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. I’ve

“Some of us manage to arrive

ignored her. “What’s this about? I

dismissively. “Dinner can wait. This is

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

updating my will,”

Father set down his

getting my affairs in order. And I’ve

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

he fixed his steely gaze on me. “You’ve done well as CEO. Profits

frowned. “Our last quarter

He thumped his cane on the floor. “I’m

discreetly. Victoria’s

exactly are

my controlling shares in Carter Enterprises, you need to be married within

again. Father actually put down his drink. Valentina looked up from her phone. Victoria burst into

at him.

Enterprises has always been family-run. Family means stability.

to the

Grandfather shook his head. “You’re thirty-three, Alexander. Your relationships last shorter than some of

Is Alexander getting married? He can’t even

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16:41

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astute observation, Victoria,” I said, forcing a

chuckled from the corner of the room. “The boy does have a track

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

loosened my

two weeks before the wedding,” Father continued, addressing the room like I wasn’t there. “The merg- er nearly fell apart because of

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

wasn’t right for me,” I said

“He didn’t like her. Said she

sharing that,

sister shrugged and went back to her phone.

The terms are simple. Alexander marries within six months, or Victoria receives my controlling stake in the

in excitement.

posture, dollar signs practically visible in

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

reducing the future of our family business to whether or not I get married? What century