Chapter 167

Alexander's lips curled into an amused smirk. "Go on, say it."

Evelyn let out a quiet sigh, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her blazer. "The entire office is buzzing about your marriage. I guess that means I should stop chasing after you now."

Restless, Alexander loosened his tie with a sharp tug. "Then why don’t you just announce that you're the one I married?"

"Absolutely not!" Evelyn's eyes widened in alarm. "If people find out I'm the CEO's wife, my career is over. I’d be buried under fake smiles and forced small talk. No one would take my work seriously."

"So, what? We keep pretending we're not married at work?"

She nodded firmly.

Alexander's gaze darkened, his displeasure evident.

Internally, he weighed the situation. We kept it quiet at first to avoid the backlash.

But now that Ethan and Vanessa are married, they’ve taken the spotlight off us.

The thought didn’t sit well with him.

He wanted the world to know Evelyn was his.

Yet, he understood her fears.

The office politics, the whispers, the opportunists—she wasn’t wrong.

Still, the secrecy chafed at him.

Evelyn studied his expression, her voice softening. "Just for a little longer?"

Alexander exhaled sharply.

Then, reluctantly, he gave a single nod.

For now, he’d play along.

But not forever.

The sun dipped below the skyline of Cresthaven, casting long shadows across the penthouse. Evelyn Carter exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around the edge of the sofa.

"Besides," she murmured, "everyone in Cresthaven’s elite already knows we’re married. Gossip spreads like wildfire. It won’t be long before Titan Capital finds out."

Alexander Whitmore leaned in, his breath warm against the curve of her neck as he inhaled the delicate floral scent of her hair. The intimacy sent a shiver down Evelyn’s spine, her pulse quickening.

But she didn’t miss the shift in his demeanor—the way his jaw had tensed the moment she suggested keeping their marriage hidden at work.

She bit her lip, then ventured softly, "Is that… alright with you?"

Alexander’s lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. "First, kiss me. Then I’ll consider it."

Evelyn’s throat went dry.

Her lashes fluttered as she hesitantly gripped the lapels of his tailored suit, pulling him closer. The brush of her lips against his was featherlight, barely there—a fleeting touch before she withdrew.

Alexander’s fingers grazed his mouth, his gaze darkening with hunger. "That’s all you’re giving me?"

His voice was low, rough with restraint.

Evelyn swallowed.

The air between them thickened, charged with something deeper—something unspoken.

Before Evelyn could process his words, Alexander's strong arm already encircled her waist.

His breath was scorching against her skin, sending her pulse into a frantic rhythm.

His fingers tangled in her hair, tilting her face upward. The moment her lips parted, his tongue claimed hers in a searing, possessive kiss.

Alexander didn’t just kiss her—he devoured her. Each brush of his lips stole her breath, pulling her deeper into him until she could barely think.

Her mind emptied under the sheer intensity of his desire.

He refused to let her shut her eyes, forcing her to watch as their mouths moved together in heated synchronization.

Heat flooded Evelyn’s cheeks as a sudden memory resurfaced—his husky whisper that night, dark with need.

"Evelyn, yes, just like this. Look at me."

"Alright, I surrender! I'm almost there!"

The recollection made her squirm in his hold.

Then—sharp clicks of heels echoed outside the door.

Flustered, Evelyn tried to push away, but Alexander’s grip only tightened, refusing to let her escape.

Alexander's gaze dropped, his fingers tightening around Evelyn's waist. "Come home early tonight?"

The unspoken request hung heavy between them.

Perched on Alexander's lap, Evelyn could feel every inch of his arousal pressing against her.

She bit her lip, whispering, "I can't. Claire needs me for a few more days."

A shadow crossed Alexander's face, his expression turning icy. "You promised you'd be back tonight."

Evelyn shifted, her voice soft but firm. "She's alone. I can't leave her like this."

At least for the next two weeks, she had to stay with Claire.

A sharp knock interrupted them. Natalie's voice filtered through the door.

"Mr. Whitmore, there's an urgent document requiring your signature."

Evelyn tried to slip free, but Alexander's grip remained unyielding.

Her pulse quickened. If someone walked in now, explanations would be impossible.

She met his darkened gaze, pleading. "We agreed to keep this private. Please, let me go."

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows of Eclipse Lounge, casting golden patterns across Alexander Whitmore's sharp features.

He leaned back in the leather booth, swirling his whiskey with deliberate slowness. That familiar smirk played at his lips—the one that always made Evelyn Carter's pulse quicken.

"Go?" Alexander arched a brow, amusement dancing in his piercing blue eyes. "Did we?"

Evelyn crossed her arms, her dark hair cascading over one shoulder. The scent of vanilla and citrus from her perfume mingled with the smoky aroma of aged oak.

A beat passed.

Then another.

Alexander's grin widened, revealing that infuriatingly perfect dimple. "I seem to recall," he drawled, tilting his glass toward her, "that I never actually agreed."

The ice cubes clinked mockingly.

Evelyn's nails dug into her palms. That man could turn a simple conversation into a battlefield with just a look.

Outside, the city of Cresthaven buzzed with life, unaware of the silent war waging between them in the dimly lit corner of the upscale lounge.

Somewhere in the distance, a clock tower chimed.

Alexander's gaze never wavered.

The game was on.