The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 165

After signing the check, Alexander stood and pulled out my chair. His hand found the small of my back as we navigated through the restaurant, and I was acutely aware of the warmth of his touch through the thin fabric of my dress.

Outside, the valet promptly brought Alexander’s car around. The cool night air was a refreshing change from the restaurant’s warmth, and I took a deep breath, enjoying the scent of night–blooming jasmine from nearby planters.

“Successful evening?” Alexander asked as we settled into the car.

“Very. I think we showed whoever was watching that we’re completely unbothered by their petty gossip.”

“And we ate extremely well in the process.”

“A win–win situation.”

As we drove through the quiet streets of Beverly Hills, I found myself reflecting on the day, from the triumph of securing the Thompson Hotels account to the unexpected confrontation with Penelope and the nasty gossip article.

“Alexander?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for handling the legal side of things today. With the article, I mean.”

He glanced over. “No need to thank me. It’s what any husband would do.”

The word “husband” still felt strange to hear, even after our weeks together. Strange, but not unpleasant.

it. I’ve never had to

life as a Carter,” he said, echoing his earlier words. “It

Something to look

it. And for what it’s worth, you handled yourself brilliantly with Penelope

“I did?”

and you didn’t take any

my coffee on her

you didn’t is exactly what

and turned off the engine, but neither of us moved to get out immediately. “You know,”

turned to me, one eyebrow raised.

be. I

I’ve exceeded your

thought this would be awkward and uncomfortable, but

add that

arm playfully. “You know

for

other in the dim light of the garage. There was something intimate about the moment, not sexual, exactly, but private. A quiet acknowledgment that whatever this was between us, it was evolving into something

broke the silence first. “We should head inside. It’s been

my purse. “I’m exhausted. Who knew fighting off gossip columnists and evil exes

and came around to

stepped out, my heels clicking on the

retired for the evening. Alexander

the bar in the corner

start drunk–texting Victoria to tell her exactly what I

that I’d pay to

kicked off my heels with a

time,” Alexander called after me as I

I flicked on the bedside lamp, casting a warm glow across the king–sized

day,” I mumbled into the

onto my back, staring at the ceiling. The events of the day replayed in my mind: securing the Thompson Hotels account, the confrontation with Penelope, those

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