The CEO's Contractual Wife (Olivia and Ryan) novel Chapter 69

Olivia

“Or what?” the blonde challenged, crossing her arms. “You’ll throw your happy hour cocktails at us?”

“Don’t tempt me,” Emilia growled, taking a half–step forward.

The first woman smirked. “We’re just trying to save your friend some heartbreak. Alexander Carter has a type, you know. Pretty, naive, easily manipulated.”

“I am not easily manipulated,” I snapped, my hands balling into fists.

“That’s exactly what someone easily manipulated would say,” the blonde replied with fake sympathy.

Ariana moved closer to me. “Look, we don’t know who you are, and frankly, we don’t care. But you’ve ruined our night and my friend’s top, so please just go.”

“Make us,” the first woman challenged, lifting her chin.

Before any of us could respond, a familiar deep voice cut through the tension.

“Madison. Stella. That’s enough.”

My head whipped around to see Alexander standing at the edge of our table, his expression thunderous. He wore a charcoal suit that emphasized the breadth of his shoulders, looking every inch the powerful CEO despite the late hour.

The two women paled visibly. Their superior smirks vanished instantly, replaced by wide–eyed alarm. The blonde took a half–step back, nearly stumbling into a nearby chair.

“Alexander,” the first woman said, her voice suddenly small. “We were just-”

“Harassing my girlfriend?” Alexander’s voice was dangerously calm as he moved to stand beside me. His hand found the small of my back, warm and steadying. “I could hear you from across the bar.”

The club had fallen eerily quiet, dozens of eyes watching the drama unfold. I felt my cheeks burn under the collective stare.

“We were only telling her the truth,” the blonde said, lifting her chin despite her obvious discomfort.

Alexander’s jaw tightened. “Madison, the only truth here is that you’re making a scene and embarrassing yourself.”

Madison. So the blonde was Madison. I filed away the name, studying her face more carefully now.

“And Stella,” Alexander continued, turning to the first woman, “I expected better from you. Does Victoria know you’re here?”

Stella. The one who’d spilled her drink on me. She fidgeted with her purse strap, avoiding his gaze.

“Victoria didn’t send us,” Stella mumbled.

“I didn’t ask if she sent you. I asked if she knows you’re here, harassing my girlfriend.”

Emilia leaned close to my ear. “Who the hell are these women?”

“No idea,” I whispered back.

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Chapter 69

Alexander stepped forward, his presence commanding the space between us and the two women. “Apologize to Olivia. Now

Madison crossed her arms. “Why should I? We all know what this is. Another one of your-

“Madison.” Alexander’s voice cut like a blade. “Think very carefully about your next words.”

Something in his tone made her falter. She glanced at Stella, who looked equally uncertain.

“Fine,” Madison finally said, turning to me with a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I apologize for any… misunderstanding.”

“That’s not an apology,” Alexander said coldly.

Madison’s nostrils flared. “I’m sorry for spilling my drink on you and for what I said. It was inappropriate.”

Stella nodded quickly. “Me too. I’m sorry.”

Their words rang hollow, but I nodded stiffly, just wanting this humiliating scene to end.

“Good,” Alexander said. “Now listen carefully, both of you. Olivia is my girlfriend. She deserves your respect, not your petty jealousy.”

“We’re not jealous,” Madison protested weakly.

“No?” Alexander raised an eyebrow. “Then what would you call this little performance? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like two women with too much time and alcohol trying to intimidate someone they see as a threat.”

Stella at least had the decency to look embarrassed. “We were just-

“I don’t care what you were ‘just‘ doing.” Alexander cut her off. “It ends now. And when you see Victoria, tell her if she has concerns about my relationship, she can address them to me directly instead of sending her friends to do her dirty work.”

“Victoria didn’t send us,” Madison insisted.

“Save it,” Alexander said dismissively. “I know my cousin. This has her fingerprints all over it.”

Cousin? The pieces clicked into place. These women were friends of Alexander’s cousin Victoria–the same Victoria who stood to inherit the company if Alexander failed to marry.

“We’ll go,” Stella said, tugging at Madison’s arm. “Come on, Mads.”

Madison hesitated, looking like she wanted to say more, but something in Alexander’s expression made her think better of it.

“This isn’t over,” she muttered, but allowed Stella to pull her away.

“Actually, it is,” Alexander called after them. “And if either of you approaches Olivia again, you’ll regret it.”

The two women hurried toward the exit, whispering furiously to each other. The moment they disappeared, the bar erupted back into conversation, everyone pretending they hadn’t been watching the whole exchange.

Alexander turned to me, his expression softening. “Are you okay?”

Before I could answer, Emilia stepped forward, arms crossed. “So, CEO guy, want to explain who those women were and why they were harassing my best friend?”

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Chapter 69

“Emilia,” I warned, but Alexander just smiled.

“Friends of my cousin,” he explained. “Victoria isn’t thrilled about my relationship with Olivia.”

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