The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 201

Olivia

I finished my lunch leisurely before heading back toward the hotel. The afternoon passed quickly as I worked on some campaign materials in the suite’s office, video chatting with Ava about design elements.

At precisely three o’clock, my phone rang.

“I’m downstairs,” Alexander said when I answered. “Ready?”

“Give me five minutes.”

I grabbed my jacket and purse, checking my reflection one last time before heading down. Alexander waited in the lobby, his tie loosened and jacket slung over one arm. He looked tired, but his face lit up when he saw

“Hey,” he said, pulling me in for a quick kiss. “Miss me?”

“Desperately. I’ve been counting the seconds.”

“Liar.” But he smiled, keeping his arm around my waist as we headed outside, where Geoffrey waited with the

car.

Tower Bridge was even more impressive up close. The Victorian Gothic towers loomed overhead, and intricate stonework and gleaming walkways connected them high above the Thames.

“Ready?” Alexander asked as we entered the tower.

“No. But let’s do it anyway.”

The glass floor walkway was everything I’d feared and more. Standing 138 feet above the river with nothing but transparent panels between me and the water below made my stomach drop to my feet.

“Oh god,” I breathed, frozen at the entrance.

Alexander’s hand found mine, warm and steady. “I’ve got you. We’ll go slow.”

We inched onto the glass together, my fingers digging into his palm. Below us, boats glided past on the Thames, and people and cars crossed the lower bridge.

“Don’t look down,” I gasped.

“Kind of defeats the purpose,” Alexander pointed out, amused.

hate you

“No, you don’t.”

right. His solid presence beside me, his hand anchoring

the middle of the

whispered. “This

“But amazing, right?”

“Terrifyingly amazing.”

minutes on the walkway, Alexander patient as I gradually relaxed enough to actually enjoy the view. By the time we headed back down, I felt ridiculously proud of

once we were safely

did.” Alexander pulled me close, pressing a

simple praise warmed me from

spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the South Bank, walking along the river as the sun began its descent.

as we passed

“Yes.”

vendor and found a bench overlooking the river. The food was

is perfect,” I said,

made heat pool low in my belly. “Yeah. It

lights beginning to twinkle. People flowed around us, couples and families and groups of friends, everyone enjoying the

should head back,” Alexander said eventually. “I made reservations

“Fancy?”

need

dress I’d packed specifically for fancy dinners. It hugged

obscene.

suit, his hair still damp. His eyes darkened when he saw

Liv. You’re trying to

to look presentable

crossed to me, his hands settling

mouth found mine in a kiss that started gentle but quickly turned hungry.

going to be late,” I gasped

“Worth it.”

in the mirror. “Later. I’m taking you out properly

at a restaurant with a Michelin star and a waiting list that apparently didn’t apply to Alexander Carter. The food was

incredible,” I said after the fourth course, some kind of deconstructed fish

“Wait until dessert.”