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 you to do it exclusively for

why would I do that? Help you expand to England, I mean. Being direct competitors and all, I

the capital and time to set up manufacturing before the year ends, not the 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

father.”

lips that wasn’t genuine at all, ‘He

did not

to you when you blackmailed him out of his own company, leaving only it’s packaging part under his control, which

there is no offer. You’ve

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

chest.

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a glass of water for me that I took from him while still coughing, and it was only when I’d had more than half

finally caught my breath, eyes filled with water. “I

her, please.” Gabriel said please, but there was no

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

knit in confusion and I looked to my side where my boss was, and noticed his hand was softly

hand off my wife.” He repeated, emphasising on

Viktor raised an eyebrow and

Ms. Baker, it’s Mrs.

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

his crisp white shirt, he walked from his side of the table to mine.

I reflexively stood up, voice nothing more

“As:

clearly see, my wife is sick and your working hours are over. I’m sure you don’t mind me taking her home with me, do you? Gabriel asked my boss, but it didn’t seem

looked at Peter. “Collect all her stuff

began walking out, leaving