The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 26

Olivia

In the elevator, I caught him staring at my reflection in the mirrored walls.

“See something you like?” I asked, throwing his earlier words back at him.

His eyes met mine in the mirror. “Several things.”

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the heat spreading through my body. The elevator continued its descent, the silence between us electric.

“You need to understand something,” Alexander said, his voice low. “In public, you’re my girlfriend. Not my employee, not my contractual wife–to–be. My girlfriend.”

“I get it,” I replied, adjusting the necklace he’d fastened around my neck.

“I don’t think you do.” He stepped closer, his chest nearly touching my back. “This isn’t just about appearances. The entire arrangement collapses if this plan fails because you can’t maintain the facade.”

I turned to face him, finding myself trapped between his body and the elevator wall. “I can act like your girlfriend, Alexander. I’m not an idiot.”

“Alex,” he corrected. “When we’re together, you call me Alex. Girlfriends use nicknames.”

“Fine, Alex.” The shortened name felt strangely intimate on my tongue. “And what will you call me? Liv?”

Something darkened in his eyes. “Among other things.”

The elevator doors slid open before I could respond. Alexander placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me across the lobby. His touch was light but possessive, sending tingling up my spine.

“Even in front of your driver?” I whispered as we approached the building’s exit.

“Especially in front of my driver,” he murmured against my ear. “Everyone in my life must believe this is real. No exceptions.” “Okay,” I agreed, leaning slightly into his touch despite myself.

meet my family,” he said as we stepped outside into the cool evening air. “Grandfather wants

stomach flipped. “That’s

my

how good his hand

in his life. Alex opened the door for me, his hand never leaving my body

pressing against mine. The car pulled

asked,

he replied, his hand finding my knee. “Best steak in

against the red fabric of my dress is fingers traced small circles on my

asked, his voice

my head, meeting his gaze “Should I

+25 BONUS

Chapter 26

at all. Just follow my lead

fingers dancing along the edge of the slit in my dress.

murmured, eyes dropping to where the fabric dipped between my breasts. “Red suits you.” “I think you

charged.” His fingers continued their lazy exploration of my exposed thigh. “But

his eyes made my stomach flip. I felt desired, wanted in a way Ryan had never made me feel. “You clean up pretty well yourself,” I said, running my finger along the edge of his perfectly tailored

raised

his cologne. “Fishing for

strange on my tongue, intimate and forbidden. His eyes darkened

where my thigh met my hip. “I like hearing what you

my voice dropping to a whisper, “that you’re used to getting

he countered, his eyes never

implication hung between us, charged and heavy with promise. His hand remained on my thigh, possessive and warm. The car slowed, pulling up to the restaurant entrance. Alexander reluctantly withdrew his hand, but his eyes promised more. “Ready?”

feeling like I was stepping onto a stage. The charade

elegant and dimly lit, with crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over white tablecloths. A maitre d‘ greeted Alexander by name and led

guiding me through the crowded dining room. His touch was