The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 11

I shut down my computer, stretching my arms above my head. The contract had been burning a hole in my bag all af ternoon, making it impossible to focus on anything productive.

My phone buzzed just as I was gathering my things. I grabbed it, heart jumping. Was it Ryan? Some pathetic attempt at reconciliation after I’d caught him balls-deep in my friend?

Or maybe Emilia was checking in. She’d been texting hourly updates since the party disaster, making sure I hadn’t drowned myself in wine or jumped off my balcony.

Unknown Number: Be ready at 8 p.m. Wear something nice, something sexy. I’ll pick you up for dinner.

I stared at the screen, mouth dropping open. Alexander fucking Carter. It had to be.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard. How the hell did he get my personal number? Then again, the man had some- how known about my father’s medical needs and my brothers’ financial situations. Getting my phone number would be child’s play for someone with his resources.

Me: How did you get this number? And why dinner? I haven’t agreed to anything yet.

His response came immediately.

Unknown Number: Dinner is casual. No strings attached. Consider it an opportunity to get to know the man you might marry before signing anything. Be my girlfriend for the night. I promise to make it special.

I snorted. Special? What did that even mean? A five-star restaurant where the menu didn’t list prices? Some exclusive club where celebrities snorted coke off each other’s asses?

Me: Only for tonight. This doesn’t mean I’m saying yes to your proposal.

I hit send before I could think better of it. Why the fuck was I agreeing to this? The man had basically offered to buy me as a sex slave with a wedding ring, and here I was, agreeing to play girlfriend for the night.

But I knew why. Curiosity. That’s what I told myself, anyway. Not the way my pussy had clenched when he’d talked about making me come. Not the way my nipples had hardened under his gaze. Just simple curiosity about what kind of man would propose such an arrangement.

free dinner. My bank account was crying for mercy after covering Dad’s last round of

headed for the elevator, hoping to avoid further interrogation from my cowork- ers.

date tonight?” Nova appeared

-0.0%

16:43

“What? No.”

You’ve got that

“What look?”

you’re not going back to that cheating bastard.” “God, no.” I stabbed the elevator

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said, hoping my face wasn’t as red as it felt. “He’s my boss.

ate.”

further interrogation. I waved goodbye and stepped inside, already mentally cat-

address while scrolling through my phone. Should I text Emilia? Should I tell her about this insane dinner invitation? No, she’d either try to talk me out of it or demand to come along as

as we pulled up to my

handed over thirty dollars.

and headed straight for the shower. The hot water pounded against my skin as

lost your fucking mind, Olivia,” I muttered, squeezing

hair dripping, I stood before my open closet. The contents looked pathetically inadequate for a date

A

checking the time. 7:15

hands landed on a red dress I’d bought for a company Christmas party, but I chickened out of wearing it. The neckline dipped low between my