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.

as we stepped outside into the cool evening air. “Grandfather wants to

stomach flipped. “That’s

my

good his hand felt on my waist. “I can handle

car waited at the curb, sleek and black like everything else in his life. Alex opened the

thigh pressing against mine. The

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

his hand finding my knee. “Best steak

on my

his voice

my head, meeting his

+25 BONUS

Chapter 26

Just follow my lead

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

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,” I replied, surprising

lazy exploration of

made my stomach flip. I felt desired, wanted in a way Ryan had never made me feel. “You clean up pretty well yourself,” I

raised

leaned closer, inhaling his

tongue, intimate and forbidden. His eyes darkened at the sound

sensitive skin where my thigh met my hip. “I

to a whisper,

he countered, his eyes never leaving

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

stepping onto a stage. The charade was

lit, with crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over white tablecloths.

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