The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 5

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, espe- cially 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 for- get how perfect their life was.

The drawing room buzzed with conversation that stopped when I entered. Mother rose from her seat, elegant as al- ways 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.”

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16:41

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

get smart with me, boy.

us manage to arrive on

about? I thought this

waved his hand dismissively. “Dinner can wait. This is about

attention. He’d built Carter Enterprises from a small family business into a corporate

been updating my will,”

gasped softly. Father

I’m not dying yet,” Grandfather snapped. “Just getting my affairs in order. And I’ve made some decisions about the company

had a significant stake in the company, but Grandfather’s controlling shares would

steely gaze on me. “You’ve done well as

I frowned. “Our last quarter was our

on the floor. “I’m talking about family. Stability.

husband coughed discreetly. Victoria’s

are you

my controlling shares

his drink. Valentina looked up from her

I stared at him. “You

“Carter Enterprises has always been family-run. Family means

to

not to anything or anyone else.” Grandfather shook his head. “You’re thirty-three, Alexander. Your relationships last shorter than some

Alexander getting married? He can’t even

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16:41

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that astute observation, Victoria,” I said, forcing a smile. “Always a

Victoria’s father, chuckled from the corner of the room. “The boy does have a track

his tumbler down with more force than necessary. “Last year, we selected a perfectly

loosened my

wedding,” Father continued, addressing the room like I wasn’t there.

Patricia gasped dramatically. “Penelope Langford? Such a lovely

wasn’t right for

didn’t like her. Said she reminded him of a corporate

for sharing that, Val,”

shrugged and went back to her phone. “Just

terms are simple. Alexander marries within six months, or Victoria receives

excitement. “Really, Grandfather? You’d give

Thomas straightened his posture, dollar

company for forty years to watch it get dismantled by your husband’s investment firm,” Grandfa- ther snapped at Victoria.

the future of our family business