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 about

she’s coming

he cut me off.

know what I’m

hair. “Fine. She’s evil. Pure evil wrapped in designer clothes with a smile that could charm the devil himself. She’s ruthless, calculating, and has the

by the venom in his voice. “Wow. And you almost married

Alexander’s tone made it clear the subject was closed. “The point is, don’t worry

my project,” I protested.

his voice softening slightly. “Your presentation was flawless. Andrew Thompson loved

felt a flutter of pride at his

beats quantity,” Alexander said confidently. “Your strategy is innovative. Authentic. Penelope’s will be whatever focus groups tell her will sell, regardless of whether

so?” I

reached over and squeezed my hand briefly. “There’s a reason I promoted you, Liv. And it wasn’t just because

myself. “I should

he repeated. “I’ll meet with Andrew tomorrow, remind him why he chose

there,” I said firmly. “It’s

moment, then nodded. “You’re right. We’ll go

little better. “So what’s Penelope’s angle here? Why

account is valuable but not headline–worthy. There must be something else going on that I’m not

“Something like what?”

“But I intend to

into silence again as Alexander navigated through the evening traffic. I watched his profile, the sharp line of his jaw, the intensity in his

he asked,

you.

your project.” He paused, then added, “And you’re my wife. We’re a team

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

lost in thought about Penelope Langford. What was her angle?

at me. “What

interest in my project. It

tightened. “What do

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

ambitious, but she doesn’t usually make moves

her

jump to conclusions until we have

traffic. My mind raced with possibilities. If someone was deliberately targeting my project, was it because of me specifically? Or was

have connections at Carter Enterprises?” I asked

directly.

know exactly when to approach Andrew Thompson with

leak.” It wasn’t a

think the timing is