Read Red Alpha: A BWWM Russian Alpha Billionaire Romance for Free Online Page A

years. He was the man Osip sent to ensure that everyone thought the best of his country – and from the moment she laid eyes on him, it was very easy to see why.
    “Yes,” She finally managed, tearing her gaze away from his. “I’m Cadence Freedman.”
    “Demyan Boykov.” Extending the hand that didn’t hold one of her hands to shake, the man offered her a thin smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Pleasure to meet you.” As she took his hand, Cadence felt Boykov’s gaze raking over her as he assessed her. That would be, the young woman reminded herself, what Danshov would have instructed him to do – make sure that she wasn’t a threat.
    But surely, for a man with Boykov’s… colorful history, it shouldn’t take more than a few seconds? His gaze seemed to linger on her for a minute or more – almost until she felt like squirming in discomfort. However, Cadence had long since trained such nervous habits out of herself; or rather, Myles had forced her to. If she was going to be intelligence, he had constantly drilled into her mind, one of the most important things that she could do was to stay cool under pressure.
    Now she just had to hope that Boykov didn’t level a gun at her head. As cool as the young woman could be, she didn’t think she could achieve that level of blasé.
    “You as well, Mr. Boykov.” She managed to sound pleasant, despite the fact that the firmness of Boykov’s grip was doing all kinds of…strange things to her long repressed libido.
    “Prime Minister Danshov sent me to fetch you. He regrets that there’s currently no space in his manor as it’s being renovated and begs that you take a room in mine as sufficient replacement.”
    Well…this was unexpected. Cresseda had instructed her to make sure that she was placed as close to Danshov as it was possible to be- under the premise of learning from him. Cadence had planned on staying in the man’s manor and being able to spend a substantial amount of time with him each day.
    “I…will still be able to spend time shadowing the minister, will I not?” She inquired, arching a brow as she gazed up at Boykov.
    The man’s smile went, if possible, even thinner. “That’s why you’re here, is it not?”
    How could the man be so damn beautiful and utterly chilling at the same time? “In that case,” Cadence struggled to make her smile genuine, “I thank you for your hospitality.”
    “Of course.” The quirk of his lips became somewhat snide. “Only the best for our American friends.” With that, he released her hand to pick up her other bag, hefting its sixty pound weight onto his shoulder as if it weighted exactly nothing. Cadence told herself that she wasn’t imagining the way the man’s massive shoulders must flex beneath that coat as she followed him out into the cold once more.
    Christ , the frigid air was penetrating. In the five minute walk through the snow to the covered car park, Alessia felt ice pricking the corners of her eyes as her tears froze before they could fall. “I take it,” Boykov mentioned casually as he came to a stop next to an impressive silver Mercedes, “You have not experienced cold like winter in Russia before.”
    “No.” Cadence shook her head slowly, trying to keep her teeth from chattering. “I grew up in a very warm place. This is all new to me.”
    “Well then, we must be certain to keep you warm.” With that, he dropped her bags in the trunk before rounding the car to open her door for her. The luxurious interior of the car smelled of leather and tobacco – and was still gloriously warm. The moment the door closed behind her, Cadence’s nose began to run as her body re-acclimated to the temperature. In an almost errant motion, Boykov whipped a handkerchief from inside his coat pocket to hand to her before he started the car.
    “Thank you,” Cadence managed gratefully, trying to dab her nose as delicately as she could. She tried to think of what Alessia would do in her