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

liked it better when you were grumpy about the

dent?” He laughed. He actually laughed. “Freckles, this isn’t even a nudge. You could spend this much money

in

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III

Chapter 4

going to be home tomorrow,” He added, “We’re

at length, and I imagined them to be very… daunting. Especially given they raised a

just having a cordial conversation with him? After he forced me to

to use, but don’t make me put a limit of it. Be

even half

said in a final

you come back home.

reply, I disconnected the

did, I could feel a sense of

call

forced me to sign a contract, I got the last word

Hah

mentally doing a victory dance when I stood up to leave and accidentally bumped into someone, making the leftover coffee in my cup spill all over my very new white

not have the time to go back to the house and

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

I wasn’t

The man adjusted the glasses he was wearing, looking genuinely apologetic. “Let me

done

“Are you sure?”

I smiled at him politely before

at the mess I had made. Wales was just

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

not a good

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

entertain late comers. The receptionist told me firmly after a few minutes, and I felt my

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Chapter 4

tell him that somebody spilled coffee over me and I had to detour to change?” I requested. I’ve been really looking forward to

The

at me. “He isnt known for second

Disappointed as I was, I was just about to leave

familiar looking man stood at its entrance, “I wouldn’t believe this excuse for a second, if I hadn’t been the man that

coffee on you.

My mouth dropped.

“You’re Viktor Hart?”

flesh. He passed me a smile, “Since you didn’t let me buy you

The receptionist looked shocked.

I was shocked.