THE CEO’S CONTRACT BRIDE

Chapter 4

Drey had spent the last ten minutes staring at the city through the windows of his office, trying to decide whether he was more irritated by Anthony or by the fact that his uncle had found a way to make the threat sound legitimate.

Behind him, Nathaniel was still seated on the black leather sofa, the contract folder resting neatly on his lap. Drey finally turned around.

“You’re telling me my grandfather put my entire position in the company at risk because I’m unmarried?”

Nathaniel adjusted his glasses. “That’s not exactly what the trust says.”

“It sounds exactly like what it says.” Drey said.

“The trust gives you controlling ownership of Carter Enterprises on one condition.”

Drey said nothing. Nathaniel opened the folder and removed several pages. “You must be legally married before your thirty-second birthday and remain married for a continuous period of one year.” Drey stared at him.

“One year.”

“Yes.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Anthony becomes the temporary trustee of the shares assigned to you.”

“Temporary?”

“Until the court determines the next eligible beneficiary.”

Drey gave a humorless laugh. “So Anthony gets control.”

“Effectively.”

He walked back toward his desk. “And my grandfather thought this was a good idea?”

“Your grandfather thought you needed stability.”

“I run a multinational company.” Drey said.

“Your grandfather was aware of that.”

“I don’t need a wife to prove I can run a company.”

Nathaniel closed the folder.

“You’re arguing with the wrong person.”

Drey stopped. Nathaniel had worked for the Carter family for almost twenty years. He had handled acquisitions, inheritance disputes, board conflicts and enough family drama to know when Drey was wasting time.

“The clause was written before your grandfather died,” Nathaniel continued. “It was part of his final estate plan. He believed that whoever controlled Carter Enterprises should have a personal life that demonstrated some degree of permanence.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“I didn’t write it.” Nathaniel said.

Drey’s jaw tightened. He had known Richard Carter well enough to understand the man’s obsession with legacy. His grandfather had built Carter Enterprises from a small investment firm into one of the most powerful companies in the country. He had spent decades preparing Drey to inherit everything.

Apparently, he had also spent those decades worrying about whether Drey would ever get married.

“Why wasn’t I told about this before?”

“You were.”

Drey looked at him sharply. Nathaniel sighed. “Your grandfather mentioned it several times. You chose not to take him seriously.”

“I thought he was trying to convince me to date.”

“He was.”

“That doesn’t mean I agreed to marry someone.”

“No. Which is why we’re here.”

Drey walked back to his desk and leaned against it. “So what exactly are you suggesting?”

Nathaniel’s answer came without hesitation. “Marriage.” Drey stared at him.

“That is your solution?”

“Yes.”

“To a corporate problem?”

“To a legal requirement.”

“You’re serious.”

“Completely.”

Drey looked at the folder again. “And how long?”

“One year.” Nathaniel replied.

“I heard you the first time.”

“Then you understand.”

Drey pushed away from the desk and walked toward the window again. A year. It wasn’t a lifetime. It wasn’t even long enough to change anything permanently.

He could get married, satisfy the trust agreement, keep control of Carter Enterprises and end the arrangement once the twelve months were over. Simple. At least on paper.

“There has to be another way.”

“There isn’t one that doesn’t involve litigation.”

“How long?”

Nathaniel paused.

“If Anthony challenges the trust and you fight it in court, possibly years.” Drey’s expression hardened.

“And during that time?”

“Your voting rights could be frozen.”

That changed everything. Carter Enterprises was already facing pressure from investors. Anthony had spent months quietly building support among board members who believed Drey was too young, too aggressive and too unwilling to compromise.

If Anthony gained temporary control, he wouldn’t simply sit in Drey’s chair until the matter was resolved. He would dismantle everything. Drey knew his uncle too well to believe otherwise.

“How long before Anthony makes his move?”

“Soon.”

“That’s vague.”

Nathaniel met his eyes. “He filed the notice this morning.”

Drey went still. “You didn’t mention that earlier.”

“You didn’t ask.”

“Nathaniel.”

“He hasn’t challenged the trust yet. He’s waiting to see whether you intend to comply with the marriage clause.”

Drey picked up his phone from the desk. There were already three missed calls from Marcus. He ignored them.

“What happens if I get married?”

“You fulfill the condition.”

“For exactly one year.”

“For exactly one year.”

“And after that?”

“You can divorce.”

Drey looked at him. “That’s it?”

“Provided the marriage lasts the required twelve months and there are no legal complications.” Nathaniel replied.

Drey gave a short laugh. “You make it sound like renewing a business license.”

“From a legal standpoint, there are similarities.”

“I don’t want a wife.”

“I know.”

“I don’t have time for one.”

“I know.”

“I don’t trust people who marry into money.”

Nathaniel’s expression remained calm. “Then don’t marry someone who wants your money.”

Drey looked at him. Nathaniel continued. “Find someone who has a reason to agree that has nothing to do with your wealth.”

“That sounds convenient.”

“It is.”

Drey crossed his arms. “What kind of woman?”

Nathaniel almost smiled. “You’re asking me as though we’re shopping for an employee.”

“I’m asking because if I’m doing this, I’m not making a mistake.”

“You need someone discreet. Someone with no interest in the press. Someone who can handle your world without trying to become the center of it. Someone who won’t expect romance.”

Drey’s mouth tightened. “Romance is not part of the agreement.”

“Exactly.”

“And she needs to understand that this ends in one year.”

“She’ll have to understand that from the beginning.”

Drey considered it. There was something strangely absurd about the entire situation. He had spent his adult life avoiding relationships because he had watched what happened when people mixed emotion with power. His mother had once told him that eventually he’d meet someone who would make him change his mind.

He had never believed her. Now his grandfather’s trust was forcing him to find a wife. “Does she have to know why I need the marriage?” Drey asked.

“Not everything.”

“Then what does she need to know?”

“That it’s a legal arrangement. That you’ll provide financial compensation. That there will be conditions.”

“How much?”

Nathaniel hesitated. Drey noticed.

“How much?” Drey repeated.

“That depends on the woman.”

“I want someone ordinary.”

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow.

“Ordinary?” “What do you mean by… ordinary?”

“Someone outside our circle.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t need another family trying to gain access to mine.” Nathaniel nodded slowly.

“And because someone from your world will understand exactly what she stands to gain.”

Drey didn’t answer. That was precisely the problem. He had spent years watching people smile at him while calculating what they could take. He wanted someone who didn’t care about Carter Enterprises.

Someone who had her own problems. Someone who would take the money, fulfill the arrangement and leave when it was over. No emotional complications. No family politics. No expectations. One year. That was all.

Nathaniel reached into his briefcase and pulled out another document. “There is one more thing.” Drey took it.

“What?”

“The trust doesn’t only require a marriage certificate.” Nathaniel said.

Drey looked down at the page. “What else?”

“You and your wife must maintain the same primary residence for the duration of the marriage.” Drey’s eyes lifted.

“For twelve months?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Your grandfather wanted the marriage to be genuine in practice, not merely on paper.” Drey’s expression darkened.

“So we live together.”

“Yes.”

“And everyone knows?”

“The marriage must be publicly recognized.”

“Of course.”

Nathaniel gave him a look.

“Your grandfather wasn’t stupid.”

“No. Just controlling.” Nathaniel said and scoffed.

“That seems to run in the family.”

Drey ignored the comment. He read the document again. One year. A wife. A shared residence. Public appearances. Then freedom. He could do that. He had handled far more complicated deals than this.

“Fine.” Drey said.

Nathaniel blinked. “Fine?”

“Find her.”

Nathaniel leaned back. “I need you to understand something, Drey. This isn’t a merger. You can’t simply buy a woman and expect her to behave according to your specifications.”

Drey looked at him coldly. “I know.”

“Do you?” Nathaniel asked

“Yes.”

“Because if you’re looking for someone desperate enough to accept anything, you may create a problem bigger than Anthony.”

Drey was silent for a moment. Then he said, “I don’t want someone desperate.” “I want someone who needs the money.”

“That sounds like the same thing.”

“It isn’t.”

Drey turned toward the window. “I want someone who can walk away from me when the year ends.”

Nathaniel’s expression changed slightly “Why?”

“Because I don’t want someone staying because she’s afraid to leave.”

For the first time since entering the office, Nathaniel didn’t immediately respond. Drey continued, “No one from the Carter circle. No socialites. No women looking for a husband. No one who’s going to fall in love with the idea of being Mrs. Carter.”

“And what if she falls in love with you?” Nathaniel asked. Drey looked at him.

“That won’t happen.”

Nathaniel gave him a long, unreadable look. “You sound very confident.”

“I am.”

“That’s usually when things become complicated.”

Drey picked up his phone. “Just find her.”

Nathaniel gathered the documents. “I’ll start today.”

“Marcus has already been told to look.”

“Then we’ll compare notes.”

Nathaniel reached the door before Drey spoke again.

“Nathaniel.”

He turned.

“One year.”

“I know.”

“No extensions. No second year. No matter what happens.”

Nathaniel’s gaze rested on him for a moment. “Understood.”

The door closed. Drey was alone again. His phone vibrated. This time it was Marcus. “I have someone.” Drey stared at the message.

A second message appeared.

“Not from our circle. No connection to the company. She’s twenty-four. Works multiple jobs. Financial situation isn’t great.”

Drey read it twice. Then another message arrived.

“I think she might be exactly what you’re looking for.”

Drey’s thumb hovered over the screen. He had asked for someone ordinary. Someone with nothing to gain from his world. Someone who needed the money enough to accept a deal most people would consider insane.

He typed one response.

“Send me everything.”