The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

I slept fitfully, my mind a carousel of images: Ryan’s shocked face, Sophia’s smug smirk, and, oddly, Alexander Carter’s piercing gray eyes watching me in the rearview mirror.

The weekend crawled by in a haze. I spent most of the time curled up on my couch, binging old movies, eating take- out, and ignoring the world, especially Ryan’s desperate attempts to reach me. I let myself grieve, but by Sunday night, I was done crying; Ryan didn’t deserve another tear.

Monday morning arrived with brutal efficiency. I dragged myself into the shower, letting the hot water pound away the remnants of Friday night’s disaster. No tears; I’d shed enough of those already. Ryan didn’t deserve them.

I wrapped myself in a towel and stared at my closet. What does one wear after catching their boyfriend balls-deep in another woman?

I opted for armor: a crisp white blouse, a black pencil skirt, and highest heels. The kind of outfit that said, “I’m fine, fuck you very much.”

The cab ride to Carter Enterprises took twenty minutes. I spent it scrolling through Ryan’s increasingly desperate

texts.

“Baby, please let me explain”

“It was a mistake.”

“Call me.”

“I love YOU, not her.”

Delete. Delete. Delete. Delete.

Carter Enterprises occupied a gleaming sixty-story tower in downtown Los Angeles. I’d been working there for eight months as a junior marketing executive, and despite the drama of my personal life imploding, I still felt a flutter of pride walking through those glass doors.

The elevator whisked me to the 42nd floor. I stepped into the marketing department, where Nova was already at her desk, sipping her usual triple-shot espresso.

“Morning, sunshine!” she called, then squinted at me. “You look different. New lipstick?”

“New life status. Single.” I dropped my bag at my desk.

Before Nova could respond, Vivian breezed in, her red curls bouncing as she walked. “Ladies, you won’t believe the email I just got. Apparently, the big boss himself will be sitting in on our presentation this week.”

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Chapter 6

nearly choked on

tr

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the edge of my desk. “Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost? It’s not like you’ll have to

If only she knew.

“He

her phone. “Sorry, I’m late. The barista got my order wrong

Carter’s coming to our presentation, and Olivia’s single,” Nova

eyes widened. “What? Which one should

said quickly. “It’s more

to face me fully. “Spill

“I caught him fucking Sophia at her

All three women froze.

whose party you rushed off to?” Vivian clarified, her mouth hanging

I nodded.

backstabbing cunt,”

dick falls off,” Alice added, patting

verbatim what Emilia said,” I laughed despite

you do?” Vivian leaned in,

him on the spot and

for you,” Nova said firmly. “You

dick and a functioning moral compass,”

now?” I begged. “I have the social media analytics to finish

I caught them shooting me concerned glances

in spreadsheets and engagement metrics, grateful for the distraction. The last thing I needed

and transformed it into a multinational corporation in less than a decade. The tabloids occasionally linked him with models or actresses, but he

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Chapter 6

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the dots between the disheveled woman he’d rescued and

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