The contract bride

Morning call

Chapter 7: The Morning Call

Linda’s phone buzzed loudly on the bedside table, pulling her out of a deep sleep. Groggily, she reached for it, squinting at the screen before answering.

“Hello?” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

“You’re late,” came a deep, cold voice on the other end of the line.

“What?” Linda asked, confused and still half-asleep.

The voice sighed impatiently. “Be ready in 15 minutes. I’ll be there to pick you up.”

Before she could protest or ask any questions, the line went dead. Linda sat up abruptly, her heart pounding as realization struck. Liam.

“s**t!” she exclaimed, jumping out of bed and nearly tripping over the blanket. Panic set in as she dashed to the bathroom for a quick shower. The icy water jolted her awake, but her mind was racing. What does he want now?

She wrapped herself in a towel and hurried back into her small room, rummaging through her limited wardrobe. Most of her clothes were casual and far from suitable for whatever high-society meeting Liam was likely dragging her into.

I don’t even know what to wear, she thought in frustration, running her hands through her damp hair. Just then, the doorbell rang, its sharp sound echoing through the tiny apartment. Linda froze, groaning loudly.

“Can he not be a little patient?” she muttered under her breath. “I haven’t even figured out what to put on yet!”

Grumbling all the way to the door, she swung it open, expecting to see Liam leaning against the doorframe with his usual arrogant smirk. Instead, she was greeted by a man in a neatly pressed suit, holding a large box in his hands.

“This is for you,” the man said curtly, bowing his head slightly before placing the box in her hands. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Linda staring after him in confusion.

Closing the door, she set the box on the table and carefully opened it. Her eyes widened at the sight inside. The box contained several stunning dresses in vibrant colors, pairs of matching heels, and an array of luxurious body lotions and perfumes. A small note was perched on top of the items.

Linda picked it up and read it aloud: “My duty is to make my woman look stunning. Can’t have you showing up looking unkempt.”

She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Well, I guess he’s thorough,” she muttered. Holding up one of the dresses—a sleek black number that hugged the waist and flowed elegantly—she smiled boldly. “I think I might actually enjoy this.”

As she slipped into the dress, admiring how it fit her perfectly, a sudden thought crossed her mind. Does he do this for every woman he drags into his world, or am I special?

Brushing the thought aside, Linda focused on getting ready. She applied light makeup, brushed her hair into a neat style, and slipped on the matching heels. By the time she was done, she almost didn’t recognize herself in the mirror.

Meanwhile, Across Town…

Felisha paced the length of her living room, her face twisted in frustration. It had been three days since she had kicked Linda out, and there was still no sign of her.

“This stupid girl,” she muttered under her breath. “She’s nowhere to be found, and Dean will be here next week!”

Sitting on the couch was Cathy, Linda’s younger sister, who had been watching her mother with growing amusement. “So what if she doesn’t come back? You told her to leave,” Cathy said nonchalantly, flipping through a magazine.

Felisha stopped in her tracks and glared at her daughter. “Darling, don’t be stupid,” she snapped. “You have to be harsh with your resources if you want them to yield results. Linda is an asset, not a loss. Dean is expecting her, and if I can’t present her, it’ll only mean trouble for us.”

Cathy rolled her eyes. “She’s probably out there broke, hungry, and sleeping in some alley. She’ll come crawling back. It’s only a matter of time.”

Felisha’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “Exactly. She has no roof, no money, no food. She’ll come back begging. She just needs a little more time to realize she can’t survive without me.”

Cathy shrugged, unbothered. “Whatever you say. But don’t come crying to me if she doesn’t show up.”

Felisha waved her off, her confidence unwavering. “Oh, she’ll show up. They always do.”

Back to Linda…

Linda sat on the edge of her bed, slipping on the heels that came with the dress. The doorbell rang again, and she hurried to answer it. This time, it was Liam himself, looking dashing as ever in a tailored suit. His sharp gaze traveled over her, and for a moment, something flickered in his eyes—approval, perhaps?

“You clean up nicely,” he said, his tone casual but with a hint of something deeper.

“And you’re still as insufferable as ever,” Linda shot back, grabbing her purse.

Liam smirked. “Let’s go. We’re late.”

As she climbed into his sleek black car, Linda couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was spiraling further into unknown territory. Whatever Liam had planned, she knew it wouldn’t be simple.

And she was right. The day would hold more surprises than she could have ever anticipated.