In Bed With Her Shithead Boss (By Ellie Wynters) novel Chapter 313

At 2:55 pm later that day, there was a knock at Keira's door. She'd spent most of the afternoon in a state of sexual frustration that Alexei had deliberately left her in. She'd thought he would have come to see her after their encounter at breakfast, but he hadn't, making it worse.

Every time she closed her eyes, she could feel his fingers against her, the way he'd brought her so close to the edge before pulling away. The bastard knew exactly what he was doing to her. Now she would be humming all evening, and she was not happy about that.

"Miss Warner?" Elena called from the hallway. "Are you ready to get prepared for this evening?"

Keira opened the door to find Elena waiting. "Time to transform me into princess material?"

Elena picked up Keira's dress and shoes that she would need tonight.

"Something like that," Elena smiled. "Come, we'll go to the preparation room."

"Why don't they just come to my bedroom?" Keira asked as they walked down the corridor.

"The stylists are not part of the household staff," Elena explained. "For safety and privacy reasons, outsiders are never allowed inside the private suites of the royal family."

When Elena opened the door to the room where her hair and makeup would be done, Amelia was already there, seated in one of the salon chairs.

"Amelia!" Keira felt a rush of relief at seeing a friendly face. "I'm so grateful you're here."

"I thought you might want some moral support," Amelia said with a warm smile. "I know first royal events can be overwhelming."

Elena moved to the side, setting up Keira's dress and accessories. "Miss Warner," she said quietly, "I should warn you to be careful about what you discuss around anyone you don't completely trust. Information has a way of finding its way to the media."

Keira could see Amelia agreed with Elena.

Keira nodded, understanding the warning and was glad she had Amelia nad Elena to guide her.

But something had been bugging her, and she needed to get that straightened out now.

"Elena," she said as the woman prepared to leave them with the stylists who were now just arriving, "you can call me Keira, not Miss Warner."

Elena looked uncertain. "But you'll be a princess soon." she said so only she and Amelia could hear.

"Amelia." Keira placed a gentle hand on her arm. "You can't keep torturing yourself like this."

"I know, I know." Amelia pressed her palms to her cheeks. "It's just... what if you're wrong? What if he does think I'm a failure?"

"Then at least you'll know instead of assuming the worst." Keira studied her face. "But I don't think that's what you'll hear."

Through the glass doors, they could see the stylists still arranging their equipment, completely absorbed in their preparations.

"The truth is," Amelia said quietly, "I've been so focused on what I can't give him that I forgot to ask what he actually wants from me."

"Exactly." Keira squeezed her arm. "You're making decisions for both of you based on fear, not facts."

Amelia was quiet for a moment, staring out at the palace gardens. "He mentioned that trip again last night. Said we could go anywhere I wanted, just the two of us and security of course."

"That sounds perfect. Away from all this pressure, all these expectations. Every eye looking for a baby bump."