The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 32

Olivia

“Keep scrolling, Alexander instructed, his breath warm against my ear.

I swiped through more photos, each more intimate than the last.

“My face isn’t completely visible in most of these,” I said, relief washing over me. “But anyone who knows me would recognize me instantly.”

“That’s the point.” Alexander took the tablet back, scrolling to another gossip site that had already picked up the story. “The right people will know it’s you.”

“This is real,” I whispered, the reality of our arrangement suddenly hitting me. “People are going to think we’re together.”

“Probably,” Alexander agreed, seeming unconcerned. He scrolled through more photos, pausing at one where his hand was positioned dangerously low on my back. “That’s the point, isn’t it?”

I sank deeper into the couch, my mind racing. My coworkers would see this. My parents might see this. Everyone would think I was dating Alexander Carter.

“We should head to the office,” Alexander said, checking his watch. “Separately, of course. For now.”

Twenty minutes later, we stood in the lobby of Carter Enterprises.

Alexander gestured toward a private elevator tucked behind a discreet panel.

“Use this one,” he said.

I shook my head. “I can’t just start using the private elevator. People will notice.”

“That’s-”

“Next time,” I promised, already backing toward the public elevators where other employees waited. “We need to ease into this, remember?”

Alexander’s jaw tightened, but he nodded curtly. “Tonight. My place. Seven o’clock.”

It wasn’t a question. I gave him a small smile and turned away, feeling his eyes on me until the elevator doors closed.

The marketing department buzzed with morning energy when I arrived. Nova was already at her desk, typing furiously.

“Morning,” I called, setting my bag down.

She glanced up, eyes narrowing. “You look different.”

“Different, how?”

spun in her chair. “Did

on my saliva. “What?

an ex like getting

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hapter

hurried in, waving her phone

see this?” She thrust her phone toward us, the screen displaying

dropped. Nova grabbed the phone, whistling

hot.” She squinted at

“Is it

them, coffee in

to me. I felt my

leaving the restaurant, his hand possessively on my waist. My face was partially

not what it looks like,” I said weakly.

looks like you’re on a date with Alexander Carter,” Nova said, eyebrows raised to

date,” I insisted. “Just

screen. “That’s not a ‘just dinner‘ dress. That’s a ‘fuck

get that dress?” Alice asked, eyes

swallowed hard. “Look, it’s complicated. He invited me

telling me that the man who’s been named ‘Most Eligible Bachelor‘ just happened to invite his junior marketing executive out for a fancy dinner at

work,” Alice suggested, though she

he was impressed with something else,” Vivian

drop this?” I begged. “I have

their desks. I could feel them watching me throughout the morning, whispering when they thought I

on me in the cafeteria and heard the hushed conversations that stopped when I walked

officially famous,” Nova declared, dropping into the seat across from me. “How does it

salad

they are. You’re sleeping

am not

But if you’re not, you might

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Chapter 32

my eyes but couldn’t help the flush that crept up my neck. The memory of Alexander’s hard body pressed against mine in bed this morning