The CEO's Contractual Wife (Olivia and Alexander) novel Chapter 235

Olivia

The cool night air hit my face as I stepped outside, a welcome relief after the stuffy bar. I pulled out my phone to call a ride, then remembered my Porsche was still in the parking lot.

Right. I’d driven here.

I made my way across the lot, fishing my keys from my purse. The Porsche beeped as I unlocked it, the sound echoing in the relative quiet.

I slid into the driver’s seat and sat there for a moment, hands on the steering wheel, staring at nothing in particular.

James.

The name kept popping up like a bad penny.

My fingers drummed against the leather steering wheel. Was it a coincidence? LA was a big city, but the circles we traveled in weren’t exactly vast. Successful businessmen frequented the same restaurants, bars, and coffee shops.

But still.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled to Emilia’s contact. My thumb hovered over the call button.

A girls‘ night. That’s what I needed. Just Emilia and me, drinks, conversation. Maybe I was being paranoid. Maybe James really was just around because we happened to frequent the same places.

Or maybe I needed a second opinion.

I hit dial.

Emilia answered on the third ring. “Liv! What’s up? Miss me already?”

“Always,” I said, forcing lightness into my voice. “You free tonight? Like, right now?”

“Right now?” I heard rustling in the background. “I just got home from work. What’s going on?”

“Just want to hang out. Grab a drink, catch up. We haven’t done that in like a week.”

“A whole week?” Emilia’s tone turned mock–offended. “Are you abandoning me now that you’re all married and fancy?”

“Shut up,” I laughed. “I’m not abandoning anyone.”

“Could’ve fooled me. Between married life, work, and playing house with your billionaire husband, I barely see you anymore.”

“Hence why I’m calling. So, you in or not?”

“Where were you thinking?”

“Somewhere low key. Maybe that new wine bar on Third Street?”

“The one that opened last month? I’ve been dying to try it.” I heard more rustling, probably Emilia changing clothes. “Give me twenty minutes to make myself presentable.”

“Perfect. I’ll meet you there.”

“Everything okay?” Emilia’s voice shifted, concern creeping in. “You sound a little off.”

“I’m fine. Just had a long day. Need to decompress with my best friend.”

“Alright. I’ll be there in twenty.”

She hung up, and I started the car, pulling out of The Terrace’s parking lot. The wine bar was only about fifteen minutes away, which gave me time to think.

What was I even going to say? Hey Em, James keeps showing up everywhere I go, and I can’t tell if it’s weird or if I’m being paranoid.

I navigated through evening traffic, my mind running through the encounters with James. Each one had been perfectly innocent on the surface.

I found parking near the wine bar and checked my reflection in the rearview mirror. My makeup had held up reasonably well despite the long day. I reapplied some lip gloss and headed inside.

The place was exactly as advertised. Low lighting, exposed brick walls, and wine racks stretching from floor to ceiling. Jazz played softly in the background, and the crowd was mostly young professionals unwinding after work.

I grabbed a table near the back and ordered a glass of Cabernet while I waited for Emilia.

She arrived exactly twenty minutes later, slightly out of breath and looking adorable in jeans and a fitted

sweater.

“Sorry, traffic was insane.” She dropped into the chair across from me. “What are we drinking?”

“I got Cab. But order whatever you want.”

Emilia flagged down the server and ordered a Pinot Noir. Once the server left, she leaned forward, studying my face.

“Okay, spill. What’s going on?”

“Nothing’s going on. Can’t I just want to hang out with my best friend?”

“Of course you can. But you have that look.”

400

“What look?”

“The look you get when something’s bothering you, but you’re trying to pretend it’s not.” She accepted her wine from the returning server and took a sip. “So what is it? Alexander? Work? Your family?”

“Work’s fine. Family’s good. Alexander is being Alexander.”

“Which means what, exactly?”

I swirled my wine, watching the dark liquid catch the light. “Just the usual. Intense, bossy, thinks he knows everything.”

“So nothing new.” Emilia grinned. “Come on, Liv. You didn’t call me for emergency drinks to complain about your husband’s personality. What’s really up?”

I took a long sip of wine, debating how much to share. Emilia knew me too well. She’d see through any bullshit I tried to feed her.

“I had a weird day,” I finally said. “Just a lot of unexpected run–ins with people.”

“What kind of people?”

“Work people. Business acquaintances of Alexander’s.”

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