The CEO's Contractual Wife

Chapter 134

Alexander

I parted from Olivia at the elevator, heading toward my office. Just before the doors closed, I turned back for one final look.

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Olivia stood tall, confidence radiating from her posture as she spoke with another employee. The pencil skirt hugged her curves perfectly, accentuating her shapely legs and the gentle swell of her hips. The matching blazer highlighted her trim waist before flaring subtly over her breasts.

She was magnificent, not just physically attractive but

commanding attention with her intelligence and poise. Even from this distance, I could see how she captivated her audience, gesturing animatedly as she spoke.

My wife was making quite an impression at Carter Enterprises, not just because of her connection to me.

When I reached my office, Jessica was already waiting, tablet in hand and coffee on my desk.

“Good morning, Mr. Carter,” she greeted, professional as always. “Your schedule is updated on your tablet. The acquisition meeting at Meridian Properties has been moved up to eleven instead of

two.”

I frowned, checking my watch. “That’s in ninety minutes.”

“Yes, sir. Their CEO called personally to request the change. Something about another interested party.”

“Another interested party?” I repeated. “Who?”

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“They didn’t specify,” Jessica replied, handing me a folder. “I’ve prepared the latest reports on Meridian’s holdings and market position. The legal team sent over the revised offer this morning.”

I flipped through the documents, scanning the numbers. Meridian Properties owned prime real estate throughout downtown Los Angeles, exactly the locations I needed for Carter Enterprises‘ expansion into retail space.

“Get the car ready in thirty minutes,” I said, taking a sip of coffee. “And tell Wilson to meet us there with the final paperwork.”

“Already done, sir.”

I sat at my desk, immersing myself in preparation for the meeting. Meridian was a family–owned business with a solid portfolio but struggling with succession planning. The aging founder wanted to retire, and his children had little interest in real estate. It was the perfect acquisition target.

Ninety minutes later, Jessica and I walked through the gleaming lobby of Meridian Properties. The receptionist directed us to the fourteenth floor, where the meeting would take place in their boardroom.

“Mr. Carter,” Edwin Meridian greeted me, extending his hand. “Thank you for accommodating the schedule change.”

“Not a problem,” I replied, shaking his hand firmly. “I understand there’s been a development?”

Edwin’s expression tightened. “Yes, well, let’s discuss that in the boardroom. Your legal counsel has arrived as well.”

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We followed him down a hallway lined with photographs of various buildings, the Meridian Empire built over forty years. My legal advisor, Wilson, joined us at the boardroom door.

“Mr. Carter,” he nodded. “I have the paperwork ready.”

“Excellent.”

The boardroom was spacious, with floor–to–ceiling windows overlooking downtown Los Angeles. Several people were already seated around the massive oak table.

“You know my son Jacob,” Edwin said, gesturing to a middle–aged man who nodded curtly. “And my daughter Elaine.”

“Of course,” I smiled at both of them. “Good to see you again.”

་་

“And this is-” Edwin began, but was interrupted by the

boardroom door opening behind us.

“Sorry, I’m late,” came a familiar voice. “Traffic was a nightmare.”

I turned, keeping my expression neutral despite the surprise coursing through me.

“James,” I said evenly. “I wasn’t aware you’d be joining us.”

James Westbrook stood in the doorway, impeccably dressed in a charcoal suit that probably cost as much as mine. His trademark confident smile was firmly in place,

“Alexander,” he replied, matching my tone. “Surprise.”

Edwin cleared his throat. “As I was about to explain, Mr. Westbrook approached us last week with an interest in acquiring

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with you, I thought it fair to hear both offers

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but internally I was recalculating. James Westbrook. Of course. Westbrook Financial had been expanding their real estate

smoothly, taking a seat at the table. “I’m always up for healthy

settled into a chair directly across from me.

“Indeed.”

of the table. “Let’s begin, shall we? Both of you have submitted preliminary offers.

who distributed folders

table.

getting straight to the point. “We’ll maintain all current staff for a minimum of eighteen months during the transition,

Edwin nodded, making notes.

offering stock options in Carter Enterprises

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you, Edwin,

Edwin murmured, looking over

expression confident. “Westbrook Financial is prepared to match the financial terms offered

neutral. James was bluffing; Westbrook couldn’t afford to match my

offering to maintain the Meridian name as a subsidiary brand, preserving the legacy you’ve built, Edwin. And rather than just eighteen months of

Edwin’s eyebrows rose slightly.

commitment,” Jacob

value Meridian’s expertise,” James replied smoothly. “Your team has built something special here. We want to build upon that foundation, not dismantle

calm, but inwardly I was reassessing. James was playing the emotional angle, the family legacy card. It was clever, especially knowing how attached Edwin was to the company he’d built from

“Carter Enterprises has a proven track record of

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while integrating it into our broader vision. The Donovan Group is a prime

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Group was hardly a family business,” James pointed out. “It was already a corporate entity when

it.”

the same. We

with both sides presenting the details of their offers and answering questions from the Meridian family. Throughout, James maintained his confident

James approached me

running into you here,” he

a water bottle. “Somehow

“Always suspicious, Alexander. But then,

asked directly.

“Real estate is a solid investment these

easier properties to acquire

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Alexander

from Olivia at the elevator, heading toward my office. Just before the doors closed, I turned back for one

100

accentuating her shapely legs and the gentle swell of her hips. The matching blazer highlighted her trim waist before flaring subtly

not

and poise. Even from this distance, I could see how she captivated her audience,

was making quite an impression at Carter Enterprises, not just because of her

was already waiting, tablet in

updated on your tablet. The acquisition meeting at Meridian Properties has been

two.”

my watch. “That’s

Their CEO called personally to request the change. Something about another

party?” I

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Sep

Chapter 134

55 vouchers

on Meridian’s holdings and market position. The legal team sent over the revised offer

throughout downtown Los Angeles, exactly the locations I needed for Carter Enterprises‘

I said, taking a sip of coffee.

“Already done, sir.”

with succession planning. The aging founder wanted to retire, and his children had little interest in real estate. It was

gleaming lobby of Meridian Properties. The receptionist directed us to

Edwin Meridian greeted me, extending his

hand firmly. “I understand there’s been

discuss that in the boardroom. Your legal counsel has arrived as

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various buildings, the Meridian Empire built over forty years. My legal

he nodded. “I

“Excellent.”

downtown Los Angeles. Several people

know my son Jacob,” Edwin said, gesturing to a middle–aged

both of them. “Good to see