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.

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

me. She fidgeted with her purse strap,

didn’t send

sent you. I asked if she knows you’re

leaned close to my ear. “Who the

I whispered

1/3

Chapter 69

between us and the two women.

her arms. “Why should I? We all know what this is. Another one

like a blade. “Think very carefully about

in his tone made her falter. She glanced at Stella, who looked equally

with a tight smile

not an apology,” Alexander

spilling my drink on you and for what

“Me

words rang hollow, but I nodded stiffly, just wanting this

carefully, both of you. Olivia is my girlfriend. She deserves

not jealous,” Madison

“Then what would you call this little performance? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like two women with too much time and alcohol trying to intimidate someone they see

had the decency to

off. “It ends now. And when you see Victoria, tell her if she has concerns

didn’t send

Alexander said dismissively. “I know my cousin. This has

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

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

to say more, but something in

she muttered, but allowed Stella to

them. “And if either

furiously to each other. The moment they disappeared, the bar erupted back into conversation, everyone pretending they hadn’t been watching the

to me, his