The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 34

Olivia

“No!” I said too quickly. “I mean… not yet.”

Emilia’s eyebrows shot up. “Not yet? So you’re planning to?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “The chemistry is… intense.”

“I bet it is,” she smirked. “Have you seen the way he looks at you in those photos? Like he wants to eat you alive.”

Heat rushed to my face. “Em!”

“What? It’s true! I’ve never seen a man look at a woman like that in public.” She took a sip of her wine. “I’m happy for you, you know. After what Ryan did… you deserve someone who looks at you like that.”

I felt a twinge of guilt. If only she knew the truth, that it was all a performance, a business arrangement.

“I’m being careful,” I said instead.

“Good.” Emilia nodded firmly. “Because if he hurts you, I don’t care how rich or powerful he is; I’ll kick his ass all the way back to whatever fancy prep school he came from.”

I laughed despite myself. “I’d pay to see that.”

“Seriously, Liv.” Her expression softened. “I just want you to be happy. And if Alexander Carter makes you happy, then I’m all for it. Just… don’t let him break your heart, okay? Men like that… they’re used to getting what they want and moving on.”

The truth of her words hit uncomfortably close to home. Wasn’t that exactly what our contract stipulated? Alexander gets what he wants, and then we go our separate ways?

“I know what I’m doing,” I lied.

“Do you?” Emilia–asked, her gaze sharp even through the haze of alcohol. “Because you’ve got that same look you had with Ryan in the beginning. That ‘I’m falling hard‘ look.”

“I am not falling for Alexander Carter,” I protested.

“If you say so.” She didn’t look convinced. “Just remember that men like him don’t change. They don’t suddenly decide they want the white picket fence and the 2.5 kids.”

“Maybe I don’t want that either,” I said defensively.

Emilia studied me for a moment. “Maybe you don’t. But you deserve someone who wants the same things you do, whatever those things are.”

I sighed, deflating slightly. “When did you get so wise?”

the tension. “Now, are we going to sit here talking about your love

I decided, downing the rest of

few blissful hours, I didn’t think about contracts or fake relationships or the way Alexander’s

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and the alcohol numb everything

after midnight when we stumbled out of the club, laughing and

declared, pointing dramatically

except hangovers,”

too! Tacos are

the way, taco wizard,” I laughed, linking my arm

late–night taco truck three blocks from Velvet had become our post–clubbing ritual long before Alexander Carter entered my life. The familiar smell of grilled meat and spices wafted toward us as we approached,

carnitas and one al pastor,” Emilia ordered confidently, leaning against the truck’s metal

that two al pastor,” I corrected.

living dangerously,” she teased, bumping

steadying myself against the truck. “Not like I’m bungee

dating Alexander Carter, which might

we please not talk about him for five

raised her hands in surrender.

us our food, and we found a nearby bench to sit on. The night air had cooled, sobering me slightly as

god,” I moaned. “This is

than sex with your CEO boyfriend?” Emilia wiggled her

I nearly choked. “Emilia!”

another bite of her

handed her a napkin. “And I

added with a wink.

cheeks burned. “Can we change

sighed dramatically. “How’s work going? Besides having to

tensed. “What do

it professional at work, right? So

me. “Right. Yes.

the conference room,” she teased. “Nova told me all about

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