The CEO's Contractual Wife (Olivia and Alexander) novel Chapter 290

Chapter 290

Olivia

55 V

I pulled out my phone, scrolling through the photos I’d taken. The beach, the sunset, that picture of Alexander in his new linen shirt, looking relaxed and happy.

“Send me that one,” he said, leaning over to look.

“Which one?”

“The sunset. Want it as my phone background.”

I sent it, watching him save it immediately. Something warm bloomed in my chest at the gesture.

“What are you thinking?” he asked after a while.

“That I don’t want to go back.”

“To Los Angeles?”

“To reality. Family dinners, office politics, Victoria.”

He squeezed my hand. “We’ll deal with it together.”

The flight felt shorter than the one that brought us here. Maybe because I wasn’t looking forward to landing. Maybe because time moved faster when you didn’t want it to.

Alexander worked on his laptop while I pretended to read, my mind wandering back to warm water and white sand.

“We’re beginning our descent,” the pilot announced over the intercom.

I looked out the window, watching Los Angeles appear below. The sprawl of the city, endless buildings and highways, so different from the island we’d just left.

“Back to reality,” I murmured.

“For now.” Alexander closed his laptop. “But we’ll make our own escapes,”

The plane landed smoothly and taxied to the private terminal. Our car was already waiting when we emerged.

The drive to the estate was quiet, and both of us were lost in our own thoughts. Traffic clogged the highways, horns honking the chaos of city life rushing back.

When we pulled up to the house, everything looked exactly the same. Like we’d never left. Like those days in the Caymans had been a dream.

“Glad to be back?” Alfred asked, unloading our luggage.

I glanced at Alexander, who was staring at the house with an unreadable expression.

“Ask me tomorrow,” I said finally.

Inside, the cool air conditioning wrapped around us. The familiar smell of home, the echo of our footsteps on marble

floors.

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7:11 pm P 41

Chapter 290

“I need to check emails, Alexander said, already pulling out his phone.

“Of course you do

He looked up, catching something in my tone. “What?”

“Nothing. Just funny how fast reality crashes back in.”

Liv-

It’s fine. Really. I grabbed my suitcase. I’m going to unpack.”

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Upstairs, I unzipped my suitcase and stared at the contents. Sundresses that smelled like coconut sunscreen. The black bikini was still slightly damp. Souvenirs from another world.

My phone buzzed with a text from Dylan.

Reality had crashed back in, just like I’d known it would.

Dylan: Team meeting at 9 AM tomorrow. Thompson’s final materials are ready for your review.

Me: Perfect. I’ll be there early.

I pulled out the vacation clothes, folding them carefully and tucking them away in drawers. The coconut sunscreen smell nade me nostalgic for warm sand and endless turquoise water, but work waited for no one.

Alexander appeared in the doorway, freshly showered and dressed in pajama pants. “Need help?”

I’ve got it.” I closed the suitcase and set it aside. “Just getting organized for tomorrow.”

Thompson?”

Yeah. Big day.” I moved to the bathroom to wash my face, suddenly exhausted.

in the mirror’s reflection, I saw him watching me from the bedroom, his expression unreadable. When I emerged, he’d settled onto the bed with his laptop.

Working?” I asked, climbing under the covers beside him.

Just checking emails.”

I reached for my own laptop, pulling up the Thompson files Dylan had sent. Numbers and demographics filled my screen as I reviewed the final campaign elements.

“You should sleep,” Alexander said without looking up from his own work.

“So should you.”

We worked in companionable silence until my eyes grew too heavy to focus. I closed my laptop and set it aside, burrowing under the covers.

“Goodnight,” I murmured.

Alexander’s hand found mine under the sheets, squeezing gently. “Night”

Monday morning arrived with ruthless efficiency. My alarm blared at six, dragging me from dreams of warm beaches back

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7:12 pm PMM

Chapter 290

to Los Angeles reality.

I showered quickly, dressed in a sharp navy suit, and headed downstairs, where Alexander already sat at the dining table with coffee and his tablet.

“Morning,” he said, barely glancing up from whatever he was reading.

“Morning.” I grabbed coffee from the pot Alfred had prepared. “Early start?”

“Conference call at seven. He set down the tablet and finally looked at me properly. “You look ready to conquer.”

“That’s the plan.”

We ate breakfast in efficient silence, both of us mentally preparing for our respective days. By seven thirty, I was in my Porsche heading to the office, the Thompson project consuming my thoughts.

Dylan was already at his desk when I arrived, surrounded by printouts and concept boards.

“Mrs. Carter,” he greeted me with his usual enthusiasm. “Everything’s ready. Ava finished the final design tweaks last night, and Brandon has the digital strategy ready to go.”

“Perfect. Conference room setup?”

“Done. Andrew Thompson confirmed he’ll be here at two.”

I spent the morning reviewing every detail of our proposal with obsessive precision. The team gathered at noon for a final run through, each person presenting their section while I took notes and asked questions.

“The demographic research is solid,” I said, studying Ava’s colorful charts. “But we need to emphasize the generational bridge more clearly. Thompson’s worried about alienating existing guests while attracting new ones.”

“On it,” Ava said, already making notes.

Marcus pulled up his social media strategy. “I’ve identified twelve key influencers in the luxury travel space who align perfectly with Thompson’s brand values.”

“Good. Show specific examples of their content and how it resonates with our target demographics.” I turned to Brandon. “Digital strategy?”

He clicked through a comprehensive presentation outlining website redesign, SEO optimization, and targeted advertising “We’re focusing on experience over amenities. Thompson isn’t just selling rooms; they’re selling membership in an exclusive club.”

“Exactly the angle we need.” I checked my watch. “Andrew arrives in ninety minutes. Everyone, take a break, clear your heads, and meet back here at one forty–five.”

The team scattered, leaving me alone in the conference room. I walked to the windows overlooking downtown Los Angeles, gathering my thoughts.

This final presentation needed to be flawless. Not just good, flawless.

My phone buzzed with a text from Alexander.

Alexander: How’s the prep going?

Me: Ready. Team is solid.

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7:12 pm P 141

Chapter 290

Alexander You’ve got this. Thompson chose you for a reason.

Me: Thanks. How’s the meeting?

Alexander: Productive. Closed the deal.

Me: Of course you did.

I smiled despite my nerves, slipping my phone back into my pocket as trylan knocked on the lead.

“Mrs. Carter? Andrew Thompson just arrived. Early

“Show him to the executive lounge. I’ll be there in five minutes

“Actually, he requested to come straight to the conference room. Said he wants to see where the may hayot

I glanced around the space, already set up with our presentation materials tastefully arranged bat no yes deployed all right. Bring him up.”

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