Chapter 61
Olivia
“Right now? Two people enjoying wine under the stars. He set his glass down and leaned forward. “Tomorrow? Who knows. That’s part of the appeal, isn’t it?”
I considered his words, swirling the wine in my glass. “You’re very different here than you are at the office.”
“So are you,” he countered. “Less guarded. More yourself.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“I think so.” His eyes traveled over my face, lingering on my lips. “I like seeing the real Olivia.”
“How do you know this is the real me?” I challenged. “Maybe I’m just playing a part.”
“Are you?” he asked, his voice dropping lower.
I held his gaze. “No.”
Something shifted between us then, an acknowledgment of the truth. For all the complications of our arrangement, this moment felt genuine. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, the questions that lingered in the air between us.
“Have you decided?” Alexander asked, breaking the silence.
“About what?”
“About staying in my penthouse.”
I sipped my wine, using the moment to collect my thoughts. “I haven’t decided yet. I need a few more days to think about it.”
Alexander nodded, his expression unreadable. “Alright.”
to try to convince me with his silver tongue. Instead, he accepted my
I ask you something?” I ventured,
“Of course.”
regularly, and after the wedding, I’ll be living
his expression thoughtful. “It’s about building a foundation. Getting comfortable with each
that without
it would be less efficient.
eyes. “You make
what we’re doing? A business
1/3
23)
Chapter 61
“Fair point.”
around each other–not just for appearances but for ourselves. This will be easier if we’re not constantly walking
logic to them, even
his voice dropping lower, “I sleep
honest and vulnerable for the
that so?” I asked, trying to
me too,” he said with a small shrug. “But yes. First good night’s sleep I’ve had
to say to that. The idea that my presence could have any positive effect on this man who seemed to have everything was oddly flattering.
about it,” I said
for the wine bottle,
about this situation is pressure,
a chuckle. “But some pressures are more enjoyable
way he said it, with that hint of suggestion in his voice, sent a small shiver down my spine. I took another sip of wine to hide my
changing the subject. “How often
as often as I’d like. Maybe once a month, if I’m
like a
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!