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

my saliva. “What?

an ex like getting

1/4

hapter

Alice hurried

see this?” She thrust her phone toward us, the screen displaying a gossip site. “Alexander Carter

stomach dropped. Nova grabbed the

hot.” She squinted at the screen.

peered over Nova’s shoulder. “Is it just me, or does she

behind them, coffee in hand. “Holy

pairs of eyes turned to me. I felt my

me leaving the restaurant, his hand possessively on

looks like,” I

a date with Alexander Carter,” Nova

date,”

Vivian pointed to the screen. “That’s not a ‘just dinner‘ dress. That’s a

even get that dress?” Alice

it’s complicated. He invited me to dinner, and I

her tone dripping with skepticism. “You’re telling me that the man who’s been named ‘Most Eligible Bachelor‘ just happened to invite

impressed with her work,”

he was impressed with something else,”

please drop this?” I

them watching me throughout the morning, whispering

the office. I felt eyes on me

Nova declared, dropping into the seat

muttered, pushing salad around my

course they are. You’re sleeping with the

am not sleeping with

raised her hands in surrender. “Whatever you say. But if you’re not, you might want to consider it.

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Chapter 32

my neck. The memory of Alexander’s

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