The CEO's Contractual Wife (Olivia and Alexander) novel Chapter 303

Chapter 303

Olivia

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I took the box, trembling, and flipped open the lid. Inside lay a delicate bracelet, white gold set with emeralds that matched my dress. It was elegant, understated, and probably expensive.

“Alex, this is too much.”

“It’s not nearly enough.” He took the bracelet from the box, reaching for my wrist. “May I?”

I extended my arm, watching as he fastened the clasp. The emeralds caught the candlelight, sparkling against my skin.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

།

“So are you.” His fingers traced the bracelet, then trailed up my arm. “I wanted you to have something that reminded you of tonight.”

“I’m not going to forget tonight.”

“Good.” He stood, offering his hand. “Dance with me?”

I glanced around the empty restaurant. “There’s no music.”

As if on cue, soft jazz began playing from hidden speakers. Of course, he’d arranged that too.

I took his hand, letting him pull me to my feet. We moved to an open space near the table, his arm coming around my waist. as we began to sway.

“You planned everything,” I said against his shoulder.

“Most things.”

“When did you even have time?”

“Made time. His hand splayed across my lower back, holding me close. “You’re worth it.”

I tilted my head to look up at him, finding his eyes already on me. The candlelight made them darker, more intense.

“Thank you,” I said softly. “For all of this. For tonight.”

“You don’t need to thank me.” His thumb traced circles on my back. “I wanted to do something special for you.”

“Mission accomplished.”

We danced slowly, the music wrapping around us. His cologne mixed with the scent of roses and candle wax, creating something uniquely this moment.

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

“That this feels like a movie. Too perfect to be real.

“It’s real.” His lips brushed my temple. “I’m real. You’re real. This is real.”

I wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe this night was about more than just maintaining appearances or fulfilling contract obligations. Wanted to believe the way he looked at me meant something beyond our arrangement.

“Stop overthinking,” he said quietly,

19:34 Wed, Mar 18 ROM.

Chapter 303

“I’m not overthinking.”

“You absolutely are. I can practically hear your brain spinning.”

“Maybe I like thinking.”

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“Maybe you should try feeling instead.” His hand slid up my spine, sending shivers through me. “Just for tonight, stop analyzing everything and feel.”

So I did. I let myself lean into him, let the music and champagne and candlelight blur everything else. Let myself pretend this was just what it looked like: a man taking his wife out for a romantic evening because he wanted to make her happy.

The song ended, but we kept swaying together, neither of us ready to break the moment.

“We should probably go,” Alexander finally murmured. “Before I do something inappropriate in this restaurant.”

“Like what?”

“Like pushing you up against that exposed brick wall and finding out what you’re wearing under that dress.”

Heat flooded through me. “That would be inappropriate.”

“Very.” His hand tightened on my waist. “Which is why we’re leaving. Now.”

He pulled away, leaving me breathless and slightly unsteady. While he settled the bill with the mysteriously absent server, I touched the bracelet at my wrist, feeling the cool metal and smooth emeralds.

The drive home was charged with unspoken tension. Alexander’s hand rested on my thigh, his fingers drawing lazy patterns that made concentration impossible.

“That was really something,” I said, breaking the silence.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I covered his hand with mine, stilling those maddening circles. “Best surprise ever.”

“Good.” He squeezed my thigh. “You deserve more nights like this.”

“Frequent private restaurant rentals and obscenely expensive jewelry?”

“Frequent moments where you’re not stressed about work or family or anything except enjoying yourself.”

I looked over at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. “Are you getting soft on me, Mr. Carter?”

“Absolutely not.” But his smile was warm. “Just taking care of what’s mine.”

“Is that what I am? Yours?”

His eyes met mine briefly before returning to the road. “You tell nie. What are you?”

The question hung between us, loaded with implications neither of us seemed ready to address directly

“I’m tired,” I said instead, deflecting. “And pleasantly buzzed on expensive champagne.”

“Then let’s get you home.”

The estate appeared through the trees, lit up against the dark sky. Alexander pulled into the garage, killing the engine but making no move to get out.

19:34 Wed, Mar 18

Chapter 303

“Thank you again,” I said into the silence. “For tonight. For everything.”

“Stop thanking me.” He turned to face me fully. “I’m your husband. Taking you out shouldn’t require gratitude.”

“Most marriages don’t involve private restaurants and custom jewelry.”

“We’re not most marriages.”

No, we definitely weren’t.

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He climbed out, coming around to open my door. His hand was warm and steady as he helped me out, then pulled me close.

“You know what I love most about tonight?” His breath ghosted across my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

“The food? The private restaurant? The obscenely expensive champagne?”

“You.” His hand slid to the small of my back, guiding me toward the entrance. “How beautiful you looked all evening. How you handled everything with grace. Because after you finish these projects, you’re going to get even busier. Cornerstone is just the beginning.”

“Don’t remind me.” I stepped inside, the cool air conditioning a relief after the warm night. “I’m trying not to think about the mountain of work waiting.”

“You’ll handle it.” He closed the door behind us, his eyes never leaving mine. “You always do.”

Alfred appeared from the kitchen, his timing impeccable as always. “Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Carter. Would you like anything before I retire?”

“We’re fine, thank you,” Alexander said. “Go ahead and call it a night.”

“Very good, sir.” Alfred disappeared down the hallway toward the staff quarters.

We were alone now, the house quiet around us. Alexander shrugged out of his jacket, loosening his tie with practiced efficiency.

“Drink?” he asked, heading toward the bar in the living room.

“Water, actually. I had enough champagne to float a boat.”

He poured me water and grabbed a scotch for himself. We settled on the sofa, my head finding his shoulder naturally.

“Thank you for tonight,” I said softly. “The restaurant, the bracelet, all of it. It was perfect.”

“You deserved something special.” His fingers traced lazy patterns on my arm. “You’ve been working yourself into the ground lately.”

“Says the workaholic CEO

“Exactly. Takes one to know one.” He set down his drink, turning to face me properly. “I’m serious about what I said earlier. After Cornerstone, more opportunities will come. Bigger clients, more visibility. Your career is about to explode.”

The weight of his words settled over me. “That should be exciting.”

“Should be?”

“Is exciting.” I corrected. “Just also terrifying.”

“Welcome to success.”