It Started With A Contract

“You may now kiss the bride,” the officiating priest murmured to the newly wedded couple.

The hall was jam-packed when Leila arrived at the wedding. She scanned the rows of clapping guests in a bid to find her best friend, Freya.

A cheer broke out when the couple kissed and Leila blushed. It had been too long since she was kissed or even held properly by a man.

“That’s how your husband will kiss you in the future,” someone whispered in her ear.

Leila jumped. Her best friend laughed at her shock. “You are late. The best parts are over.”

Leila hid a smile. Left to her, she didn’t want to be here but her best friend was keen on setting her up with a ‘man’ like it would solve the world’s problems. Yes, she missed having a man but it wasn’t as bad as Freya made it out to be. She smoothed the front of her dress and allowed herself to be dragged away by Freya.

The soft breeze pushed her hair into her face and she tucked her black curls behind her ears. They stopped at the entrance of an open garden that had been set up for the wedding reception. Freya nudged her forward.

A live band was playing somewhere on the makeshift stage as they got comfortable behind one of the round tables. “Single Pringle,” Freya called out. “Is your Tinder account still active?”

Leila rolled her eyes before answering. “Yes.”

Singleness wasn’t the end of the world but what did she know? Freya brought out her phone and she did the same for lack of a better thing to do. The first app she opened was Tinder. Freya created the account for her and she had to be their most inactive user. Her profile was bland, the same as her display picture.

“Good. Keep it active.” Freya’s excitement didn’t spill over her. Since Freya found herself a man, she had taken it as her mission to do the same for Leila. “Some of the guests are hot.”

And Leila was totally uninterested in them. Her eyes scanned the garden as Freya continued pressing her phone, probably chatting with her husband. The place was empty except for them, the band and the caterers setting up the meals.

No, wait. There was one other person. A man.

His head was bent over his phone, his grey tux fit snugly to his body. The man must have felt her eyes on him because he lifted his head. His fingers ran through his hair like he was angry at something and Leila blushed. He was hot.

He arched a brow when she continued staring and she looked away. Her cheeks warmed, she picked her phone and pretended to type into it.

Freya stood. “I have to get something outside.” Leila could feel the stranger’s eyes on her back but she didn’t turn. Freya adjusted her hair and gown. “How do I look?” Leila gave her best friend a thumbs up. As always, Freya was stunning. “Thanks. Don’t go anywhere.”

She could try but Freya would put her through a long lecture about socialising. One of the servers dropped a bottle of wine to her table and Leila muttered her thanks.

Faint voices filtered into her ears, the band changed song as the bride and groom walked in. The man smiled at his wife and she grinned back. Leila didn’t know them. They were friends of Freya. She felt those eyes on her again and she peered from under her lashes to get a look.

Thick brows. Full lips. Chiselled jaw. Delicate nose. Short hair that was constantly falling over his forehead. She wanted to walk up to him and smoothen the hair out of his face.

said something Leila didn’t hear because she was focused on this stranger but it made the guests laugh. The stranger’s lips quirked like he knew the effect he had on her. Her cheeks warmed, she returned to her Tinder

been paired with someone. A Kelvin. That was odd. This was her first match in six

uninteresting. His display picture didn’t show his face but body and she drooled. Her fingers hit the accept button real fast and

Kelvin: Hi.

to reply immediately, she opened up a game app on her phone

were raising a toast to the couple. Leila reached

her

from Kelvin. She didn’t take her time to reply to this

Kelvin: Are you busy?

wedding

bored out of my mind. Weddings are not my thing but a single man has no say in such matters. My sister is trying to

friend. I lost it to my sister.

was rambling

best friend is nowhere to be found. Yay me. The perks of

be your ticket to leaving boredom land. What do

lip between her teeth, she nodded like he could see

red lipstick waiting for her prince charming to show up. Lol. You can easily hear the music playing down the road but if you

left him her number. At least, Freya would get off her back for a minute. Speaking of best friends, Freya was taking too long. She sent her a text and groaned at the reply from

up. Will be back

to leave with this Kelvin guy. The chair Freya once

her name? He waved his phone and she saw his Tinder profile. Kelvin. The hot stranger was her Tinder match. “Sad lady waiting for her prince charming, remember? Well, I’m here

see his eyes were grey and his lips more pouty than they looked from afar. Kelvin accepted a glass of sparkling wine

drinking

new waiter over and

“Tough day?” she asked.

taking slow sips from

“She left.”

she fiddled with the

head. Inviting him over here had sounded pleasing on the phone. He

stay here

the delicacy placed on her table. The band was playing a slow song to match the mood. She dug into her small chops

you ever wondered why people

lot of times. “Yes.