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.

us manage to arrive on time, cousin

ignored her. “What’s this about? I thought

his hand dismissively. “Dinner can wait. This

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

updating my will,”

gasped softly. Father set down

yet,” Grandfather snapped. “Just getting my affairs in order. And I’ve

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

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

I frowned. “Our last quarter was

business.” He thumped his cane on the floor.

discreetly.

are

leaned forward in 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 phone.

stared at him. “You

didn’t change. “Carter Enterprises has always been family-run. Family means

to the

anything or anyone else.” Grandfather shook his head. “You’re thirty-three, Alexander. Your

getting married? He can’t even keep a girlfriend

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16:41

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forcing a smile. “Always a

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

father set his tumbler down with more force than necessary. “Last year, we selected a perfectly suitable woman for him. The engagement was announced in the Times, for God’s sake. And then what happened,

my

addressing the room like I wasn’t there. “The merg- er nearly fell

“Penelope Langford? Such a lovely girl and from a

for me,” I

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

you for sharing that,

her phone. “Just

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

her champagne in excitement. “Really, Grandfather?

his posture, dollar

get dismantled by your husband’s investment firm,” Grandfa-

of our family business to whether or not I get married? What century is