BOUND TO THE BILLIONAIRE BY CONTRACT

A NEW FRIEND

Chapter 24 – A New Friend

Three days passed after Ethan and Olivia's visit to the community center.

Life at Carter Manor seemed peaceful once again.

Every morning, Ethan left for Carter Group after breakfast, while Olivia spent her time overseeing the Carter Foundation's charity projects.

Despite the calm, Ethan hadn't relaxed his security measures.

Additional guards now patrolled the estate.

Every vehicle entering the gates was carefully inspected.

Daniel even reviewed Olivia's daily schedule before she left the mansion.

Olivia found it a little excessive...

But she understood why.

Ethan wasn't trying to control her.

He was trying to protect her.

---

That morning, Olivia walked into the dining room carrying a vase filled with fresh white lilies.

She placed it in the center of the table.

William smiled.

"The house looks brighter every day."

Olivia laughed.

"I think flowers make every room happier."

William looked toward Ethan.

"What do you think?"

Ethan glanced at the flowers.

Then at Olivia.

"I agree."

William chuckled.

"I wasn't talking about the flowers."

Olivia lowered her head shyly while Ethan quietly continued drinking his coffee.

---

After breakfast, Olivia prepared to leave for another Foundation meeting.

As she reached the front entrance, Ethan stopped her.

"Wait."

She turned around.

"What is it?"

He handed her a small gift box.

"I forgot to give this to you."

Olivia looked surprised.

"For me?"

He nodded.

She slowly opened the box.

Inside was a delicate silver bracelet with a tiny heart-shaped charm engraved with the letter E on one side and O on the other.

Her eyes widened.

"It's beautiful."

"I thought..."

Ethan hesitated for the first time.

"...you might like it."

Olivia smiled so brightly that Ethan forgot everything else around him.

"I love it."

"May I?"

She held out her wrist.

Ethan gently fastened the bracelet around it.

His fingers brushed lightly against her skin.

For a brief moment...

Neither of them spoke.

William quietly smiled from across the room.

"They're going to forget I'm standing here."

Both Ethan and Olivia laughed.

---

Later that morning...

Olivia arrived at the Carter Foundation's main office.

The meeting lasted nearly two hours as they discussed scholarships, hospital donations, and new volunteer programs.

As she left the conference room, she heard a familiar voice.

"Mrs. Carter."

She turned.

Adrian Brooks walked toward her carrying several folders.

"Mr. Brooks."

He smiled warmly.

"What a coincidence."

She laughed.

"We seem to keep meeting."

"I suppose we support many of the same charities."

He held up the folders.

"I'm delivering educational materials to another children's center."

Olivia smiled.

"That's wonderful."

"I admire people who give their time to others."

Adrian replied modestly.

"I could say the same about you."

They walked toward the elevator together.

Their conversation remained light, talking about charity work, education, and helping disadvantaged children.

Adrian was friendly, polite, and easy to talk to.

When the elevator reached the lobby, he stepped aside.

"It was nice seeing you again."

"You too."

"Perhaps our paths will cross again."

Olivia smiled.

"They probably will."

As she walked outside, she didn't notice Adrian's smile slowly disappear.

---

The moment Olivia's car drove away...

A black luxury sedan pulled up beside Adrian.

The rear window lowered.

Victor Hayes sat inside.

"Report."

Adrian climbed into the passenger seat.

"Everything is going smoothly."

Victor looked pleased.

"And Mrs. Carter?"

"She's exactly as you described."

"Kind."

"Trusting."

"And completely unsuspecting."

Victor nodded.

"What about Ethan?"

"He wasn't there."

Victor smiled.

"Good."

"The less he knows..."

"...the easier this becomes."

Adrian looked at Victor thoughtfully.

"She's genuinely a good person."

Victor looked at him coldly.

"Don't forget why you're here."

"I'm not paying you to admire her."

Adrian immediately nodded.

"I understand."

Victor leaned back against the leather seat.

"Our next meeting must feel even more natural."

"I want her to believe she's found..."

"...a genuine friend."

The car slowly drove away into the busy afternoon traffic.

---

That evening, Ethan returned home later than usual.

He found Olivia sitting in the library reading another novel.

She looked up and smiled.

"You're home."

"I am."

He loosened his tie before sitting beside her.

"How was your meeting?"

"It went well."

She hesitated for a moment.

"I met Adrian Brooks again."

Ethan looked at her.

"The volunteer from the community center?"

"Yes."

"He was delivering supplies to another charity."

Ethan nodded quietly.

"What do you think of him?"

Olivia smiled.

"He seems like a genuinely kind person."

Ethan remained silent.

Something about those repeated "coincidences" didn't sit right with him.

Maybe it was nothing.

Or maybe...

His instincts were trying to warn him.

He looked out the library window as the evening sky darkened.

Far away, someone else was already planning the next coincidence.

And this one...

Would bring Adrian even closer to Olivia's life.

The following Saturday, Olivia woke earlier than usual.

The weather was perfect, with clear blue skies and a cool morning breeze drifting through the open windows of Carter Manor.

She had promised the children at the community center another visit.

After breakfast, Ethan put down his coffee and looked at her.

"You're going to the community center today?"

She nodded.

"I promised I'd help them organize their weekend reading program."

"I'll come with you."

Olivia smiled apologetically.

"I know how busy you are."

"I'll be fine."

Ethan checked his watch before sighing.

"I have a meeting with overseas investors in an hour."

She walked over and gently squeezed his hand.

"Go to your meeting."

"I'll be back before lunch."

He looked uncertain.

"I don't like the idea of you going without me."

She smiled reassuringly.

"I'll have Daniel's security team."

"And I'll call you when I'm leaving."

After a long pause, Ethan finally nodded.

"Alright."

"But promise me you'll answer your phone."

"I promise."

---

When Olivia arrived at the community center, the children ran toward her with bright smiles.

"Mrs. Carter!"

"You came back!"

She laughed as several children hugged her at once.

"I missed all of you too."

For the next hour, she helped the children read storybooks and listened as each of them proudly read aloud.

Their laughter echoed throughout the building.

Just then, another familiar voice spoke behind her.

"Looks like I arrived at the right time."

Olivia turned and smiled.

"Mr. Brooks."

Adrian held up several large boxes.

"I brought art supplies."

The children immediately surrounded him.

"Paint!"

"Crayons!"

"Color pencils!"

Adrian laughed.

"Everyone gets a turn."

Olivia watched as he patiently handed supplies to each child.

"You really enjoy volunteering."

He smiled.

"I grew up in a neighborhood like this."

"I know how much small acts of kindness can mean."

Olivia nodded.

"That's wonderful."

For the next hour, they worked together helping the children paint pictures and decorate the classroom walls.

To anyone watching...

They simply looked like two volunteers working for a good cause.

---

Meanwhile...

At Carter Group Headquarters...

Ethan tried to focus on the presentation in front of him.

"...our European expansion is expected to increase revenue by

One of the executives paused.

"Mr. Carter?"

Ethan looked up.

"I'm sorry."

"Please continue."

Richard Collins smiled knowingly.

"Something's distracting you today."

Ethan glanced briefly at his phone.

There were no new messages from Olivia.

He told himself not to worry.

She was surrounded by security.

She was perfectly safe.

Still...

He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his chest.

---

Back at the community center, the children insisted on taking a group photograph.

"Mrs. Carter!"

"Mr. Brooks!"

"Come stand in the middle!"

Olivia laughed.

"Alright."

Adrian stood beside her while one of the teachers held up a camera.

"Everyone smile!"

Click.

The children cheered after seeing the picture.

"It looks amazing!"

Olivia smiled happily.

She had no idea...

That someone else had also taken a photograph.

Across the street, hidden behind the tinted windows of a parked SUV, Victor Hayes lowered a professional camera.

The image clearly showed Adrian standing beside Olivia, both smiling naturally.

Victor smiled with satisfaction.

"Perfect."

His assistant looked confused.

"It's only a photograph."

Victor nodded.

"For now."

"But photographs..."

"...can tell any story people want to believe."

He carefully saved the image.

"The timing isn't right yet."

"But when it is..."

"...this picture will become very useful."

---

As the volunteer session ended, Adrian walked Olivia to her car.

"It was nice working with you again."

"You too."

"I hope we can volunteer together again sometime."

Olivia smiled warmly.

"I'm sure we will."

Just then, her phone rang.

She smiled when she saw Ethan's name.

"Excuse me."

She answered immediately.

"Hi."

"Are you alright?" Ethan asked.

She laughed softly.

"I'm perfectly fine."

"I was just about to leave."

"I'll be home soon."

"Good."

"I'll be waiting."

She ended the call with a smile.

Adrian noticed the happiness on her face.

"You and your husband seem very close."

Olivia looked down shyly.

"We've become closer."

"I'm happy for you."

"Thank you."

She waved goodbye before getting into the car.

As the vehicle drove away, Adrian's smile slowly disappeared.

A few moments later, Victor's black sedan stopped beside him.

Victor rolled down the window.

"Everything according to plan?"

Adrian nodded.

"She trusts me."

Victor glanced at the photograph on his tablet.

"And soon..."

"...everyone else will believe there's a reason she does."

A cold smile spread across his face.

"The next phase begins now."