In Bed With Her Shithead Boss (By Ellie Wynters) novel Chapter 278

"My father will want to meet with you first," Alexei said carefully. "To discuss... the situation."

"The situation." She repeated his words with bitter amusement. "Is that what we're calling it?"

"Keira—"

"No, it's fine. I get it. I'm the situation that needs to be managed." She stared down into her coffee. "The commoner who complicated your life by existing."

"That's not what you are."

"Then what am I?" The question came out sharper than she intended. "Because I'm having trouble keeping track. Am I your assistant? Your girlfriend? Your fake fiancée? Your real fiancée? Your royal obligation? It's not just me that seem to be bouncing around like a yoyo Alexei. We're both trying to find our feet here."

Alexei was quiet for a long moment, his own coffee untouched on the table between them. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer than she'd heard it since they'd boarded the plane.

"You're the woman who challenges me every day. Who calls me on my bullshit and doesn't back down even when I'm being an ass. You're the woman who kept me from doing something stupid in that warehouse."

Despite everything, heat crept up her neck at his words. "Pretty words, Your Highness. But words don't change the fact that this whole situation is fucked up."

"Language, Miss Warner," he said with the ghost of his old teasing smile. "You're about to meet a king."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is 'royally screwed' more appropriate?"

That actually made him laugh, a real laugh that transformed his face completely. "Much better. Good. I want to kiss your smart mouth."

She found herself smiling despite her anxiety. This was why she was here, she realized. Not because she'd been backed into a corner or because she had no choice.

She was here because somewhere between the kidnapping and the media circus and his father's demands, she'd realized she had fallen for him. Really fallen, not just lust or adrenaline or Stockholm syndrome… No, that was wrong because Alexei had been a hostage as well. Stockholm was falling for the kidnapper and all she wanted for those guys was for them to rot in jail.

She had fallen for Alexei, second prince of Wystovia, royal pain in her ass, and quite possibly the worst decision she'd ever made. She was scared and it took a lot for her to even admit that to herself. Because he could hurt her more than anyone before. Not only that it would be public… very public. But she hadn't said no, well aware of what she was signing herself up for.

"So what's he like?" she asked, steering the conversation to safer ground. "Your father."

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