The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 159

Olivia

I watched his profile, the way his jaw clenched and his fingers tightened on the steering wheel. The perfect weekend bubble had officially burst.

“So…” I ventured after a moment of tense silence. “Penelope Langford.”

His eyes remained fixed on the road. “My ex.”

“I gathered that much,” I said, shifting in my seat to face him better. “What I don’t understand is why she’s suddenly interested in the Thompson account. It’s not exactly front–page news.”

“It’s not about the account,” Alexander said flatly. “It’s about you.”

“Me?” I blinked in surprise. “What did I do?”

“You married me.”

The car accelerated slightly as we merged onto the freeway, the engine purring with suppressed power much like Alexander himself.

“So this is what, payback?” I asked, trying to understand. “She loses you, so she tries to steal my project?”

Alexander’s laugh was short and humorless. “Welcome to high–stakes business in Los Angeles. Everything is personal, especially when it pretends not to be.”

I frowned, processing this. “But how would she even know I was leading the Thompson account?”

“Because she makes it her business to know everything about Carter Enterprises.” Alexander changed lanes smoothly, overtaking a slower car. “Especially now.”

“Because of our marriage,” I concluded.

“Exactly.”

We drove in silence for a few minutes, the city lights blurring past my window. The perfect weekend at the Malibu house seemed like a distant memory now.

“You’re too quiet,” Alexander said finally. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking my professional success is now a target because of who I married,” I said carefully. “That’s not what I signed up for.”

Alexander glanced over at me. “Having second thoughts about being Mrs. Carter?”

“No,” I said quickly, then paused. “Maybe. I don’t know. I didn’t realize I’d have a target on my back.”

“You’re married to me,” he said simply. “Of course, you have a target on your back.”

“Is Penelope always this vindictive?” I asked.

“Let’s not talk

if she’s coming after

not worth discussing,” he cut me off.

to know

Pure evil wrapped in designer clothes with a smile that could charm the devil himself. She’s ruthless, calculating, and has the emotional depth of a kiddie pool. And she never, ever forgets

stared at him, taken aback by the venom in

the subject was

protested. “My reputation on the

softening slightly. “Your presentation was flawless. Andrew Thompson loved your vision for

felt a flutter of pride at

Penelope’s will be

I

so.” Alexander reached over and squeezed my hand briefly. “There’s a reason

laughed despite myself.

about Penelope,” he repeated. “I’ll meet with Andrew tomorrow, remind him why he chose us in the

there,” I said firmly.

for a moment, then

my seat, feeling a little better. “So what’s Penelope’s angle here?

is valuable but not headline–worthy. There must be something else going

“Something like what?”

know,” he admitted. “But I

navigated through the evening traffic. I watched his profile, the sharp line of his jaw, the intensity in his eyes as he focused on the

he asked,

you. For including

course. It’s your project.” He paused, then added, “And you’re my wife.

through me despite the circumstances. A team. I liked the sound of that more than I

window, watching the city lights blur past, lost in thought about Penelope Langford. What was her angle? Why target the Thompson account specifically? It

glancing at me. “What are you thinking

behind Penelope’s sudden interest in my

tightened. “What

Andrew Thompson? When the project is about to launch?” I turned to face him more fully. “Is she working alone,

expression darkened. “Penelope is ambitious, but she doesn’t usually make moves

her

have my suspicions. But let’s not jump

navigated through the Sunday evening traffic. My mind raced with possibilities. If someone

at Carter

directly.

to approach Andrew Thompson with a

a leak.” It wasn’t a

the timing is