The CEO's Contractual Wife (Olivia and Alexander) novel Chapter 309

Alexander

The comment sections were worke

“She’s not even that talented. Friend works at Carter and says everyone knows she’s only there because she married

“Gold digger vibes. Married rich and suddenly she’s some marketing genius? Please

“Alexander Carter must be pussy–whipped. No way he’d promote someone this unqualified otherwise

I felt my jaw clench. This was designed to make Olivia question herself, to make others question her legitimacy

Victoria. This had her fingerprints all over it.

I pulled up my phone and dialed Rachel back.

‘Mr. Carter?”

“Don’t do anything,” I said flatly. “Leave the articles up.”

Silence on the other end.

“Sir? You want us to leave them?”

“Yes. Don’t contact the sites, don’t issue takedown requests, nothing. Let them circulate.”

“May I ask why?”

“Because taking them down makes us look defensive. Like we’re trying to hide something. I leaned back in my chair ‘Olivia’s work speaks for itself. Thompson Hotels was a success because of her strategy. Cornerstone specifically requested her. The people who matter know the truth.”

“And the ones who don’t?”

“They will believe whatever they want, regardless of what we say.” I pulled up one of the articles again and scanned the byline. “Send me everything you have on the journalists who wrote these pieces. Background, previous work, any connections to Carter family members or competitors.”

‘I’ll have it to you within the hour.”

‘Good. And Rachel? Keep monitoring, but no official response yet.”

‘Understood, Mr. Carter.”

I hung up and stared at the articles spread across my screen. Attacking Olivia’s credentials, her intelligence, her worth Reducing her to nothing more than a pretty face who’d married well.

Fuck that.

I picked up my phone and dialed Victoria’s number. It rang once. Twice. Three times.

Voicemail.

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149

Chigner 209

1 med again SamE TEHAL

Of comer, die wert anewering She knew exactly what she’d done.

vichers

I grabbed my jacket from the back of thy chair and headed for the door Jessica looked up from her desk as I passed.

Mr. Carter Your bro delock–t

“Cancel it. Cancel everything for the rest of the afternoon?

“To have a conversation? 1 kept walking toward the elevator. “Hold all calls unless it’s Olivia or Grandfather.”

The elevator doors closed before jessica could respond.

The drive to Thomas’s office took twenty minutes through midday traffic. His firm occupied the top three floors of a glass tower in the financial district, all modern architecture and expensive views.

1 parked in the visitor lot and headed inside, ignoring the receptionist’s attempt to stop me.

“Sir, you need to sign in-

“I know where I’m going”

The elevator ride to the twenty–seventh floor felt interminable. I watched the numbers climb, my anger simmering just below the surface, Victoria wasn’t answering her phone, but Thomas would be here. He always was, glued to his desk and his precious stock tickers.

The elevator dinged open onto a lobby decorated in shades of gray and chrome. Another receptionist sat behind a sleek desk, her eyes widening as I approached.

“I’m here to see Thomas Blackwood‘

“Do you have an appointment, Mr. Carter?”

“No, I don’t have a fucking appointment.”

The receptionist’s polished smile wavered as her fingers hovered over the phone. “I understand, Mr. Carter, but Mr. Blackwood is currently in an important meeting-

‘Call him”

“Sir, I really can’t interrupt-”

“You can, and you will: I leaned forward slightly, keeping my voice even. “Tell Thomas that Alexander Carter is here to see him. Now”

She swallowed, reaching for the phone with visible reluctance. I watched her dial, her fingers trembling slightly as she pressed the buttons.

“Mr. Blackwood? I’m so sorry to interrupt, but Alexander Carter is here in the lobby.” A pause. “Yes, sir. I told him you were busy, but he’s insisting–Another pause, longer this time. “Yes, sir. I’ll let him know.”

She hung up, her expression carefully neutral. “Mr. Blackwood says he’s in the middle of something critical and can’t meet with you right now. He suggests scheduling an appointment for-”

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4:49 pm

Chapter 309

I pulled out my phone, thumbs moving across the races as I cossognanda yark hout of the

send.

end

“Tell Thomas to check his email,” I said calmly. “Then tell u 1 wait etly firestone food esdan Victoria gets a copy of the same file

The receptionist blinked. “I… what file?

“Just deliver the message!

She picked up the phone again, her confusion evident. “Mr. Blackwood the Cares saps to cock your must be contes wait five minutes before leaving, and if he leaves, Victoria receives the same the Sue banget. I dont kaner whe didn’t specify

I checked my watch. Four minutes, thirty seconds.

The receptionist set the phone down. “He’s checking now?

Four minutes.

Three minutes, forty–five seconds.

The phone on her desk buzzed. She answered immediately, listened, then looked up at me with wide eyes.

“Mr. Blackwood will see you now. He says you can go right in

I smiled without warmth. “Thank you

I headed toward the corner office, my footsteps silent on the plush carpet. The door was already open. Thomas standing behind his desk with his phone in his hand, staring at the screen.

“We can talk,” he said without looking up. “Privately?

I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. The office was all glass and chrome, floor–to–ceiling windows offering a commanding view of downtown LA. Degrees hung on the wall, photos of Thomas with various politicians and business leaders scattered between them.

Thomas set his phone down carefully, like it might explode. His face had gone pale, jaw tight

“Where did you get this?” His voice was controlled, but I heard the tremor underneath.

“Does it matter?”

“It matters to me.”

I moved closer to his desk, keeping my expression neutral. “What matters is what I do with it.”

Thomas glanced at his phone again, then back at me. “This is… this could be misinterpreted.”

“Could it?” I tilted my head. “It looks pretty clear to me. You and your secretary, Kissing. In what appears to be a very intimate moment.”

“It was one time. A mistake.”

“Was it?” I pulled out my phone, scrolling to another photo. “Because I have three more from different dates. Different locations. Including one from last week at that hotel bar on Fifth.”

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