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,

smirked. “Some of us manage to arrive on time,

about? I thought this was just

his hand dismissively. “Dinner can wait.

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

my will,” he

Father set down

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

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

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

“Our last quarter was our best in five

business.” He thumped his cane on

coughed discreetly. Victoria’s

exactly are you saying,

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

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

him. “You can’t

Grandfather’s expression didn’t change. “Carter Enterprises has always been family-run.

to the

his head. “You’re thirty-three,

getting married? He can’t

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16:41

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Victoria,” I said, forcing a smile. “Always a pleasure

father, chuckled from the corner of the room. “The boy does have

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

my tie slightly.

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

a lovely girl and from

for

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

for sharing that, Val,” I

went back to her phone. “Just

marries within six months, or Victoria

excitement.

his posture, dollar signs practically visible in

by your husband’s investment firm,” Grandfa- ther snapped at Victoria.

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