The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 56

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Olivia

The yacht was even more impressive inside, with gleaming wood paneling, crystal chandeliers, and floor–to–ceiling windows offering panoramic views of the harbor. Dozens of guests in formal attire mingled, champagne flutes in hand.

“Drink?” Alexander asked, snagging two glasses from a passing server.

“Please,” I said, accepting the champagne gratefully. “I think I need it.”

“Relax,” he murmured, his lips close to my ear. “You look like you’re facing a firing squad.”

“I feel like I am. Everyone’s staring.”

“They’re staring because you’re stunning.” His eyes met mine, intense and sincere. “And because they’re wondering how I got so lucky.”

Before I could respond, a tall man with silver hair approached, clapping Alexander on the shoulder.

“Carter! Good to see you, my boy. It’s been too long.”

“Senator Williams,” Alexander shook his hand. “Allow me to introduce Olivia Morgan. Olivia, this is Senator James Williams.”

I shook the Senator’s hand, trying not to look as intimidated as I felt. “It’s an honor to meet you, Senator.”

“The pleasure is mine, my dear. I was just telling my wife that Alexander here seems to have finally found himself a keeper.” He winked at me. “Don’t let this one get away, Carter. She’s far too pretty for you.”

Alexander laughed. “I’m well aware, Senator.”

After the Senator moved on, we were approached by a steady stream of guests: CEOs, celebrities, and politicians, all seeming eager to meet Alexander’s new girlfriend. I smiled until my cheeks hurt, trying to remember names and connections.

“You’re doing great,” Alexander whispered during a brief lull. “Ready to see the rest of the yacht?”

I said, relieved at the prospect of escaping

me through a door and up a staircase to the upper deck. Here, the crowd was thinner,

found

breath of the cool ocean air. “How do

he shrugged. “And knowing it’s necessary

you’re good at

I represent: money, power, connections.” His voice

profile in the fading light. “That sounds

admitted, surprising me with his candor. “That’s why tonight isn’t about

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Chapter 56

“It’s not?”

giving you a break from everything you’ve been dealing with. Your father’s health, work stress, our arrangement… I

by his thoughtfulness. “That’s…

checking his watch. “The formal dinner starts in twenty minutes, and you’ll be seated next to

“Can’t wait to hear about

you if he starts discussing

hedge fund manager turned out to be surprisingly funny, and the food was exquisite, with five courses of gourmet cuisine paired with fine wines. Alexander kept his hand on my knee under

dinner came speeches about ocean

bid hundreds of thousands of dollars for items like private island getaways and dinner

the auctioneer announced, “a special item donated by Carter Enterprises. A weekend for two at the exclusive Carter Mountain Lodge in Aspen, including private jet transportation, a personal chef, and ski instruction from Olympic gold medalist Jake

fifty thousand dollars and quickly escalated. Alexander sat back, watching with

the auctioneer finally declared. “For three hundred

crowd applauded as an elegant older woman stood to

money for a weekend in Aspen,”

Eloise can afford it. Her late husband

band took the stage, and couples began moving to the