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.

“I expected better from you. Does Victoria know

The one who’d spilled her drink on me. She fidgeted with her purse strap, avoiding

send us,” Stella

you. I asked if she knows you’re here,

to my ear.

I whispered

1/3

Chapter 69

the space between us

all know what this

Alexander’s voice cut like a blade.

in his tone made her falter. She glanced

to me with a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I apologize

an apology,” Alexander

on you and for what I said. It

nodded quickly. “Me

hollow, but I nodded stiffly, just wanting this humiliating scene

both of you. Olivia is my girlfriend. She deserves your

not jealous,” Madison protested

call this little performance? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like two

least had the decency to look

her if she has concerns about my

send us,” Madison

my cousin. This has her fingerprints all

pieces clicked into place. These women were friends of Alexander’s cousin Victoria–the same Victoria who stood to inherit

Stella said, tugging at Madison’s arm. “Come on,

like she wanted to say more, but

over,” she muttered, but allowed Stella to

Alexander called after them. “And if either of you approaches

to each other. The moment they disappeared, the bar erupted back into

me, his expression