The CEO's Contractual Wife (Olivia and Ryan) novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135

Alexander

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I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound echoing in the break room. “You can’t beat me, James. You never could.”

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His eyes narrowed slightly, but his smile remained fixed. “Not yet. But one day, Alexander. One day I will.”

The casual observer might have seen friendly banter between business rivals, but I knew better. Our competition had begun years ago in college, and what had started as a friendly rivalry had morphed into something far more complex.

“Why don’t we get back to the meeting?” I suggested, turning

toward the door.

“Wait,” James said, his voice suddenly less confident. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something. Why wasn’t I invited to your wedding?”

I paused, genuinely surprised by the question. “My wedding?”

“Yes, your wedding,” he repeated, his tone casual but eyes watchful. “Was it intentional, or did you just forget about your old friend?”

I hadn’t given it a second thought. With the rushed timeline and everything else happening, James hadn’t even crossed my mind.

“It wasn’t intentional,” I replied smoothly. “Everything happened quickly. Small ceremony, family only.” I paused, then added, “We should do dinner sometime. You and me. Catch up properly.”

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James nodded, seeming satisfied with my answer. “I’ll look forward to that.” He took a sip of his coffee. “I saw the photos, by the way. Your wife is absolutely beautiful.”

“Thank you,” I said, feeling a strange surge of pride at his words.

“Actually, that’s what made me curious,” he continued, watching me carefully. “What possessed Alexander Carter to marry someone… normal? Instead of the rich, sexy socialites you usually date.” He raised his hands defensively. “Not saying Olivia isn’t sexy, but she’s not exactly from our world, is she?”

Something hot and dangerous flared inside me. The way he spoke about Olivia, analyzing her like a business acquisition that didn’t meet specifications, made my jaw clench.

“You can’t quantify love based on wealth or beauty or social standing,” I said quietly. “Some things in life can’t be measured on spreadsheets.”

He looked genuinely surprised by my response, then broke into a wide smile. “Alright, alright. The great Alexander Carter has finally found his heart. Who would have thought?”

The conversation ended as Edwin poked his head into the break room. “Gentlemen? We’re ready to continue.”

Back in the boardroom, the negotiations intensified. James presented detailed projections for Meridian’s growth under Westbrook Financial, while I countered with Carter Enterprises‘ extensive resources and experience in similar acquisitions.

“Our offer provides long–term stability,” James argued, pointing to his charts. “Five years of guaranteed employment for all staff.”

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“At reduced compensation,” I pointed out. “The fine print says ‘current salary levels where appropriate.’ That’s a significant loophole.”

James shrugged. “Standard legal language.”

“Perhaps,” Edwin Meridian said, “but Mr. Carter makes a fair point. Job security means little if salaries are reduced.”

I could see James recalculating, eyes darting to his legal counsel, who whispered something in his ear.

“We can amend that clause,” James conceded. “Current salary levels, guaranteed, for all employees.”

Edwin nodded appreciatively but remained noncommittal.

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For nearly three hours, we went back and forth, each trying to outmaneuver the other. Every time James thought he had the upper hand, I countered with a better offer or exposed a weakness in his proposal.

“The Meridian name matters to us,” Edwin said, returning to a point James had emphasized earlier. “It’s my father’s legacy.”

I leaned forward. “What if Carter Enterprises created a Meridian Division? Your name would continue as part of our corporate structure, heading up the real estate portfolio you’ve built.”

Edwin’s eyes lit up. “With what level of autonomy?”

“Significant,” I replied. “You’d report directly to me as CEO, with your own budget and team.”

James interrupted. “We’re offering complete autonomy as a

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Chapter 135

subsidiary.”

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“With reduced resources,” I countered. “Carter Enterprises can provide ten times the development capital.”

Edwin looked between us, clearly weighing his options. “And my children’s involvement?”

“Jacob would head the Meridian Division,” I said without hesitation. “Elaine would join our executive leadership program, fast–tracked for senior management.”

Jacob sat up straighter. “That’s… more than generous.”

James shuffled his papers, clearly sensing the momentum shifting away from him. “Westbrook can match those terms.”

“Can you?” I asked quietly. “Really, James? Your last quarterly report showed low capital reserves. This acquisition alone would stretch those resources thin. Where would the development capital come from?”

Edwin’s gaze sharpened, turning to James. “Is that accurate, Mr. Westbrook?”

James maintained his composure, but I could see the slight twitch in his jaw. “We have partners prepared to invest.”

“Speculative funding,” I translated for Edwin. “Meaning nothing is guaranteed.”

The atmosphere in the room shifted perceptibly. Edwin exchanged glances with his children, then with his legal team.

“I think we need a few minutes to discuss privately,” Edwin

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seat on our advisory board for you, Edwin, should you wish to remain involved.”

“Very generous,” Edwin murmured, looking over the numbers.

James leaned forward, his expression confident. “Westbrook Financial is prepared to match the financial terms offered by Carter Enterprises.”

I kept my expression neutral. James was bluffing; Westbrook couldn’t afford to match my offer without leveraging themselves significantly.

“However,” James continued, “we’re also offering to maintain the Meridian name as a subsidiary brand, preserving the legacy you’ve built, Edwin. And rather than just eighteen months of job security, we guarantee five years for all current employees.”

Edwin’s eyebrows rose slightly.

“That’s quite a commitment,” Jacob Meridian said, looking impressed.

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

I kept my expression 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 nothing.

“If I may,” I interjected, “Carter Enterprises has a proven track record of successful acquisitions in which we’ve maintained the

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