The CEO's Contractual Wife (Olivia and Alexander) novel Chapter 278

Chapter 278

Olivia

We settled at the table as the sun sank lower on the horizon. The air had cooled slightly, a gentle breeze coming of the

ocean.

I cut into my steak and took a bite. The meat was perfect, cooked to a flawless medium rare, tender and prey

right amount of seasoning.

“Fuck, that’s good,” I said around the bite.

Alexander smiled, cutting into his own steak. “Chef knows what he’s doing”

We ate slowly, savoring each bite. The sunset painted the sky in shades of orange and pink, the ocean reflecting the colon like a mirror. Waves crashed rhythmically against the shore below, a soothing soundtrack to our meal.

“So,” I said after swallowing another bite, “what happens after the acquisition closes?”

Alexander looked up from his plate. “What do you mean?”

“You’ll have all that data. Information on Victoria, James, whoever else has offshore accounts.” I speared a piece of asparagus. “What’s your plan?”

He set down his fork, reaching for his wine glass. “Haven’t decided yet.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the truth.” He swirled the wine, watching the liquid catch the fading light. “I could use it in a lot of ways”

“Blackmail?”

“No.” The word came quickly, firmly. “That’s not my style.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because it sounds like classic blackmail material.”

“There’s a difference between blackmail and leverage.” He took a sip of wine. “I’m not interested in extorting money or favors. But having information creates… awareness.”

“Awareness.”

“Fear.” His eyes met mine, dark and calculating. “If Victoria knows I have documentation of every questionable transaction she’s ever made, she’ll think twice before coming after me again. Same with James and anyone else who thinks they can fuck with what’s mine.”

The possessiveness in his voice sent heat through me despite the serious topic.

“So you create fear without actually doing anything,” I said slowly.

“Exactly. The threat is enough. They know I could ruin them if I wanted to. That knowledge changes behavior.” He cut another piece of steak. “It’s insurance. Protection against future attacks.”

“That’s still pretty ruthless.”

“I never claimed otherwise.” His lips quirked. “You knew what you were getting into.”

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11:17 pm P O

Chapter 278

1 laughed despite myself. “Fair point.”

We ate in silence for a few moments, the sounds of the ocean filling the space between us. A light breeze carned the scent of salt water and tropical flowers.

“What about the people who aren’t trying to screw you over?” I asked. “The ones whose information you’ll have access to

“What about them?”

“You just going to ignore their secrets?”

Alexander leaned back in his chair, studying me. “Those records stay locked away unless someone gives me a reason to look I’m not interested in random people’s offshore accounts.”

“Just your enemies.”

“Just the people who threaten what’s important to me.” His foot found mine under the table. “That’s how this works. You protect what matters.”

I understood the implication. He was protecting his position at Carter Enterprises. Protecting Carter Enterprises. Protecting his future. Protecting us, in whatever weird way this arrangement had evolved into.

“So you’re basically building an arsenal without firing a shot,” I said.

“Deterrence is more effective than actual warfare.” He refilled my wine glass. “Sun Tzu said the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

“You’re quoting ancient Chinese military strategy at dinner?”

“You asked about my plans. I’m explaining them.”

I shook my head, smiling despite the dark turn our conversation had taken. “You’re something else, Alex.”

“That a compliment?”

“Maybe.” I took another bite of steak, chewing slowly. “Depends on whether this brilliant strategy actually works.”

“It will.” His confidence was absolute, unshakeable. “Victoria won’t risk exposure. Neither will James. They have too much to lose.”

“And if they call your bluff?”

“Then I release enough information to make an example.” He said it casually, like discussing the weather. Just enough to show I wasn’t bluffing. The rest of them will fall in line after that.”

A chill ran down my spine, but it wasn’t fear. It was something else. Admiration, maybe. Or fascination at watching his mind work through problems like chess moves.

“You’ve really thought this through,” I observed.

“I think everything through. That’s how I win.”

As we finished eating, Alexander refilled our wine glasses, the expensive red catching the last rays of sunset. The sky had deepened to purple and indigo, stars beginning to emerge overhead.

“This was perfect,” I said, setting down my fork. “The food, the view, all of it.”

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11:17pm

Chapter 278

“Good” His hand found mine across the table. “You deserve perfect!

Stop being charming. It’s distracting”

“From what

“From the fact that you just admitted to planning corporate warfare using offshore financial records?

He laughed, the sound rich and genuine. “You say that like it’s a bad thing”

“It’s definitely morally questionable

“Most effective strategies are? He stood, pulling me up with him. “Come here”

1 let him guide me to the edge of the deck, his arms wrapping around my waist from behind. The ocean stretched endlessly before us, dark water meeting darker sky,

“You’re not upset about any of this?” he asked against my ear.

“Should I be?”

“Some people would be. The whole ruthless businessman thing isn’t everyone’s favorite quality”

I leaned back against his chest. “I’m not everyone.”

“No.” His lips brushed my neck. “You’re definitely not.”

We stood there for a while, wrapped in each other, while the waves crashed below. The air had cooled slightly, tropical breeze carrying the scent of ocean and flowers.

“What are you thinking?” Alexander murmured.

“That this is nice. Being here with you. No work stress, no family drama.”

“Just us and the ocean.”

“And your acquisition that’s definitely going to piss off half of Los Angeles when you use it.”

“Only half? I was aiming for at least sixty percent.”

I turned in his arms, facing him. “You’re terrible.”

“You like it.”

“Maybe I do.” I slid my hands up his chest. “What does that say about me?”

“That you’re smart enough to appreciate strategy.” His hands cupped my face. “And beautiful enough to distract me from thinking about it too much.”

“Smooth.”

“True.” He kissed me slowly, thoroughly, his tongue tracing my lower lip before deepening the kiss.

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