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 stepped outside into the cool evening air. “Grandfather wants to see the woman who’s captured

stomach flipped.

my back to my waist, pulling me closer. They’re not

trying to ignore how good his hand felt on my waist.

opened the door for me, his hand never

necessary, his thigh pressing against mine. The car pulled away

going?” I asked, acutely aware of

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

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

his voice low

shook my head, meeting his gaze

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Chapter 26

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inch higher on my thigh, fingers dancing along the edge of the slit in my

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

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

had never made me feel.

He raised

his cologne. “Fishing

name felt strange on my tongue, intimate and forbidden. His eyes

skin where my

think,” I said, my voice dropping to a whisper, “that you’re

countered, his eyes never leaving

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

nodded, suddenly feeling like I was stepping onto a stage. The charade was

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

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