His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 11

I didn’t see Gabriel for the next few days but I didn’t care. I barely even thought about him, being completely occupied by the new portrait I had begun painting It took me one full day of sitting in front of the blank canvas before inspiration finally struck and then it kept me busy

Before I knew, it was Saturday evening Gabriel called that afternoon to remind me to be dressed by seven, and the call wasn’t even thirty full seconds long te had been really busy it seemed

I knew from sch be loved being on time, down to the second, 4s I was ready at seven. A few minutes late, but waiting for your wife for a little time is always healthy At a quarter past seven, Luma came to check on me.

Giving myself a final glance, I left the room with her. When I descended the stairs, Gabriel was standing downstairs talking on has phone, impatiently tapping his shoes on the floor.

He didn’t look at me till I was almost down, and I assumed he turned only when he heard the loud click of my heels on the Hrial step

He looked at me and then looked away in the same second as it was a passing glance, but his eyes immediately returned back to me, and stayed. He said something on the phone, something that sounded a lot like I’ll call you later’, and disconnected without taking his eyes off me.

I walked to him, standing in front of him. Even in my tallest heels, I was shorter.

“You don’t de compliments, I smiled at him

A tuy one spread on his lips. “I dont do compliments”

He didn’t need to I knew Thad impressed him with the pink one shoulder satin I was wearing, fitted till my abdomen and then flowing freely to the floor, my hair in lose curls behind my back and my make up minimal. letting my freckles show. If they don’t fit in his billionaire society, that’s on him. Not me. And even as gaze stopping my look was. I knew the show stopper was the slit on my dress. Thigh high on the right side, showing my leg every time I walked.

1 clutched my tiny bag tighter Tm ready to go

“You don’t need a coat!

Tm okay”

“It’s cold outside”

“No. I’m okay”

“Okay” he breathed, leading us outside and I didn’t miss the way his hand softly lingered at my back even though he didn’t need to do that, because nobody was watching.

I didn’t miss the way the butterflies rose again at his slight touch either, or the way I was left craving and dreaming about more the entire ride to the gala

So much more

The charity was for Koala Hears

No ara arumal

Koala bears.

12:28 Tue, Jun 40

Chapter 11

the eyes had suddenly turned to us once we entered, and

whispered, wrapping my hand around

This surely cannot be the first time

urge to roll my eyes, politely smiling

money I asked, keeping

don’t come to these things. I’ve come, that’s

“But I love koalak

looking around and already spotting Arthur. I didn’t have to try to find him he was already

my eyes stuck at him for a few seconds too long. noticing the dark bruise under his eye that some

know anything about the black eye on Arthur Geller, hm?”

and there was a certain warmth

far away, and I had no idea how they knew me or why

Davis and I work closely, and when I met her yesterday. I asked her to keep you company so you don’t get

at

dismissed it. “Go

have to do

Talk to Anna? Don’t worry, we’re close. And

I mean yes. That, and the black eye

little smile playing on his lips. “I had

smile widened when I pressed his palm in a thank-you gesture, and didn’t miss the way he froze for the split of a second.

GABRIEL

for the rest of the evening? Zach teased me, and I glared at him. “What? You can’t take your eyes

I continued glaring

the closest person I had to a frierad

her Arthur tried playing a little stunt on her this

12:28 Tue, Jun 4

Chapter 11

“Alittle birdy told me all about how you

the f*ck did you begin smiling so much?” I frowned. “It’s annoying and

you.”

quietly. “Well guess what, d*ck, she

I turned to where Sofia was, and didn’t see her anymore. All the other women were there, but not her. “Excuse