Alpha King of the Underworld

Never Sleep with Your Boss

Mila’s POV

There is a soft knock on the door of the room I’ve been hiding out in all morning. I heard movement outside a few minutes after I called Isabella and ran over to the door, locking it so no one would walk in and see me. Since then, I’ve been pacing and running through everything that happened last night in my head. I felt something when I was with Julian, and the way he talked I thought…I thought he felt it too.

I’m so stupid.

This is why hooking up isn’t a good idea. Not that I’ve ever done this before, but now I understand why this would have been dangerous. As much as I wish, I could say that it was just s*x, and it meant nothing…it didn’t feel that way! Still here I am alone with no wearable clothes, and Julian is nowhere to be found. What did I expect? He’s so handsome and has this dangerous aura about him that all girls love.

He also owns this place and had more than a few women giving him attention last night. I was just the poor i***t who gave in and slept with him, but any of those other girls would have taken my place in an instant.

God, I feel like an i***t.

When I unlock the door and see Isabella, I break down and let the tears go. Her smile crumbles, and she pushes her way into the room so she can wrap her arms around me.

“Aw sweetie. What happened?” She asks as she rubs my back.

I am about to tell her I don’t want to talk where anyone can hear us, but she turns halfway around to close the door and then leads me over to the bed.

“I was so stupid Izzy.” I say between sniffles. “Why did I do this? It isn’t me.”

She lets out a small laugh. “It isn’t and if you weren’t crying, I would say how proud I am of you, but this doesn’t seem like the right time.”

I laugh at her attempt to lighten the mood. “Yeah, maybe later.”

“Look, I know this sucks right now, but you had a super hot night with an animal of a man, if this room is any indication of what happened last night. Did he hurt you?”

I shake my head. “Not in a bad way.” I admit.

She lets a loud laugh, and her whole face turns a shade of pink. “You’re bad. Look, I’m sorry this happened, but if you had a good time, then that’s what matters. He was probably a jerk anyway and would in no way be good boyfriend material.”

She had a point. Last night was a spontaneous thing that felt amazing but would never happen again, and I had to be okay with that. What I know for sure is that hooking up with another guy like that is out of the question. It’s clear that I’m more of a relationship girl than whatever that was last night. Not that I had good experiences in that area, either. Still, if I can’t find someone to care about me more than what pleasure they can get from using me, then maybe it’s best if I stay alone.

“Here. I tried to find the most comfortable clothes I have, but you know- “She shrugs and I smile at her.

Isabella always looks like she’s ready for a photoshoot even when she’s at home relaxing. She likes the finer things in life, and I don’t blame her.

“Thanks Izz.” I wrap her in a hug and she squeezes me back.

“Hurry and get dressed. Then I’m taking us to breakfast. Do you have anything else going on today?” She asks.

Her question reminds me I was supposed to work here tonight. How can I walk around and act like I didn’t sleep with the boss all night? What if he shows up? Do I avoid him or play everything off like it never happened? God, this is a nightmare.

“I have something going on tonight, but I’m free until then. What sort of torture do you have in mind for me?” I tease.

Inside, I’m panicking, but Isabella doesn’t need to hear all my internal turmoil. It’s mine to deal with.

“Great! Get dressed.” She lets me go and walks out so that I can change.

I change as fast as possible so that I don’t leave her out in the hall too long, and draw attention to where I’m hiding. When I’m done, I look down to see the word ‘Barbie’ bedazzled on the off shoulder t-shirt I’m wearing over the felt jumpsuit pants she brought me that fall low on my hips. I think this was popular in the early two thousands but I guess it’s making a comeback. At least she brought me tennis shoes, but they have two stripes of pink on the side to tie the outfit together. None of it looks as good on me as she would make it look, but I’m grateful, anyway.

Once I’m dressed, I open the door and peek out to make sure the coast is clear. Isabella comes closer to me and I grab her hand before tugging her down the hall toward the main room. I stop short to scan the room and once I’m sure we’re in the clear, I jog toward the exit.

Somehow we don’t run in to any security when we push out of the door and quickly walk toward Isabella’s car.

“I feel like we’re about to get in trouble.” She says as we climb into her little pink car. “Are we going to be in trouble?”

“Not if we don’t get caught.” I say with a little extra bite to it.

“Right.” She turns the car on and pulls out of the parking lot with a squeal from her tires.

We’re out of there like a bright pink bullet.

After a breakfast of French toast covered in fruit and whipped cream, Isabella takes me back to her house where we watch movies and bing on junk food. I should call my stepmother and tell her what happened, but I can’t bring myself to ruin all the work Isabella has put into trying to help me forget what happened today. One more day or pretending that woman isn’t a part of my life and then I can go home and let all her vile words roll off me. Her other punishments will take more effort to ignore, but I’ve survived this long on far less to distract me with.

Isabella’s able to find out that I have to work again tonight at some point between the mimosas at breakfast and the strawberry margaritas after lunch. Yeah, it was that kind of day. She talked me into wearing another outfit of her choosing. It didn’t escape my notice that it looks a lot more my style than any of her clothes ever have. I’m going to have to ask her about that when my head isn’t spinning over the fact that I might see the man I slept with last night again.

Never sleep with someone you work with or, in my case, work for…it's messy kids.

I do decide to send my stepmother a text letting her know I had been with Isabella studying this weekend and promptly turned my phone off. It’s not like I get many calls worth answering from anyone other than Isabella. Since she’s driving me back to work, I don’t need to worry about missing her call.

“Okay, I’m letting you go inside alone because you are forcing me too, but you call me if anything happens and you need backup.” She says in a firm tone.

She gives me a look that says she means business, and I dutifully nod my head when what I really want to do is smile. She’s the least intimidating person I know and her trying to be this bossy tough version of herself is adorable.

“I will, I promise, but I think I’ll be okay.” I promise her before I lean over and give her one more hug. “Thanks for rescuing me.”

She laughs. “I’ll always be your princess charming.”

I laugh too and we finally break apart. “I’ll call you later.”

“Okay. I’ll hold you to that!” She calls out before I close the door behind me.

I wave to her, but she doesn’t leave and I know she won’t until I walk inside. So I turn to face the club and pull in a deep breath before I set my shoulders and walk toward the front door. The bouncers are there holding back the crowd, trying to get inside and pull the door open for me. It’s then that I know the only way I’ll get through this is if I pretend nothing has changed. So when I step inside and I sense him, I don’t look for him. I don’t let my eyes scan the room for a sign of him. I’m here to work, nothing more.