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

when you were grumpy about the dent 1

even a nudge. You could spend this much

in a

1/4

III

Chapter 4

home tomorrow,” He added, “We’re supposed

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

a cordial conversation with him? After he forced me to sign

gave you the card to use, but don’t make me put

teased. “I wasn’t even half way through

He said in a

call. I warned, “And maybe I wouldn’t burn down your house before you come back home. Or spend hundreds of thousands to buy a bag I fancy. Depending

could reply, I disconnected the

could

disconnected the call on Gabriel Whitlock’s

showed me down and basically forced me to sign a contract, I got

Hah

accidentally bumped into someone, making the leftover

happiness turned into instant panic. I.did not have the time to go

my tiny reverie and I stopped frantically trying to clean the coffee

my fault, I wasn’t looking. I’m

adjusted the glasses he was wearing, looking genuinely apologetic. “Let me buy you

No. I was done drinking mine

“Are you sure?”

smiled at him politely

the car. Even the chauffeur frowned looking at the mess I had made. Wales was just

to a boutique nearby to buy a new pair of clothes, but even as much as I hurried up. I was running fifteen minutes late to

was not

and I could see another Starbucks cup in the bin outside. It just felt as if the universe was taunting

firmly after a few minutes,

2/4

Chapter 4

really did not want to mess, this up. “Please could you tell him that somebody spilled coffee over me and I had

The

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

was just about to leave when

looking man stood at its entrance, “I wouldn’t believe this excuse for

coffee on you.

My mouth dropped.

“You’re Viktor Hart?”

“Since you didn’t let me buy you a coffee, I guess

The receptionist looked shocked.

I was shocked.