His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 23

1 had never heard a silence that was so loud. It was weighing down on my shoulders when we settled on the long wooden table. Gabriel on one side along with Peter and a girl I didn’t recognise, and me, Alyssa and our boss on the other.

I half expected my husband to make a scene, to scream, shout of at least acknowledge me, but instead he say quietly on the other side, his eyes focused on just me, his gaze so sharp I was afraid to even look at him.

I kept my vision and all focus on the file in front of me while a conversation spun.

“This came as quite a surprise to us. It was Viktor, my boss, who was speaking. “We heard rumours about your expansion to Europe. I wasn’t too sure if the news is true, but I guess it is.”

“It is. Gabriel replied.

Look up. Look up. He didn’t ask you where you were working, so you didn’t tell. You didn’t make a mistake. You’re not guilty.

I looked up.

His eyes were still on me, eyes narrowed when I looked at him, making me regret looking up.

Wales was the biggest competitor of Whitlock. I wondered why I was on a table with the CEO of them both.

Gabriel finally looked at Viktor. “I fired Arthur Geller two weeks ago.”

I stiffened. My boss raised an eyebrow. “I heard a word or two about that. So it’s true?”

Gabriel nodded. “One of his companies”

Viktor cut him off. He has a packaging and distributing base in England. So do I. Let me guess, since you’ve fired Arthur, you want me to package for you.”

do that for Crystal. I want

to England, I mean. Being direct competitors and all, I have no

packing and distributing of it. I also happen to know that your company’s packaging sector worldwide. is overseen by your father. I came to you out of good ethic. Mr.

my father.” Viktor’s

smitten by me.” There was a smile on Gabriel’s lips that wasn’t genuine at all, ‘He said maybe I

not say

You see, you wouldn’t know since he stopped talking to you when you blackmailed him out of his own company, leaving only it’s packaging part under his control, which fortunately worked out great for

no offer. You’ve come here to

an irritation in my throat, and as I coughed once, I couldn’t really stop. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it was irritation that spread from

chest.

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glass of water for me that I took from him while still coughing, and it was

finally caught my breath, eyes filled with water. “I don’t know

off her, please.” Gabriel said please, but

saying, 1 looked up to Gabriel, as dill the rest of the table. He

softly behind my

my wife.” He repeated,

Viktor raised an eyebrow and I immediately shrugged his

isn’t Ms. Baker, it’s Mrs.

was the first time I ever heard my name being said along with his like this, and that too by him-

walked from his side of

I reflexively stood up, voice nothing more than a

“As:

I’m sure you don’t mind me taking her home with

at Peter. “Collect all

firm, and he began walking out, leaving me no