Beneath Her Bastard Boss

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Blair woke up to Roman’s fingers drawing lazy circles on her bare shoulder. For about three seconds, she let herself sink into the warmth of his body against hers, the way his breath tickled her neck. Then reality crashed back down like a brick. Shit, she couldn’t just stay here.

Last night. The dinner. Luca. Sutton’s secret burning a hole in her chest.

“Morning,” Roman murmured, his voice still deep with sleep.

“Hey.” She tried to slip out of bed, but his arm tightened around her waist.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Shower. We have work.”

“We also have that conversation I promised you.” His voice had lost that sleepy edge. Now it was all business. Dangerous business.

Blair’s stomach twisted. She’d been hoping, stupidly she knew, that maybe he’d forgotten. Or at least decided to let it slide. But Roman didn’t forget anything, and he sure as hell didn’t let things slide.

“Roman, I really don’t—”

“Nope.” He sat up, running a hand through his hair, watching her. “You used sex to distract me last night. Which, don’t get me wrong, worked like a fucking charm. But now it’s morning, and I still want answers. Something happened last night to upset Sutton and got you spitting mad.”

Blair finally managed to wiggle free and padded over to their dresser. Her reflection in the mirror was telling–she was wearing a deer–in–headlights expression that screamed ‘I’m hiding something massive.

“There’s nothing to tell you,” she said, pulling out clothes at random.

Roman glared at her. “Right. And I’m the Pope.”

Really? Because I’m sure there’s a sin about the way you make love.” With that, she headed into the bathroom. She could

his eyes on her all the way. It made her feel like she was under a microscope. Shit, she hated keeping things from him.

enty minutes later, they were in the kitchen. Roman moved around, making breakfast. Jenny, his housekeeper, was off siting her daughter, so for the next week or so, they had the place to themselves. Roman had cleaners come in during the day. Shame really, because the buffer of another person would have been nice. She watched him, waiting for him to start interrogating her because she knew it was going to come.

He only waited until they had finished their meal before bringing it up again while they cleaned the kitchen.

“So,” he said, not looking at her. “Sutton seemed pretty upset when she left last night.”

Blair should have known he wouldn’t let it go. “She wasn’t feeling well.”

“Uh–huh. Please, Blair, I’m asking because I care.”

“She’s fine. I’m fine.”

Roman finally turned around, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. “Really?”

“She got sick. People get sick.” Shit, he looked hot–and angry. But that didn’t stop her from heating under his gaze.

“Or did

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Chapter 82

good at hiding things or how she was feeling. “Nobody said anything to anyone.”

He pushed off the counter and moved closer to her. “Then explain to me why you’ve been lying to my

haven’t been lying… If someone said something,

name was a warning. Low and quiet and absolutely not fucking around. “Don’t make this worse

down on the counter. “We

to finish this

today, a lot of meetings.” Blair hoped that would get them moving and

give a shit about my

do. We have

responsibility to be honest with the person you’re supposed to be building a

suddenly desperate to get out of this

she said. “We have the weekend to talk.” Shit, she hoped she

things we promised each other was no more secrets. I feel like

talked to Sutton and figured out what

set in that stubborn line that meant he was pissed but trying to control it. His hands gripped the steering wheel. The silence felt like a living thing, pressing down on her from

the window, trying to think of literally anything that might get her out

rang.

Sutton.

probably a little too

and shaky. Panicked, “Oh my God,

okay?” Blair sat up straighter, immediately worried about

I’m at work and… fuck, what am I going to do? He’s

I

to come by this week? Well, he did. Early, Like, eight AM early, and Blair…” Sutton’s

It made

“Luca…”

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Chapter 82

words hit Blair like a freight train. Her entire body felt the shock of it, her hand tightening on

Roman glanced over, clearly picking up on her

whispered, still not sure

her pacing and the sound of her voice echoing. “It’s Luca.

owned the company

“Oh shit,” Blair breathed.

is right. He doesn’t know it’s me yet–I mean, I was able to get away. Go to the

explained the echo. “Do you need me?” Blair interrupted. “I can come. I can be

I needed to tell someone. I needed you to know in case this all goes to hell. It’s just a lot,

“Sutton-”