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.

outside into the

stomach flipped.

my back to my waist, pulling me closer. They’re

insisted, trying to ignore how good his hand felt on

like everything else in his life. Alex opened the door for me, his hand

pressing against mine. The car pulled away from the curb

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

hand finding my knee. “Best steak in the

large hand against the red fabric of my dress is fingers traced small circles on my knee, each movement sending shivers up my thigh.

Alexander asked, his

meeting his gaze “Should I

+25 BONUS

Chapter 26

Just follow my lead

along the edge of the slit in my dress.

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

of my exposed thigh. “But can you blame

made me

raised an eyebrow,

closer, inhaling his cologne.

my tongue, intimate and forbidden. His

finding the sensitive skin where my thigh

a whisper, “that you’re used to getting

countered, his eyes never leaving mine. “Not

promise. His hand remained on my thigh, possessive and warm. The car slowed, pulling up to the restaurant entrance. Alexander reluctantly

feeling like I was stepping onto a stage.

white tablecloths. A maitre d‘ greeted

dining room. His touch was confident, proprietary, as if he’d been touching me like this for years instead of