The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 72

Olivia

I woke with a start at 5:43 AM, seventeen minutes before my alarm. My mouth felt like sandpaper, and my head throbbed with the beginnings of a hangover.

“Coffee,” I croaked, dragging myself out of bed. “Need coffee.”

The bathroom mirror revealed the full extent of my poor life choices: mascara smudged under my eyes, hair tangled in a nest that would make birds jealous, and a crease mark on my cheek from my pillowcase.

“Gorgeous,” I told my reflection sarcastically. “Absolutely stunning.”

I grimaced at my tangled hair, then stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away last night’s makeup and drama. The memory of Madison and Stella’s words lingered like the wine headache pulsing at my temples.

“Not thinking about that now,” I muttered, working shampoo into my hair. “Nope. Not today.”

By the time I stepped out, wrapped in my towel, I felt marginally more human. I blow–dried my hair into submission and applied minimal makeup, just enough to look professional without screaming that I was hungover.

My closet offered limited options after a week of neglecting laundry. I settled on a navy pencil skirt and cream blouse.

In the kitchen, I opened my fridge to find it depressingly empty except for half a carton of eggs, some questionable cheese, and a ketchup bottle. Breakfast of champions.

“This is why you’re single,” I told the eggs as I cracked them into a bowl. “Well, fake–dating. Whatever.”

The eggs sizzled in the pan while I made coffee strong enough to wake the dead. My phone buzzed with a text from Emilia.

“DETAILS NOW. Did the CEO take you home and rock your world? Also, how’s the hangover?”

I typed back one–handed while flipping my eggs. “No rocking. Just dropped me off. Head feels like someone’s using it as a drum set.”

was immediate: “Boooring. Drink water.

emails, deleting promotional messages and flagging work–related ones for later. The coffee burned my tongue but sent blessed caffeine

left my apartment, I was running late. I power–walked to the subway, mentally rehearsing excuses for my

with two minutes to spare, offering Nova a

death warmed over,” she

That’s exactly the look I was going

her voice. “Or

my computer.

made me want to crawl under my desk. “The marketing brief for the Westwood account is due by

1/3

“On it.”

in work, grateful for the distraction. The Westwood campaign needed a complete overhaul; their previous marketing strategy had all the appeal of watching

receded to a dull throb. I ate a sad desk salad while finalizing the presentation, occasionally glancing

muttered to myself.

with minimal changes, which in his world counted as effusive praise. By five–thirty, I

the boss?” Nova

over my

expression softened. “Oh,

Getting stronger

good. Tell him

“You’ve never met my

shrugged. “Just

the day’s tension easing.

blocks to Sweet & Flour, joining the line of people

smelled like heaven, with butter, sugar, and chocolate combining into an aroma that made my mouth water. When I reached the counter, a perky woman

can I

chocolate croissants, please. And…” I scanned the display case, my eyes landing on