Beneath Her Bastard Boss

She pushed theChapter 157 bedroom door open and marched straight to the partly opened bathroom door.

"Alexei!" She pounded on it with her fist. “I need to talk to you. Now!" She wasn't going to look around the door... seeing Alexei hadn't been part of her plan.

"Keira?" His voice sounded genuinely surprised from the other side of the door. "What the hell are you doing here?" "What am I doing here? What are YOU doing here? Sendingfifteen messages on my day off!" The water shut off. She heard movement from her side of the door. She forced herself not to think about him being naked.

"Givea minute," he called.

"No! I'm not giving you another minute of my Saturday!" Her tone was clearly upset. "You've had plenty already!" The door swung all the way open, releasing even more steam.

And there stood Prince Alexei, dripping wet with only a white towel wrapped low around his hips.

Keira's words died in her throat. Oh shit.

She'd seen the photos, of course. The tabloids had made sure the whole world had seen parts of Prince Alexei. But this... this was different. This was real and right in front of her, up close and in her face. Water droplets trailed down his broad chest, over defined abs, disappearing beneath the towel. His dark hair was slicked back, water beading on his shoulders. Oh my god. She could feel the heat raise in her own body and she just stopped herself from reaching out and touching his rock-hard chest.

He looked like a goddamn cologne advertisement.

"You were saying?" He quirked that infuriating eyebrow, noticing her sudden silence.

Keira snapped her gaze back to his face, fury reigniting. "Put sclothes " on.

"You're the one who barged into my bathroom demanding immediate attention." His lips curved into that one- dimpled smirk. "Didn't givemuch choice in the wardrobe department." "I didn't-" She crossed her arms. "Fine. Go put something on, and then we're talking." "As you wish." He moved past her, close enough that she caught the scent of his soap, it made her brain short- circuit for half a second. “Although most women don't wantputting clothes on..." "I don't want to know Alexei." He moved over to the bed before turning to look at her. "Are you going to stay in here while I dress?" let his The humor she could hear in his voice made her angry. Keira retreated to the living room, pacing like a caged animal. She refus half-naked appearance derail her. She was here to set boundaries, not ogle her boss's abs, impressive as they might be. But she had always known that. You couldn't hide how fit he was/under his suits, but seeing him all but naked-nope. Not going there.

A few minutes later, Alexei emerged in low/slung sweatpants and a black t-shirt that clung to his still-damp skin. His hair was towel-dried but messy, making him look younger.

"So," he said, leaning against the back of the lounge with arms crossed, "to what do I owe this hinvasion?" Chapter 157 Boundaries," Keira sald firmly, squaring her shoulders. "We need to talk about boundaries" "Boundaries." He repeated the word slowly, tet, "The ones you just crossed by barging into my bathroom?" "The ones you've been crossing by bombardingwith fifteen text messages during my lunch with my sisters." Keira crossed her arms this has to stop, Alexel. All of it. The constant demands, the late-night texts, the expectation that I'll drop everything whenever something pops into your head. Messagingat 1 a.m. because you're bored at sevent." Something shifted in his expression, like it had never occurred to him she had a life outside work.

"You're my assistant,” he said simply.

Was that in her contract? Was he joking? "I'm your assistant Monday through Friday, nine-to-five." She took a step closer. "And of course when really, really needed. Not every weekend, not after midnight, and definitely not when I'm trying to have a life outside of this job." His eyebrow arched as he hadn't thought about her having a life. "Is that in your contract?" “It's in basic human decency." She was getting fired up now, the words tumbling out faster. “You treatlike I'm an extension of your phone... available twenty-four seven, expected to respond instantly, no matter what I'm doing or who I'm with." "I pay you well," he countered.

"Not well enough for this," she snapped. "Not well enough to compensate for the fact that I haven't had a proper date in over a year because I'm too busy putting out your fires. Why can't you take notes and give them toduring work hours?" His lips twitched. "You could date." "When?" She threw her hands up. “Between your 1 a.m. crisis calls and weekend emergencies. Face it, Alexei, you've monopolized my entire life, and I'm done." That got his attention. His posture stiffened.

"Done?" "Yes." She nodded firmly. "Either we establish clear boundaries, or I walk. I won't be at your beck and call every hour of every day anymore." He studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. He moved, closing the distance between them. "What if I need you?" His voice had dropped to that dangerous low register that always made her stomach flip. "Then you wait until Monday morning," she replied, fighting to keep her voice steady. "Like a normal boss. I'm not doing everything for you. anymore." A smile ghosted across his lips. “I'm not a normal boss." "And I'm not a normal assistant. I'm the only one who puts up with your shit." She met his gaze directly. "But even I have limits." Something flashed in his eyes... something that looked dangerously like respect. He stepped back, giving her space again.

"Alright." Alexei sighed.

She blinked. "Alright?" "Yes." He nodded once. "No more weekend texts unless it's urgent. No more midnight calls unless it's a genuine diplomatic emergency." 19:38 Fri 8 Aug D Chapter 157 Keira narrowed her eyes, suspicious of the easy victory. “Just like that?* "Just like that." He shrugged one shoulder. "Contrary to popular belief, I can be reasonable vehien presented with a compelling argement - She wasn't buying it. "And my argument was compelling?" "Yes." His smirk returned full force. "Your job will never be nine-to-five, Keira, but I will She didn't trust the word 'try.' He chuckled, the sound rich and warm. "Don't makechange my mind." It try to be more considerate in future.

An awkward silence settled between them. Keira suddenly becacutely aware that she was standing in her boss's living room, and his hair was still wet from the shower she'd nearly barged into. "Well," she said finally, taking a step toward the door. "I should go." "So soon?" He tilted his head. "After coming all this way to telloff?" His eyes dropped to her mouth for just a second.

"I've said what I needed to say." "Have you?" There was that tone again, like he knew something she didn't.

Keira paused, her hand on the door handle. She looked at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" "Nothing." He smiled, moving towards her, before stopping a few feet away.

She turned to leave, but his voice stopped her at the door.

"For what it's worth... I'm sorry about interrupting your lunch." Keira glanced back again. He looked sincere, standing there with damp hair and bare feet, suddenly more man than prince.

"Just don't do it again," she warned, but her voice lacked its earlier bite.

"I won't." He paused. "Until Monday, then." "Until Monday," she agreed, and slipped out before she could do something stupid, like notice how his eyes had lingered on her mouth.

In the elevator, she pressed her cool palms against her burning cheeks. What had just happened? She'd gone ad just the there to establish boundaries, to take back control of her life, but somehow had felt more unbalanced than ever.

"Get it together, Warner," she aman.

muttered to herself as the elevator descended. "He's just a man. An infuriating, entitled, gorgeous man who's still your boss." AD Comment