Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 160 Keira leaned against the stone balustrade of the terrace, the cool night air providing blessed relief against her flushed skin. The distant sounds of the gala floated through the open French doors behind her, the orchestra starting another waltz. She closed her eyes, willing her heart to settle.

What had just happened? "Pull yourself together," she muttered, pressing her palms against her cheeks. "It's Alexei, for God's sake." Alexei, her boss. Alexei, who had women falling at his feet. Alexei, who'd never looked at her like that until tonight.

A shiver ran down her spine that had nothing to do with the evening breeze. The memory of his hardness pressed against her, the heat of his hand on her bare back, the intensity in his eyes, it was all dangerous territory.

The sound of footsteps behind her made her stiffen. She didn't need to turn to know who it was. She had known he wouldn't let it go.

Alexei's voice was low, controlled. "Running away doesn't solve anything, Keira." She squared her shoulders before turning to face him. "I wasn't running. I needed air." "And I need to finish our conversation." "There's nothing to finish." She crossed her arms, creating a barrier between them. Hoping he would read her body language, she said, "I don't want to talk about it." He stepped closer. "You can't keep pretending there's nothing between us!"" "Watch me. I'm tired, I want to go home." His jaw tightened. "Why are you fighting this?" "Because this-" she gestured between them, "-is a disaster waiting to happen. I'm your employee. You're a prince. Your father is pushing you toward a royal marriage. Pick any reason; they're all valid." "None of those reasons matter if-" "If what? If we sleep together? And then what, Alexei?" She shook her head. "I becanother conquest? Another headline? 'Prince beds assistant, searches for next thrill"?" She could see she was pissing him off, and she didn't care. "You think that's what this is?" His voice dropped dangerously low. “That I'd risk everything we've built professionally for a one-night stand?" "Wouldn't you?" She held his gaze. "Your track record isn't exactly stellar in the commitment department." He took another step toward her, close enough now that she could smell his cologne, feel the heat radiating from his body.

"My track record is irrelevant. This is about you and me." "There is no you and me," she insisted, even as her body betrayed her with a shiver. "There's you, there's me, and there's a professional relationship I'm not willing to destroy." Alexei's expression hardened. "You're scared." "I'm pragmatic." "Bullshit." He moved closer still, backing her against the balustrade. "You feel it too. Every argument, every challenge, every moment we 1/3 11:46 Sun, 10 Aug Chapter 160 push each other to the edge, it's been building since the day we met." Her pulse quickened. “That's just... tension. Workplace friction.” "Is that what you call it?" His eyes dropped to her mouth. "Because I have another nfor it.” For a moment, neither of them moved. The air between them charged with possibility, with danger. Keira felt herself leaning toward him, drawn by smagnetic force she couldn't resist.

Then a voice called from the doorway.

"Your Highness? Your car is ready whenever you're prepared to leave." The spell broke. Keira stepped sideways, putting distance between them again as a bodyguard stood waiting at the terrace entrance. Alexei must have called the car before finding her.

"Thank you," Alexei replied without turning. "Give us a few more minutes." But Keira jumped in. "No, we won't be needing the few minutes. I'm ready to leave now." She walked around Alexei and headed towards the bodyguard. Alexei could follow or not.

Alexei fell in beside her. "We're not finished with this conversation." "I think we are," she said, looking ahead. "If you can't shut up, I'll find my own way home." "Like hell you will.” His tone left no room for argument. “It's nearly midnight, and you cin my car." "I can call a ride." "You're leaving with me, Keira." He softened his voice. "Please. Letat least see you hsafely." She wanted to argue, but exhaustion was setting in. Fighting Alexei and her own feelings had drained her.

"Fine," she conceded. "But this conversation is over." But when they were within ten feet of the car, "Keira." His voice stopped her. She turned, finding his eyes in the dim light.

"What?" "I wish tonight never happened," she said, her voice sounding small even to her own ears.

"I don't think that's possible." The honesty in his tone made her chest ache.

Heat rushed to her face. Without thinking, she punched his shoulder, hard enough to make him wince.

"You don't get to decide that," she hissed.

His eyes widened slightly before narrowing with intensity. "You really think we can pretend tonight never happened?" "We have to," she insisted. "Because the alternative-" Alexei's bodyguards moved toward them, having noticed her sudden punch.

"Is everything alright, Your Highness?" The guard's eyes fixed on Keira.

2/3 11:46 Sun, 10 Aug Chapter 160 Oh, for the love of God.

☐ Alexei waved him off, his eyes never leaving Keira's face. "Everything's fine. Give us a few minutes." The guard hesitated. "Sir, protocol dictates-" "Go," Alexei's voice hardened to steel. “That's an order. I want to have a private conversation. Now." 62% The bodyguards retreated reluctantly. When they were alone again, Alexei's hand moved to her face, cupping her jaw. His thumb brushed across her cheek in a gesture so tender it made her breath catch.

"Tellyou've never thought about it," he murmured, his voice rough with restraint.

Keira froze, caught between truth and self-preservation. For a second, one dangerous, heart-stopping second, she almost admitted it. Almost confessed that yes, she'd thought about it. In quiet moments when he wasn't being insufferable. In dreams she'd banished upon waking. Before she could reply, a sudden commotion erupted around them. Four black-clad figures in balaclavas rushed toward them from the shadows, moving with terrifying purpose.

"Alexei!" she gasped in warning.

He spun around, immediately pushing her behind him. "Get back!"

The first attacker lunged, and Alexei met him with a well-placed punch that sent the man backward. Keiraggeringo m backward. Keira's heart hammered against her ribs as she searched frantically for the bodyguards. Where were they? Shit, Alexei had sent them away.

Alexei fought with unexpected skill, blocking a strike from one asshole, while landing a hard, ro kiek to another. But four against one wasn't a fair fight. As the third man circled behind him, Keira acted on instinct, grabbing her clutch and swinging it hard at the attacker's head. "Keira, run!" Alexei shouted, desperation edging his voice as he grappled with two men at once.

"I'm not leaving you!" She kicked off her heels, ready to help him fight.

One of the men grabbed her by the hair, yanking her backward with bruising force. She screamed in pain, the sound distracting Alexei just long enough for the fourth attacker to bring the butt of a gun down hard against his temple.

"No!" Keira watched in horror as Alexei crumpled to the ground, blood trickling from the wound on his head.

She struggled against her captor, kicking and clawing, but strong arms pinned her from behind.

As she opened her mouth to scream for help, a gloved hand pressed something against her face, a cloth with a sickeningly sweet odor.

Chloroform.

Panic surged through her as she fought to hold her breath, twisting desperately in the man's grip. Her lungs burned. Her vision blurred. The last thing churne Alaunile mationer form on the aumont ar darlinner claimed har 3/3