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.

we’ll meet my family,” he said as we stepped outside into the cool evening air. “Grandfather wants to see the woman who’s captured my

stomach flipped. “That’s

hand slid from my back to my waist, pulling me closer.

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

sleek and black like everything else in his life. Alex opened the door for me, his

sat closer than necessary, his thigh pressing against mine.

asked, acutely aware

replied, his hand finding my

fabric of my dress is fingers traced small circles on my knee, each movement sending shivers up my thigh. The heat of his palin burned through the thin

his

shook my head, meeting

+25 BONUS

Chapter 26

all. Just

dancing along the edge of the slit

you,” he murmured, eyes dropping to where the fabric dipped between my breasts. “Red suits you.” “I think you just like how much skin it shows,” I replied, surprising myself with

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

me feel. “You clean up pretty well yourself,” I said, running my finger along the edge of his

well?” He raised an

leaned closer, inhaling his cologne. “Fishing

and forbidden.

His thumb traced higher, finding the sensitive skin where my thigh met my hip. “I like hearing what

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

he countered, his eyes never leaving

possessive and warm. The car slowed, pulling up to the restaurant entrance. Alexander reluctantly withdrew his hand, but his

stepping onto a stage. The charade

casting a warm glow over white tablecloths. A maitre d‘ greeted Alexander by name and led

of my back as we walked, guiding me through the crowded dining room. His touch was confident, proprietary, as if he’d been touching me like