Olivia

My fist throbbed from connecting with the guy's head, but it hadn't done enough. Emilia whimpered as he yanked her hair harder, forcing her head back at an unnatural angle.

"Let her go, you piece of shit!" I hissed, fear and fury colliding in my chest.

"Or what?" He laughed, his breath reeking of whiskey. "You gonna hit me with your little purse again?"

The other men from the car were climbing out now, their movements predatory as they circled around us. The driver, with his gold tooth catching the dim streetlight, stepped toward me.

"C'mon baby, we just wanna have some fun." His eyes never left my chest. "You're dressed like you want attention. We're just giving you what you want."

"I want you to let my friend go and fuck off back to whatever sewer you crawled out of," I spat, backing away until I felt a tree behind me.

"Ooh, she's got a mouth on her too," said another shorter but broad-shouldered guy wearing a baseball cap. "I like that. Makes it more fun when they fight a little."

The driver reached for me, his fingers grazing my arm. I slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch me!"

"Playing hard to get?" He moved closer, pinning me against the tree. "That's cute."

Emilia was still struggling against Tribal Tattoo's grip. "Liv, run! Just run!"

"I'm not leaving you," I said, looking desperately around for anything I could use as a weapon.

The driver pressed his body against mine; one hand braced on the tree beside my head. "Your friend's not going anywhere, and neither are you." His other hand reached for my breast. "Let's see if these feel as good as they look."

I brought my knee up hard, aiming for his groin, but he twisted away at the last second. My knee glanced off his thigh.

"Feisty bitch!" He grabbed my wrist, squeezing until I gasped in pain.

Headlights suddenly illuminated the scene as another car screeched to a halt beside us. The engine cut off, and the driver's door opened.

"Is there a problem here?" A deep voice cut through the night.

A tall figure emerged from the shadows into the spill of a distant streetlight. Broad-shouldered and imposing in what looked like an expensive suit, he moved with a quiet confidence that commanded attention.

"Mind your own business, man," Gold Tooth snarled, but I noticed he'd loosened his grip on my wrist.

The newcomer stepped closer, and I caught my breath. Even in the dim light, I recognized him immediately. Alexander Carter. My boss's boss's boss. The CEO of Carter Enterprises, where I'd been working as a junior marketing executive for the past eight months.

"I believe these ladies were telling you to leave them alone," he said, his voice calm but edged with steel. "I suggest you listen."

Gold Tooth sneered. "What are you gonna do about it? There's four of us and one of you."

Alexander didn't even blink. "True. But I've already called the police, and they're on their way. I'm sure they'd be interested to know about four drunk men assaulting two women on a public street."

Tribal Tattoo finally released Emilia's hair, shoving her forward. "Whatever, man. These bitches ain't worth the trouble."

Emilia stumbled toward me, and I caught her, pulling her close.

"You okay?" I whispered.

She nodded, rubbing her scalp. "Bastard nearly ripped my hair out."

Gold Tooth took a step toward Carter, puffing out his chest. "You think you're some kind of hero? Rich boy in his fancy car?"

Alexander simply stared him down, not moving an inch. "I think I'm someone who doesn't want to see two women harassed by drunken idiots. Now, you can leave on your own, or you can wait for the police. Your choice."

For a tense moment, I thought Gold Tooth might throw a punch. Instead, he spat on the ground near Alexander's polished shoes.

"Let's go," he muttered to his friends. "These sluts aren't worth jail time."

They piled back into their convertible, engine roaring to life. Gold Tooth revved it aggressively before peeling away, tires screeching.

Alexander turned to us. "Are you both all right?"

Up close, he was even more intimidating than he was at company events. Tall, with sharp features and piercing gray eyes, he had the kind of face that belonged in business magazines, where it often appeared. Despite the late hour, his dark hair was neatly styled, not a strand out of place.

"We're okay," I managed, suddenly conscious of my appearance: disheveled hair, makeup probably smeared from crying earlier, and this ridiculous dress that now felt like a terrible mistake. "Thank you for stopping."

"Do you need a ride somewhere?" he asked, his eyes briefly dropping to my chest before snapping back to my face.

"Our cab canceled," Emilia said, still rubbing her scalp. "And my boyfriend's not answering his phone."

Alexander gestured to his car, a sleek black car. "I'm happy to drive you both home."

I hesitated. This was Alexander Carter, the man who signed my paychecks and whose name was on the building where I worked. The man was known for his ruthless business tactics and cold demeanor. The last thing I needed was for him to realize I was one of his employees, especially looking like this.

"That's very kind," I said carefully, "but we don't want to impose."

"It's no imposition," he replied. "I'd rather not leave you out here after what just happened."

Emilia looked at me with raised eyebrows, silently communicating: "Are you crazy? Free ride in a sleek car with a hot, rich guy? Say yes!"

"If you're sure it's not too much trouble," I relented.

"Not at all." He opened the backseat door. "Please."

The car's interior was all black leather and gleaming surfaces. It smelled of expensive cologne and a new car, a heady combination that made my head spin—or maybe that was the adrenaline crash.

"I'm Alexander Carter," he said as he slid behind the wheel.

"Olivia," I replied, deliberately omitting my last name. "And this is Emilia."

"Pleasure to meet you both, despite the circumstances." He started the engine, which purred to life. "Where am I taking you?"

Emilia gave him her address first, and then I gave him mine.

"Rough night?" he asked as we pulled away from the curb.

Emilia snorted. "You could say that. We were at a birthday party where Liv caught her boyfriend banging the birthday girl."

"Emilia!" I hissed, mortified.

Alexander's eyes flicked to me in the rearview mirror. "I see. I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's fine," I mumbled, wishing I could disappear into the leather seat.

"It's not fine," Emilia insisted. "Ryan is a cheating scumbag who deserves to have his dick fall off."

A small smile tugged at the corner of Alexander's mouth. "I take it Ryan is the ex-boyfriend?"

"As of about a few minutes ago, yes," I confirmed, wondering why I was discussing my love life with my CEO.

"Well, for what it's worth," he said, his eyes meeting mine briefly in the mirror again, "he sounds like an idiot."

Olivia

The car fell silent as we drove through the streets of Los Angeles, the city lights blurring past the windows. I studied Alexander's profile, the strong jaw, and straight nose, wondering why he'd stopped to help us. Everything I'd heard about him at work painted him as cold, distant, focused only on the bottom line.

We reached Emilia's apartment building first. Alexander pulled up to the curb, the engine purring quietly as he shifted into park.

"This is me," Emilia announced, gathering her purse. She leaned over to hug me, using the moment to whisper in my ear. "Holy fuck, Liv. He's hot as balls. If he wants to bang you senseless tonight, you better fucking do it. The best way to get over Ryan is to get under the CEO. Shit, those hands look like they know what they're doing."

I pulled back, shooting her a death glare that could have melted steel.

"What?" she mouthed innocently before turning to Alexander. "Thanks for the ride, knight in shining Armani. You're a lifesaver."

"It was no trouble," he replied politely.

Emilia opened the door, then paused to give me one last meaningful look. "Call me tomorrow with ALL the details." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"Goodbye, Emilia," I said firmly, my cheeks burning.

She blew me a kiss and slammed the door, sauntering toward her building with a little extra sway in her hips, no doubt for Alexander's benefit.

As we pulled away, I sank deeper into the leather seat, mortified. "I'm so sorry about her. She has no filter."

Alexander's eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. "No need to apologize. She seems like a good friend."

"The best," I admitted. "Even if she occasionally makes me want to strangle her."

His lips quirked upward, almost a smile but not quite. "Those are often the best kinds of friends."

We lapsed into silence as he navigated through the streets of Los Angeles. The city lights streamed past the windows, creating a kaleidoscope effect that matched my swirling thoughts. I caught Alexander glancing at me in the mirror a few times, his expression unreadable.

"Left at the next light," I directed as we approached my neighborhood.

He nodded, making the turn smoothly.

"Here we are," he announced, pulling up to my apartment building. It wasn't fancy by LA standards but clean and in a decent area. I could just barely afford it on my junior executive salary.

He turned off the engine and, to my surprise, got out to open my door. His hand extended to help me out, warm and solid as I took it. The contact sent an unexpected jolt up my arm.

"Thank you again," I said, reluctantly letting go of his hand. "For everything tonight."

Alexander studied me for a moment, his gray eyes intense. "I hope you're able to move past what happened tonight. Your boyfriend, or rather your ex-boyfriend, clearly didn't appreciate what he had."

The unexpected kindness in his voice made my throat tighten. "I'll be fine," I managed.

"I'm sure you will," he agreed. "Someone like you won't stay single for long unless you want to."

I wasn't sure how to respond to that. Was Alexander Carter, CEO of Carter Enterprises, flirting with me? No, that was ridiculous. He was just being polite.

"Goodnight, Olivia," he said, stepping back toward his car.

"Goodnight, Alexander. And thank you for the ride."

He nodded once, then slid back into his car. I watched as he drove away, his taillights disappearing around the corner before I turned and entered my building.

The elevator ride to my fourth-floor apartment felt endless. My keys jangled in my shaking hands as I unlocked my door, stepping into the darkness of my living room. I flipped on the light, tossed my purse on the counter, and kicked off my heels.

The silence of my apartment pressed in around me. Just hours ago, I'd been getting ready for what I thought would be a normal night out with my boyfriend. Now, everything had changed.

I peeled off the black cocktail dress and threw it in the trash. Never again would I wear something just because a man told me it looked good on me.

In my bathroom, I scrubbed off my makeup. The woman in the mirror looked tired, her eyes red-rimmed but clear.

I pulled on an oversized t-shirt and fell onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, probably Ryan finally realizing what he'd lost. I ignored it.

Why had he done it? Two years together, and he throws it all away for Sophia? Had he been sleeping with her all along? The signs had been there: the late nights at work, the sudden business trips, the way his phone was always face-down when I was around.

I'd trusted him completely. What a fool I'd been.

My phone buzzed again. This time, I glanced at it. Emilia.

"You home safe? Did Mr. CEO make a move? Please say yes."

I texted back: "Yes, I'm home. No, he didn't. Go to sleep."

Her response was immediate: "Boring! But seriously, you okay?"

"I will be," I replied and realized I meant it.

I tossed my phone onto the nightstand and stared at the ceiling, my mind racing despite my exhaustion. Sleep seemed impossible. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ryan thrusting into Sophia, her smug face, his pathetic excuses.

"Fuck," I whispered to the empty room. "Two years down the drain."

I rolled over, burying my face in my pillow. Two years of holidays, family gatherings, inside jokes—all tainted now. But something else kept intruding on my thoughts: Alexander Carter's piercing gray eyes in the rearview mirror.

Alexander Carter. My CEO. The man I'd just met while looking like a complete disaster.

"He probably won't even remember me tomorrow," I muttered, flipping onto my back again. "Why would he? He's Alexander fucking Carter."

The ceiling offered no answers. I'd worked at Carter Enterprises for eight months and never once spoken to him. I'd seen him striding through the lobby, standing at podiums during company-wide meetings, his face on the company website and annual reports. Always distant. Always untouchable.

And now he'd seen me at my absolute worst, heartbroken in a slutty dress.

"Great first impression, Olivia. Really professional."

I snorted at my own sarcasm. It was as if Alexander Carter would ever connect the disheveled woman he'd rescued with Olivia Morgan, a junior marketing executive. Our worlds didn't intersect. He inhabited the executive floor with its panoramic views of Los Angeles. At the same time, I worked in my cubicle fifteen floors below, crafting social media campaigns for products I could barely afford.

I pulled the covers over my head, trying to force sleep to come. But my brain had other ideas, conjuring an image of running into Alexander in the office elevator. Would he recognize me? Would I have the courage to thank him again? Would he look at me with those intense gray eyes and see past the professional facade to the woman he'd rescued?

"As if," I mumbled into my pillow. "He probably rescues women from creeps every weekend. It's probably a rich guy's hobby."

But what if he did remember me? What if our paths crossed in the office cafeteria or during a presentation? What would I say?

Alexander

I parked my car in the circular driveway of my parent's estate, taking a moment to prepare myself for the inevitable Carter family dynamics.

Sunday dinner at the Carter mansion, a tradition as old as the oak trees lining the property, was something I both dreaded and looked forward to.

The mansion stood like a monument to old money, with stone façades and manicured gardens that screamed, "We've had wealth for generations."

My phone buzzed with an email from work, but I ignored it. Work could wait, but family obligations couldn't, especially when Grandfather Harold was involved.

I straightened my tie and headed inside, where Martha, our longtime housekeeper, greeted me with a warm smile.

"Mr. Alexander, everyone's waiting in the drawing room. Your grandfather arrived early."

That was never a good sign. Grandfather arriving early meant he had an agenda.

"Is Victoria here?" I asked, handing Martha my coat.

"Yes, sir. With her husband. They arrived about an hour ago."

Perfect. My cousin Victoria and her investment banker husband Thomas, the power couple who never let anyone forget how perfect their life was.

The drawing room buzzed with conversation that stopped when I entered. Mother rose from her seat, elegant as always in her pearl necklace and tailored dress.

"Alexander, darling. We were beginning to worry."

I kissed her cheek. "Traffic was terrible. Sorry, I'm late."

Father nodded from his armchair, whiskey in hand. "Son."

That was Father, a man of few words unless discussing business or golf.

Victoria sat perched on the antique sofa, her husband's arm draped around her shoulder in that possessive way I found irritating. My sister Valentina was there, too, scrolling through her phone.

But it was Grandfather Harold who commanded the room from his wheelchair. At seventy-eight, he might have lost some mobility but none of his mental sharpness or business acumen.

"Alexander," he barked. "Sit down. We need to talk."

I took a seat across from him. "Good to see you too, Grandfather."

"Don't get smart with me, boy. I've been waiting."

Victoria smirked. "Some of us manage to arrive on time, cousin dear."

I ignored her. "What's this about? I thought this was just dinner."

Grandfather Harold waved his hand dismissively. "Dinner can wait. This is about the future of Carter Enterprises."

The room fell silent. When Grandfather talked about the company's future, everyone paid attention. He'd built Carter Enterprises from a small family business into a corporate empire and, at seventy-eight, still held the controlling stake.

"I've been updating my will," he announced.

Mother gasped softly. Father set down his whiskey.

"Oh, relax; I'm not dying yet," Grandfather snapped. "Just getting my affairs in order. And I've made some decisions about the company shares."

I leaned forward. As CEO, I had a significant stake in the company, but Grandfather's controlling shares would eventually determine who truly ran Carter Enterprises.

"Alexander," he fixed his steely gaze on me. "You've done well as CEO. Profits are up. The board is happy. But there's something missing."

"Missing?" I frowned. "Our last quarter was our best in five years."

"I'm not talking about business." He thumped his cane on the floor. "I'm talking about family. Stability. A legacy."

Victoria's husband coughed discreetly. Victoria's smile widened.

"What exactly are you saying, Grandfather?"

Harold Carter leaned forward in his wheelchair. "I'm saying that to inherit my controlling shares in Carter Enterprises, you need to be married within six months."

The room exploded in reactions. Mother gasped again. Father actually put down his drink. Valentina looked up from her phone. Victoria burst into delighted laughter.

"Married?" I stared at him. "You can't be serious."

"Dead serious." Grandfather's expression didn't change. "Carter Enterprises has always been family-run. Family means stability. Commitment."

"I'm committed to the company!"

"But not to anything or anyone else." Grandfather shook his head. "You're thirty-three, Alexander. Your relationships last shorter than some of our quarterly reports."

Victoria couldn't contain herself. "Oh, this is priceless. Is Alexander getting married? He can't even keep a girlfriend past the three-month mark."

"Thank you for that astute observation, Victoria," I said, forcing a smile. "Always a pleasure to have your support."

Uncle Richard, Victoria's father, chuckled from the corner of the room. "The boy does have a track record."

"A track record?" My father set his tumbler down with more force than necessary. "Last year, we selected a perfectly suitable woman for him. The engagement was announced in the Times, for God's sake. And then what happened, Alexander?"

I loosened my tie slightly. "Dad—"

"He canceled it two weeks before the wedding," Father continued, addressing the room like I wasn't there. "The merger nearly fell apart because of it."

Aunt Patricia gasped dramatically. "Penelope Langford? Such a lovely girl and from a good family. What a shame."

"She wasn't right for me," I said firmly.

Valentina finally looked up from her phone. "He didn't like her. Said she reminded him of a corporate spreadsheet – technically perfect but utterly boring."

"Thank you for sharing that, Val," I muttered.

My sister shrugged and went back to her phone. "Just telling it like it is."

Grandfather Harold thumped his cane again. "Enough! The terms are simple. Alexander marries within six months, or Victoria receives my controlling stake in the company."

Victoria nearly spilled her champagne in excitement. "Really, Grandfather? You'd give me control?"

Her husband Thomas straightened his posture, dollar signs practically visible in his eyes.

"I didn't build this company for forty years to watch it get dismantled by your husband's investment firm," Grandfather snapped at Victoria. "But at least you understand commitment."

I stood up, pacing the Persian rug. "This is absurd. You're reducing the future of our family business to whether or not I get married? What century is this?"

"The century where actions have consequences," Grandfather replied. "Victoria may be insufferable—"

"Hey!" Victoria protested.

"—but she's stable. Married. Committed."

Victoria's smirk returned. "Face it, Alexander. You couldn't commit to a woman if your life depended on it. Now your career does, and we all know how that's going to end."

Something snapped inside me. I'd tolerated Victoria's barbs for years, but this was different. This was my life's work at stake.

"You know what, Victoria? You're wrong."

"Am I?" She swirled her champagne. "Name one relationship you've had that lasted longer than a corporate quarterly report."

My cousin Matthew, who'd been silently watching the drama unfold, whistled low. "She's got you there, Alex."

I straightened my shoulders. "I'll do it. I'll get married within six months."

The room fell silent again.

"To whom?" Father asked skeptically.

"I'll figure that out."

Victoria burst into laughter. "Oh, this is too good! Alexander Carter, CEO and eligible bachelor, desperately seeking a wife. Should we put an ad in the classifieds?"

Her husband joined in. "Maybe we should start interviewing candidates. Create a shortlist."

"I don't need help finding someone," I said through gritted teeth.

Aunt Elizabeth, who'd been quietly knitting in the corner, looked up. "What about that nice PR director at your company? Jennifer, something?"

"She's married, Mother," Victoria said.

"Oh. Well, what about your assistant?"

"I'm not marrying my assistant, Aunt Elizabeth."

Grandfather Harold raised his hand for silence. "The terms are set. Six months from today."

Uncle Richard raised his glass. "To Alexander's impending nuptials! May he find a bride before Victoria gets his office."

Victoria clinked glasses with her father. "I'm already planning where to put my new desk."

I clenched my jaw. "Enjoy the fantasy while it lasts, cousin. I'm not losing the company."

"Six months, Alexander," Grandfather reminded me. "The clock starts now."