The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 170

Chapter 170

Victoria

The Lion’s Den was buzzing with its usual night crowd: young professionals winding down after work, clutching overpriced cocktails and laughing too loudly at jokes that weren’t funny. I nursed my gin and tonic. The ice had long melted, making the drink almost tasteless–just like my mood.

“You’re looking particularly murderous tonight,” Penelope said, sliding into the booth across from me. Her hair was perfect as always, not a strand out of place despite the humid evening. “Bad day at the office?”

“Bad week,” I corrected, watching as she signaled the waiter. “Bad month, Bad year, actually.”

“Vodka martini, extra dirty,” she ordered before turning back to me. “Let me guess, still stewing over your cousin and his little marketing wife?”

I shot her a withering look. “Your counteroffer idea was a complete waste, just as I suspected.”

“It was worth trying,” Penelope replied with a casual shrug, but I caught the flash of irritation in her eyes. She hated failing as much as I did.

The waiter returned with her martini, three olives pierced by a toothpick. Penelope plucked one off and popped it into her mouth before continuing.

“We’ve got so many options still on the table,” she said, leaning forward. “The Thompson account was just one approach. I have connections at several publications who’d love to run more stories about the gold–digging marketing exec who seduced her way to the top.”

“That angle might actually be working,” I admitted, swirling what remained of my drink. “I had lunch with my grandfather yesterday, and he mentioned seeing the article. He played it off, but I could tell it planted a seed of doubt.”

“Really?” Penelope brightened, taking a long sip of her martini. “Do tell.”

how Alexander and Olivia seemed at the last family

you think this marriage is fake anyway?” Penelope asked, her perfectly shaped eyebrows drawing together. “I mean,

noisy bar. “You really think my cousin, who’s never committed to a woman for longer than it takes milk to expire, suddenly fell madly in love with some random employee right after being told he needs to

put it

love, which I doubt, it doesn’t matter,” I continued, leaning closer. “I just need to create enough friction to break them apart. Once the board sees Alexander can’t maintain a stable marriage, they’ll question his commitment to everything

Penelope finished, her lips curving into a

designer handbag and pulled out

her the phone and opened it to my photo gallery. The first image showed Olivia sitting at a bar, laughing at something James Westbrook was

Penelope asked, zooming in

at O’Malley’s. My source

at a café table, coffee mugs between them. She was

them,” I said. “James has

it, Victoria. They’re just talking. There’s no sexual tension, no furtive touching.” She handed the phone back to me. “Trust me, I know what it looks like when

little too interested in what he’s saying?” I

business conversation,” Penelope replied flatly.

right about the photos. But there’s something

big,” Penelope said, finishing her martini and signaling

same thing,” I agreed, a slow smile spreading across my face. “And I might

leaned forward, her eyes

a two–pronged approach,” I began, lowering my

as she thanked

saying,” I continued once he was out of earshot, “we need to create tension from both sides.

“Go on.”

women

a predatory smile forming. “I’m more than happy to test that

to be strategic about this. The goal isn’t just to seduce him;

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