Chapter 194
Chapter 194
53
320.ouchers
Olivia
After finishing work, I decided to explore the hotel. The Savoy was a London landmark in itself, with a storied history and impeccable service. I wandered through the elegant public spaces, admiring the art and architecture, before finding myself at the hotel’s famous American Bar.
I ordered a light lunch and a glass of wine, people–watching, and soaking in the atmosphere. A couple at a nearby table was clearly on their honeymoon, holding hands and stealing kisses when they thought no one was looking. I wondered if Alexander and I looked like that to outsiders, a couple genuinely in love.
The thought gave me pause. What exactly were Alexander and I to each other now? Our relationship had certainly evolved beyond our initial arrangement. The sex was mindblowing, but there was something else there too, a connection I hadn’t anticipated.
After lunch, I returned to the suite to prepare for our afternoon excursion. Alexander arrived precisely at three, his tie loosened and a weary set to his shoulders.
“Rough meetings?” I asked as he collapsed onto the sofa.
“Interminable.” He rubbed his eyes. “The London office is performing well, but some personnel issues need to be addressed.”
“Firing people isn’t fun,” I sympathized.
“Especially when they’ve been with the company for twenty years but can’t adapt to new methodologies.” He sighed, then visibly shook off the business persona. “But enough about that. Ready to see some royal history?”
I nodded enthusiastically. “Let me grab my coat.”
The Tower of London was everything I’d imagined: imposing, historic, and slightly macabre. Our private guide, a retired Yeoman Warder named Roger, was a fountain of knowledge and gruesome anecdotes.
“And right here,” Roger said, gesturing to a small green, “is where Anne Boleyn was beheaded. They brought in a French swordsman specially for her execution, more humane than an ax, you see.”
“How considerate,” I remarked dryly, making Alexander chuckle.
“The king may have wanted her dead, but he still had some affection for her,” Roger explained. “Now, shall we see the Crown Jewels?”
The jewels were spectacular, a dazzling display of wealth and power. I was particularly transfixed by the Imperial State Crown with its enormous sapphire and nearly 3,000 diamonds.
“Not thinking of upgrading your ring, are you?” Alexander murmured in my ear as I stared at the display.
“I don’t know, this might be more my style,” I joked, gesturing to one of the enormous tiaras.
“I’ll keep that in mind for your birthday.”
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Chapter 194
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20 vouchers
After the Tower, we strolled along the Thames, taking in the views of Tower Bridge and the modern skyline beyond. The afternoon was cool but clear, the carlier rain having given way to watery sunshine.
“Thank you for this,” I said, squeezing Alexander’s hand as we walked. “It’s perfect.”
He looked down at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. “You’re easy to please, Olivia. A bit of history and you light up like a Christmas tree.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No,” he said firmly. “It’s refreshing. Most women I’ve dated would have preferred Bond Street to the Tower.”
“Oh, I definitely want to shop too,” I assured him with a grin. “But history first, shopping later.”
Alexander laughed and pulled me closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “A woman after my own heart.”
We had dinner at a small, exclusive restaurant tucked away on a side street near Covent Garden. The food was incredible, seasonal British cuisine with a modern twist. Alexander ordered a bottle of wine that probably cost more than my monthly rent back in L.A.
After dinner, we took a leisurely walk back to the hotel, stopping to admire the lights reflecting on the Thames. The London Eye was illuminated against the night sky, slowly rotating with its cargo of tourists.
“Want to go up tomorrow?” Alexander asked, following my gaze.
“Can we? I hear the views are amazing.”
“I’ll arrange it. Anything else on your London bucket list?”
“British Museum, definitely. And maybe Buckingham Palace?”
“Doable. I have meetings until noon tomorrow, but the afternoon is ours again.”
Back at the hotel, we ended up in the legendary Savoy bar for a nightcap. The pianist was playing classic jazz standards, and the room had a timeless elegance that felt both glamorous and intimate.
“Dance with me,” Alexander said suddenly, setting down his whiskey.
“Here? Now?” I glanced around the half–full bar.
“Why not?” He stood and offered his hand. “I want to dance with my wife.”
My heart stuttered at the way he said it, like it meant something beyond our paperwork. I placed my hand in his and let him guide me to the small space near the piano where a few other couples swayed to the music.
Alexander’s arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me close. Our bodies aligned perfectly, his hand warm against the small of my back, the other cradling mine against his chest. The pianist shifted into something slower, more intimate, and Alexander tightened his hold.
“You’re a good dancer,” I murmured, surprised by how naturally we moved together.
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Chapter 194
“Mandatory cotillion classes as a child. My mother insisted.”
I laughed softly. “Of course she did. Let me guess, you also had etiquette lessons and French tutors?”
“Both, actually. Plus riding lessons, fencing, and classical piano.
20
“Such a proper gentleman,” I teased, but my breath caught as he spun me expertly, bringing me back flush against him.
“Don’t let it fool you.” His mouth brushed my car. “I’m far from proper when it matters.”
Heat bloomed low in my belly at his words. I tilted my head back to meet his eyes, finding them dark with promise.
“I’m starting to realize that,” I whispered.
The music shifted again, something jazzy and romantic. Alexander’s hand slid lower on my back, dangerously close to my ass. Other couples danced around us, but I felt like we were alone in our own bubble.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he said, his voice rough. “I’ve been wanting to tell you that all evening.”
“You clean up pretty well yourself.”
His lips curved into a smile that made my knees weak. We moved in perfect synchronization, our bodies remembering steps we’d never consciously learned together. His thumb traced small circles on my lower back, each touch sending sparks through my nervous system.
“What are you thinking about?” Alexander asked.
“How different this feels from our wedding dance,” I admitted. “That felt like a performance. This feels…”
“Real,” he finished.
I nodded, not trusting my voice. Because it did feel real. The way he held me, the way he looked at me, the way my body responded to his nearness. Everything about this moment felt genuine in a way that scared and thrilled me in equal measure.
The song ended, but Alexander didn’t release me immediately. We stood there, bodies pressed together, breathing each other’s air.
“Ready to leave?” he asked, his voice low and intimate.
“Yes,” I breathed.