In Bed With Her Shithead Boss (By Ellie Wynters) novel Chapter 275

His phone rang again. Talk about saved by the bell. Alexei looked at the screen and his face tightened for a moment.

"My father." He looked at Keira with something close to frustration. Well, she knew the frigging feeling. "I have to take this."

She waved her hand dismissively, still seething. "By all means. Don't let me stop you from answering to daddy."

Alexei's jaw tightened at her tone, but he swiped to answer. "Father," he said, moving to the other side of the room. Keira wasn't sure why, even from across the room, she could hear the angry voice on the other end, rapid-fire words which she didn't understand because he was speaking Italian, Wystovia’s native tongue. Alexei's responses were clipped, defensive. His free hand gesturing wildly. He wasn't happy with what his father was saying.

But as the conversation continued, Alexei switched back to English every so often, clearly upset.

"I understand... No, it wasn't planned... She's not—" He glanced at Keira, then turned away. "Father, I really don't think that's necessary… Yes, sir."

The conversation continued for several minutes, Alexei's shoulders growing more rigid with each exchange. When he finally ended the call, his face was a mask of controlled fury.

"Let me guess," Keira said bitterly. "Daddy's not happy with you for being in yet another headline."

"This has escalated beyond what either of us anticipated." His voice was neutral, but she caught the undercurrent of something else. "My father has been fielding calls from the Wystovian parliament. The press secretary has been bombarded with requests for statements."

"And?"

Alexei met her eyes, and what she saw there made her stomach drop. "There are... expectations now. My father warned me about the damage my ongoing scandals were having on our country."

What Alexei didn't tell her was the reminder that if Niko did not produce an heir, then he must… and soon. Alexei felt trapped with what his father expected from him now. He hadn't been given a choice. His father had also reminded him that he was still a Wystovian citizen therefore under the rule of his king.

"What kind of expectations?" But even as she asked, dread was building in her chest. If the look on Alexei’s face was anything to go by, he wasn't happy, so she knew she wasn't going to like his reply.

"My father believes the best way to control this narrative is to make it official. To frame it as..." He paused, searching for words.

"A slutty one-night stand?" she supplied acidly.

"No… That's not what he is planning," he sighed knowing his next words would go down like a lead balloon. Most women would jump at the chance, but not Keira. "He wants to announce our engagement."

And just like he predicted his words hit her like a physical blow. "Our what?"

"Don't 'Keira' me." She crossed her arms again. "Because ten minutes ago you were talking about wanting to see where this goes, before our lives got blown to hell and now, you're talking about fake engagements for damage control."

Alexei ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. "It doesn't have to be fake."

The words hung between them like a live wire.

"What did you just say?"

"I said it doesn't have to be fake." He stepped toward her, but she backed away. "What if we made it real?"

"Are you proposing to me?" Her voice cracked on the words. "Right now? In my living room while there are reporters outside waiting to document your walk of shame?"

"I'm saying maybe this doesn't have to be the disaster we think it is." His eyes were intense, searching her face. "Maybe it's an opportunity."

"An opportunity for what? To turn me into your royal wife? To parade me around in tiaras and designer gowns while pretending I belong in your world?" Oh my God. She had no filter, and she would definitely end up embarrassing the royal family. She wasn't cut out for that life. She would turn into that other horrible mess another royal family had going on. That woman no one liked. She couldn't think of her name.