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

all the eyes had suddenly turned to

wrapping my hand around one of

famous Freckles This surely cannot be the

roll my eyes, politely smiling at people passing us even though

donating money I asked,

to these things. I’ve come,

“But I love koalak

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

few seconds too long. noticing the dark bruise under his eye

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

eve?” He smirked, and there

Someone called I could see a group of women standing not very far

I met her yesterday. I asked

at

it.

you didn’t have

to Anna? Don’t worry, we’re

That, and the black eye

smile playing on

the way he froze for the split of a second. but didn’t acknowledge it either as I

GABRIEL

stand by her for the rest of the evening? Zach teased me, and I glared at him. “What?

I continued glaring

the closest person I had to a frierad in the

eye on her Arthur tried playing a little stunt on her

12:28 Tue, Jun 4

Chapter 11

birdy told

so much?” I frowned. “It’s annoying and it makes me wonder

you.”

what, d*ck, she happens

My sentence stopped midway when I turned to where Sofia was, and didn’t see her anymore. All the other women were there, but not her.