A Secretive Deal with My Billionaire Boss novel Chapter 197

Chapter 197
Madison
Alexander cursed under his breath, his shoulders tensing as he peered through the peephole. He stepped back, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
“It’s Anthony and his girlfriend, Lyla,” he said, his voice tight with frustration. “I invited them for drinks, but with everything that happened today…” He shook his head. “Completely slipped my mind.”
“You invited people over and forgot?” I whispered, clutching the blanket tighter around me. “What do we do?”
“Get dressed,” he ordered. “Quickly.”
I scrambled off the couch, dropping the blanket and searching frantically for my clothes. I found my dress and bra crumpled on the floor and pulled them on, then reached for my underwear-or what was left of it. The delicate fabric hung in tatters, completely unwearable after Alexander had ripped them off me earlier.
“My panties are torn,” I hissed, holding up the ruined garment.
His lips curved into a smug smile despite the situation. “Bedroom. My closet. Help yourself.”
I darted into his bedroom, tossing the torn underwear into his bathroom trash can before hurrying to his walk-in closet. Inside, I grabbed a black lace panties and slipped them on.
A quick glance in the mirror revealed my sex-mussed hair and smudged makeup. I ran my fingers through my tangled locks and used a tissue to clean up my smeared mascara. After a quick touch-up of my makeup, I felt somewhat more presentable.
Who shows up unannounced at this hour anyway? I thought irritably. It wasn’t midnight yet, but couldn’t Anthony take the hint when no one answered right away? Maybe Alexander was busy. Or sleeping. Or fucking his fake girlfriend senseless on his balcony.
Taking a deep breath, I emerged from the bedroom just as Alexander opened the front door.
“Anthony, Lyla,” Alexander greeted them smoothly, as if he hadn’t kept them waiting while we scrambled to look presentable. “Come in.”
Anthony stepped inside first with an easy smile. Behind him followed a stunning woman with piercing eyes that seemed to take in everything at once, including me.
“We were about to leave,” Anthony said, clapping Alexander on the shoulder. “Thought you might have turned in early.”
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Chapter 197
+25 BONUS
“Just busy with work,” Alexander replied, gesturing toward the living room where his laptop still sat on the coffee table, thankfully providing some credibility to his excuse. “Ms. Harper and I were just finishing up some projections.”
I shifted uncomfortably as Anthony and Lyla’s eyes moved between Alexander and me. Despite our hastily composed appearances, I could feel a lingering tension in the air, or maybe I was just projecting my own nervousness.
Lyla’s perfectly shaped eyebrow arched slightly as her gaze traveled from my slightly disheveled hair to my flushed cheeks. “Seems like important work,” she remarked with a knowing smile. “The kind that simply can’t wait until morning, I presume?”
Heat crept up my neck. Was it that obvious?
Alexander cleared his throat. “Lyla, this is Madison Harper, my personal assistant. Ms. Harper, this is Lyla Clark, Anthony’s girlfriend.”
“I’ll pour us some drinks,” he added, moving toward the bar with casual confidence, as if we hadn’t just been interrupted in the middle of something far more intimate than spreadsheets.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, extending my hand to Lyla. Her grip was firm, her nails perfectly manicured in a deep burgundy that matched her lipstick.
“Likewise,” she replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “I’ve heard Alexander works his staff quite… rigorously.”
I nearly choked on air.
Anthony stepped forward, saving me from having to respond. “Ms. Harper, good to see you again. After-hours work session?” he asked, his tone innocent but his expression suggesting he knew exactly what kind of “work” we’d been engaged in.
“We were just wrapping up,” I managed, finding my professional voice. “The projections are almost complete, and I should be heading home now. You all enjoy your drinks.”
Alexander returned with two glasses of amber liquid, handing one to Anthony. “Ms. Harper, you’re welcome to join us. I’m sure we could all use a drink after the day we’ve had.”
His tone was casual, but his eyes held a different message entirely, one that promised consequences for my early departure.
“Thank you for the offer, Mr. Knight, but I should get going. Early start tomorrow.” I gathered my purse from the side table, avoiding his intense gaze.
“If you’re sure,” he conceded, his voice dropping slightly. “I’ll see you in the morning then.”
The look he gave me was scorching, a silent promise that I would pay for this rejection later.
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Chapter 197
+25 BONUS
“Goodnight, everyone,” I said, heading for the door. “It was nice meeting you.”
I crossed the spacious living room, my heels sinking into the plush carpet as I made my way toward the foyer. My body still hummed with unsatisfied desire, making each step a reminder of what had been interrupted. The modern art pieces lining the hallway seemed to watch me leave, witnesses to my hasty retreat.
The marble-floored entryway felt cool compared to the warmth of the living room, where Alexander stood with his guests. I reached for the ornate handle of his front door, eager to escape Anthony and Lyla’s knowing looks.
As I pulled the heavy door open and stepped outside, Anthony’s voice drifted clearly from behind me.
“Have you received any news about Katherine?”
My hand froze on the door handle. Katherine?
Without thinking, I pulled the door shut with a definitive click.
“Shit,” I muttered, immediately regretting my reaction.
I should have left the door cracked open and lingered just long enough to hear Alexander’s response. What was his connection to this Katherine? And why did he call me by her name?
For a moment, I considered knocking and pretending I’d forgotten something-my phone, a file, anything that would give me an excuse to return. My hand even rose toward the door before I dropped it back to my side.
No. That would be too obvious.
I pressed my ear against the door, but the thick wood muffled their voices completely. All I could hear was the faint murmur of conversation, impossible to distinguish individual words.
“Get a grip, Madison,” I whispered, stepping back from the door.
I walked toward the elevator, my mind still stuck on that name. Katherine. Who was she? An ex- girlfriend? A business associate? Someone more important?
The elevator arrived with a soft ding, its mirrored interior reflecting my flushed face and slightly disheveled appearance. As the doors closed, I caught sight of myself and winced. Despite my best efforts at a quick fix-up, I still looked thoroughly ravished.
“Well, that was mortifying,” I said to my reflection, attempting to smooth my hair.
The elevator descended smoothly, carrying me away from Alexander’s penthouse and the mysterious Katherine. But I couldn’t escape the questions swirling in my mind.
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Chapter 197
+25 BONUS
When I reached the lobby, the night doorman nodded politely. “Good evening, Ms. Harper. Would you like me to call you a cab?”
“Yes, please,” I replied, grateful for his professional demeanor. If he noticed anything unusual about my appearance or the late hour, he didn’t show it.
While waiting for the cab, I pulled out my phone and stared at the screen. Before I could talk myself out of it, I typed “Katherine” into the search bar. Thousands of results appeared, none obviously
connected to Alexander.
“Your cab is here, Ms. Harper,” the doorman announced.
I slipped my phone back into my purse. “Thank you.’
As the cab pulled away from the curb, I leaned back against the leather seat and closed my eyes. The evening replayed in my mind: Alexander’s hands on my body, his mouth on my skin, the way he made me feel both vulnerable and powerful at the same time.
And now, this mysterious Katherine.
“Just what I need,” I muttered. “More complications.”