In Bed With Her Shithead Boss (By Ellie Wynters) novel Chapter 286

She'd seen photos of the King, of course, but nothing had prepared her for the man's presence. He was as tall as Alexei, with silver-streaked dark hair and the same sharp jawline his son had inherited. But where Alexei's eyes held warmth and sometimes mischief, the King's were calculating and cool as they swept over her.

"Father," Alexei said, stepping forward. "May I present Keira Warner."

Keira remembered her briefing… wait for him to extend his hand, address him properly, don’t speak unless spoken to. She stood her ground, spine straight, chin lifted slightly. Not defiant but not cowering either. She would not show any weakness. She may be shaking on the inside, but he would not know that.

The King's gaze assessed her for what felt like an eternity before he extended his hand. "Miss Warner. Welcome to Wystovia."

"Your Majesty." She stepped forward, taking his hand briefly. His grip was firm. "Thank you for receiving me." Keira didn't curtsey because no one had told her to, and she wasn't going to make a fool of herself by doing so.

Something flickered across the King's face… was that surprise, she wondered? Perhaps. He gestured to the chairs positioned in front of his desk. "Please, sit."

Keira settled into the chair, smoothing her dress. Alexei took the seat beside her, his posture rigid.

"I trust your journey was comfortable?" The King returned to his seat, leaning back and studying them.

"Yes, Sir. Your country is beautiful from the air as well as on land. I enjoy my drive through the town."

"Indeed." His accent was less pronounced than she'd expected, his English polished. "Though I imagine you've had little time to appreciate it, given the... impromptu nature of your departure from New York."

And there it was… the first jab, barely veiled in pleasantries. Keira felt Alexei tense beside her.

"Father—" Alexei began, but the King held up a hand.

"I'm speaking to Miss Warner." His voice was calm but brooked no argument. He turned his attention back to her. "You understand, of course, why I wished to meet you immediately."

Though not exactly immediately, since he could have greeted her at the airport. Keira kept that thought to herself. She was learning to use a filter.

"With all due respect, Sir, I believe I do." She met his gaze directly. "It would mean surrendering my privacy, my complete freedom to do as I wish, and potentially my identity. My whole life will be an open book to the world."

Something that might have been approval flickered in the King's eyes. "You've given this some thought."

"The weight of what is to come isn't lost on me. I'm aware of what the media can do." She had seen it up-close and personal with her family.

"And yet here you are." He gestured to the room around them. But she knew he meant in their country. "Why?"

The question hung in the air between them. Keira was acutely aware of Alexei beside her, of the tension radiating from him. She could feel his eyes on her, waiting for her answer as anxiously as his father was.

"Because I believe your son is worth it," she said simply. Talk about put it out there for all to see. Even if she hadn't said she loved Alexei, they now knew she had strong feelings for him.

The King's expression didn't change, but something shifted in his posture. "Worth becoming fair game to the tabloids? Worth having your past scrutinized, your motives questioned, your every move analyzed? Because unless you are behind these walls your life will not be your own."