The CEO's Contractual Wife (Olivia and Alexander) novel Chapter 250

Chapter 250

Alexander

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We played the seventeenth hole in tense silence. James parred, I managed to recover from my rough landing and also parred, and Grandfather’s specially adapted swing netted him a bogey.

On the eighteenth tee, the final hole, Grandfather spoke up. “James, you planning to attend the Merchants Association gala next month?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” James replied. “Should be quite the event.”

“Alexander and Olivia will be there as well,” Grandfather said pointedly.

“Looking forward to it,” James said smoothly. “I’m sure it’ll be memorable.”

I lined up my final drive, determined to end on a high note. The ball connected perfectly, sailing down the fairway in a beautiful arc. It landed on the green, rolling to within ten feet of the pin.

“Eagle opportunity,” Grandfather said appreciatively. “Now that’s how you finish.”

James’s drive was solid but landed short of the green. He’d need a chip shot to have any chance at birdie.

We made our way to the eighteenth green, the clubhouse visible in the distance. A few other members were finishing up their rounds, and the Sunday crowd was starting to thin out.

James chipped onto the green, landing about fifteen feet from the pin. Respectable, but not close enough for an easy birdie.

I studied my eagle putt carefully. Ten feet, slight downhill break to the right. Make this, and I’d finish two under for the back nine we’d played together.

“No pressure,” James said with a grin.

I ignored him, focusing on the line. Drew back my putter, struck the ball cleanly, and watched it roll. It caught the break perfectly, curving toward the hole, slowing as it approached, and dropped in with a satisfying clink.

“Eagle!” Grandfather crowed. “Beautiful! That’s how you close out a round!”

James clapped politely. “Well played.”

“Thanks.” I retrieved my ball, trying not to look too smug. “Your turn.”

He lined up his birdie putt, taking his time. The shot was good, the ball rolling straight and true, but it caught the lip and spun out.

“Damn,” he muttered, tapping in for par.

“Still a good round,” Grandfather said diplomatically. “You boys both played well.”

We headed toward the clubhouse, my clubs already being loaded into alongside me, his specialized cart humming quietly.

a

cart

by one of the staff. Grandfather wheeled

“You played angrily today,” he observed.

“I wasn’t angry.”

“Could’ve fooled me. That drive on seventeen practically took the ball’s head off.”

Dan

Chapter 250

I smiled despite myself. “Janies was being James.”

“He always has been.” Grandfather stopped his cart near the entrance. “But you handled yourself well. Kept your cool where

it mattered.

“Most of the time.”

“That’s all anyone can ask.” He studied me for a moment. “How’s Olivia?“.

“She’s good. Working on the Thompson project.”

“Smart girl. Julia likes her.”

“Everyone likes her,” I said, meaning it.

Grandfather nodded slowly. “Good. You need someone who can handle the Carter circus.” He glanced back toward the course, where James was chatting with the valet. “And the jackals circling around it.”

I followed his gaze. “I can handle James.”

“I know you can. The question is whether you will, or if you’ll let him keep needling you until you do something stupid.”

“I’m not going to do anything stupid.”

“See that you don’t.” Grandfather wheeled toward his waiting car. “Pride’s a dangerous thing, Alexander. Especially when mixed with business.”

I watched him go, then turned back toward the clubhouse. James was still by the valet stand, checking his phone.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I walked over.

“Hey,” I said. “You got time for a drink?”

James looked up, surprise flickering across his face before his usual smile returned. “A drink? With you?”

“Why not? We just played together. Might as well continue the male bonding.”

“Male bonding,” he repeated, clearly amused. “Sure. Why not?”

We headed into the clubhouse bar, a dark wood affair with leather chairs and the faint smell of cigars. The lunch crowd had mostly cleared out, leaving just a few members scattered at tables.

James ordered scotch. I got the same.

“So,” he said once we’d settled into a corner booth. “What’s this really about?”

“Can’t two old friends grab a drink?”

“We’re not friends.”

“True.” I took a sip and set my glass down carefully. “I’m here because you keep showing up at places my wife happens to be.”

His eyebrows rose. “Do I?”

“Coffee shops. Hotels. Bars. Quite the string of coincidences.”

“LA’s a small world for people in our circles.”

“Bullshit.”

Chapter 250

James leaned back, studying me. “What exactly are you aceising me of?”

“I’m not accusing you of anything. I’m telling you to stay away from Olivia”

“Or what?”

“Or we’re going to have a problem.”

“A problem.” He swirled his scotch. “You threatening me, Carter?”

“I’m establishing boundaries.”

James laughed, actually laughed. “Boundaries. That’s rich coming from you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means maybe you should worry less about where I go for coffee and more about why your wife seems so nervous every time we run into each other.”

My jaw tightened. “She’s not nervous.”

“No? From my perspective, she seems quite jumpy. Like someone with something to hide.”

“She has nothing to hide.”

“Doesn’t she?” James leaned forward. “Come on, Alex. We both know how this works. The sudden marriage, the quick promotion, the convenient timing with your grandfather’s ultimatum. It’s not exactly subtle.”

Every muscle in my body tensed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I?” His smile widened. “I’ve been in this world long enough to recognize an arrangement when I see one.”

I forced myself to take a drink, to appear calm even as rage simmered under my skin. “My marriage is none of your business.”

“Of course not. Just like your wife is none of my business when I happen to run into her at public places.”

“Stop running into her.”

“Or what?” James repeated, his voice taking on an edge. “You going to punch me? Buy out my company? What’s the play here?”

I stood up, done with this conversation. “The play is you stay away from Olivia. Period.”

“And if I don’t?”

I leaned down, my voice dropping low enough that only he could hear. “Then we find out exactly how far I’m willing to go to protect what’s mine.”

James stood too, meeting my gaze without flinching. “Interesting choice of words. ‘What’s mine. Like she’s property.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

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