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, especially 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 forget how perfect their life was.

The drawing room buzzed with conversation that stopped when I entered. Mother rose from her seat, elegant as always 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."

I took a seat across from him. "Good to see you too, Grandfather."

"Don't get smart with me, boy. I've been waiting."

Victoria smirked. "Some of us manage to arrive on time, cousin dear."

I ignored her. "What's this about? I thought this was just dinner."

Grandfather Harold waved his hand dismissively. "Dinner can wait. This is about the future of Carter Enterprises."

The room fell silent. When Grandfather talked about the company's future, everyone paid attention. He'd built Carter Enterprises from a small family business into a corporate empire and, at seventy-eight, still held the controlling stake.

"I've been updating my will," he announced.

Mother gasped softly. Father set down his whiskey.

"Oh, relax; I'm not dying yet," Grandfather snapped. "Just getting my affairs in order. And I've made some decisions about the company shares."

I leaned forward. As CEO, I had a significant stake in the company, but Grandfather's controlling shares would eventually determine who truly ran Carter Enterprises.

"Alexander," he fixed his steely gaze on me. "You've done well as CEO. Profits are up. The board is happy. But there's something missing."

"Missing?" I frowned. "Our last quarter was our best in five years."

"I'm not talking about business." He thumped his cane on the floor. "I'm talking about family. Stability. A legacy."

Victoria's husband coughed discreetly. Victoria's smile widened.

"What exactly are you saying, Grandfather?"

Harold Carter leaned forward in his wheelchair. "I'm saying that to inherit my controlling shares in Carter Enterprises, you need to be married within six months."

The room exploded in reactions. Mother gasped again. Father actually put down his drink. Valentina looked up from her phone. Victoria burst into delighted laughter.

"Married?" I stared at him. "You can't be serious."

"Dead serious." Grandfather's expression didn't change. "Carter Enterprises has always been family-run. Family means stability. Commitment."

"I'm committed to the company!"

"But not to anything or anyone else." Grandfather shook his head. "You're thirty-three, Alexander. Your relationships last shorter than some of our quarterly reports."

Victoria couldn't contain herself. "Oh, this is priceless. Is Alexander getting married? He can't even keep a girlfriend past the three-month mark."

"Thank you for that astute observation, Victoria," I said, forcing a smile. "Always a pleasure to have your support."

Uncle Richard, Victoria's father, chuckled from the corner of the room. "The boy does have a track record."

"A track record?" My 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, Alexander?"

I loosened my tie slightly. "Dad—"

"He canceled it two weeks before the wedding," Father continued, addressing the room like I wasn't there. "The merger nearly fell apart because of it."

Aunt Patricia gasped dramatically. "Penelope Langford? Such a lovely girl and from a good family. What a shame."

"She wasn't right for me," I said firmly.

Valentina finally looked up from her phone. "He didn't like her. Said she reminded him of a corporate spreadsheet – technically perfect but utterly boring."

"Thank you for sharing that, Val," I muttered.

My sister shrugged and went back to her phone. "Just telling it like it is."

Grandfather Harold thumped his cane again. "Enough! The terms are simple. Alexander marries within six months, or Victoria receives my controlling stake in the company."

Victoria nearly spilled her champagne in excitement. "Really, Grandfather? You'd give me control?"

Her husband Thomas straightened his posture, dollar signs practically visible in his eyes.

"I didn't build this company for forty years to watch it get dismantled by your husband's investment firm," Grandfather snapped at Victoria. "But at least you understand commitment."

I stood up, pacing the Persian rug. "This is absurd. You're reducing the future of our family business to whether or not I get married? What century is this?"

"The century where actions have consequences," Grandfather replied. "Victoria may be insufferable—"

"Hey!" Victoria protested.

"—but she's stable. Married. Committed."

Victoria's smirk returned. "Face it, Alexander. You couldn't commit to a woman if your life depended on it. Now your career does, and we all know how that's going to end."

Something snapped inside me. I'd tolerated Victoria's barbs for years, but this was different. This was my life's work at stake.

"You know what, Victoria? You're wrong."

"Am I?" She swirled her champagne. "Name one relationship you've had that lasted longer than a corporate quarterly report."

My cousin Matthew, who'd been silently watching the drama unfold, whistled low. "She's got you there, Alex."

I straightened my shoulders. "I'll do it. I'll get married within six months."

The room fell silent again.

"To whom?" Father asked skeptically.

"I'll figure that out."

Victoria burst into laughter. "Oh, this is too good! Alexander Carter, CEO and eligible bachelor, desperately seeking a wife. Should we put an ad in the classifieds?"

Her husband joined in. "Maybe we should start interviewing candidates. Create a shortlist."

"I don't need help finding someone," I said through gritted teeth.

Aunt Elizabeth, who'd been quietly knitting in the corner, looked up. "What about that nice PR director at your company? Jennifer, something?"

"She's married, Mother," Victoria said.

"Oh. Well, what about your assistant?"

"I'm not marrying my assistant, Aunt Elizabeth."

Grandfather Harold raised his hand for silence. "The terms are set. Six months from today."

Uncle Richard raised his glass. "To Alexander's impending nuptials! May he find a bride before Victoria gets his office."

Victoria clinked glasses with her father. "I'm already planning where to put my new desk."

I clenched my jaw. "Enjoy the fantasy while it lasts, cousin. I'm not losing the company."

"Six months, Alexander," Grandfather reminded me. "The clock starts now."