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.”
me. I’d expected him to push, to try to convince me with
ask you something?” I ventured,
“Of course.”
penthouse at all? We’re already meeting regularly, and after the wedding,
fully, his expression thoughtful. “It’s about building a foundation. Getting comfortable with
do that without living
it would be less
“You make relationships
what we’re doing? A business arrangement with mutual
1/3
23)
Chapter 61
“Fair point.”
comfortable around each other–not just for appearances but for ourselves. This will be easier
his words. There was logic to them, even if I was reluctant to admit
his voice dropping lower, “I sleep better with you
admission caught me off guard. It seemed too honest and
asked, trying to keep
me too,” he said with a small shrug. “But yes. First
say to that. The idea that my presence could have any
I said finally. “And
I ask.” He reached for the wine
situation is
he admitted with a chuckle. “But some
a small shiver down my spine. I took another sip of wine to hide my
beautiful,” I said, changing the subject. “How often
as often as I’d like. Maybe
seems like
T1I1m3P9kMRHMi+89uWpFZ7UknfWQpd3yKJL9u6Oc+WR7NyRtHTl1QEESLhHbWb6ZH5jpYBPH5SOZNwgwr8XqlbCSHYtl1qxSf7AuG8Ax3Ao75JmAa7OOijmOIH7+BNMjvjOYlNoRCuULtqMVk/q4slRAaRww9oraih7wcppeIyOtbAPRyWCNf9EmL/8kozY3xxPgIcN94lPyh+U1bZwBYQI9FDZrCe5li797jEhP1iiDCsjlnYJVsTmzea6oovRXRURCNq6FvOy4nIvP0NwmL3OPAco7iY+4vY27Bz1hlRSw2iu34hLKplIW8RBnkWYJcnwxI/u+KqTyWR3SiyxrOyvegrDWy0JQswTV9nV/KBDkcvCys10j0xBM6cuz6/ZjqXIJzCQAyetzjn8DHH9n3aHb2wzSq6apOL8gZ0jMdajeST4wyymVtXqfLW/UcN93UEcvV8HcWoLhIlYiHWeVzKdBWYEHkoNhSp2nYA08r2YZ5wKGGvzJUiDyMWEt/AwbhEf/q7rWBHpGfUYOz3avSi7Om+zPFYekbfif3To86Bpi3IZZB26TNlLw4cGtEq9IJaxFrU5ZEOuRSq6Wv/1a+vAuSSJLJajgQMDbFjYxyb9jNI9Z/7pF6YgQqi6meb2jb0dS+N90ZtE4RtWinYME8ME12xZMt2c+hk58kLNNBCD/glh7h/N9cqia9vVCtt3i8D/dXOOeU1pyudwvfPiLExD9eSEY5Q5DKmC5jbff1BTIq77uyJDhgrFYhNkG7FbiP++Fm6/Z+lgw2CzMDb9h4lnFuiuHo/ZWBqf14ety9tVtZ85mmuGFeGj7xP6gZMbxJ9sJGxgTtO8p02SdU7SwuwXY2YzuVxxrZoekIhvNUxV23EQ3z+LEKDdFQxAY4Oyfjdx8CPh7YbOKdEXLrQrZFd/6lV8DncExX/mSH+lIoaNk+m6WIaGsJxx4uS1HqPzfdjxseaBw0oAHQG7zcNeYUajkxZGPQWLrvcB/qO8sAguujKcOrB084C/5klYhmWlAzJ0Ug9CWgP640rg6UoAMqBw0TrR0vq28VZskBAAY1JmmJMXt0Mw5f9czvlAE34h/llP6TeZIdvVSyAmmFp+nw4h3XnVj92VcMSxdoR0YTA7Hn6bU8trgxKozUWMshlci1n0jOTJZWPsuauSNoLqwzV8z7PclgtSNFih45zEKray+miMxYqC2KBAJR5D3q3vybCBCX3EaWiZomS3W2fofWTEUk1JmUASaSR88/bBo8Oh64i06Kehh7PMOpBCzAxqmVvziri+2/dYYDhULt1Z8bVfhNveVH3393OgF6vpvcual2XAuglc0A3hy0YBdrDa0Q0XL5NHyv9DL3WMUY4APX3auX8YWVBNjo9sJBPsuJ6tnj0py4ex9LEUskktU5z7eouHkEH+Ih2UXb2zmR0vwDyT3CiQn4wP9tlmTT1mlIeNJ7BxhdByh+O22kF5qQPXSHoYc0FXrNdEpUG0C9YAvzwIEmOIx//INTHGAhVpUVroN96LZcaH0cHUapExspvvh/CsXjyovNOR4O536XLDuAOdCTS7gehHwc+QKNVvUIb0hi6HcYsbxaER6lCMTFFgW4MFUM6KFnaSfeYNU4oKykbNdLYl7qvEuyGUoq552Fsv29nXatiNXQDNaeP1WVBmpp7cVnL6qZUYm8llt3zoS95wFaSoFIZytvRSNajqi8iCBwZRm5ozsVtnA0AQ5Kign3eZUkpVmaZU1gtSNrqY8c1ILjvfKQFi7S6wi17KOtt0CkcRJMZrIiB+V3Q+bjvgWXrf5wJIDklTAqtFkCX4RRv8SoXzghES+qUa7gWw/ZyP16vlg/eNP7Q758pjKQIFREkUWC/I/AAQ7RPixAc585oCC8uWOO8riDJytDTxBDyjXrBBqcUGhc5kvJ3oa26wEjxwYXmD+fcYQMR4BUWavMVsOkZ28TGX3Qxo3yhoifUrvC01PMFZeaYvL/fK2KOulz3yzc2jCxXeZe07lCfeyKAbnDVtUVkF79aBt2hw/IpI0DZiKk+NFYoj3M/o6h6NsVIRM4Q/n4nY0oLvw4QAid1G7tHTwQV2gwdWZEIA9DJw8WBFlXprcZZ48dl2OYo7XOCFFT0MtOtSJjC4R/nmRGBA5pUMtcu4Fun4JO4DDcR9Qkm2VJ2y7Rb0UyLkwJozWVfKau/ZUbjgIke9Lk0Q+Mq2rRrIwX1iVhx3TrU1fFOqfg9MWwQ3TJ23YqLZB3TLqdCaDn5aKLxJG8InfZY+Xs0jPqojXGREKD5JKuszDxpjRTTTVXWBnpyT8FoskQKXeoR3SzvIMmhdWYsVFx5xuorALPJI6R6jsW21tDAvYCU+fQnDoGGVCEIMPF/7TZeP8DbQghhjDiIVpWQuzpWIzzeTQhCoQTi8r8eiuSdfTc8HscYVHdzKBWhR4VMOceJBF4s5Ev/9xvi+AV02hv/p6vJAjDVikBL1gLokd0qQoxexGEof1sB5hak/c1frEib2Px7atZQfhPi19mDBmdYKkB0jhUJ118Rs9EsGFY6nS/v6UKeY/ECmArmMOttStm4Io+dfbzp6a/rT1dSzS/N/eQ2SS188Zh6RT+OeBPPBk5HISo9jqwFWL0KYs3sdoU1Sy25/qkgNNxepJVmC0ba9rDcC2UyUVE/OkR//4Qn4wsRW4hcjEiqjze+fmAtcAvRLr+tvuRJKrgMvv9MQmLlhtGM1LkO4LYLkl1xmxXmwJeJZze8Amp5WE2rQn+QwGKn63r98+jmqMKNKCXOgVBZ1cRrV5QRGRpdqGy5TDZSeGKjkjMLFwYFK9ZnNcN0uoWs5XCUVYjhWru8qNtjezt0U9XnZJ/hmVtK92o0qRRKEWKzo0FXJ5CKyyub7Y8ITo+5Do8gHn4wg0HPoW+QsmJbl+af3aHPy5uj2AM1IQAza3AvZyGcKNYGhN+zJiqxd6v8ERlvK4hyT+Dvy2ABoqxqk0kVuNgb5TlRhcN8EsZssI6mu8wqIj5/kkXgjmzCL43Z/hCz/Fa/HMAotYDkrI3fW/X7+6XAmCPS3AJBj/sqdFs/v9CVD23uwOOxZ+34bm7aElHjLogvMU3Y+KtLZy6E1blEdE55q8ePQtgVp2LERUdTaX+u01KoK3X/BuPB8/bxsg96HQ9N2o+sdbFayfxciJh3vsyeE5qVlRtQKD75V3tly9jOljG2shWxKIjKfM3vVYvskfhfzHmeZU1ZHsY8aprQ7OEZDcEBGdu93M6ylK0qIM2KTIS69pDNrn4rvwrnVHO9oQUcXM8Y7wrDaFY2XSakMp5rzUMVNFcuy1rtiqqVlE2cEx+dpsAzO9pWMhq+Fecv9mGHLPHCbLd5QGGQ2IIKor3SMdpKLl23cNdMi1ITZO52PRJe8aA4F5jZF4EvfDRaOrZz5Lv4jGFG4CiamHH4=
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!