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”

smart with me, boy.

manage

her. “What’s this about?

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

silent. When Grandfather talked about the company’s future, everyone paid attention. He’d built Carter Enterprises from a

my will,”

softly. Father set down

snapped. “Just getting my affairs in order. And I’ve made some decisions about

CEO, I had a significant stake in the company, but Grandfather’s

as CEO. Profits are up. The board is

last quarter was our best in five

not talking about business.” He thumped his cane on the floor. “I’m talking about family. Stability. A

discreetly. Victoria’s smile

exactly are you saying,

Carter leaned forward in his wheelchair. “I’m saying that to inherit my controlling shares in Carter Enterprises, you need to be

exploded in reactions. Mother gasped again. Father actually put down his drink. Valentina looked up

I stared at him. “You

change. “Carter Enterprises

to the

his head. “You’re thirty-three, Alexander. Your relationships

is priceless. Is Alexander getting married? He can’t even keep a girlfriend

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16:41

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said, forcing a smile. “Always a pleasure to have your

Victoria’s father, chuckled from the corner of the

tumbler down with more force than necessary. “Last year, we selected a perfectly suitable woman for him. The engagement was

my

the wedding,” Father continued, addressing the room like

Patricia gasped dramatically. “Penelope Langford? Such a lovely girl and from a good

right for me,” I said

looked up from her phone. “He didn’t like her. Said she reminded him of a corporate spreadsheet – technically perfect but

for sharing that, Val,” I

to her phone.

cane again. “Enough! The terms are simple. Alexander marries within six months, or Victoria receives my controlling stake in

her champagne in excitement. “Really,

husband Thomas straightened his posture, dollar signs practically

company for forty years to watch it get dismantled by your husband’s investment firm,”

up, pacing the Persian rug. “This is absurd. You’re reducing the future of our family business