The Marriage Contract by Tara Ahmed Read Free Book Online Page A

didn’t look so boring, and maybe, just maybe, I looked a little pretty. A pale blue, butterfly hair clip was placed above my ear, as I traced my fingers over the expensive accessory.
                  “My hands are magic,” exclaimed Valencio. “Now, shoo! I’ve got more customers to attend to!”
                  I thanked him, and stood, placing my hands at my side. As I prepared to turn, Valencio’s delicate hand curved over my shoulder, causing me to still.
                  “Oops, I forgot,” he said, giggling. “James sent something for you. Just a moment, dear. Suzy! Bring over the dress—“
                  “Dress?” I asked, turning around.
                  Suzy, the receptionist, jogged towards me, placing a white shopping bag in my hand. Her bright eyes gleamed, as she smiled warmly at me.
                  “You’re so lucky,” she said. “If only a guy loved me as much as James loves you. Anyways, this dress will look perfect on you. You can try it on in the back. There’s a dressing room all the way at the end.”
                  I stared at the bag, and then at Richard, who sat on the chair, gazing at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. I wasn’t sure if he was bored, or annoyed, or irritated, or maybe a mix of all three.
                  “We don’t have all day,” Richard stated in a low monotone.
                  I sighed, as Valencio spun me around, giving me a light push towards the dressing room. My new curls bounced over my back, as women in salon chairs looked at me through the mirror, staring me up and down like I was a piece of thanksgiving turkey. 
                  Ignoring their scrutiny, I jogged towards the dressing room, entering the small space, and swinging the door closed.
                  My chest heaved, as I placed the bag in a wooden seat against the wall of the room, staring at myself in the long mirror before me. Taking a deep breath, I slipped my hand through the white paper bag, my fingers tracing over the cool, soft, silk. In the moment following, I took out the dress, holding it carefully in my arms so as not to damage it.
                  The white dress was a v neck, sleeveless kind, reaching an inch above my ankles. Small, periwinkle flowers were embroidered at the center of the dress, creating a lovely belt design. As I undressed, placing my casual clothes within the white bag, and slipping the silk gown over my body, I couldn’t help but feel out of place.
                  The girl I saw in the mirror looked like me, but she didn’t feel like me. For the first time in my life, I felt a bit more than ordinary, for I looked a little bit unordinary.
                  Though I was still mad at James, I had to hand it to him…he had great taste in clothes.
                  Placing the bag of my regular clothes in my hand, I stepped out of the dressing room, walking towards Richard. The other women and some men in the salon stared at me, their eyes following my steps.
                  When Richard’s angry eyes met mine, for a moment, his gaze softened. His gaze travelled down my barely there curves, to flat of my feet, which were still adorned by white flip flops.
                  “So the duck became a swan,” he whispered, more to himself than to me.
                  I gave him a curious look, but he continued to stare at me, as though seeing me for the first time. For a moment, he reminded me of James, and the way he had looked at me yesterday, at the hotel.
                  I shook my head, knowing that was silly. Because Richard already had Valencio, so there was no reason he would look at me like that. I was probably just imagining things.
                  “You’re a gem!” Valencio clapped his hands together, smiling