The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 114

Chapter 114

Olivia

His eyebrows shot up. “Impressive. Alexander Carter runs a tight ship.”

“You know him?”

“We’ve crossed paths,” James said vaguely. “Business circles in LA are smaller than they seem.”

“And what do you do, Mr. Westbrook?”

“Please, James,” he corrected. “I run Westbrook Financial. We’re a boutique investment firm.”

“By ‘run,‘ he means he’s the CEO and founder,” Emilia said, clearly having recognized him. “His company manages something like ten billion in assets.”

It was my turn to raise my eyebrows. “Keeping tabs on financial CEOs, Em?”

“I read Forbes,” she shrugged. “Sometimes.”

James smiled. “Now I’m the one who’s impressed.”

“Don’t be,” Emilia waved dismissively. “I only remember because you were on their ’40 Under 40‘ list last year.”

“You have a good memory,” he acknowledged.

“Selective,” she corrected. “I remember useless trivia and handsome men.”

“I’m flattered to be in either category,” he said smoothly before turning back to me. “So, Olivia from Carter Enterprises, will you let me buy you that next drink?”

I hesitated. “I should mention I have a boyfriend.”

His smile didn’t waver. “Of course you do. A woman like you wouldn’t be single for long.”

“Is that another line?”

“Just an observation,” he said. “But the offer of a drink stands. No strings attached. Consider it networking.”

“Networking over martinis?” I asked skeptically.

“The best kind,” he winked. “But I understand if you’d rather not.”

There was something oddly respectful about his easy acceptance of my boundaries, even as he left the door open.

“Maybe another time,” I found myself saying.

“I’ll hold you to that,” he replied, raising his glass in a small toast before backing away. “Ladies, enjoy your evening.”

As he walked back to the bar, Claire leaned across the table. “Do you know who that was?”

“James Westbrook, apparently,” I shrugged.

“Olivia,” Ariana’s eyes were wide. “That man is practically financial royalty in this city. His company handles investments for half of Hollywood.”

“And he’s worth like, hundreds of millions,” Claire added.

“And he’s single,” Emilia completed the trifecta of information.

“And I’m not,” I reminded them. “So it doesn’t matter how much he’s worth.” I couldn’t help but think that Alexander was worth ten or even twenty times more than James, if not more than that.

“Your loss,” Emilia sang, signaling for another round. “He’s definitely interested in you.”

“Notinterested.”

Now, weeks later, here he was again, standing at our table with the same confident smile.

James Westbrook hadn’t changed a bit. He was still impeccably dressed in what was undoubtedly a custom suit, his dark hair perfectly styled, and wearing that self–assured expression that probably worked wonders on most women.

“Olivia Morgan,” he said, his voice carrying that smooth, practiced tone I remembered. “What a delightful surprise.” His eyes drifted to my wedding ring, but he maintained his charming smile.

I forced a polite smile. “Mr. Westbrook.”

“Please, I thought we established it’s James.” He glanced at Emilia. “It’s nice to see you again, too.”

Emilia nodded, eyeing him suspiciously. “Small world.”

“Indeed.” His attention returned to me. “I heard congratulations are in order. Alexander Carter, no less. The photos from your wedding were spectacular.”

“Thank you.”

“Allow me to buy you ladies a drink to celebrate,” he offered, already signaling a server. “A toast to new beginnings.”

Emilia leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “I’m not sure her husband would appreciate her accepting drinks from strange men”

“We’re hardly strangers,” James countered smoothly. “We’ve met before. And I’m simply being cordial to a fellow professional. Nothing inappropriate about that”

“That’s thoughtful, but I’m good with what I have,” I said, raising my half full wine glass

James nodded, accepting my refusal with grace “Of course. Another time, perhaps.”

“You saw our wedding photos?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

“Hard to miss,” he replied with a small laugh. “You two were all over social media. The Carter Morgan wedding was quite the event”

“You follow society weddings? Emilia asked, one eyebrow raised

James smiled. “I follow business, and Alexander Carter is certainly that. Your husband moves markets, Olivia. People pay attention.”

“Right,” I said, taking a sip of my wine.

“You make a striking couple,” he continued. “Though I must admit, I was surprised by the speed of it all. You work fast.”

There was something in his tone that made me bristle. “When you know, you know.”

“Apparently,” he said, his eyes never leaving mine. “Alexander certainly seemed to know quickly. He’s not typically known for his commitment.”

Before I could respond, a woman’s voice called out from across the bar. “James! There you are!”

James turned, raising a hand to a sleek brunette making her way toward us. She was stunning, tall and willowy, with sharp features and a designer dress.

“Duty calls,” he said with a slight bow. “It was lovely seeing you again, Olivia. Congratulations once more on your marriage.”

“Who’s that?” Emilia asked, nodding toward the approaching woman.

“Melissa Bennett,” James replied. “My business partner. We have a meeting to finish.” He turned to greet the woman, who had reached our table. “Melissa, just wrapping up. This is Olivia Morgan–Carter and her friend…”

“Emilia,” my friend supplied, studying Melissa with interest.

Melissa gave us a quick, professional smile. “Nice to meet you both. James, we really need to go over those projections before tomorrow.”

“Of course,” he agreed smoothly. “Ladies, enjoy your evening.” With a final nod, he placed his hand on Melissa’s back and guided her toward the exit.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Emilia leaned across the table. “Business partner, my ass. Did you see how her hand lingered on his arm? And that dress wasn’t saying ‘let’s review quarterly reports.”

shaking my head. “Maybe they’re

at their business partner like

our business,” I said,

marriage,” Emilia observed. “And

appear nonchalant. “Alexander and James run

“There’s something about him I

trust any inan who wears a suit that

another round. “Men who spend that

sure Alexander spends that much on

there will be

he nodded sagely.

“Something like that.”

you work? If you don’t mind my

“Carter Enterprises. Marketing

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Chapter 114

Chapter 114

Olivia

“Impressive. Alexander Carter

“You know him?”

James said vaguely. “Business circles in

do you

Westbrook Financial.

and founder,” Emilia said, clearly having recognized

turn to raise my eyebrows. “Keeping tabs

read Forbes,”

“Now I’m the one who’s

only remember because you were on their ’40 Under 40‘ list

a good memory,”

remember useless trivia and handsome

to be in either category,” he said smoothly before turning back to me. “So, Olivia from Carter

mention !

smile didn’t waver. “Of course you do. A woman like you wouldn’t be single

“Is that another line?”

observation,” he said. “But the offer of a drink stands.

martinis?” I

kind,” he winked. “But I understand

his easy acceptance of my boundaries, even as

time,” I found myself

that,” he replied, raising his glass in a small toast

leaned across the

Westbrook, apparently,”

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Chapter 114

24%

wide. “That man is practically financial royalty in

he’s worth like, hundreds of

he’s single,” Emilia completed the

worth.” I couldn’t help but think that Alexander was worth ten or even twenty times more than James,

loss,” Emilia sang, signaling for another round.

“Not interested.”

weeks later, here he was again, standing at

impeccably dressed in what was undoubtedly a custom suit, his dark hair perfectly

smooth, practiced tone I remembered. “What a delightful surprise.”

forced a polite smile.

thought we established it’s James.” He glanced at Emilia. “It’s nice to see you again,

nodded, eyeing him suspiciously.

congratulations are in order. Alexander Carter,

“Thank you.”

a drink to celebrate,” he offered, already signaling

“I’m not sure her husband would

“We’ve met before. And I’m simply being cordial to a

good with what I have,” I said,

nodded, accepting my refusal with

our wedding photos?” I asked, curiosity getting the

laugh. “You two were all over social

event.”

weddings?” Emilia

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18:36 Fri, 22 Aug

Chapter 114

smiled. “I follow business, and Alexander Carter is certainly that. Your husband moves markets, Olivia. People

attention.”

said, taking a

he continued. “Though I must admit, I

his tone that made me bristle. “When you know, you

24%

certainly seemed to know quickly.

a woman’s voice called out from across the bar.

a sleek brunette making her way toward us. She was stunning, tall and willowy, with sharp features and

calls,” he said with a slight bow. “It was lovely seeing you again, Olivia.

that?” Emilia asked, nodding toward the

a meeting to finish.” He turned to greet the woman, who had

my friend supplied, studying Melissa with

to meet you both. James, we really

tomorrow.”

course,” he agreed smoothly. “Ladies, enjoy your evening.” With a final nod, he placed his hand on Melissa’s back and

her toward the exit.

they were out of earshot, Emilia leaned across the table. “Business partner, my ass. Did you see how her hand lingered on his arm? And that dress wasn’t

shaking my head. “Maybe they’re

at their business

I said, draining

Emilia observed. “And not in

nonchalant “Alexander and James

convinced. “There’s something

trust ally man who wear a suit that expenave,

She flagged down the server for another round Men

sure Alexander spends that much on suits” I

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18:36 Fri, 22 Aug

Chapter 114

“And is he

memories from the island flashed

blushing!” She cackled, delighted. “Finally getting

a fresh glass of

sex details. But seriously, what’s the deal with James? He seemed very focused on

Chapter 114

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