The CEO's Contractual Wife

Olivia

“Or what?” the blonde challenged, crossing her arms. “You’ll throw your happy hour cocktails at us?”

“Don’t tempt me,” Emilia growled, taking a half–step forward.

The first woman smirked. “We’re just trying to save your friend some heartbreak. Alexander Carter has a type, you know. Pretty, naive, easily manipulated.”

“I am not easily manipulated,” I snapped, my hands balling into fists.

“That’s exactly what someone easily manipulated would say,” the blonde replied with fake sympathy.

Ariana moved closer to me. “Look, we don’t know who you are, and frankly, we don’t care. But you’ve ruined our night and my friend’s top, so please just go.”

“Make us,” the first woman challenged, lifting her chin.

Before any of us could respond, a familiar deep voice cut through the tension.

“Madison. Stella. That’s enough.”

My head whipped around to see Alexander standing at the edge of our table, his expression thunderous. He wore a charcoal suit that emphasized the breadth of his shoulders, looking every inch the powerful CEO despite the late hour.

The two women paled visibly. Their superior smirks vanished instantly, replaced by wide–eyed alarm. The blonde took a half–step back, nearly stumbling into a nearby chair.

“Alexander,” the first woman said, her voice suddenly small. “We were just-”

“Harassing my girlfriend?” Alexander’s voice was dangerously calm as he moved to stand beside me. His hand found the small of my back, warm and steadying. “I could hear you from across the bar.”

The club had fallen eerily quiet, dozens of eyes watching the drama unfold. I felt my cheeks burn under the collective stare.

“We were only telling her the truth,” the blonde said, lifting her chin despite her obvious discomfort.

Alexander’s jaw tightened. “Madison, the only truth here is that you’re making a scene and embarrassing yourself.”

Madison. So the blonde was Madison. I filed away the name, studying her face more carefully now.

turning to the first woman, “I expected better from you. Does Victoria know

one who’d spilled her drink on me.

send us,” Stella

I asked if

ear. “Who the hell are

I

1/3

Chapter 69

commanding the space between us and the two women. “Apologize to Olivia.

should I? We all know what this is. Another one

cut like a blade. “Think

falter. She glanced at Stella, who

tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

not an apology,” Alexander said

for spilling my drink on you and for

nodded quickly. “Me too. I’m

rang hollow, but I nodded stiffly,

carefully, both of you. Olivia is my

jealous,” Madison protested weakly.

performance? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like two women with too much

had the decency to look embarrassed. “We were

tell her if she has concerns about my relationship, she can address them to me directly instead of sending her friends to do her

didn’t send

“I know my

cousin Victoria–the same

at Madison’s arm.

she wanted to say more, but something

over,” she muttered, but allowed

if either of you approaches Olivia again, you’ll

whispering furiously to each other. The moment they disappeared, the bar

his expression softening. “Are