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 been

smirked. “Some of us manage to arrive on

this about? I

wait. This is about

company’s future, everyone paid attention. He’d built Carter Enterprises from a small family business into a

my will,”

gasped softly. Father set down his

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

company, but Grandfather’s controlling shares would even-

done well as CEO. Profits are up. The board is happy. But there’s

quarter was our

his cane on the floor. “I’m talking

discreetly.

are you saying,

his wheelchair. “I’m saying that to inherit my controlling shares in Carter

Mother gasped again. Father actually put down his drink. Valentina looked up from her

at him.

Enterprises has always

to the

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

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

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16:41

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for that astute observation, Victoria,” I said, forcing a

of the

selected a perfectly

loosened my tie

before the wedding,” Father continued, addressing the room like I

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

for me,” I said

like her. Said she reminded him of a corporate spreadsheet – technically

for sharing that, Val,”

back to her phone.

thumped his cane again. “Enough! The terms are simple. Alexander marries within six months, or

in excitement. “Really,

posture, dollar signs practically visible

watch it get dismantled by your husband’s investment firm,” Grandfa- ther snapped at Victoria. “But at least you

stood up, pacing the Persian rug. “This is absurd. You’re reducing the future of our family business to whether or not I get married? What