Mag-log inAlexanderThomas's hands clenched into fists on his desk. "What do you want?" "Right now? I want you to understand that I have options. And one of those options is sending these photos to Victoria." "You wouldn't." "Wouldn't I?" I met his gaze directly. "You've been helping Victoria undermine my marriage for weeks. Spreading rumors, planting stories, probably funding those articles about Olivia. You think I'm going to just let that slide?" "I haven't done anything—" "Don't lie to me, Thomas. We're past that point." I gestured to his phone. "I have proof of your affair. I have documentation of your insider trading. And I have enough evidence to end your career and your marriage in one afternoon." The color drained further from his face. "Insider trading?" "Securities fraud. Using board information to make trades ahead of major announcements. You've been at it for months." I smiled coldly. "Did you really think nobody was watching?" Thomas sank into his chair, the fight going ou
AlexanderThe comment sections were worse. "She's not even that talented. Friend works at Carter and says everyone knows she's only there because she married the boss." "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 beca
AlexanderThe conference room hummed with low conversation as the board members settled into their leather chairs. I stood at the head of the table, hands resting on the polished mahogany surface, waiting for everyone to quiet down. "Gentlemen, ladies." The room fell silent. "Let's get started." Jessica distributed folders to each member, the soft thud of paper on wood punctuating the stillness. I pulled up the presentation on the screen behind me, the first slide showing architectural renderings of a massive development project. "What you're looking at is the Riverside Commerce Center," I began, clicking to the next slide. "Forty-two acres of prime commercial real estate along the Los Angeles River. Currently undeveloped, previously zoned industrial." One of the board members leaned forward. "How did we acquire the zoning variance?" "City council approved it three weeks ago. Took eighteen months of negotiations, but we got what we needed." I advanced to the next slide, which sho
OliviaEmilia was quiet for a beat. When she spoke again, her voice was firm. "You listen to me, Olivia Morgan-Carter. You earned every single thing you have. You worked your ass off for years at that company. You landed Thompson Hotels because you're brilliant, not because of Alexander's last name." "But—" "No buts. Yes, being married to Alexander opened doors. That's how the world works. Connections matter. But you're the one who walked through those doors and delivered results. You're the one impressing clients and building campaigns that actually work." She pulled up to a stoplight, turning to look at me directly. "Don't let anonymous internet trolls make you doubt yourself." "It's hard not to when it feels like everyone's thinking it." "Everyone's not thinking it. A handful of jealous people are thinking it. Big difference." The light changed, and she drove forward. "Besides, what matters more? What strangers think, or what you know to be true?" I didn't have a good answer f
Olivia"What did Alexander say about all this?" Emilia asked. "Nothing yet. I haven't told him." Her eyebrows shot up. "Why not?" "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
OliviaI shook my head violently, physically trying to dislodge the doubt. That was what they wanted. They wanted me to question myself, to fail, to prove their ugly assumptions correct. Screw that. I grabbed my phone and purse, needing air, needing space to think away from these four walls that suddenly felt suffocating. The Cornerstone files could wait an hour. Outside, the morning sun hit my face, warm and reassuring. I walked for a while, letting my feet carry me without any real destination in mind. The sidewalks were already filling with the morning rush, people clutching coffee cups and staring at their phones. I needed space. Needed air. Needed to think about anything except those comments and the poison they were spreading through my brain. Eventually, I found myself standing outside a café I'd never been to before. Through the windows, I could see people scattered at tables, the warm glow of pendant lights creating pockets of intimacy in the modern space. Perfect. I p
Olivia"Nick once convinced Ethan that our neighbor's cat could talk," I said, laughing at the memory. "Ethan spent weeks trying to get that poor cat to say something." "Did he eventually figure it out?" "Only after Nick recorded himself making cat noises and played it when Ethan wasn't looking."
OliviaEmilia's speech was next, heartfelt and emotional. "I've known Olivia for years, and I've never seen her look at anyone the way she looks at Alexander. It's like she can't believe her luck, which, let's be honest, is understandable. Have you seen him?" Laughter rippled through the crowd. Al
Olivia"The car is here!" Ariana called from the living room. My heart jumped into my throat. This was it. No turning back. The drive to the Carter estate passed in a blur of nerves and champagne. The sprawling property had been transformed for the occasion, with white roses and delicate fairy li
AlexanderI woke up to sunlight streaming through the windows, feeling more rested than I had in months. The sheets were tangled around my waist, leaving my chest exposed to the cool morning air. I turned my head to find Olivia still fast asleep beside me, her naked body partially covered by the th







