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?”

in her chair.

choked on my

over an

1/4

hapter

I could respond, Alice hurried in,

phone toward us, the screen displaying a gossip site. “Alexander Carter has

Nova grabbed the phone, whistling

squinted at the screen.

it

in hand. “Holy shit, it is

me. I felt my

me leaving the restaurant, his hand possessively

looks like,”

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

wasn’t a date,”

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

even get that dress?” Alice asked,

“Look, it’s complicated. He invited me

just happened to invite his junior

impressed with her work,” Alice suggested, though

was impressed with something else,”

drop this?” I begged. “I have work to

but returned to their desks. I could feel them watching me throughout

lunchtime, the gossip had spread through the office. I felt eyes on me in the

the seat across from

pushing salad

they are. You’re sleeping with

not sleeping with

you’re not, you might want to

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Chapter 32

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 flashed

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