OWNED BY MY RUTHLESS BOSS

A SECRET BETWEEN US

Alexander: “Unfortunately, Miss Montgomery, you did.”

Elena Montgomery wanted the earth to swallow her whole.

She sat beneath the expensive silk sheets of Alexander Blackwood’s enormous bed, staring at the man beside her in absolute horror.

She had kissed him.

Her boss.

The terrifying billionaire who had fired eleven personal assistants in eight months.

And somehow, she had ended up sleeping beside him.

Elena: “Oh my God. Mr. Blackwood, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I would never normally do something like that. I promise I wasn’t trying to—”

Alexander: “Elena.”

She stopped immediately.

Alexander lay beside her, his dark hair slightly disheveled, his expression unreadable. He looked disturbingly handsome without his usual perfectly tailored suit.

Alexander: “You’re giving me a headache.”

Elena pressed her lips together.

Elena: “Sorry, sir.”

His eyebrow rose.

Alexander: “Again?”

She immediately closed her mouth.

Then she remembered something else.

His arm.

Alexander’s muscular arm was still resting across her soft stomach, its weight holding her close against his side.

Elena carefully reached for his wrist.

Elena: “Um, Mr. Blackwood?”

Alexander: “What?”

Elena: “Your arm.”

He looked at her.

Alexander: “What about it?”

Her cheeks burned.

Elena: “It’s… around me.”

Alexander glanced down.

Alexander: “I’m aware.”

Elena swallowed.

Elena: “Could you please move it?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he reached across with his free hand and picked up his phone from the bedside table.

The screen illuminated his sharp features.

Five in the morning.

Alexander sighed and placed the phone down.

Alexander: “It’s five. Go back to sleep. One more hour.”

Elena blinked.

Elena: “But, sir—”

Alexander: “You were discharged from the hospital only a few hours ago. You’re supposed to rest.”

She tried lifting his arm again.

Elena: “I understand, but I really think I should—”

Alexander tightened his arm briefly, drawing her a little closer before settling back against his pillow.

Elena froze.

Her back was now resting against his chest.

She could feel the warmth of his body through the thin fabric of his shirt.

Elena: “M-Mr. Blackwood!”

His deep voice sounded directly behind her.

Alexander: “Stop panicking. Nothing happened between us.”

Elena: “I know, sir, but this is very inappropriate.”

Alexander: “Then stop talking about it.”

Elena stared at the enormous windows across the bedroom.

She couldn’t believe this was happening.

Alexander Blackwood, the coldest man she had ever met, was lying behind her with his arm around her waist as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

Elena: “Sir?”

Alexander: “What now?”

Elena: “Are you sure you’re not angry about the kiss?”

Silence.

Alexander opened his eyes.

He remembered the corridor.

Her flushed cheeks.

The way she had looked up at him before rising onto her toes.

And the brief, unexpected softness of her lips against his.

He had wanted to kiss her back.

That was the part he refused to examine.

Alexander: “You were drunk, Miss Montgomery.”

Elena: “Tipsy.”

Alexander: “Drunk enough to faint.”

She winced.

Elena: “Right.”

Alexander: “We’ll discuss your terrible judgment when I’m properly awake.”

Elena groaned quietly.

Elena: “Please don’t fire me.”

Alexander stared at the back of her head.

Alexander: “If I intended to fire you, you wouldn’t be sleeping in my bed.”

Her heart skipped.

Elena: “That’s… reassuring, I think.”

For a moment, the room fell silent.

Then Alexander spoke again.

Alexander: “Go to sleep, Elena.”

It was the second time he had used her first name without immediately correcting himself.

And somehow, hearing it in his low, sleepy voice felt more intimate than the arm around her waist.

Elena closed her eyes.

She told herself she was only resting.

But surrounded by the warmth of his body and the quiet comfort of the enormous bedroom, she slowly drifted back to sleep.

Alexander remained awake a little longer.

He could have moved away.

He knew that.

Instead, he lay still, listening as her breathing became slow and even.

For once, he wasn’t thinking about contracts, acquisitions, or the hundreds of employees depending on his decisions.

He was thinking about the woman sleeping beside him.

And he didn’t particularly appreciate the distraction.

A soft knock interrupted the silence.

Alexander opened his eyes.

Elena was still asleep, curled on her side beneath the sheets.

He carefully withdrew his arm before answering.

Alexander: “Come in.”

Mrs. Wilson, his longtime housekeeper, entered carrying two garment bags.

She stopped when she noticed Elena.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Alexander immediately frowned.

Alexander: “Mrs. Wilson.”

The older woman straightened.

Mrs. Wilson: “Good morning, sir. I’ve prepared your suit and the young lady’s clothes as requested.”

Alexander: “Put them in the dressing room.”

Mrs. Wilson: “Of course.”

She placed the garments inside the adjoining room before returning.

Mrs. Wilson: “Would you like breakfast served downstairs?”

Alexander: “Yes. Something light for Miss Montgomery.”

Mrs. Wilson smiled faintly.

Mrs. Wilson: “Certainly, sir.”

Alexander noticed the smile.

Alexander: “And Mrs. Wilson?”

Mrs. Wilson: “Yes, Mr. Blackwood?”

Alexander: “No questions.”

Her smile disappeared immediately.

Mrs. Wilson: “Of course, sir.”

She left quietly.

Alexander rubbed a hand over his face.

Wonderful.

Now his housekeeper had seen a woman sleeping in his bed.

A woman who happened to be his personal assistant.

Elena stirred a few moments later.

She stretched beneath the blankets before slowly opening her eyes.

For one beautiful second, she forgot where she was.

Then she saw Alexander standing near the windows, fastening the buttons of his shirt.

Her eyes widened.

Elena: “Oh!”

Alexander glanced toward her.

Alexander: “You’re awake.”

She immediately sat upright.

Elena: “Good morning, sir.”

He looked at her.

Alexander: “You already said that.”

Elena blinked.

Elena: “Did I?”

Alexander: “Apparently, sleeping beside me has damaged your memory.”

Her face turned crimson.

Elena: “Mr. Blackwood!”

Alexander turned back toward the mirror.

Alexander: “Your clothes are in the dressing room.”

Elena looked toward the open doorway.

Elena: “My clothes?”

Alexander: “Mrs. Wilson arranged something appropriate for the office.”

Elena hesitated.

Elena: “You bought me clothes?”

Alexander: “Don’t flatter yourself. I instructed someone to find you something suitable.”

She looked down at the emerald dress she was still wearing.

It was wrinkled from sleeping in it.

Elena: “Thank you, sir.”

Alexander adjusted his cuffs.

Alexander: “Get dressed. We have work.”

Elena quickly climbed out of bed.

As she walked toward the dressing room, Alexander spoke.

Alexander: “Miss Montgomery.”

She stopped.

Elena: “Yes, sir?”

He turned toward her.

His expression was no longer sleepy.

It was the familiar cold, commanding expression she knew from Blackwood Tower.

Alexander: “What happened last night stays between us.”

Elena froze.

Elena: “Sir?”

Alexander: “Nobody at the company needs to know you spent the night at my mansion.”

Her cheeks burned.

Alexander: “And nobody needs to know you kissed me.”

Elena lowered her eyes.

Elena: “Of course, Mr. Blackwood.”

Alexander stepped closer.

Alexander: “I’m serious, Elena. I won’t tolerate gossip affecting my company.”

She nodded quickly.

Elena: “I understand, sir. I won’t tell anyone.”

He studied her face.

Alexander: “Not even Sofia Carter.”

Elena looked up.

Elena: “Sofia?”

Alexander: “Especially Sofia.”

Despite her embarrassment, Elena almost smiled.

Alexander narrowed his eyes.

Alexander: “Something amusing?”

Elena: “No, sir.”

Alexander: “Good.”

She turned toward the dressing room.

But before she entered, she hesitated.

Elena: “Mr. Blackwood?”

He sighed.

Alexander: “What is it now?”

Elena looked back at him.

Elena: “Thank you for taking care of me last night.”

Alexander’s expression remained unreadable.

Alexander: “You fainted. Someone had to make sure you didn’t injure yourself.”

Elena: “Still. Thank you.”

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he looked away.

Alexander: “Get dressed.”

Elena smiled softly before disappearing into the dressing room.

When Elena emerged, she was wearing an elegant cream blouse and tailored black trousers.

The clothes fit surprisingly well.

She had tied her hair neatly and washed away the remaining makeup from the previous evening.

Alexander was standing beside the bedroom door, checking messages on his phone.

He looked up.

His eyes moved briefly over her appearance.

Alexander: “Acceptable.”

Elena smiled.

Elena: “Thank you, sir.”

He opened the door.

Alexander: “Come downstairs.”

She followed him through the enormous mansion, trying not to stare at the expensive artwork, marble floors, and magnificent staircase.

Everything looked like something from a magazine.

At the bottom of the stairs, Elena stopped beside an enormous painting.

Elena: “Your home is beautiful.”

Alexander continued walking.

Alexander: “It’s a house.”

Elena smiled faintly.

Elena: “A very beautiful house.”

He glanced back.

Alexander: “Are you planning to inspect every room?”

Elena: “No, sir!”

Alexander: “Then keep walking.”

She hurried after him.

Despite his cold tone, Elena couldn’t help feeling a little more comfortable around him.

He was still terrifying.

But after waking up beside him, somehow his usual sharp remarks didn’t seem quite as frightening.

Breakfast was waiting in the dining room.

The enormous table could comfortably seat twenty people.

Yet only two places had been prepared.

Elena hesitated.

Elena: “Should I eat somewhere else, sir?”

Alexander pulled out his chair.

Alexander: “Why?”

Elena: “Well… you’re my employer.”

He looked at her.

Alexander: “An observation you’ve repeated several times since waking up.”

Elena blushed.

Elena: “I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

Alexander placed his phone beside his plate.

Alexander: “Sit down, Miss Montgomery.”

She obeyed.

Mrs. Wilson appeared with fresh coffee, eggs, toast, and fruit.

Elena thanked her warmly.

Elena: “Thank you so much.”

The older woman smiled.

Mrs. Wilson: “You’re very welcome, dear.”

Alexander watched the exchange without commenting.

Elena began eating quietly.

After several minutes, she noticed Alexander had barely touched his breakfast.

Elena: “Sir?”

Alexander: “What?”

She hesitated.

Elena: “You’re not eating.”

He slowly lifted his eyes.

Alexander: “Are you monitoring my food intake now?”

Her cheeks warmed.

Elena: “No, sir. I just noticed.”

Alexander stared at her.

Then, without another word, he picked up his fork.

Elena smiled down at her plate.

Mrs. Wilson, standing near the doorway, witnessed the entire exchange.

And for the first time in years, she saw Alexander Blackwood actually finish his breakfast.

When they arrived at Blackwood Tower, Alexander’s expression changed immediately.

The man who had shared breakfast with Elena disappeared.

In his place stood the ruthless billionaire everyone feared.

As they stepped out of the private elevator, several employees greeted him nervously.

Employees: “Good morning, Mr. Blackwood.”

Alexander barely acknowledged them.

Elena followed at his side, carrying the documents Mrs. Wilson had placed in the car.

At her desk, Alexander stopped.

Alexander: “Miss Montgomery.”

Elena: “Yes, sir?”

His grey eyes met hers.

Alexander: “Remember what I said.”

Her stomach tightened.

Elena: “Of course, Mr. Blackwood.”

He nodded once.

Then entered his office.

Elena sat down slowly.

Her heart was still beating faster than usual.

She had spent the night at Alexander Blackwood’s mansion.

She had slept beside him.

He had held her against his chest.

And now she was expected to behave as though absolutely nothing had happened.

Elena covered her face with both hands.

This was going to be impossible.

Inside his office, Alexander sat behind his desk and opened his laptop.

He had meetings to attend.

Contracts to review.

Millions of dollars depending on his decisions.

Yet his mind returned to the morning.

To Elena’s sleepy voice.

Her embarrassed expression.

The way she had thanked his housekeeper.

And the ridiculous fact that she had somehow convinced him to eat breakfast without issuing a single demand.

Alexander leaned back in his chair.

He didn’t know what was happening.

And he didn’t like it.

He had always kept his relationships simple.

Women came and went.

Employees followed instructions.

Nobody crossed the boundaries he established.

But Elena Montgomery had somehow managed to cross several of them in one evening.

Alexander stared at the closed door separating his office from her desk.

Then he pressed the intercom.

Alexander: “Miss Montgomery.”

Her familiar voice answered immediately.

Elena: “Yes, Mr. Blackwood?”

He paused.

For once, he hadn’t actually called because he needed anything.

The realization irritated him.

Alexander: “Bring me the Morrison file.”

Elena: “It’s already on your desk, sir. The black folder.”

Alexander looked down.

There it was.

He closed his eyes briefly.

Alexander: “Fine.”

He disconnected the call.

Then, despite himself, he almost smiled.

Almost.

Because Alexander Blackwood was beginning to realize something deeply inconvenient.

His assistant wasn’t simply becoming good at her job.

She was becoming difficult to ignore.

And after last night, ignoring her was going to be considerably harder.