The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 8

Olivia

“You heard me correctly.” He remained perfectly composed while I coughed and sputtered. “I require a wife within four months, and I’ve decided you’re the most suitable candidate.”

I stared at him, certain I’d slipped into some alternate dimension. “Is this a joke?”

Alexander’s face remained perfectly serious, those gray eyes locked on mine without a hint of humor.

“I assure you, Ms. Morgan, I never joke about business matters.”

“And this is… business?” I managed, and my voice was higher than normal.

“Precisely.” He leaned back, completely at ease, while my world tilted on its axis. “My grandfather has given me an ultimatum. I must marry within six months to retain control of Carter Enterprises. Two months have already passed while I’ve evaluated my options.”

I set my water glass down before I could spill more of it. “And you landed on… me? A random employee you drove home once?”

“There was nothing random about my selection process.”

“Mr. Carter, I don’t understand why you’re telling me this. Surely you should be out there looking for someone suit- able to be your wife? Someone you’re actually dating? Maybe propose to your girlfriend?”

He looked at me in a way that suggested I was being deliberately obtuse. “If I had a girlfriend, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“Then find one! There must be thousands of women in Los Angeles who’d jump at the chance to marry you.”

“That’s precisely the problem. They want to marry Alexander Carter, CEO and heir to the Carter fortune. The actual person is irrelevant.”

“And I don’t want to marry you for your money?” I asked incredulously.

His lips curved into something almost resembling a smile. “You’re different.”

“You don’t know me!”

other. “You’re intelligent, resourceful, and you understand busi- ness. You’re also honest-brutally so, based on how you handled your

the reminder. “That doesn’t mean

explained

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going to be any terms because this is insane! I’m your employee, Mr. Carter. You can’t just ask employ- ees to marry

asking all my employees,” he

me?” I demanded, standing up. “This is completely inappropriate and

eyes. “I chose you because you need this

as I

me cold.

slightly. “I’m not some creep propositioning you, Olivia. This is a business

the couch. “What could you possibly

for two years, but that grace period ends next month. You’ve received four collection

open.

You’ve been working overtime for

from my face. “Have you been spying on

you in

into my personal life?” I demanded. “That’s a serious invasion of privacy. You had

company loan three months ago and were denied. You’ve been working sixty-hour weeks since January, which exceeds our recommended maximum. If this continues, HR will be

making me work those hours! The

and customer engagement,” he finished for me. “Yes, I’m aware. And you’re

my exhausted body betrayed me with a poorly timed

Alexander’s lips twitched. “Clearly.”

is insane. You can’t possibly think I’d agree to marry you just because I have

one year.

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