The CEO's Contractual Wife (Olivia and Alexander) novel Chapter 306

Chapter 306

Olivia

“What did Alexander say about all this?” Emilia asked.

“Nothing yet. I haven’t told him.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Why not?”

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“Because he’ll just tell me to ignore it. Or worse, he’ll try to track down who’s posting these comments and make it a whole thing.”

“Would that be so bad?”

“Yes.” I rubbed my temples. “I don’t want Alexander fighting my battles for me. That just proves their point, doesn’t it? That I need him to succeed.”

Emilia studied me for a long moment. “You’re overthinking this.”

“Probably.” I managed a weak smile. “It’s kind of my specialty.”

“Listen to me,” Emilia said firmly. “You are talented. You are qualified. You earned your promotion and your accounts through hard work and brilliant strategy. The fact that you’re married to Alexander is irrelevant to your professional capabilities.”

‘Easy for you to say. You didn’t marry a billionaire CEO.”

True. But if I had, I’d tell anyone who had a problem with it to fuck right off.” She grinned. “Actually, I’d probably do that anyway. It’s kind of my thing.”

Despite everything, I laughed. “I’ve missed this.”

‘Missed what?”

You. Us. Just talking without all the drama and complications.”

Emilia’s expression softened. “We can do this anytime you want. You know that, right? You don’t have to wait for a crisis to call me:

‘I know. It’s just been so hectic with work.” I paused. “Actually, speaking of which, Alexander asked about something yesterday.”

‘Oh? What’s that?”

I hesitated, then decided to just say it. “He asked about you and Jake. When you two are getting married.”

Emilia choked on her latte. “He what?”

“Asked when you’re getting married. I think he was making conversation, but I told him to mind his business.”

“Good call.” Emilia dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. “Jake and I are taking things slow. Like, glacially slow

“But you’re happy?”

“Yeah, I am.” Emilia smiled, the kind that reached her eyes. “He’s good to me. Treats me right. Doesn’t try to change who I

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Chapter 306

am.”

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“That’s all anyone can ask for really.”

“Exactly.” She leaned back in her chair. “Speaking of relationships, how are things with you and Alexander? Apart from the internet hate mob situation.”

I considered the question, turning it over in my mind. “Good. Really good, actually. He’s been surprisingly supportive with work stuff.”

“Surprisingly?”

“I don’t know. I guess I expected him to be more… controlling? Like he’d want to manage my career or tell me what projects to take. But he’s been the opposite. Encourages me to take credit for my work, pushes back when other people try to diminish my contributions.”

“Sounds like a keeper.”

“He is.” The words came easily, surprisingly genuine. “Even when he’s being overprotective and bossy, there’s this underlying respect, you know? Like he actually values my opinion and capabilities.”

Emilia studied me with an odd expression. “You really care about him.”

‘Of course I do. He’s my husband.”

“You two are a good pair,” she said, her voice turning serious. “I mean it. Don’t lose him.”

I blinked, caught off guard by her sudden sincerity. “I’m not planning on losing him.”

‘I know. Just…” She traced the rim of her coffee cup. “You seem happy. Like, genuinely happy. Not that fake happy you had with Ryan, where you were always making excuses for him.”

“That’s because Alexander doesn’t need excuses.”

Exactly. Emilia grinned. “So keep being happy. Even when his family drives you crazy, or work gets stressful, or whatever drama comes next. Because good ones are hard to find.”

My throat tightened unexpectedly. “When did you become so wise?”

“Always have been. You just never listen to me.”

I laughed, swatting at her arm across the table. “I listen sometimes.”

“Rarely” She drained the last of her latte. “But seriously. You’ve got something real with Alexander. I can see it every time you talk about him. Your whole face lights up

“It does not.”

“It absolutely does. It’s disgusting, actually. Makes the rest of us single people feel inadequate

“You’re not single. You have Jake.”

“Who still hasn’t proposed for marriage, Emilia rolled her eyes. “Meanwhile, you went from junior marketing exec lo married billionaire wife in like five seconds.”

“It wasn’t five seconds.”

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3:46 pm

MMW

Chapter 306

“Close enough‘ She checked her phone. “Ugh, I need to get back to work.”

“Let’s meet this weekend, I suggested as we both stood. “All the girls. Proper catch–up session.”

“Deal. I’ll text the group chat.” Emilia grabbed her purse. “Where should we go?”

“Somewhere fun. Maybe that new rooftop bar everyone’s talking about?”

“Perfect. I’ll set it up.” She pulled me into a quick hug. “And stop overthinking everything. You’re doing great.”

I hugged her back, grateful for her friendship. “Thanks, Em.”

“Always.”

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We stepped out of the cafe, the morning sun already warming the sidewalk. I squinted against the brightness, fumbling in my purse for my sunglasses.

Where’s your car?” Emilia asked, looking around the parking lot.

‘I walked from the office.” I slipped my sunglasses on. “Needed the fresh air.”

You walked? In those heels?” She gestured at my pumps with exaggerated horror. “Girl, you’re married to a billionaire now. Take the Porsche everywhere.”

laughed despite my lingering unease. “It’s like four blocks. I’m not completely spoiled yet.”

Yet being the operative word.” Emilia unlocked her car with a beep. “Come on, I’ll drop you back at work. No arguments.”

You don’t have to-”

Get in the car.

obeyed, sinking into the passenger seat with relief my feet hadn’t realized they needed. Emilia started the engine and bulled out of the parking lot with practiced ease.

You know what I think?” she said after a moment.

What’s that?”

I think you’re overthinking all this. The comments, the gossip, everything.” She glanced at me as we stopped at a red light. Everyone’s thinking you got your promotion and this lifestyle because of Alexander. That’s just what people do. They need xplanations that make sense to them.”

‘So I should just accept being called a gold digger?”

‘No, you should accept that jealous people will say whatever makes them feel better about their own boring lives.” The light turned green, and she accelerated smoothly. But here’s the thing you two are great as a couple. I’ve seen you together. The way he looks at you, the way you challenge him right back. That’s real”

I stared out the window, watching downtown LA slide past. “What if they’re right, though?”

“Right about what?”

“That I don’t deserve any of this. The promotion, the accounts, the lifestyle.” My v