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

to him. I- I scowled. I asked him to not touch

“What? No. Sofial”

“What?”

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 I never bothered to stop working with him. because of it, because

stared at him,

his jaw clenching. “He’ll

wasn’t that serious. I’m okay. If

“And?”

grandfather will not

my responsibility And no man gets away with coming to my house and touching my wife without her

he has

black as if he hadn’t

guess what I’m asking is since our marriage isn’t real, are

looking at me

“I- I noticed you don’t sleep at home some of the nights. I was wondering if

He didn’t reply.

was no clause about this in the contract you made me sign. I added

it continued, the more humiliating it felt. I was talking to

night with work. I was not

nodded, That’s good. Great. I mean, the work part Not

cracked a

Almost.

got work to

man. He took out time from his schedule to check

for

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Chapter 10

checking on me.”

time, a man shows up at the door that you don’t know, you call me. You don’t wait for Luna to call

I nod.

He added, and turning

behind me. I wondered if he meant we would

headed down. Luna was there, talking to the driver, handing him a list. Gabriel was

your art supplies

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 the house last

could see Luna shutting her

ma’am. It was

asked, eyes flickering to

Sir had a bit of backache the week before your wedding, but he refused to

you

back to him and turned to Luna, who was mumbling apologies under

headed to the couch. If he cares,

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

he cleared his throat. “I believe Arthur won’t be a problem

at him, eyes narrowing. “What did you

spoke to him,” he

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

“If you like, I can ask somebody

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

stopped eating. “Did he

“No, just that.”

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“Okay.”

going