The Contract Marriage (Completed)

Office

The office staffs were gossiping about yesterday’s party, especially the girls who made a circle around the table in cafeteria.

“Hey, you’ve heard the latest news about the boss?” asked one of the girls.

“Yeah, I heard boss was with Madam S last night. I even heard they were engaged few years ago.” replied the other one.

“You think that they...” Just then they found Teresa listening to their conversation with much interest.

“Continue, don’t mind me.” Teresa smiled at them.

“We’re so sorry, mam.” They got up and bowed.

“It’s okay, but can you tell me what exactly you guys were gossiping about? Kinda got my interest.” Teresa pulled a chair and she asked them to sit too. Ryouma didn’t return home last night and when questioned about it he didn’t give a proper reply so their ‘talk’ picked Teresa’s interest.

“No nothing really, right.” A girl in a pink dress elbowed the one with blue shorts and light yellow shirt. “yeah, nothing at all.” The girl smiled nervously.

“Come on I won’t tell anyone I swear! I’ll even treat you guys, so what about last night? Ryouma was with whom?” Teresa asked tapping her fingers on the table.

Few minutes later

“If he was with Sara, why did he have to lie to me? It’s not like I was going to do anything if he told the truth. I need to talk to him.” She nodded and went to her husband’s cabin.

“Hey.” She entered his cabin but he was about to go somewhere. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Yeah, important work, gotta go.” He smiled.

“Oh, something that I can help with?” She asked with concern.

“Nah, can manage it. But our date is on, okay? I may not be able to pick you up but be there, yeah? Bye, see you.” He hugged her.

“Okay, best of luck for whatever it is.” She hugged him back.

“Yeah thanks, but be there for lunch okay? Sharp 1 pm. It’s really important.” He reminded her planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

She nodded. She touched her forehead and grinned as she watched him leave. “Isn’t he acting too sweet?” She blushed smiling like an idiot.

She suddenly slapped her cheeks. “Snap out of it, Teresa!”

“But wait, what’s this important talk about? for which he’s so flustered since last night?” She thought. “Oh no, I also didn’t get to ask him about Sara. I hope she is not in some kind of a trouble, I’ll just ask her anyway.” She muttered and went searching for Sara.

“Hey, have you seen Sara anywhere?” she asked one of the staff.

“No mam.” He replied.

“Okay thanks. continue your work.” She smiled. “She did come to work, where did she go?” She thought for a minute then something strike her mind, “Sam must know about his wife.” She smiled to herself and entered Sam’s cabin.

“Hey Sam, you know where Sara is?” She asked.

“Why would I know? Nowadays she’s been into her own world.” Sam rolled his eyes.

“Is something wrong? Everything okay between you and Sara?” She asked with concern.

“Teresa, I’m sorry but I’m busy right now, can we talk later?” He replied in a rude manner.

“Okay.”

“What’s with him? Something is wrong. I don’t remember him being that rude. He was always a sweet guy.” She sighed. “Where to find Sara?” She bit her nails. “What was her name again? Our office’s gossip queen? Merina? Maybe she has seen her.”

“Hey, have you seen Sara?” Teresa asked the girl.

“Yeah she went out with boss few minutes ago.” The girl replied.

“Boss? Ryouma?” Teresa frowned.

“Yeah mam.” The girl answered.

“okay thanks.” Teresa was now getting more suspicious of her husband. No! He already said he has nothing to do with her so don’t let stupid thoughts ruin your day, Teresa! She clapped her hands and took her phone out.

“Ryouma, where are you?” She called her husband.

“I told you I had an important work?” He replied.

“Are you with Sara?” She questioned.

“No, why?” He lied flatly.

“Nothing, then see you at lunch.” She cut the call.

“Why does he need to lie? What’s with everyone? Why is everyone acting so suspicious?” She shouted in the corridor gaining everyone’s attention. She looked at them and everyone resumed their work. “Forget it, I’ll directly confront him on lunch.”

*******

“Ah damn, I reached here too early.” Teresa sighed as she reached the hotel, an hour before her lunch date. Just then she got a call from her husband, “Great timing!” She smiled to herself and answered the call. “Teresa, I am really sorry but I really can’t make up to our lunch.” He said it in one breath.

“Why? I’m already he...”

“I know I’m really sorry.” He cut her off.

“Okay, what can we do now, if you’ve got works to do?” She pouted.

“Really? Thank you so much. You’re not angry right?”

“What if I am?”

“I’ll make it up to you later?”

“Of course but you know next time you’ll have to take me on a super expensive place and order me the most expensive dish there and I’ll eat lots and lots of expensive food, be prepared to empty your pockets.” She threatened him.

“Yeah sure. Thanks once again.” He laughed.

“Bye.” She smiled cutting the call.

“But I’m already here, I’ll have the lunch and go, I’m already hungry.” She said to herself and entered the hotel. But as soon as she entered she saw her husband there. “Oh? Didn’t he have some important work?” She was about to call him but she hid immediately behind a pillar, when she saw Sara with him.

“Why am I hiding?” She clicked her tongue, she then slowly peeked and saw them enter the lift after talking to the receptionist.

“Do they have some meeting here? them who went just now?” She inquired at the table.

“Mr and Mrs Carlton?”

Hearing the receptionist calling them Mr. and Mrs. Carlton Teresa scowled, “Yeah, Mr. and Mrs. Carlton.” She gritted her teeth. But they were Mr. and Mrs. Carlton, Just that he’s Mr. Ryouma Carlton and she’s Mrs. Sam Carlton but still hearing that made her blood boil with anger and jealousy.

“Meeting? Today we didn’t have a booking for any conference or meetings.” The girl replied.

“Then can you tell me why are they here?” Teresa enquired further.

“I am sorry mam, but we’re not allowed to give any information.”

“No, I’m actually from their family. My card, Teresa Carlton.” Teresa showed her card to the receptionist. “and just wanted to know if they had a booking for lunch?”

“Yeah but that’s cancelled now.”

“So there’s no meeting either? What the hell are are they doing then?” Teresa murmured.

“They are couple mam, they just booked a suite right now.” The receptionist giggled.

“Ah! A suite, is it?” Teresa forced a laugh.

Night time

Pub

“I am getting so drunk tonight.” Teresa yelled and gulped down the shot in one breath.

“Relax Teresa.” Rina patted her best friend’s back.

“Shut up. I am going to kill him today!” She shouted and took another shot.

“there’s nothing like what you’re thinking at least confront him.” Rihito said in Ryouma’s defense.

“Of course I’ll do that too! You think I’ll let him off the hook?” She gulped down another one. “I know there must have been some misunderstanding but how dare he lie to me?” She cried. “I don’t want to have any negative thoughts but he lies to me, acts all suspicious, books a hotel suite?” She shouted and hiccuped.

“And you have such a little tolerance to alcohol.” Rihito snatched her drink.

“This is it! I’m done with him. Now it’s this way or the other no in between.” Teresa stood up. “I’m going to make him confess everything today, I’m not going to wait anymore. He has to decide today what am I to him? Today it’ll be final, I’ll decide to leave him or stay with him, according to his answer.” Teresa nodded and tried to walk but she staggered.

“Wait, Teresa.” Rina held her. “Come I’ll drop you.”

“But Rina, the floor is dancing. How’ll we go?” Teresa gasped staring at the foor.

“Forget it, I’ll drop you both.” Rihito held his head and sighed.

After they got inside the car, Teresa’s phone rang. “Oh my husband’s calling me. But why should I pick your call you jerk!” She cut the call.

“Oh, he even messaged me? Wait the words are dancing.” She tried to focus on the text, gluing her eyes on the phone, ‘Sowwie, couldn’t mawe up to the lunnh. Dinne at 8?’ Guys let’s go fo dinnel, he invieed me fo dinnel.” Teresa grinned.

“It’s 12 already my dear.” Rina patted her back.

“Oops, so I shud call him bakk? but why are the numbers flying? Catch it for me, I need to call my husband!” She poked Rina.

“Numbers aren’t flying, it’s you who’s drunk! Give it to me I’ll call him for you.” Rihito snatched her phone and called Ryouma.

“Where the hell are you? Not even picking up my call, not replying to my messages, you had me really worried, idiot!” Ryouma scolded as soon as he picked up.

“Ryouma, it’s me.” Rihito replied.

“You’re with her? Where is she? Is she okay?” Ryouma inquired.

“She’s fine but you’re not going to be. Where are you?”

“I’m home.”

“Okay then remove all the sharp object from your room that can harm either of you.” Rihito warned him.

“what?”

“and yeah pick up your wife from your door too. I’ll drop her.”

Home

“Oh I’m homeee! Hello husband!” Teresa got down from the car and fell onto Ryouma.

“How could you let her get this drunk? She can’t even stand.” Ryouma shouted.

“It’s your mistake don’t blame me.” Rihito retorted. “Take her inside already, she got me tired.”

“Come, Let’s get you inside.” Ryouma held his wife.

“he’s not coming inside?” Teresa pointed at Rihito.

“No.”

“how cruel? You’ll leave him out in this cold like you did to me yesterday?” She looked like she’ll cry any minute.

“Teresa, why will he be here outside? He’ll go to his own house.” Ryouma sighed.

“Ah! yeah, so I should go to my house too?”

“You are in your house.”

“But I don’t want to!” She sat on door step.

“Why?”

“Because he must be inside.”

“Who?”

“My demonic husband.” She replied. Ryouma rolled his eyes. “why are you looking at me like that? You don’t believe me? He’s a demon, I swear!” Teresa touched her neck.

“I’m sure he is.” Ryouma faked a smile.

“He gets angry on little things and shouts at me! No I don’t want to ggoo, he must be very angry, I didn’t pick up his call.” Teresa refused to go inside the house.

“Of course I’ll tell him not to get angry on you, okay? Let’s go.” Ryouma tried to convince her.

“Pinky Promise?” She held out her pinky finger.

“yeah, yeah promise, let’s go?” He held her hand and pulled her up. “but shhh you shouldn’t make noise and wake everyone.” Ryouma whispered.

“okay, Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” She whispered back. “Buuuutttttttttt!!!! I dooon’t want too goooo!“She shouted as soon as they entered.

“Shut up. You’re not supposed to shout.” He scolded her in a whispering tone.

“Oh yeah I forgot sorrrryyyy!!!” She whispered.

“But why is this floor dancing? there’s no music but it’s still dancing.” Teresa stared at the ground.

“It’s you who’s drunk.” Ryouma muttered.

“I can’t walk on this dancing floor. I’ll fall and if I fall... I’ll fall and If i fall It’ll hurt and if it hurts, I bleed and if I bleed then I die So, I can’t walk because I’ll fall and if I fall I’ll Fa..”

“You’ll fall.” Ryouma completed her.

She nodded. “So let’s sit here until it stops dancing.” She sat on the floor. Ryouma picked her up in a bridal style. “What are you doing?” She shouted.

“Now you won’t fall, let’s go?” Ryouma glared at her.

“Yayy!! Goooo! GOO!!!” She cheered happily.

“Wait! Wait! Put me down.” She kicked her legs as soon as they reached their room.

“Now what?”

“If my husband sees me like this with you he’ll kill us both. Even though there’s nothing between us he’ll kill us both. He’s a demon. So now you go your home now, thank you for dropping me!” She smiled.

“Sure, welcome. But I’ll hand you over to your husband first then I’ll go home, kay?”

“Okay.”

Ryouma placed his wife on the bed. “Wait here, I’ll get you some water.”

“Oh husband stop right there!” She shouted.

“what?” He glared at her.

“I need to ask something first.” She took a knife from the fruit’s basket and cornered him.

“Teresa... that’s... a knife.” Ryouma stammered.

“yeah! And I’ll decide I should or shouldn’t cut your head off your neck, depending upon your answer.” She threatened him with the knife on his neck.

“We can play this question answer without that too. Take it away!′ Ryouma shouted.

“Shhhhhhhhhhhhh! Don’t or i’ll..” Teresa placed the knife touching his neck.

“okay, I won’t. Just get it away.” He sweated.

“So my first question, are you having an affair with Sara?” She questioned.

“Huh?”

“Yes or no?”

“No, of course not.” Ryouma yelled.

“hehe I knew it.” Teresa giggled.

“Next, why did you lie to me saying that you weren’t with Sara? And don’t you dare say you weren’t. I’ll stab this on your neck. I have many witnesses in office and I myself saw you with her in that hotel. Yes or NO?” She asked in a threatening manner.

“Yes, but get that thing away.” Ryouma begged..

“good boy, now did you book a suite there? Yes or NO?”

“Yes.

“Was it for Sara and..”

“wasn’t. It was for Sam and Sara.”

“Good.”

“Why was the hotel staff referring you guys as Mr. and Mrs. Carlton? I am your Mrs. Carlton!” She glared.

“Of course you are. But technically I’m Mr. Carlton and she’s Mrs. Sam Carlton so I think receptionist got confused.” Ryouma replied.

“Yeah I too thought of that but it’s still maddening me. Okay then since you answered all the things correctly so I release you from the deaath sentence.” Teresa finally got the knife off his neck.

“Thank you.” Ryouma sighed with relief and threw the knife away.

“But, what were you doing with her? You were with her last night too? Why did you lie to me?”

“How did you get to know I was with her?”

“Don’t underestimate a wife, never...hicc.... She can smell out the lies of her husband aaand I found some sources, gossips from the office,...hic...did you knew our office has a gossip queen? She literally has every answer for.....hic....every question.” Teresa jumped excitedly.

“I see. Look Sam and Sara had some issue going on between them from past one month and I thought until you hear from them it’s not my thing to tell about it right? I mean it’s their issue and I just heard it by chance but now i’ll tell you everything because of their issue I don’t want an issue in my life.” Ryouma clicked his tongue.

“Yeah I did hear about them getting a divorce but I thought it was a just rumor?” Teresa blinked.

“Whom did you hear it from?”

“I can’ tell you, I made a pomise.”

“Okay fine, but because of that I had to help Sara get things clear with Sam so I actually locked them up together in that suite and came here and I’m done with them now, after this I hope they sort it out or if they don’t I’m not interfering anymore.” Ryouma folded his hands together.

“But what did they fight about that almost..hic... reached getting a divorce?” Teresa widened her eyes and covered her mouth.

“I don’t know what’s with all the wives suspecting their husband having an affair? Who feed you guys with this rubbish?” Ryouma glared at her.

“Excuse me,...hic.... you doubted me first.” She defended.

“So settling scores by doubting me back?”

“Forget it, but why would Sara...hic... doubt Sam?” Teresa pouted.

“Seems like she came in her friend’s words and even followed him, checked his phones and I don’t know what not and our Sam can tolerate anything but doubting him and invading his comfort zone, so they had a huge fight after which misunderstanding kept up piling they didn’t talk to each other much and that’s that.” He explained.

“Let me tell you I didn’t follow you or anything.....hic..... I just reached there early and happened to see you....hic.... guys.” She played with her hair and looked here and there. “But she should have directly con...hic....fronted Sam instead of doing something like that how stupid!” Teresa hiccupped.

“Of course not every wife is smart like mine to threaten their husband with a knife.” Ryouma rolled his eyes. She nodded.

“Now if your questions are over, please go to sleep.” Ryouma begged her folding his hands together.

“No.” She shook her head.

“There’s more?”

“We need to have an important talk now.”

“Now?”

“yeah, I don’ know about your imporrrtant tak but my tak is vey vey important so we need to tak.” Her speech was slurred.

“What about your important talk?” He asked.

“My important talk is that I want to know what exactly I mean to you? What do you think of me? Just a contract wife? A friend? Something to tease, like a pet? Or anything else? And answer very carefully, it’ll decide whether I should stay or leave, because I’ve had enough!” She ranted.