His Contract Wife

45

was Ca

but she was here fifteen minutes earlier. Her phone vibrated and sh

said into

ious calls. Freya, her best friend, might have put the idea that

so handsome and probably a potential man in her life, she might have left the diner. S

long until y

es top,” h

’ll be w

ely at the content of the text. It was yet another selfie from her best friend. Freya was at a wedding Leila refused to tag along to. Following Fr

another look at her phone. Twenty minutes were gone. She almost dialle

, Leila would give him the benefits of the doubt. She would wait an extra ten minutes, then leave. Maybe even delete Tinder. That app wasn’t work

laugh and hug with a tinge of jealousy. One peek at her wristw

es and she

iffuse the situation, another came to her table to ask for her order. Leila remembered his face. He had come here twice already. She skimmed through th

white tablecloth. His black hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail at the nape of h

his retreating figure, was she going to get her milkshake or

didn’t

ving fun. Fun indeed. At this point, she didn’t care anymore. She made to leave but the waiter approached

ank

opped at a restaurant without buying anything. Wrong. Le

e to reply and sent Freya a text with some s

come here. The wed

No, tha

us at the recept

noon. She wore heels for this man. To make an appearance like her silly best friend suggested. The waiter from earl

ing yet!” she

ontinued to the restroom. Gripping the rim of the sink, her heart slowed. Her reflec

t. She wouldn’t be the prettiest girl in a room by any standard but she was pretty enough. On insti

ila was done with this stupid date. She dried her hands under the automatic hand drye

bumped into her, causing her to wobble on the damn heels. He mouthed, “Sorry,” without so much as

e ignored the waiter giving her cold looks, rushing out to find the owner of

igh bun. Where was he? Straining her neck to see beyond the mini fence separating her from

et a glimpse of his face. His side profile was stiff. He was still on h

t his tone. She didn’t want to be on the other side of the phone. As if noticing her for th

explain to him that his wallet dropped to the floor in front of the restroom. The m

dy. I don’t hav

glare at her twin image on the tinted window. She scoffed. Very

and sunk into the seat. The milkshake had almost melted but she slurped on it that way. Her

as h

her chest when a short man who she might even be taller than waved at her from the door. The milks

date. This could not be Carlson. But

ani,

ht,” she

air in front of