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”

so quickly, as if coming close to me was

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?”

I am telling 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 about him, his behaviour, but

stared at him, just

“He’ll pay for

If you

“And?”

Your grandfather will

here.” He replied, his words slow as if emphasising on each one, “You’re my responsibility And no man gets away with

he has

as if

since our marriage isn’t real, are we sleeping

at

I shifted my weight to my other foot. “I- I noticed you don’t sleep at home some of the nights. I was

He didn’t reply.

was no clause about this in the

silence between us was heavy, and the more it continued, the more humiliating it felt. I was talking to Gabriel about sex. Correction, I was talking to him about

“I was out at night with work. I was not out

mean, the work part Not the not sleeping with other women part. Or

cracked a

Almost.

work to do,”

of course,” I nodded. He was a busy man. He took out time from his schedule to check on me.

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

I nod.

He added, and turning around, he

I wondered if he meant we would have lunch together. That’s why he said that

down. Luna was there, talking to the driver, handing

you had to add some of your art supplies to the

paints. “I was told that you had to pick me up from the car and get me into the house last night because I slept.” I looked at the driver. I’m sorry, and thank

I could see

It

eyes flickering to Luna who

offered because Sir had a bit of backache

you

letting me know.” I handed the list back to him and turned to Luna, who was

but my heart smiled as I headed to the couch. If he cares, why does he pretend so hard not

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

“I believe Arthur won’t be a problem

him, eyes narrowing. “What did

him,”

didn’t believe his calmness one bit, but I didn’t push. “I want

my knuckles. “If you like, I can ask somebody to

nodded. “Um… Arthur, he

eating. “Did he say anything

“No, just that.”

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“Okay.”

we going to the