Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Later that day, Roman sat in his office, fingers tapping against his desk in a steady rhythm. The weight of everything he’d just uncovered sat heavy in his chest, but he wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot.

If Blair’s parents had been set up…if their deaths were more than just a tragic accident, then the people responsible had no idea what kind of war they had just stepped into.

A knock at the door broke through his thoughts. “Come in.”

Peters walked in, holding a file thick enough to signal bad news. “Blair just went to the restroom. She mentioned you didn’t have anyone in here with you.”

Roman gave a nod, granting him permission to proceed.

“I wanted to let you know. We’ve gathered more information since this morning.”

Roman straightened. “Talk to me.”

Peters shut the door behind him and placed the file on Roman’s desk before pulling out a chair. “We went back through Warner Industries‘ financials with the team you arranged today. We also combed through the estate filings and legal transactions following their deaths.”

“And?” Roman’s voice was razor sharp, his patience thinning.

“It was a setup,” Peters said grimly. “Whoever orchestrated this wanted control of Warner Industries. They falsified losses, shifted assets, and created enough evidence to make the company look like it was in trouble. Forcing Peter to step in and ‘Save it?”

Roman clenched his jaw. “Who?” He asked, but he already knew.

Peters opened the file, flipping through highlighted bank statements and transaction records. “It all circles back to Peter Warner. He’s the one who benefited the most.”

Roman’s fists tightened. “That son of a bitch. Low–life scum.”

28

Peters nodded. “Vivian Warner benefited too. The is no way to know if she was in on it or not. But Peter was the one pulling the strings. He used a dummy corporation to ‘buy out‘ Warner shares a few months before the plane crash.” Peters turned a page, tapping on a company name. “And that corporation dissolved a year later, and the assets were quietly transferred back to him. Before Blair’s parents died, Peter didn’t have the financial capability to save a struggling company like he now claims.”

Roman exhaled slowly, his fury cold and calculated. “Blair and her sisters have no idea.”

“No. They were kids at the time. They only knew what they were told. And there’s more.”

Roman stilled.

Peters hesitated before flipping to the final section of the file. “The plane crash.”

Roman’s blood ran ice cold. “What did you find?”

Peters‘ voice was level, but the weight behind it was deadly. “The plane had undergone full mechanical service a week before the crash. The issue that supposedly caused the accident? It would have been caught during that service. I spoke to a mechanic–it’s on every checklist.”

Silence. Roman’s vision darkened at the edges.

16:13 Wed, 18 Jun

Peters continued, his voice grave. “There was a fault in the fuel line, like the crash investigators claim. Routine service includes checking the fuel lines.”

Roman’s knuckles turned white against the desk. “Who handled the maintenance?”

28

Peters flipped another page. “That’s the real kicker. The company that performed the final inspection was owned by one of Peter’s business associates.”

Roman let out a slow, controlled breath. This wasn’t just financial fraud. Blair’s parents had been murdered. And Roman was going to make sure every single person involved paid for it.

Blair stepped out of the office bathroom, her head still buzzing from everything that had happened today. Finding out about Dan and Laura’s engagement, let alone the engagement party, was a nightmare.

But it was nothing compared to Roman’s insane proposal.noveldrama

She still couldn’t wrap her head around it. Marrying Roman. Her boss. Her lover.

The most dominant, intense, and powerful man she had ever known.

She should’ve said no. Should’ve told him this was reckless, impulsive, completely insane.

They could figure out a way to handle Jessica without getting married.

But she hadn’t.

Because deep down, she wanted it. She wanted him.

Blair’s heels clicked against the office floor as she walked toward her desk–only to pause when she saw Dan lingering near the break room.

To get to her office, she’d have to pass him.

Her stomach twisted in annoyance. Not today.

Dan caught sight of her and smirked, pushing off the wall. “Blair.”

She stiffened. “What do you want, Dan?” As if she didn’t already know why he was waiting for her.

He exhaled dramatically. “Can we not be civil for two seconds?”

Blair crossed her arms. “You lost the right to ‘civil‘ when you cheated on me with my cousin.”

Dan’s smirk faltered–but only for a second. Then he grinned. “You really should let that go. It’s in the past. You’re the last person who should be talking. Just how long has your affair been going on with Roman?”

Blair saw red.

“How dare you?” she seethed.

Dan scoffed. “Come on, Blair. You think you’re special? Roman’s just playing with you.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “I bet he’s already moving on to the next one. Men like Roman don’t settle. You’re nothing special to him.”

Blair’s fingers twitched at her side. She was seconds away from slapping him.

But before she could move, a shadow loomed behind Dan.

Roman.

The air in the hallway turned frigid.

Dan must have semed it too, because he turned–only to go pale as death when he saw who was standing behind him.

Roman’s gaze was lethal. “Say that again.”

Dan swallowed hard. “L”

FF

“I dare you” Roman’s voice was quiet. Deadly. “Say another fucking word about her or to her, and let’s see if you’re still employed tomorrow”

Dan took a step back, trying to play it off with a laugh. “Relax, man. I was just messing around.”

Roman didn’t blink. “Get out of my sight.”

Dan hesitated. Then, without another word, he turned and left.

Blair let out a breath, still fuming. “I hate him.”

Roman’s eyes flicked to her, his expression softening just a fraction. “I know.”

She studied him, something unreadable in his gaze. He looked… tense. Darker than usual.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Roman hesitated. Then he shook his head. “Nothing you need to worry about.”

Blair frowned. “Roman…” She could see the tension in his eyes.

“Not now, Blair.” His voice was firm, but not unkind. He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I just need you to trust me.”

Blair’s stomach twisted. Something was wrong. Really wrong.

But she knew better than to push him when he was like this.

So she swallowed her questions and nodded. “I do.”

Roman’s eyes darkened, something flashing in them. “Good.”

He stepped closer, cupping her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek. “I will also take care of you.”

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