Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 154

Alexei had known this party would be boring before he even turned up.

Rich people stood around pretending they weren’t about to talk shit the moment your back turned. And the women? They flocked like peacocks in glitter and stilettos, beaming like landing lights, hoping the world’s most notorious royal bachelor would single them out. He wasn’t up himself. It was just a fact of life when you were royal.

God, he could walk around with a brown paper bag over his head and women would still want him.

Of course, he didn’t disappoint. He never did. Alexei, the second son and second in line to King Theodore, always gave the crowd a good show.

Even if he was barely paying attention.

“…so I said, ‘You really like your yacht that much? Why don’t you marry it?“” the blonde beside him said breathlessly, her laugh like broken glass.

He blinked, vaguely realizing she was telling a story. Possibly about herself. Probably not very well.

“Mmh,” he said in response, taking a too–long sip of champagne, wishing it was scotch. It did nothing to dull his irritation or his persistent, nagging thoughts.

Keira.

Bloody. Keira.

His assistant. His brainache. His personal hurricane in heels. Infuriating woman.

He’d seen her face when the photos hit the tabloids… murderous and pink–cheeked, jaw clenched and those scorching blue eyes blazing as she rapid–fired damage control from the corner of her “converted” cubicle outside his office.

He hadn’t even slept with the model in the photos. She’d begged for attention. He hadn’t intended to give the cameras anything. The model had pulled at his towel before he could stop her. It had been her way of getting media attention. Now there were questions about them being an item. She had gone out the next day sporting a ring on her finger.

But he had still enjoyed the pleasure of pissing Keira Warner off.

Because watching her fury spark? That was his new favorite hobby.

God, she was exhausting. Bossy. Blunt. Rude. Delightfully rude. No one else ever fought back the way she did. Not in the palace. Not in

business.

She fired his blood in an argument better than any woman had in his bed.

Well–correction. No one had been in his bed in a while either.

Had it really been a month?

adjusted his cufflink with a frown. He was…

beside him had taken it

Last

served a purpose. Keira would definitely see the photo. And react. Which, for reasons he refused to examine too closely,

1/4

an eyebrow at him. Palace Communications. Translation: his father’s eyes and ears. There was also Mark at the office. Alexei would bet he had

like he was twelve years old and not thirty–one. Alexei was guessing he was going to be getting a phone call from His Majesty at

“peril of perception” and the “crown’s dignity.” As if Alexei had any real claim to the crown. That

for two years

still stuck

Let’s be honest, he would always be of

purred, moving her hand from his shoulder to lightly trace his bicep. She smiled, batting lashes like she was

than that,

always did. He could say anything to them, and they would

Except Keira.

him something obscene, probably while making him a triple–shot espresso and outlining his next five meetings. The woman had practically weaponized eye

wasn’t impressed with his title, and she’d tell anyone she wasn’t impressed

should have preferred agreeable women, but they bored him with their predictability. Keira, on the other hand, was anything but predictable, which might be why he enjoyed provoking

was lonely. He had options, plenty of women eager to be close

beach paparazzi, half the world had seen

at his side…

him. Pushed back. Got visibly frustrated every

been messaging her throughout the night. She made him

her texts: “Currently drowning in photos of your ass.” It made him grin because

here?” the blonde asked in his ear, way too confident,

chest and a little

glanced down at her. She was pretty. Of course, she

But she wasn’t–

said, voice

flickered in her

an early day tomorrow.” He stepped away, straightened his jacket, and handed off

she didn’t quite believe it was happening. She

didn’t wait to

the car was waiting. As were two of his father’s ‘staff‘ meaning security. He couldn’t go anywhere without

penthouse, Your

his jaw. He was