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?”

know. Glowy.” She spun in her chair. “Did you get

my saliva.

Nothing helps get over an ex like getting under someone

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hapter

Alice hurried

this?” She thrust her phone toward us,

stomach dropped. Nova grabbed the phone, whistling

at

it just me, or does she

them, coffee in hand. “Holy shit, it

me. I felt my

see that,” I said, reaching for the phone. The photo showed Alexander and me leaving the restaurant, his hand possessively on my waist. My face was partially

it looks like,”

on a date with Alexander Carter,” Nova said,

wasn’t a date,” I

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

you even get that dress?”

“Look, it’s complicated. He invited me to dinner, and I went. That’s

happened to invite his junior marketing executive out for a fancy dinner at one of the most exclusive

with her work,”

maybe he was impressed with something else,”

this?” I begged. “I

them watching me throughout the morning, whispering when

felt eyes on me in the cafeteria and

the seat across from me.

salad around my plate. “Everyone’s

course they are. You’re sleeping with

am not sleeping with

her hands in surrender. “Whatever you say. But if you’re not, you

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Chapter 32

that crept up my neck. The memory of Alexander’s hard body pressed against mine

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