Page 96 of Sexting the Boss

I shouldn’t.

But something hot and ugly coils low in my stomach anyway.

And I hate it.

Damien, for his part, is impassive, his responses cool and measured. If the touches bother him, he doesn’t show it.

Then, finally, he turns slightly, his hand still resting against the small of my back.

“Sasha,” he says, his voice smooth, deliberate. “This is Nina Belov. She works with the Belov Foundation.”

Belov Foundation. This is her charity event? I look up at Damien, but he’s not looking at me.

Nina tilts her head slightly, her smile polite. “We focus on education and housing for displaced families.”

So she’s a saint too. Great.

“Right.” I nod, trying not to sound like an idiot. “That’s…noble.”

“It is,” she agrees. “But it’s hard work. You know how these things go.”

I don’t, actually.

I know nothing about charity galas or elite social circles or what it’s like to work in a position where people have to respect you because of your family name.

But I nod like I understand anyway.

She glances at Damien again, smiling knowingly. “Of course, Damien has been a great supporter,” she says. “Over the years, he’s donated quite a bit to the foundation. Always so generous.”

Her fingers graze his wrist as she says it, just for a second, but it irks me.

I sip my champagne to distract myself.

Damien’s expression doesn’t change. “Charity is a good way to ensure money is spent wisely,” he says simply, his voice detached.

Nina gives a soft, tinkling laugh. “Always so pragmatic.”

There’s something beneath her tone, something light but not entirely innocent.

“But I didn’t realize you would bring a date tonight, darling,” she purrs.

That’s enough.

I decide I need to leave before I say something stupid.

I glance at Damien. “I’m going to get another drink.”

His gaze flicks to mine, something unreadable in his expression.

But he doesn’t stop me.

I turn, stepping away, my pulse quicker than it should be. Did he bring me here to make his ex jealous?

I inhale deeply, exhaling through my nose.

I don’t know what I was expecting tonight, but it wasn’t this—a beautiful, age-appropriate woman touching Damien like she had every right to.

Because she probably does.

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