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.

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

said it’s fine,” I insisted, trying to ignore how good his hand felt on my waist.

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

he sat closer than necessary, his thigh pressing against mine.

are we going?” I asked,

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

on my knee, each movement sending shivers up my thigh. The heat of his

asked, his

meeting his gaze “Should I

+25 BONUS

Chapter 26

Just follow my lead

my thigh, fingers dancing along the edge of the

dress was made for 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,”

fingers continued their lazy exploration of my exposed thigh. “But can you blame me? Look

Ryan had never made me

He raised an eyebrow, feigning

leaned closer, inhaling his cologne. “Fishing

name felt strange on my tongue, intimate and

skin where my thigh met my hip. “I like

to a whisper, “that you’re used to getting whatever you

countered, his eyes never

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.

was stepping

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

dining room. His touch was confident,