Chapter 180
Chapter 180
Olivia
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95 vouchers.
The bell dinged as we entered. Inside, fluorescent lights buzzed over checkerboard floors and red vinyl. booths. A tired–looking waitress named Dottie, according to her name tag, barely looked up from wiping down the counter.
“Sit anywhere,” she called out.
I led Alexander to a booth by the window, sliding onto the vinyl seat. He sat across from me, looking so out of place in his perfect suit that I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“What?” he asked, noticing my expression.
“Nothing. You just look like you’re afraid to touch anything.”
“I’m being cautious,” he countered, picking up a laminated menu with two fingers.
Dottie shuffled over, order pad in hand. “What can I get ya?”
“Double cheeseburger with bacon, extra pickles, fries, and a chocolate shake,” I said without hesitation.
Alexander raised an eyebrow. “I’ll have the same.”
When Dottie left, he leaned forward. “How did you decide so quickly?”
“There’s only one rule at a place like this: order the thing that’ll clog your arteries fastest.” I spread my arms. “Welcome to how the other half lives, Mr. Carter.”
“I’m not that sheltered,” he protested.
“Oh, really? When’s the last time you ate something that came in a paper wrapper?”
“Tuesday. I had a protein bar between meetings.”
I rolled my eyes. “That doesn’t count. I’m talking real junk food. The kind that makes your cardiologist cry.”
“Then it’s been a while,” he admitted. “My schedule doesn’t allow for many culinary adventures.”
“That’s sad. Everyone needs a good greasy burger once in a while.”
Our shakes arrived in tall glasses topped with whipped cream and cherries. I took a long sip, closing my eyes in appreciation.
“Good?” Alexander asked, watching me.
“Heaven. Try yours.”
He took a careful sip, his eyes widening slightly. “That’s surprisingly excellent.”
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“Never judge a place by its sticky tabletops,” I said sagely, stealing his cherry. His eyes tracked my movement as I popped it into my mouth.
Our burgers arrived shortly after, piled high on paper–lined baskets with golden fries spilling over the edges. Alexander stared at his with a mixture of awe and trepidation.
“Do I need utensils for this?”
I laughed. “No! Just pick it up and embrace the mess.”
He looked dubious but followed my lead, taking a bite that left a smear of ketchup at the corner of his mouth. I reached across without thinking, wiping it away with my thumb.
“Sorry,” I said, suddenly aware of the intimacy of the gesture.
“Don’t be.” His voice was lower, his eyes holding mine for a beat too long.
I cleared my throat, focusing on my burger. “So, what do you think?”
“It’s disgustingly delicious,” he admitted, taking another bite. “You were right.”
“I usually am.” I popped a fry into my mouth. “It’s one of my best qualities.”
“One of many,” he murmured, making me blush.
We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the late–night emptiness of the diner creating a bubble around us. It felt strangely normal, sitting here with Alexander Carter eating burgers, despite the absurdity of our situation.
“Can I ask you something?” I said finally.
“Of course.”
“Have you ever wondered what would have happened if we hadn’t met that night?”
Alexander considered this, wiping his hands on a napkin. “Honestly? I’ve thought about it more than once.”
“And?”
“I think our paths would have crossed eventually. Maybe not in the same way, but somehow.”
“You really believe that?”
He nodded. “Some connections seem inevitable.”
“So philosophical over midnight burgers,” I teased, but his words warmed something in my chest.
“Where do you think you’d be if we hadn’t met?” he asked.
I swirled a fry in ketchup, thinking. “Probably still at Carter Enterprises, just climbing the ladder much more slowly. Still a junior marketing executive, fighting for recognition.”
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55 Vouchers
“You would have risen quickly regardless,” Alexander said with surprising conviction. “Your talent is obvious.”
“That’s nice of you to say, but let’s be realistic. The corporate world isn’t exactly a meritocracy.
“True. But genuine talent usually finds a way.”
“Maybe.” I sipped my shake. “What about you? Where would you be?”
“Exactly where I was. Working too much.” His mouth curved into a wry smile. “Probably sitting through painful dates my grandfather arranged.”
“Poor Alexander,” I mockingly pouted. “Forced to date beautiful, sophisticated women.”
“Beautiful, yes. Interesting? Rarely.” He leaned forward. “Most people want something from me. It gets tedious figuring out their angles.”
“And what’s my angle?” I challenged.
His eyes sparkled. “That’s what makes you different, Olivia. I’m still trying to figure that out.”
I snorted. “Maybe I just wanted your fries.” I reached across and stole one from his basket.
“Thief,” he accused with a smile.
“Opportunist,” I corrected.
Alexander’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it and frowned slightly.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“Just work. Nothing that can’t wait until morning.” He slipped the phone back into his pocket. “Tell me more about the life I’ve deprived you of as a junior marketing executive.”
I laughed. “Oh, it was glamorous. Sharing a cubicle with three other junior execs. Fighting over the good chair.”
“Sounds thrilling.”
“Don’t forget the highlight: eating sad desk lunches while updating social media metrics.” I twirled a fry in the air. “I really had it all.”
“And now?”
“Now I have an office and people who bring me coffee.” I paused, considering. “And you.”
Our eyes met across the table, something unspoken passing between us. My heart stuttered in my chest.
“Do you ever regret it?” he asked quietly. “Us?”
I set down my shake, suddenly serious. “No. Do you?”
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Chapter 180
“Not for a second.”
The conviction in his voice made my breath catch. I reached across the table, placing my hand over his
“Good. Because I’m getting used to having you around.”
His fingers entwined with mine, warm and strong. “Just ‘used to?”
“Maybe a bit more than that,” I admitted.
The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, and the clock on the wall ticked past one in the morning. We were the only customers left, sitting in a vinyl booth in a rundown diner, but somehow, it felt perfect.
“You know what I think?” I said, squeezing his hand.
“What’s that?”
“I think Alexander Carter secretly likes slumming it with the regular people.”
“Only with the right company.”