SHACKLED

Charles Espresso drew a shaky breath as he tapped furiously on his phone, the screen illuminating his face in the otherwise dark dining room

He sent a message to his wife, just a simple "I miss you." But when she didn't reply, panic gripped him. He tried deleting it, fingers fumbling over the screen. Too late the double ticks had already appeared.

His phone buzzed in his hand and he cracked an eye open glancing at the screen. It was his client Mrs Alison.

"Mrs Alison", he called trying to sound professional, "you don't call on normal days, I'm hanging up".

"I need your help" she snapped, sounding pitiful.

"Let's meet at Marian," he said calmly. Marian is a restaurant located in the west village of Manhattan.

"I need to visit my parents with my husband, they are questioning our relationship, my mum thinks I'm sick that's why I haven't gotten pregnant".

"So how does it have to do with me," he said while looking away.

"Please I need your help," she was about saying but was interrupted by him

"Say no more, I will go with you but it depends on how cooperative you are,"

"I will do anything" she said, furiously.

"Anything you said," he said calmly with a faint smile.

"Okay, how many days are we spending there?"

"Three" she answered, holding him up with a smile

"Three days?" he jolted away from her.

"No, three days is too much, I have other clients."

He thought of how to go about it, knowing she's being pressured or threatened because Mrs. Alison doesn't look like one who cares about family issues.

She is from a wealthy home or should I say a platter of gold but had to marry for her business to be supported by her parents.

Mrs. Alison stared at him confusingly knowing he was in a confused state, trying to fix his schedule with others but promised to appreciate him handsomely.

He was jolted to reality by her.

"Mr. Charles," she said calmly, "I will be responsible for all the expenses, your client will understand, besides this is your first time overruling the contract."

He smiled faintly, knowing how important his meeting with his favourite client Mrs Casser is, he understood how important their meetings were and would have to make it up to her.

He had come to like her and would call her his wife without feeling absurd unlike others, she would do the cooking, cleaning but doesn't talk while eating, no, not at all.

Eating at her place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays has become a routine and he loves it. He has been doing this for five years and couldn't stand a chance of missing it, he knows how disappointed and lonely she would be but has to help miss Alison.

He had seen so many clients he would love to help but sometimes couldn't, he would only pretend to be married to them so as to be free from being bullied, lack of trust, support in their companies or to please their family members.

His job is to help single women who haven't been able to marry and he loves his job, because of how helpful it is, despite the danger in it. He would adore himself because of the excellent reviews he's been receiving.

He is not doing this because he loves it or misunderstands the meaning of marriage but because he was trained to believe that marriage is a business and in business you must be sincere, his sincerity has brought him numerous clients.

Though he's pleased with it, he has decided to give up on helping others and pursue his dream, which is leaving the country to a place where no one knows him, find a lover and experience a love life.

Everything went as planned at Mrs Alison's place. Her parents, convinced that her childlessness stemmed from her hectic work life, promised to assign her a personal assistant.

The couple faked as they endured a series of awkward tests and evaluations, all in a bid to satisfy her parent's concerns.

By the third day, Charles was exhausted mentally and emotionally. He had fulfilled his role, and now all he could think about was returning to his real life.

The familiar chaos of his schedule was already piling up.

Back in the city, the week moved fast. He barely had time to rest before the next arrangement came knocking. But this time, it felt different.

The day he had been waiting for had arrived. It was his last day at work, and he was preparing for what was meant to be his final contract marriage to a new client.

After dressing, he was approached by two hostesses.

"Hi, good afternoon," one of the hostesses said, her voice light and curious.

Charles turned to them with a polite smile, still adjusting his cufflinks. "Good afternoon. How may I help you?"

The second hostess leaned in slightly, grinning. "We just wanted to confirm something. I told her you got married last Saturday, but she doesn't believe me."

Charles blinked, the smile on his face faltering. "No... it's not me," he replied hesitantly, his voice barely steady.

The hostess raised an eyebrow, then pulled out her phone. "It is you. I took a picture," she said, flipping the screen toward him.

His face was drained of color. "You did what?" he snapped, taking a step closer.

He glanced around, then lowered his voice into a tight whisper. "Yes. It's me. I got married on Saturday... and divorced on Sunday. But listen closely and keep this to yourselves."

His jaw clenched as he studied their name tags. "If this gets out, I will sue both of you," he added coldly, his eyes narrowed in warning.

On his way home he reminisced how he was caught and almost exposed by the hostesses and also by his supposed sister in law, oh goodness.

"I think I have been doing this for too long and it's time to quit."

Charlie was once Charles's client, but now she lives with him as his roommate. Born as the only daughter among several brothers, Charlie always felt pressure from her family to conform.

When she discovered she was attracted to women and fell in love with her girlfriend, she planned to marry her. But her mother, overwhelmed by tradition and expectations, threatened to take her own life if Charlie went through with it.

Desperate to keep the peace, Charlie reached out to Charles for help. They entered into a contract marriage a temporary arrangement meant to satisfy her family's demands.

After the contract ended, something unexpected happened. Despite the marriage being fake, they built a deep, genuine connection.

Now, even though they're no longer husband and wife, they continue to live together, bonded by friendship, shared secrets, and an understanding that runs deeper than most real marriages.

His roommate or ex wife was watching a movie when he walked in foaming.

"What's the matter?" she asked but never got an answer.

"How was the wedding?" she asked reluctantly.

"Were you caught by beauty goddess", immediately she mentioned her name, his face became unreadable.

"Oh no, I have an appointment with her today, I don't know but I have to call off the

contract and I'm concerned of how she will feel." He said rapidly gathering his things.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh why are you concerned?"Charlie asked, raising a brow.

"I get, you love her, I knew I was right, yes, you've never missed your appointment with her, never went late or gave excuses, always excited when you are back from her place and"

"Stop it," he interrupted, smiling. "Hope you are joking because I don't like her".

"See you later," he added as he raced to his car to avoid what Charlie was saying.