His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 4

of the interview. A flat 100,000 dollars at I swiped Gabriel’s credit card for the first time at the nearest mall on the morning of t the Hermes store, buying one bag for his mother like he’d asked me to along with a scarf 1 thought was pretty vibrant.

The next 100,000 dollars I spent was making a transfer to my Grandpa’s cancer treatment clinic, as a donation for people who couldn’t afford treatment, now that his’ was covered. The next 50,000 dollars I spent to make a donation to a fund set up to help cancer patients that had actually covered my Grandpa’s bills for a few months before I could manage by myself.

The next 100,000 dollars, I donated splitting equally between two organisations, one that fought injustice against people of colour and one that rescued children from human trafficking rings.

By noon, I was sitting in Starbucks sipping my regular order at a table alone, when my phone rang displaying an unknown.

number.

I didn’t need the number saved to know who was calling.

With almost a proud smile, I picked up feigning innocence. “Hello?”

“Sofia. Gabriel did not sound like he was smiling on the other end.

“Who’s speaking?

“Don’t play dumb. It doesn’t suit you.”

Hm. I snickered, “I wonder what suits me then?”

“You spent half a million dollars in an hour.” He did not sound happy. “What did you do? Buy a ticket to Mars?”

“More like 350. Don’t be dramatic.” That was six times what I earned in a year normally, and I just spent it in an hour. My heart ached.

“Have you lost it, Sofia?”

“I was just experimenting,”

“Experimenting what?”

“How much money I need to spend to get your personal phone number. Apparently, three hundred and fifty thousand is it takes,” I taunted.

“You called Peter.” He self-spoke.

“I called Peter.” I repeated.

“Why?”

“Just checking why husband dearest hasn’t come home since six days. Imagine my surprise when I dial his number and his assistant picks up.” I was not going to tell him about the interview I had today. He didn’t ask, I didn’t tell. Simple as that.

He remained silent for a moment, and then snickered, “Missing the already?”

I

it better when you were grumpy

laughed. “Freckles, this isn’t even a nudge. You could spend this much

in

1/4

III

Chapter 4

He added, “We’re supposed to have dinner with

I had never met his parents at length, and I imagined them to be very… daunting. Especially given they raised a

After he forced me to sign a legal contract stating the date of termination

make me put

wasn’t even half way through

said in

down your house before you come back home.

could reply, I disconnected

the second I did, I could feel a sense of happiness in

disconnected the call

me around and showed me down and basically forced me to sign

Hah

a victory dance when I stood up to leave and accidentally bumped into someone, making the leftover coffee

turned into instant panic. I.did not have the time to go back to the house and change

so sorry.” A voice cut my tiny reverie and I stopped frantically trying to clean the coffee off my shirt and looked up at the

I wasn’t

mine.” The man adjusted the glasses he was wearing, looking genuinely

was done drinking

“Are you sure?”

I smiled at him

chauffeur frowned looking at the mess I had made. Wales was just a seven minute drive from here,

new pair of clothes, but even as much as I hurried up. I was running fifteen minutes

was not a

was made to sit outside an office, and I could see another Starbucks cup in the bin outside. It just felt as if the universe was

firmly after a few minutes, and

2/4

Chapter 4

that somebody spilled coffee over me and I had to detour to change?”

The

shrugged, barely glancing up at me. “He isnt known for

as I was, I was just about to leave

believe this excuse for

coffee on you.

My mouth dropped.

“You’re Viktor Hart?”

me buy you

The receptionist looked shocked.

I was shocked.