The CEO's Contractual Wife (Olivia and Alexander) novel Chapter 218

Olivia

Marco reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek business card, offering it to me with a confident smile. As my fingers closed around it, I suddenly became aware of a presence right behind me. Alexander’s hand landed possessively on my hip, his body pressing firmly against my back, grounding me in the moment.

“Making new acquaintances?” he asked, his tone deceptively light but carrying an unmistakable edge.

I nodded, glancing between the two men. “This is Marco,” I introduced, motioning toward the younger man. “He’s about to open a restaurant in Beverly Hills.”

“Is that so?” Alexander’s gaze sharpened, locking onto Marco with an intensity that made the other man shift uneasily. “How intriguing.”

Marco maintained his easy smile but faltered ever so slightly under Alexander’s penetrating stare. “Just telling your wife about Ancora,” he said, trying to sound casual. “We’d love to have you both visit once we open.”

“We’ll see,” Alexander replied smoothly, his hand tightening on my hip in a subtle but unmistakable claim. “Our social calendar is quite packed, my wife and I.”

The possessiveness in his voice was clear as day. I bit back a smile, amused by his territorial nature.

“Of course, of course,” Marco said quickly, retreating. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Olivia. Alexander.” He gave a polite nod before disappearing into the swirling crowd.

“That was rude,” I muttered, turning to face Alexander.

“He was flirting with you,” Alexander said bluntly.

“I think he was just being friendly,” I countered.

“Friendly?” Alexander’s eyes darkened with a flicker of jealousy. “He was practically undressing you with his gaze.”

“No, he wasn’t. We were having a perfectly innocent chat about restaurants,” I insisted.

“Right,” Alexander scoffed. “Because every man who talks to my wife is only interested in food recommendations.”

I crossed my arms defiantly. “Jealous, Mr. Carter?”

“Protective,” he corrected immediately. “There’s a difference.”

“From where I’m standing, it looks the same.”

Alexander’s jaw tightened. “Can you blame me? First, Natalia practically throwing herself at me right in front of you, and now some Italian playboy handing you his card.”

“He’s opening a restaurant. It’s just a business card.”

“It’s an opening move. He saw a beautiful woman standing alone and made his play.”

“And what if he did?” I challenged, feeling braver with the champagne warming my veins. “What if I enjoyed the attention after watching your ex practically climb all over you like a vine?”

“Is that what this is about? You’re trying to make me jealous?”

“Maybe I am. How does that feel?”

Alexander stepped closer, backing me up against the bar. His hands landed firmly on either side of me, effectively trapping me in place. “It feels like I want to throw you over my shoulder, find a private room, and remind you exactly who you belong to.”

My breath hitched, heat rushing through me. “That’s awfully caveman of you.”

“You bring it out in me,” he murmured, his mouth brushing against my ear. “Watching him look at you, knowing what he wanted… it made me want to mark you so every man on this yacht knows you’re mine.”

“Yours?” I challenged, even as my body responded to the fire in his gaze.

“Mine,” he growled low and possessive. “And I’m going to prove it.”

Without hesitation, he grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the bar, weaving through the crowd with a determined stride.

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