Page 190 of The Rebel Billionaire

I chuckle, then moan as his hand slides lower.

I bite my lip and suck in a sharp breath.

“Two can play at that game,” he chuckles.

“Fine. You wanted to talk, so talk,” I say with a grin, gently rocking my hips against him, loving the flush spreading over his cheeks.

His Adam’s apple bobs. “I know you want to keep our relationship out of the public eye.”

Ah, it’s that conversation. I stop, moving slightly, until I’m on my stomach, resting my hands and chin on his chest.

“I’m your PA. You’re Alessandro Bianchi, my boss and CEO of the St Clair Fashion House. People are going to have an opinion about us, and I don’t want us to become the latest office scandal.”

I repeat the words I’ve thought long and hard about over the past three weeks.

My mind returns to Daphne gossiping about Evelyn in the kitchen.

I can’t have that level of scrutiny, and if the press found out… my stomach sinks at the thought.

He chuckles, surprising me.

“It’s okay. I’ve no desire for us to become office gossip either. I’m happy to keep our relationship private, and not because I’m ashamed of you.” His arms tighten around me. “We don’t need the intrusion, especially from the media. When we’re ready, we can come out as a couple. Until then, we can keep our private lives private.”

My heart rate picks up. Enzo warned me about the press and how they love to stick their noses into the Bianchi family’s private lives. I’m playing with fire with Alex, but I can’t seem to help myself.

As if sensing my distress, he pulls me closer.

“We can keep this between us, but I will need to let Sue know.”

“Sue know what?”

My stomach drops.

“About us. She’s the head of HR, and I’m your boss. Relationships within the company must be disclosed, especially when there’s a power imbalance or a potential conflict of interest. It’s written in the guidelines. If I fail to report us, I’d be breaking my company’s rules, something any other member of staff would face disciplinary action over.”

I groan and drop my head because both are true. How could I have forgotten? I read and signed the bloody thing.

“But…”

He cups my face. “The rules are there to protect you.”

I pull back. “I don’t need protecting.”

I know I sound petulant, but the last thing I need is anyone knowing my business, our business, speculating about us. I like Sue, and as head of HR, I’m sure she’s watertight, but even so. How would she view a relationship between Alex and me?

Unprofessional, I’m sure!

My stomach tightens. I don’t need any additional scrutiny or anyone looking too closely at me, at us.

Alex sits up, his back to me. “This is non-negotiable, Brooke. I’m simply giving you a heads-up. It’s in the contract you signed. We can’t ignore our power imbalance. If I don’t declare this, then it makes a mockery of the whole policy.”

I stand up, grabbing my clothes as I go.

“Brooke,” he says, turning to face me, the throw he covered us with last night pooling around his waist.

Yanking my jumper over my head, I ignore the beautiful expanse of chest in front of me.

He sighs, following suit.