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?

his cufflink with a frown. He was… annoyed. And horny.

had taken it upon herself

Last

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

1/4

There was also Mark at the office. Alexei would bet he had given Keira

problem was they reported to his father like he was twelve years old and not thirty–one. Alexei was

last time King Theodore had called, he’d ranted about the “peril of perception” and the “crown’s dignity.” As if Alexei had any real claim

Married for two years and still

still stuck in second–in–line–to–the–throne

enough to power to be a headline. Let’s be honest, he would always be of interest to the

bicep. She smiled, batting lashes like she was auditioning for Miss Universe: 1950s Edition. “Penny

bit more than that, darling,” Alexei said with a faint

did. They all did. They always did. He could say anything to

Except Keira.

would snort, roll her eyes, and call him something obscene, probably while making him a triple–shot espresso and

and she’d tell anyone she

preferred agreeable women, but they bored him with their predictability. Keira, on the

options, plenty of women eager to be close to him, especially when his shirt came off.

the world had

one at his side… they bored

every time he pressed one of her buttons–which, fortunately for

the reason he had been messaging her throughout the night. She

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

here?” the blonde asked in his ear, way too confident, like they were already halfway to foreplay. She ran a

hand down his chest and a little too close to his cock.

She was pretty. Of course, she

But she wasn’t–

said,

flickered in her

his jacket, and handed off his empty champagne

was happening. She had just offered herself to him, and he

didn’t wait to hear

were two of his father’s ‘staff‘ meaning

the penthouse, Your Highness?”

at his jaw. He was