Chapter 32

Olivia

"Keep scrolling," Alexander instructed, his breath warm against my ear.

I swiped through more photos, each more intimate than the last.

"My face isn't completely visible in most of these," I said, relief washing over me. "But anyone who knows me would recognize me instantly."

"That's the point." Alexander took the tablet back, scrolling to another gossip site that had already picked up the story. "The right people will know it's you."

"This is real," I whispered, the reality of our arrangement suddenly hitting me. "People are going to think we're together."

"Probably," Alexander agreed, seeming unconcerned. He scrolled through more photos, pausing at one where his hand was positioned dangerously low on my back. "That's the point, isn't it?"

I sank deeper into the couch, my mind racing. My coworkers would see this. My parents might see this. Everyone would think I was dating Alexander Carter.

"We should head to the office," Alexander said, checking his watch. "Separately, of course. For now."

Twenty minutes later, we stood in the lobby of Carter Enterprises. 

Alexander gestured toward a private elevator tucked behind a discreet panel.

"Use this one," he said.

I shook my head. "I can't just start using the private elevator. People will notice."

"That's—"

"Next time," I promised, already backing toward the public elevators where other employees waited. "We need to ease into this, remember?"

Alexander's jaw tightened, but he nodded curtly. "Tonight. My place. Seven o'clock."

It wasn't a question. I gave him a small smile and turned away, feeling his eyes on me until the elevator doors closed.

The marketing department buzzed with morning energy when I arrived. Nova was already at her desk, typing furiously.

"Morning," I called, setting my bag down.

She glanced up, eyes narrowing. "You look different."

"Different, how?"

"I don't know. Glowy." She spun in her chair. "Did you get laid last night?"

I choked on my saliva. "What? No!"

"Shame. Nothing helps get over an ex like getting under someone new."

Before I could respond, Alice hurried in, waving her phone excitedly.

"Oh my god, you guys! Did you see this?" She thrust her phone toward us, the screen displaying a gossip site. "Alexander Carter has a new girlfriend!"

My stomach dropped. Nova grabbed the phone, whistling low.

"Damn. She's hot." She squinted at the screen. "Wait a minute..."

Alice peered over Nova's shoulder. "Is it just me, or does she look like—"

"Olivia?" Vivian appeared behind them, coffee in hand. "Holy shit, it is you!"

Three pairs of eyes turned to me. I felt my face heat up.

"Let me see that," I said, reaching for the phone. The photo showed Alexander and me leaving the restaurant, his hand possessively on my waist. My face was partially obscured, but anyone who knew me would recognize me instantly.

"It's not what it looks like," I said weakly.

"It looks like you're on a date with Alexander Carter," Nova said, eyebrows raised to her hairline.

"It wasn't a date," I insisted. "Just dinner."

"In that dress?" Vivian pointed to the screen. "That's not a 'just dinner' dress. That's a 'fuck me after dessert' dress."

"Where did you even get that dress?" Alice asked, eyes wide. "It looks expensive."

I swallowed hard. "Look, it's complicated. He invited me to dinner, and I went. That's all."

"That's all?" Nova echoed, her tone dripping with skepticism. "You're telling me that the man who's been named 'Most Eligible Bachelor' just happened to invite his junior marketing executive out for a fancy dinner at one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city? And it was purely professional?"

"Maybe he was impressed with her work," Alice suggested, though she didn't sound convinced.

"Or maybe he was impressed with something else," Vivian smirked.

"Can we please drop this?" I begged. "I have work to do."

They exchanged glances but returned to their desks. I could feel them watching me throughout the morning, whispering when they thought I wasn't paying attention.

By lunchtime, the gossip had spread through the office. I felt eyes on me in the cafeteria and heard the hushed conversations that stopped when I walked by.

"You're officially famous," Nova declared, dropping into the seat across from me. "How does it feel?"

"Terrible," I muttered, pushing salad around my plate. "Everyone's staring."

"Of course they are. You're sleeping with the boss."

"I am not sleeping with him!"

Nova raised her hands in surrender. "Whatever you say. But if you're not, you might want to consider it. That man is sex on legs."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the flush that crept up my neck. The memory of Alexander's hard body pressed against mine in bed this morning flashed unbidden through my mind.

The rest of the day crawled by. I buried myself in work, trying to ignore the whispers and stares. By six, I was the only one left in the marketing department, grateful for the silence.

My phone rang, startling me. Emilia's name flashed on the screen.

"Hey, Em," I answered, leaning back in my chair.

"Don't 'hey Em' me!" she practically shouted. "Why am I finding out from Page Six that you're dating Alexander Carter?"

I winced, holding the phone away from my ear. "I'm not dating him."

"Then explain the photos of you two looking cozy outside some fancy restaurant!"

"It was just dinner," I said for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

"In that expensive dress? Where did you even get that dress?"

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "It's complicated, Em."

"Uncomplicate it for me."

"He invited me to dinner. I went. End of story."

"Bullshit," she shot back. "You don't just have dinner with Alexander Carter. The man dates supermodels and actresses, not—"

"Not what?" I challenged. "Not marketing executives? Not regular people?"

"That's not what I meant," Emilia backpedaled. "I just meant it's... unusual."

I softened. "I know. Trust me, I'm as surprised as you are."

"So what's he like? In person, I mean. Not as your boss."

I thought about his confident hands, his intense gray eyes, and the way he'd looked at me over breakfast. "He's... different than I expected."

"Different good or different bad?"

"Just different," I hedged. "Look, it was one dinner. Don't make it into something it's not."

"Fine," Emilia conceded, though she sounded unconvinced. "But if this turns into something, I want details. And if he hurts you, I'll kick his billionaire ass."

I laughed. "I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't think it's going to come to that."

"Maybe it's what you need," she said thoughtfully. "A distraction from Ryan."

"I'm not using Alexander Carter as a rebound."

"Why not? He's gorgeous, rich, and interested. What better way to forget that cheating asshole?"

I glanced at the clock. 6:30. "I have to go, Em. I'll call you later."

"You're going to see him again, aren't you?" she asked triumphantly.

"Goodbye, Emilia," I said firmly, hanging up before she could interrogate me further.