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.”

Alexander and Olivia seemed at the last family dinner.” I smiled, remembering the moment.

is fake anyway?” Penelope asked, her perfectly shaped eyebrows drawing together. “I mean, I want it

sharp in the 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 marry to keep control

put

Once the board sees Alexander can’t maintain a stable marriage, they’ll question his commitment to everything else. And then…” I trailed off, taking a final sip of my watered-

the controlling power,” Penelope finished, her

into my designer handbag and pulled out

to my photo gallery. The first image

this?” Penelope asked, zooming

ago at O’Malley’s. My source

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

between them,” I said. “James has always had a thing for

touching.” She handed the phone back to me. “Trust me, I know what it

interested in what he’s saying?” I asked,

business conversation,” Penelope replied flatly. “Your desperation is

snap. “Fine. Maybe you’re right about the photos. But there’s something

to plan something big,” Penelope said, finishing her martini and signaling for another. “Something

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

forward, her eyes gleaming with interest.

approach,” I began, lowering my voice. “First, we

as she thanked him, watching his eyes linger appreciatively on her cleavage before he

was out of earshot, “we need to create tension

“Go on.”

for beautiful women throwing themselves at him. Old habits

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

be strategic about this. The goal isn’t just to seduce him; it’s to create doubt in Olivia’s

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