The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 188

Olivia

I woke to sunlight streaming through the windows and the smell of coffee. Alexander’s side of the bed was empty but still warm. I stretched, feeling the lingering stiffness in my muscles from the tension of the previous night.

After a quick shower, I wrapped myself in a plush robe and ventured downstairs in search of coffee. I found Alexander in the kitchen, dressed in suit pants and a crisp white shirt, his laptop open on the counter.

“Morning,” I said, making a beeline for the coffee pot.

He looked up, his eyes softening at the sight of me. “How’d you sleep?”

“Better than expected.” I poured myself a generous cup and added cream. “Any news about our mystery leaver?”

Alexander shook his head. “Nothing concrete yet. The partial plate number narrows it down, but we need more to pinpoint exactly who it was.”

“And the fingerprints?”

“Being processed. If there are any clear ones, we’ll know by this afternoon.”

I nodded, leaning against the counter as I sipped my coffee. “So what’s the plan for today?”

“Business as usual,” Alexander replied, closing his laptop. “I’ve got meetings until two, then a conference call with London. You?”

“I’m busy too, just office stuff. Thompson project, team meetings,” I replied. “Marketing doesn’t run itself, you know.”

Alexander nodded, setting his mug down. “Alright. Should be a standard day. Want to grab lunch later?”

“Can’t.” I shook my head, picking up my own coffee. “I promised Nova I’d review her copy for the new campaign. Rain check?”

circles into the knots that had formed overnight.

my eyes drifting closed. “Mmm,

hands slid from my shoulders down my arms, one arm circling my waist while the other brushed my hair aside. His lips found the sensitive

about last night?”

to,” I admitted, my voice huskier

that made my pulse quicken. “Which part? The

checks warming at the memory of how we’d channeled our

thumb traced my lower lip, his gaze dropping to my mouth. “I

his neck, pressing closer as his tongue swept into my

finally pulled away, his forehead resting

stop now,” he said, his voice rough, “we’ll be very late for

that be so terrible?” I asked, running my fingers through his

tempt me. I have a board meeting in forty

stepping back. “Responsible

quick kiss to my lips. “Tonight.

warm glow across the kitchen. Despite the unsettling events of the previous night, I

staring at presentation slides, and my hand cramped from taking notes. I was just considering a coffee break when a knock sounded

in,” I called, straightening in my

CEO in his tailored

a minute?” he asked, closing the

seconds,” I teased, setting aside

edge, close enough that I could smell his cologne. “Security turned up nothing useful from the note. No clear fingerprints, and the partial plate was a dead end. Too

have nothing,” I said, disappointment settling in my stomach despite having

build consistent with Victoria, but

one suspect

the desk. “Let’s put this behind us for now. If it happens again, we’ll have more to go on, but