Watch Me Win Alpha (Olivia and Ethan) novel Chapter 89

Chapter 89

The way he had looked at me–calm, unreadable, then cold–like I’d overstepped just by standing there. When he mocked me for being concerned about “gossip,” I knew it wasn’t just teasing. He was reminding me of where I stood. Of who he was. Of who I wasn’t.

I’d heard that tone before. It was the same one I’d heard from strangers at the golf club that day–right before the headlines called me a gold–digger, before whispers claimed I wore that dress just to seduce my boss. I thought I’d survived that storm. But maybe I hadn’t. Maybe I’d just dressed the wounds prettier.

The difference was, this time the voice was his.

I had no words to offer him that wouldn’t sound desperate. So

I’d laughed awkwardly, pathetically–and muttered that I’d

overthought it. Then I excused myself like the fool who walked

into the wrong room and thought she belonged.

When I passed Mike in the hallway, he looked up from his

tablet and tried to smile. “Don’t take it personally. He’s… not

great at expressing himself”

I managed a stiff smile, clutching my bag tighter. “It’s fine. I just

remembered I left something on the stove.”

He tilted his head. “You don’t cook”

I laughed once under my breath and shrugged. “Just

sometimes.”

I didn’t wait for a reply. I just left.

The elevator ride down was quiet. Still. And when I stepped out

into the open air, I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t even sad. I was just… embarrassed.

Back at my apartment, I changed into the comfiest sweatshirt I owned and sat cross–legged on the couch, staring at the wall without really seeing it.

It wasn’t that I had feelings for Alexander. I wasn’t that foolish. I

knew he was the kind of man people respected from a distance,

not someone you stood next to.

But somewhere along the way–between him pulling me out of

that fire, between the way he stood in front of the cameras and

silenced the Windsors–I’d started to feel something dangerous.

Like I could trust him, Like he might see me as more than just

Ethan’s ex–wife or a temporary assistant trying to find her

footing.

I guess that was my mistake.

Maybe I’d confused gratitude for something else.

He saved me. But that didn’t make us equals.

He stood on ground I wasn’t allowed to touch. And I–no matter how steady I looked–was still someone pulling herself together, still trying not to flinch every time someone raised their voice.

He wasn’t wrong. Peoplewouldgossip if they saw us too close.

But what stung was how quickly he shut the door. Like even

the possibility of it was laughable.

“You’re the only one who knows his medication routine,” he

added gently. “And you’re… trusted.”

The word hung there. Trusted.

I exhaled quietly. “You don’t have a nurse on call?”

A

“We do,” he admitted. “But he doesn’t like strangers fussing over

him, especially with wounds. He didn’t say it, but… he’d

probably prefer it if it was you.”

I swallowed, trying to ignore the memory of our last encounter

-the way he looked at me like I’d imagined something that

wasn’t there, like I’d embarrassed both of us by showing up

with fruit and concern.

“I don’t think he’d want to see me,” I said quietly,

“He didn’t say that,” Mike replied. “Actually, he didn’t say anything about it at all. But I know him. He won’t ask directly”

I pressed the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes. “This morning he barely looked at me.””

Mike’s voice softened. “That’s his way of showing you’re not just anyone.”

I didn’t know what that meant, and I didn’t want to ask.

Finally, I sighed. “Fine. I’ll come after dinner.”