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?”

She spun in her chair. “Did you

on my saliva.

an ex

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hapter

could respond, Alice hurried in, waving her

you guys! Did you see this?” She thrust her phone toward us,

stomach dropped. Nova grabbed

squinted at the screen. “Wait

shoulder. “Is it just me, or does she

in hand. “Holy

turned to me. I felt

for the phone. The photo showed Alexander and me leaving the restaurant, his hand possessively on my

not what it looks like,”

like you’re on a date with Alexander

wasn’t a date,” I insisted. “Just

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

did you even get that dress?” Alice asked,

He invited me to dinner, and I

tone dripping with skepticism. “You’re 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 one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city? And it was

work,” Alice

impressed with something

we please drop this?” I begged. “I

watching me throughout the morning, whispering when they thought I wasn’t paying

through the office. I felt eyes on me

dropping into the

salad around my plate.

they are. You’re

not

if you’re not, you might want

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Chapter 32

The memory of Alexander’s hard body pressed against mine in bed this morning flashed

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