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

to us once we

my hand around

Freckles This surely cannot be the first

to roll my eyes, politely smiling at

you donating money I asked, keeping conversation

come to these things. I’ve come,

“But I love koalak

already spotting Arthur. I

more than a passing glance but my eyes stuck at him for a few seconds too long. noticing the dark bruise under his eye that some poor chap had tried

assuming you don’t know anything about the black eye on Arthur Geller,

eve?” He smirked, and there was a certain

could see a group of women standing not very far away, and I had no idea how they knew me or why they were

she’s Zach Davis wife. Zach Davis and I work closely, and when I met her yesterday. I asked her to keep you company so you don’t get bored while I obligate

at

dismissed it. “Go

didn’t have to do

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

That, and the black eye on

a little smile playing on

for the split of a second. but didn’t acknowledge it either as I turned around and left to

GABRIEL

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

I continued glaring

I had to a frierad in

keeping an eye on her Arthur tried

12:28 Tue, Jun 4

Chapter 11

he grinned, “Alittle birdy told me all about how you fired

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

you.”

guess what, d*ck,

didn’t see her anymore. All the other women were