all secretive and orchestrating my life.”

“I’ll try to keep the life orchestration to a minimum,” Roman promised, holding her tight.

“Liar,” Blair laughed, but she was looking at the ring, watching it sparkle. “God, it’s gorgeous. How long have you really been planning this?”

“Honestly? Months. Maybe longer. I just… I knew. Almost from the start, really. You were the one for me. The only problem? You had that awful cheating fiancé. I had to deal with him first.”

Before Blair could respond, the doorbell rang.

“Ignore it,” Roman murmured, nuzzling her neck.

The bell rang again. Then again.

sighed, reluctantly pulling away from him. She looked down at herself and at him. Grinning. “Can you get it? You’ll be faster, unless you don’t mind me opening the door like

nothing else before heading downstairs while Blair quickly pulled on jeans and ran

her ring.

voices downstairs–Roman and…

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Chapter 77

voice carried up the stairs. “We brought

the last time they’d eaten a real meal?

and Keira in the kitchen with Roman, who was pouring coffee. Sutton looked tired but determined,

under her eyes that matched Blair’s own. None of them

had on his sweatpants and

Blair

talk about… everything. Mom and Dad’s business. What happens now? We

meet with us this week. There’s so much to figure out. We need to think long and hard about

other people’s lives on her shoulders. They couldn’t worry about this later. The staff would want answers and know their jobs would be

you thinking?” she asked carefully, settling at the kitchen table with

and Keira

the oldest, I suppose our parents, if alive, might have groomed me to take over. But Blair…

in. “And I’m only twenty–four. I just graduated from college. I’m nowhere near ready for that kind of responsibility. I can barely manage my own life, let alone

at her now. Blair could see

asked, even though she already

been essentially running

just any business,” Blair protested. “It’s Mom and Dad’s company. Their legacy. I

gently. “Keira and I talked about it, out of the three of us…. You are the best suited to look after their business. With Roman by your side, you

Blair,” Keira

overwhelmed. “I… I don’t know. This is

anything today. Just know I will be there to help you every

did her sisters trust her to look after the business, but Roman believed she could do it… maybe. Her parents had built something beautiful, something important to them. Peter had tried to destroy

was time for their daughter to

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