His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 10

SOFIA

When I came to my room, the intention was to switch on my series while reading more about Wales, the company I was going to work at from Monday. A little research beforehand was always good. But I was distracted, thinking about my interaction with Arthur Geller. I hadn’t told Gabriel about it, and I wasn’t sure if I should. I wasn’t sure if he would care:

Twenty minutes in, my reverie was interrupted by knocks on my room’s door.

And not the soft kind. Not Luna’s kind.

There was loud banging on the door with an angry fist, and if I hadn’t rushed to open the door, I’m sure it would have broken down

On the other side, there stood my husband. He wasn’t wearing a coat, just his white shirt tucked into black formal pants. He looked mad. He looked so mad, that I almost got scared.

But when his eyes met mine, they softened. Uninvited, he stepped into my room and shut the door behind him.

“Where did the touch you?”

“What?”

He grit his teeth, as if controlling his anger. “Where did Arthur Geller touch you?”

I blinked.

“Freckles. He paused. “Can you answer?”

“What?” I asked again, dumbfounded as if I had lost my ability to speak. “He- He didn’t.”

Gabriel relaxed. “He didn’t?”

“No. He.. He just held my wrist to stop me when I was calling your

“He held your wrist? Something darkened in his eyes.

“Yes, I agreed in a small voice.

“Show me.” He replied as if constantly putting effort in keeping his voice calm.

Gabriel confused me. Sometimes, he was the most cold hearted person I knew, who couldn’t care enough about if I lived on died. And other times, he left his work to come check on me after he got to know that one of his clients paid me an unsolicited visit

Nonetheless, I just raised my left hand, and he held it in between both of his. His eyes remained fixed at me and I shivered when his thumb slightly traced my wrist. He didn’t stop, aware of the effect his little touch had on me.

“Are you okay?” His voice was gentle, eyes flicking from my hand to me.

It was almost as if he actually cared.

I nodded.

“Okay”

“Okay?”

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Chapter 10

“Okay”

away from me so quickly, as if coming close to me was a mistake. “Arthur Geller

replied quick. “I was rude to him. I- I scowled. I asked him to not touch me. I’m sorry if that causes issues for you

“What? No. Sofial”

“What?”

you he is an important client is to tell you that that’s the only reason I associate with a prck like him.” He seemed offended. “I had heard rumours

at

jaw clenching. “He’ll pay for misbehaving with

serious. I’m okay. If you do that, you’ll lose him as

“And?”

Your grandfather will not

responsibility And

he has

blinked, looking black as if he

asking is since our marriage isn’t real, are we

at me

sleep at home some of the nights. I was wondering if you’re with someone else: 1-1

He didn’t reply.

about this in the contract

it felt. I was talking to Gabriel about sex. Correction, I was talking to him

at night with

mean, the work part Not the not sleeping with other

almost cracked

Almost.

to

man. He took

for

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Chapter 10

checking on me.”

shows up at the door that you don’t know, you call me. You don’t wait for Luna to call Peter who will tell me when I’m free. You. Call.

I nod.

be home for lunch. He added, and turning around, he

I wondered if he meant we would

me getting a job over lunch, I headed down. Luna was there, talking to the driver, handing him a list.

your art

My mood having spun upon talking to Gabriel, I took the list from her and added the A4 canvases I needed with brush brands and sizes, and the oil paints. “I was told that you had to pick me up from the car and get me into

could see Luna shutting

mistaken, ma’am. It was Gabriel

flickering to Luna who

of backache the week before

you

Thanks for letting me know.” I handed the list back to him and turned to Luna, who was mumbling apologies under her breath and something about ‘Sir’s

I headed to the

returned at lunch and casually waited for me at the dining table, asking Luna to call me down from my room, which I am glad he did because I was so lost trying my new art supplies I had completely lost track of time. The first half of the lunch

throat. “I believe Arthur won’t be

eyes narrowing. “What

him,” he replied

his calmness one bit, but I

his eyes flickering to the dried paint on my knuckles. “If you like, I can ask somebody to clear a room besides yours for you

I half smiled. He nodded. “Um… Arthur, he mentioned something

stopped eating. “Did he say

“No, just that.”

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“Okay.”

are we going