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!”

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

up my neck at the reminder. “That doesn’t mean I want to marry

haven’t explained the terms

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is insane! I’m your employee, Mr. Carter. You can’t just ask employ- ees to marry

not asking all my employees,” he said with maddening calm.

standing up. “This is completely inappropriate and probably

remained seated, watching me with those unnerving eyes. “I chose you

much as

stopped me

propositioning you, Olivia. This is a business ar- rangement that would benefit us

sank back onto the couch. “What could

on his knees. “Your student loans have been in deferment for two years, but that grace period ends next month. You’ve received four collection notices in the past two

open. “How

insurance won’t fully cover. You’ve been working overtime for months,

from my face. “Have you been spying on

you,” he corrected, as if that made it better. “After I drove you home that night, I saw you in the office on Monday morning. Most people wouldn’t show up to work

“That’s a serious invasion of privacy. You had

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

me work those

increase in sales and customer engagement,” he finished for me. “Yes, I’m aware. And you’re being compensated for the overtime, but combined with your freelance work, you’re

I insisted, even as my exhausted body betrayed me with a

Alexander’s lips twitched. “Clearly.”

agree to

exactly one year. After

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