His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 4

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

better when you were grumpy about

isn’t even a nudge. You could spend this much

in a

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III

Chapter 4

He added, “We’re

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

me to sign a legal

don’t make me put

bummer.” I teased. “I wasn’t even half way through my shopping

said in a final

I 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

he could reply, I disconnected the

I did, I could feel a

the call on Gabriel

forced me to sign a contract, I got the

Hah

I stood up to leave and accidentally bumped into someone, making the leftover coffee in my cup spill all over my very new

the

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

I wasn’t looking.

The man adjusted the glasses he was wearing, looking

I was done drinking mine any

“Are you sure?”

smiled at him politely before

at the mess I had made. Wales was just a seven minute drive

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

not a

see another Starbucks cup in the bin

receptionist told me firmly after a few minutes, and I

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Chapter 4

up. “Please could you tell him that somebody spilled coffee over me and I had to detour to change?”

The

barely glancing up at me. “He isnt known for

was just

believe this excuse for a second,

coffee on you.

My mouth dropped.

“You’re Viktor Hart?”

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

The receptionist looked shocked.

I was shocked.

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