The man behind the name
1398 Words
Olivia’s POV
I had spent the entire morning trying to convince myself that meeting Ethan Carter was just a business meeting.
It wasn’t working.
By the time my car stopped outside Carter Holdings, my stomach was already in knots.
I looked up at the tall glass building.
This was where Ethan Carter ran his company.
My future husband.
The thought still felt strange.
I stepped out of the car and walked inside.
The receptionist looked up.
“Miss Hayes?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Carter is expecting you.”
She gave me a polite smile.
“This way, please.”
I followed her into the lift.
As the doors closed, I looked at my reflection.
I looked calm.
Good.
I needed to look calm.
The lift opened on the top floor.
The receptionist led me down a quiet hall before stopping in front of a large black door.
“His office is right inside.”
“Thank you.”
She walked away.
I took a deep breath.
Then I knocked.
“Come in.”
I opened the door.
The first thing I noticed was the view.
The whole of London seemed to stretch beyond the glass windows.
The second thing I noticed was the man standing beside them.
He turned toward me.
Tall.
Dark hair.
Grey eyes.
Sharp features.
He looked exactly like the kind of man who never had to ask twice for anything.
His eyes moved over me for a second before meeting mine.
“Olivia Hayes.”
His voice was calm.
“Ethan Carter.”
Neither of us smiled.
He walked toward me and held out his hand.
I looked at it for a second before taking it.
His grip was firm.
“Thank you for coming.”
“I almost didn’t.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“At least you’re honest.”
“I don’t see a reason to pretend.”
“Neither do I.”
He let go of my hand and pointed toward the chairs.
“Sit.”
I sat across from him.
He took the seat opposite me.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Finally, I broke the silence.
“So.”
“So.”
“You know why I’m here.”
“Yes.”
“And you know about my father’s agreement.”
“Yes.”
I studied his face.
“You seem very calm about all this.”
“I’ve had time to think about it.”
“And?”
“I don’t want to marry you.”
I blinked.
At least he was honest.
“Good.”
His eyebrow lifted again.
“You’re not offended?”
“No.”
I leaned back.
“Because I don’t want to marry you either.”
Something almost like amusement crossed his face.
“Then we agree on something.”
“That’s a start.”
He nodded.
“I asked Mr. Benson to arrange this meeting because I didn’t want other people deciding everything for us.”
“Then tell me why you agreed to meet me.”
“Because our families made an agreement.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
He was quiet for a moment.
“My grandfather believes this marriage will protect both companies.”
“And you believe him?”
“I believe there is a reason our fathers made the agreement.”
I looked at him.
“My father is dead, Ethan.”
“I know.”
“So I can’t ask him why.”
“I can’t ask mine either.”
I paused.
“What happened to your father?”
“He died eight years ago.”
“And your mother?”
“She died when I was born.”
I didn’t know what to say.
“I’m sorry.”
He gave a small nod.
“Thank you.”
The room became quiet again.
I looked down at my hands.
“I don’t want a marriage where I’m treated like a business deal.”
“You won’t be.”
I looked up.
“What does that mean?”
“We would have separate lives.”
“That sounds like a strange marriage.”
“It would be.”
I almost smiled.
“At least we’re honest.”
He opened a drawer and pulled out a black folder.
My stomach tightened.
He placed it on the table between us.
“The marriage contract.”
I stared at it.
“So it’s really happening.”
“Only if you sign.”
I opened the folder.
The first page was filled with legal terms.
I turned it.
Separate rooms.
Separate finances.
No interference in each other’s businesses.
A private marriage.
A public image.
I stopped reading.
“You’ve already agreed to these?”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t even ask for changes?”
“I don’t see a reason to.”
I looked at him.
“You’re very easygoing for someone everyone says is ruthless.”
His expression didn’t change.
“People don’t know me.”
“Maybe.”
I turned another page.
“There’s a clause about divorce.”
“Yes.”
“After one year.”
“Yes.”
I looked at him.
“So after one year, we can end this.”
“If we both want to.”
That should have made me feel relieved.
Instead, something about the thought made my chest feel strange.
I ignored it.
“What happens if one of us falls in love?”
His eyes met mine.
“That won’t happen.”
The answer came too fast.
I raised an eyebrow.
“You sound very sure.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
I looked back at the contract.
“I have one condition.”
“What is it?”
“My company stays mine.”
“It will.”
“No interference.”
“Agreed.”
“And I won’t be expected to act like some perfect wife.”
“You won’t.”
I looked at him carefully.
“You really don’t care?”
“I care about protecting my company.”
“And that’s all?”
“For now.”
His answer annoyed me.
“For now?”
He leaned back.
“We’ve known each other for less than an hour.”
“Fair enough.”
I closed the folder.
“I need time.”
“You can have until tomorrow.”
I stared at him.
“Tomorrow?”
“My grandfather wants an answer.”
“My father just died.”
His expression changed slightly.
“I know.”
“Then you should understand why I’m not ready.”
“I do.”
His voice was softer this time.
“I didn’t say you had to sign tonight.”
I looked away.
For the first time, I noticed that he didn’t seem as cold as I had expected.
He seemed tired.
Maybe he didn’t want this any more than I did.
I stood.
“I’ll read the contract again.”
He stood too.
“Good.”
I picked up the folder.
As I reached the door, I heard his voice.
“Olivia.”
I turned.
“If you decide not to do this, I won’t force you.”
I stared at him.
“But you said Hayes Group could be in danger.”
“It could.”
“So what’s the point of refusing if it puts my father’s company at risk?”
He didn’t answer.
And somehow, that silence told me everything.
I left his office with the contract pressed against my chest.
The lift doors closed.
I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.
I had expected Ethan Carter to be arrogant.
Cold.
Impossible to deal with.
Instead, I had met a man who seemed just as trapped as I was.
That should have made the decision easier.
It didn’t.
When I reached the ground floor, my phone rang.
It was Charlotte.
“How did it go?”
I stepped outside.
“I met him.”
“And?”
I looked back at the building.
“He gave me a contract.”
Charlotte went silent.
“Are you going to sign it?”
I looked down at the folder in my hands.
“I don’t know.”
And that was the truth.
Because for the first time, I was beginning to wonder if marrying Ethan Carter would really be the worst thing that could happen to me.
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