CONTRACT MARRIAGE: his business wife

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE.

SEE YOU AT THE WEDDING ALTAR!

Blake’s POV.

“If we are going to merge our companies, there are a few things you need to know. First, I will be the majority shareholder of the new company. Secondly, I will expect you to take on a more ...subordinate role in the new company’s management, last but not least, our marriage will be kept strictly professional.” Jace listed out his conditions.

My face contorted with rage, my eyes flashing with anger, my rage simmering and threatening to consume me. “Majority shareholder? A more subordinate role? I am not some trinket, or trophy wife, Griffin.”

I leaned back in my chair, my expression shifting to a calm and more controlled one as I regarded Jace. “Let me be clear, Mr Griffin. I am not about to sit back and watch you relegate or should I say, degrade me to some lowly, sorry, glorified position of a secretary just because your daddy, told you that women should not play a major role in business. And If you think for one second that I am going to allow you to hold the majority share in our new company without some serious and strict rules on your part, then you are a bigger fool than I thought you were.”

Jace leaned forward, his expression turning to that of rage. “ I will agree that you are not just some pretty face, trinket, or trophy wife, Ms. Carter, but you need to understand that I am not the man who shares power with just anyone, especially not some entitled princess who thinks she can come to my office and repeat what her daddy told her.”

I matched his gaze, my eyes narrowing slightly. “And you need to understand that I am not some desperate boot licker who is desperate or willing to let you walk over her just because you are a billionaire who is too smart for his good.”

Jace’s smirk returned. “Too smart for his good?”

“Indeed, too smart for his good,” I replied, my voice a gentle whisper. “You have always gotten what you want, haven’t you? But this time, I am honored to say, you have met your match. You want my company’s expertise in certain fields, you want the resources that come with that, and the name that comes with that. And I am sorry to say, but I am not giving them to you unless I get something in return, not some glorified position.”

Jace’s expression remained unchanged, unreadable. “State your price, Carter.”

I leaned back in my chair, finally!

“Very well, Mr Griffin, my terms are these.” I began to tick off my imaginary checklist. “First, I want a fair share in the new company, and I want a seat on the board of directors with full voting rights. Second, I want to retain my current position as the CEO of my own company, with complete power over the divisions that I control. And last but certainly not least, I want an agreement that will protect me and my assets in the event of you double-crossing me or divorcing me. These are my terms, take it...or leave it.”

Jace let out a low dry laugh, a mirthless sound. “You are making quite a lot of demand, Carter. And what do I get out of this supposed partnership of ours? An entitled princess who thinks she can call the shots in a marriage and a business?”

I remained unfazed, my expression still calm and collected. “Mr Griffin, what you get out of this partnership is something you have never had before. You will get an ally, you will get someone who knows how to get things done, when to get things done and the right place to get things done. You will get access to the Carter family’s resources, which if we are being honest, is right next to yours in the leaderboard.”

Jace clenched his jaw. “And what trust? Carter? What happened to the subject of trust?

“Trust?” I repeated a wide, humorless smile on my face. “You and I both know that trust is a luxury we can not afford. But we can trust in one Gunn’s, our desire for success. I think that is the only thing that matters between you and me.”

Jace leaned back in his chair. “You are right about that. But I am not convinced that you will not grab a knife and stab me in the back the first chance you get, we both know what your daddy is like, and an apple does not fall far from its tree.”

This jerk, how dare he bring back that old incident!

“Breathe Blake, breathe. This is not the right time to give him a befitting reply, there will be lots of time and opportunities to do that later.” The voice in my head said, in a slow soothing voice.

“Mr. Griffin, I am not in the business of stabbing people in the back, that’s for your big brother, literally,” I replied, coldly. “I am in the business of making deals and increasing my profits. And I assure you, if we enter this deal, I will be just as invested and interested in its success as you are. After all, my reputation and legacy depend on it, just as much as yours does.”

Jace leaned forward again, his eyes never leaving my face. “So you are expecting me to believe that you, you, suddenly turned into an ally? Just like that?”

“Well, Miracles do happen. And as the famous saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures. And yes, one more thing. I already have my team working on that. As I speak, they are spreading some ‘pictures’ of us via the Internet, so all I need is your cooperation and you to play your part well, if ...you want this to work out.” I said, my voice filled with determination.

“Alright then, see you at the wedding altar in forty-eight hours,” Jace said.

“What! Forty-eight hours?”