The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 153

Chapter 153

Olivia

55 vouchers

A comfortable silence settled between us as James sipped his coffee. The café had begun to empty a bit, the after–work crowd thinning as evening deepened.

“You know,” he said suddenly, “you didn’t even acknowledge me at the Children’s Hospital gala.”

I blinked, caught off guard by the change in topic. “I’m sorry?”

“At the gala,” he repeated, his tone light but his eyes curious. “You looked right through me like we’d never met. And we’ve met twice before that night.”

I felt heat creep into my cheeks. “I didn’t realize you were expecting a greeting.”

“Not expecting,” he clarified. “Just surprised. Most people in this town go out of their way to remind me we’ve met, even if it was just passing in a hallway five years ago.”

“Well, I’m not most people.”

“Clearly,” he agreed. “But you stared at me like I was a complete stranger. It was… refreshing, actually.”

“I stared at you because you were having a seven–hundred–thousand–dollar bidding war with my husband,” I pointed out, unable to keep the amusement from my voice. “That tends to attract attention.”

James laughed. “Fair point. Though to be clear, he started it.”

“And you finished it,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Quite emphatically.”

“The sketch was worth it,” he said with a careless shrug that reminded me of Alexander. “And the charity got a generous donation. Everyone wins.”

“Everyone except Alexander,” I couldn’t resist pointing out.

James’s smile turned slightly predatory. “Sometimes Alexander needs to be reminded he can’t always get what he wants.”

Something in his tone made me straighten in my chair. There was history there, something beyond business rivalry.

“Because you were friends once?” I asked, recalling Alexander’s brief explanation.

8:23 Wed, Sep 17

Chapter 153

…

flashed across James’s face. “He told

you were close before becoming

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nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. “That’s an

correct.”

question slipped out before I could stop

at his watch.

find I’d been sitting here longer than intended. “I should get

course.” James stood as I gathered my things. “It was nice talking with you, Olivia. Properly this

bag over my shoulder. “It was nice. But

shot up. “A stranger? After three meetings

and one coffee doesn’t make us friends, Mr. Westbrook,” I replied, keeping

“James,” he corrected automatically.

a small

turned to leave, weaving between the tables toward

one hand in his pocket, the other holding his coffee cup, looking surprisingly earnest. “For what it’s worth, Andrew Thompson is lucky to

genuinely touched by the

too,” he added, his expression unreadable. “In

felt a strange flutter in my chest but kept

stepped outside the cafe. Traffic moved steadily along Wilshire Boulevard, headlights creating rivers of light in both directions. I tugged my jacket closer, James Westbrook’s

8:23 Wed, Sep 17

Chapter 153

In more ways than

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head, trying to dismiss the strange encounter as I walked to my car. The last thing I needed was to overthink a brief coffee conversation with

most employees having left for the day. I gathered my laptop and the Thompson proposal notes, mentally planning my strategy for tomorrow’s team

Mrs. Carter?” Dylan poked.his head into my office,

a few things

up a stack of reports. “Finishing the competitor analysis for Thompson. Wanted

lifesaver, Dylan,” I said gratefully, taking the folder from him. “But don’t stay too late.

together, chatting about tomorrow’s agenda. As the doors closed, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Two weeks into my new role, and I was

Carter,” Dylan called as we

too, Dylan. See you

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