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

…

across James’s face. “He told

that you were close

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expression thoughtful. “That’s an

correct.”

out before I

paths, different priorities. The usual story.” He glanced at his watch. “But that’s ancient history, and I’ve taken

been sitting here longer

“It was nice talking with you, Olivia. Properly this

smiled, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “It was nice. But just so

“A stranger? After three meetings and a coffee

us friends,

“James,” he corrected automatically.

with a small smile. “Enjoy your

to leave, weaving between the

stood with one hand in his pocket, the other holding his coffee cup, looking surprisingly earnest.

said, genuinely touched by the

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

strange flutter in my chest but kept my expression neutral.

steadily along Wilshire Boulevard, headlights

8:23 Wed, Sep 17

Chapter 153

lucky too. In more

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

having left for the day.

Mrs. Carter?” Dylan poked.his head into

grabbing a few things for tomorrow. What’s your

held up a stack of reports. “Finishing the competitor analysis for Thompson. Wanted to have it

said gratefully, taking the folder from him. “But don’t stay too

walked to the elevator 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,

night, Mrs. Carter,” Dylan called as we reached the parking

too, Dylan. See you

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