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.

he said as we stepped outside into the cool evening air. “Grandfather wants to see the woman

flipped.

hand slid from my back to my waist, pulling

I insisted, trying to ignore how good his hand felt on my waist. “I can handle

and black like everything else in his life. Alex opened the door for me, his hand never leaving my body as I

than necessary, his thigh pressing against mine. The car pulled away from the curb

are we going?” I asked, acutely aware of his proximity.

his hand finding my knee.

on my knee, each movement sending shivers up my

Alexander asked, his

head, meeting his gaze “Should I

+25 BONUS

Chapter 26

all. Just follow my lead

thigh, fingers dancing along the edge of the slit

fabric dipped between my breasts. “Red suits you.” “I think you just like how much skin it shows,” I

as charged.” His fingers continued their lazy exploration of my exposed thigh. “But can you blame me?

in his eyes made my stomach flip. I felt desired, wanted in a way Ryan had never made me feel. “You clean up

He raised

leaned closer, inhaling his cologne. “Fishing for

and forbidden. His eyes darkened at the sound

where

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

countered, his eyes never leaving mine. “Not

warm. The car slowed,

stepping onto a stage. The charade was

with crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over white tablecloths. A maitre d‘ greeted

guiding me through the crowded dining room. His touch was confident, proprietary,