Olivia

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    I was several chapters into my novel when Alexander returned, his tie loosened and sleeves rolled He looked tired but satisfied, like he’d aplished what he needed to. olliup. /li/ol

    “Finished?” I asked, marking my ce in the book.

    “For now,” he nodded, loosening his tie further before pulling it off entirely. He draped it over the arm of the nearby chair and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt with a relieved sigh. “What are you reading? Must be captivating. You didn’t even notice when I walked in.”

    I nced down at the book in my hands, suddenly aware of the steamy cover I’d been trying to hide all evening. “Oh, this? Just something Emilia rmended.” I attempted ito /icasually close the book, but Alexander was too quick.

    He plucked it from my hands, examining the cover with a raised eyebrow. A shirtless man with impossibly defined abs embraced a woman in a flowing dress, their faces mere inches apart in what was clearly a moment of passion.

    “Bound by Contract‘?” Alexander read aloud, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Doesn’t exactly look like your usual reading material.”

    I felt heat creep into my cheeks. “It’s just a mindless romance. After the Thompson presentation prep all day, I needed something that didn’t require brain cells.”

    “And this delivers?” He flipped the book over, scanning the back cover description. His lips quirked into a smile. “Interesting choice. A business arrangement turned steamy affair?”

    “It’s not what you think,” I protested, reaching for the book. Alexander held it just out of reach, his smile widening.

    “I’m not judging. Just curious about the plot.” He settled into the chair across from me, looking far toofortable. “What’s it about? Give me the highlights.”

    I sighed, knowing he wouldn’t let this go. “It’s about a CEO who needs to get married quickly to inherit his familypany.”

    Alexander’s eyebrows shot up. “Is that so? Sounds vaguely familiar.”

    “Pure coincidence,” I said quickly. “Emilia gave it to me weeks ago. I just hadn’t gotten around to reading it until now.”

    “And what happens in this familiar–sounding story?” he pressed, leaning forward with genuine

    interest.

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    I tucked my legs underneath me, trying to appear casual despite my embarrassment. “The main character, Lorenzo, has to marry within one year to secure his inheritance. His familypany is at stake.”

    “Of course it is,” Alexander nodded solemnly, but I could see the corners of his mouth twitching. “And let me guess, he finds some unsuspecting woman to marry?”

    “Not exactly unsuspecting. She’s his best friend, Lily. He proposes a contract marriage, offering her enough money to start her own business and escape her evil stepmother.”

    “Evil stepmother? This has everything,” Alexander chuckled. “So she agrees ito /ithis arrangement?”

    “Yes. She needs the money, and he needs a wife. It’s a business deal.”

    “Purely business?” His tone was skeptical as he tapped the steamy cover. “This doesn’t look like they’re discussing merger terms.”

    I felt my cheeks warm again. “Well, things get…plicated.”

    “I bet they do.” Alexander’s voice dropped lower. “How far have you gotten?”

    “About halfway,” I admitted. “They’ve just gotten married.”

    “And?”

    “And what?”

    “You’re blushing, Olivia. Clearly something interesting has happened by the halfway mark.”

    I shifted in my seat. “They’re starting to develop feelings for each other. Despite their agreement to ikeep /ithings professional.”

    “Fascinating,” Alexander murmured. “Any other developments?”

    I knew exactly what he was asking. “If you’re wondering about the physical aspects of their arrangement, yes, they’ve crossed that line.”

    “I’m shocked,” he said with mock surprise. “A contract marriage turning physical? Who could have predicted such a twist?”

    “It’s just a trashy romance novel,” I said defensively. “The plot isn’t exactly groundbreaking.”

    “So what’s happened so far?” Alexander settled deeper into his chair, looking genuinely curious. “Give me the full synopsis.”

    I sighed, resigning myself to sharing the plot. “Lily has been friends with Lorenzo since

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    college. Hees from this wealthy dynasty that owns half of Chicago, while she’s been struggling to save money for her own interior design business. Her stepmother is awful, constantly taking her paychecks to support her shopping addiction.”

    “Naturally,” Alexander nodded, his expression serious despite the obvious amusement in his

    eyes.

    “When Lorenzo’s grandfather announces he must marry within one year to keep control of the familypany, he immediately thinks of Lily. He offers her three million dors to marry him for one year. Lily agrees to the arrangement, partly for the money and partly to escape her stepmother.”

    “They signed a marriage contract, but things took an unexpected turn when Lily got pregnant right before the wedding,” I exined, keeping my eyes on the book cover. “They hadn’t nned it, but they used the pregnancy as justification to speed up the marriage ns. Lorenzo’s family was actually thrilled about the baby.”

    Alexander’s eyebrows shot up. “A convenient pregnancy? That’s quite the plot development.”

    “It’s just a romance novel,” I said defensively. “They don’t have to be realistic.”

    “So they got married because of the baby,” Alexander prompted, clearly entertained by my embarrassment. “Then what happens?”

    “They get married in this big,vish ceremony that his family insists on. His grandmother is especially happy because she always wanted great–grandchildren before she died.”

    “Convenient for everyone,” Alexander remarked dryly.

    “Do you want to hear this or not?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

    “Please continue. I’m fascinated by this literary masterpiece.”

    I rolled my eyes but continued. “After they get married, Lorenzo starts being really attentive to Lily. Bringing her breakfast in bed, making sure she’sfortable, that kind of thing. She starts to wonder if maybe he actually cares about her beyond their arrangement.”

    “And does he?” Alexander asked, settling deeper into his chair.

    “That’s the whole tension of the story,” I exined. “Lily starts falling for him, but thinks he’s just being nice because of the baby and the contract. But he’s actually been in love with her for years and never had the courage to tell her.”

    “So he uses a business contract to get the woman he actually wants,” Alexander mused. “Smart

    man.”

    “It’s maniptive,” I countered.

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    “Is it? Or is it just using the tools at his disposal to create an opportunity?” Alexander’s eyes held mine. “Sometimes people need a push to see what’s right in front of them.”

    Something about his intense gaze made me look away. “Anyway, that’s where I am in the book. They’re married, she’s pregnant, and they’re both secretly in love with each other but too stubborn to admit it.”

    “And how does it end?” Alexander asked, leaning forward. “Do they confess their feelings? Live happily ever after with their contract baby?”

    I closed the book, setting it aside. “I don’t know yet. I haven’t finished it.”

    “Read faster,” he urged. “I need to know if Lorenzo gets the girl.”

    “If you’re so curious, you can read it yourself,” I suggested, pushing the book toward him.

    Alexander nced at the romance novel as if it might bite him. “I don’t have time for fiction.”

    “Oh, but I do?” I raised an eyebrow, feeling slightly offended.

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