Olivia

Alexander took a sharp turn, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. “Victoria’s feeding them information to manipulate

you.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“Natasha was a woman I dated in Paris three years ago. It didn’t end well.”

“Define ‘didn’t end well.”

She wanted more than I was willing to give.”

“Marriage?I asked.

“Love,” he corrected, his voice flat.

The word hung between us, heavy with implication. I stared out the window, watching the city lights blur past.

“And the hidden room?

Alexander’s mouth quirked up. “Not nearly as scandalous as they made it sound. It’s a private office where I keep sensitive business documents.

“So not a sex dungeon filled with whips and chains?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Is that what you were imagining?”

My cheeks burned. “No!”

“Liar,” he said, but his tone was playful. “You’re disappointed it’s just boring paperwork, aren’t you?”

“Shut up,” I muttered, fighting a smile.

We fell into comfortable silence as he navigated through downtown LA. The stain on my top had started to dry, turning sticky against my skin.

I finally asked, unable to let

plant seeds of doubt. She knows I date casually. She’s twisting

had a

fixed on the road. “I’ve had arrangements with women in the past. Mutually beneficial relationships with clear expectations and endpoints.

me,” I

glanced at me.

inheritance instead of just warming

1/3

8:06 pm

Chapter 71

“The others were

Stella’s words kept replaying in my head. Contract girlfriends. A pattern. The

Alexander’s voice cut through my

stopped outside my

gathering my purse.

“Of course.”

+23

otherwise, didn’t matter. I would be

No emotions

those women’s

Alexander said, studying my face in the dim light

with a forced smile. “Occupational hazard of

“Don’t let Victoria’s friends get to you. That’s exactly what

fine.” I pushed open

cut the engine, and I

What are you doing?”

you to your door.” He was already out of the car, circling around to

as he extended his hand to help me

‘Humor me.”

car. We walked in silence to the building entrance,

time we reached my apartment, I was acutely aware of how different our worlds were. His penthouse with its floor–to- ceiling windows and personal chef versus my small apartment

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