Page 98 of Sexting the Boss

I turn, and immediately, I know this woman is important.

She isn’t as flamboyantly beautiful as Nina, but she has a presence that commands attention. Graceful. Regal. The kind of beauty that ages like fine wine and never goes unnoticed.

Her blonde hair is styled into a sleek chignon, her gown subtle but expensive, understated in a way that makes it clear she doesn’t need to prove anything.

Damien’s posture changes.

Subtly, but I notice it.

His usual relaxed arrogance straightens just slightly, his shoulders drawing back.

And then it clicks.

This is his mother.

Damien Zaitsev’s mother.

Oh God.

She glances at me, her blue eyes filling with curiosity before shifting back to Damien.

“Are you not going to introduce me?”

Damien exhales, like this is the last thing he wants to do, but he does it anyway.

“Sasha,” he says, his hand resting lightly on my back. “This is my mother, Ekaterina Zaitsev.”

Ekaterina.

Even her name sounds powerful.

She smiles at me politely. “It’s a pleasure, dear.”

I smile back, trying not to look like I’m seconds from internally combusting.

“You too,” I say, hating how small my voice sounds.

Damien’s mother doesn’t look unkind, but she definitely looks like a woman who takes stock of everything. She glances at Damien. “I must say, I’m surprised. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you with someone.”

Damien doesn’t react.

His expression is neutral.

Then she sighs softly. “Then again, I haven’t seen you at all, have I?”

Her words are gentle, but there’s something behind them.

Something pointed.

Something that makes Damien’s jaw tighten just slightly.

A flicker of emotion passes through his otherwise blank expression.

Regret? Annoyance?

I can’t tell.

For a brief second, it feels like I’ve intruded on something private, something I shouldn’t be standing in the middle of.

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