The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 112

Olivia

25%

I stared out the jet window as Los Angeles sprawled beneath us, the city glittering like scattered diamonds against the dusk. The pilot announced our descent, and I reluctantly pulled myself away from the view, turning to Alexander.

“Back to reality,” I sighed, stretching in my seat.

Alexander looked up from his laptop. “Not a fan of the real world?”

“Not when the alternative is a private island with infinity pools and a personal chef.”

“We can go back anytime,” he said, closing his laptop. “Just say the word.”

The jet touched down with barely a bump, taxiing to a private hangar where a black Escalade waited on the tarmac. Alexander’s driver greeted us with a professional nod, taking our luggage and stowing it in the trunk.

“Welcome back, Mr. and Mrs. Carter.”

Mrs. Carter. The title still felt foreign, like someone else’s name tag that had accidentally been pinned to my shirt.

+23

The drive to Alexander’s penthouse was quiet, and both of us were tired from travel. I watched familiar landmarks pass by: palm trees silhouetted against the sunset, billboards advertising the latest blockbusters, and cars inching along in the eternal LA traffic.

“You’re quiet,” Alexander observed, his hand finding mine in the darkness of the backseat.

“Just tired,” I said, letting my head rest against his shoulder. “And maybe a little sad the honeymoon’s over.”

His thumb traced circles on my palm. “Who says it has to be?”

I smiled despite my exhaustion. “Pretty sure your grandfather expects you back at work tomorrow.”

“Probably,” he conceded. “But nights are still ours.”

When we arrived at the penthouse, I headed straight for the shower while Alexander dealt with our luggage. The hot water soothed my travel–stiff muscles, washing away the airplane staleness.

1 emerged wrapped in a towel to find Alexander sprawled on the bed, eyes closed. For a moment, I thought he was asleep, but then he spoke without opening his eyes.

“Feel better?”

my overnight bag for

minute,” he murmured. “Just resting

1

me. By

blanket around him and padded to the kitchen. My phone buzzed with

back in LAY Girls‘ night at O’Malley’s tonight. Non

176

18:35 Fri, 22 Aug

Chapter 112

7:30. I could still

landed. Can be there by 9. Alexander’s

sleeping beauty and come drink

quick confirmation, then scribbled a note for Alexander in case he woke up before

jeans and a soft sweater, I called a cab and headed

spilling onto the sidewalk. I spotted Emilia, Claire, and Ariana at our usual corner table and wove through the crowd toward

crowed, jumping up to hug me. “Without her groom, I

an empty chair. “Fell

raising an eyebrow. “So it’s ‘home‘ now, not ‘Alexander’s

felt my cheeks warm. “Figure

Ariana pushed a glass of wine toward me. “We ordered for

sip before answering. “It was incredible. The island was

the island,” Emilia leaned forward.

hissed, glancing around to make

Alexander Carter to a private island

I said primly. “Some

keep private,”

eyes. “You

love us,” Ariana said, raising her glass. “To

twenty blissful minutes, the attention shifted from

Until Emilia circled back.

glass. “We’re

let up. “Fine. The island was incredible. Private chef, infinity pool, beach

attentive.”