His Contractual Mistress

Hailey was sorting some files when Vince phoned her at night. They cheerily chatted for a few moments then Vince asked her a favor. 

"Mom's birthday will be next month. I realize the gifts I often give her are a purse or a bag. I want to give her something different this year. So, can you help me pick out a nice gift for a mother?" 

"What kind of gift were you thinking of giving her this time?" 

Hailey's question made Vince push the corner of his mouth and murmured mischievously to himself.

'I preferred to give her a grandson.' 

Vince let out a low chuckle that didn't escape from Hailey's ear. 

"Did you say something just now?" she asked. 'And why is he laughing now?' 

"Ah. I'm just thinking of giving her jewelry this time. What do you think?" 

"Oh..." When Vince mentioned it, suddenly, an idea came to her mind. 

"So, can you help me? I'm just thinking that you are going to meet the DV Gem executives. Maybe, I can place an order even before the store launches in P Country. I want personalized jewelry for mom. But I have no idea." 

"So you want me to pick out what kind of jewelry it will be?" 

"Yes!" 

"And do you trust me with this?" 

"Yes, I do. You are so lovely at those times we attended several parties. I trust your taste." 

Somehow, this encourages her to do it. Vince is complimenting her. 

"Okay. I'll do my best to pick out something for her. But I wonder if your mom would like it." It worries her already; aside from the fact that she is Vince's mom, she is the one and only Hilda Lopez Shen. 

"Thank you, wifey. Don't worry. I know mom will like whatever gift you choose for her." 

"Likewise, thank you for trusting me," she said to Vince.

"I will always do." 

Hailey bit her lip as guilt struck her chest. Vince's words squeezed her heart with the reality that she had several lies to him to hide her identity. But she promises to tell him the truth once he is free from his marriage. 

If she reveals the truth, she doesn't want Vince to feel uncomfortable with his work. Most of all, her concerns are her dad and the boys. They won't make things easy for Vince. 

A possibility that they won't confront her but Vince, the reason she wanted to avoid revealing herself as she is sure it will become chaos, and it will implicate the progress of the constructions. 

When the call ended, Hailey got her MacBook and a drawing pen. 

She began sketching on her laptop until she did a lot of editing. It was past midnight when she was done. 

She's not satisfied yet, but she will consult Kelly about it and fix her design. And since it was still evening in Dubai, she chatted with Kelly. 

"OMG! This is so gorgeous, Hail!" 

"Do you like it? I mean, whoever received this necklace would like it?" 

"Seriously? No. I would love it!" 

"I'm glad. But it's not for you." 

"What!? I thought it's for me." Kelly pouted. They had a FaceTime and discussed the necklace she designs. "So, for whom this necklace?" 

"It's for her mom." She needs to lie again. It's not the right time for Kelly to know about Vincent even though she knows she has to tell her everything, sooner or later. 

"Alright! Please leave it to me! I will make this myself." 

"Really? Thanks, twinnie!" 

"This is special. So then I will do it myself." 

"Thank you, Kell. I actually needed it very soon as it is a birthday gift for a mom." 

"No problem! It will finish right away!" 

"Thanks once again. Anyway, can you also make a pair of earrings and a ring?" 

"I'm actually thinking about that." 

"Great!" 

After the call, Hailey had a massive smile on her face. She's glad that her head is abundant with ideas at the moment. 

But behind these ideas, she designed the necklace while thinking about her mom. She's missing her badly, but she knows she's in a better place. 

And so she's praying that Vince's mom would love it.

* 

The following day at Lopez Corporation... 

Zaijan is reading all the reports in the past month he was out of the country. It was just half a day that had passed, but his head is throbbing with a headache. 

Later, the door of his office was opened by a person who never knocks. The guy sat across him, yet he ignored him. 

"This is my report regarding the upcoming concert. Everything has been set up already. The international band will arrive next week, and the Presidential suite was already prepared for their stay." 

"Great," Zaijan replied flatly. He glanced at his wristwatch; he realized it was past noon already.

Zaijan heaves a frustrated sigh, followed by his face darkens. It annoys him that Fraine didn't remind him for lunch. 

He was about to dial the woman's mobile number when his phone rang. 

"Vincent?" 

"Hey, Zayn. I heard you're back in the country." 

"Yeah. What's up? By the way, congratulations on winning a contract from Davies Group. I heard from uncle Fred; your work would take several years to finish. It's good news for everyone." 

"Yeah. It will be a massive production for Lopez Steel Corp.; it means more work for us as well," said Vince on the other line. 

Zaijan is nodding while listening to Vince. "Uncle Fred schedules a daily meeting to meet the demands soon." 

"Great. I did ask dad to oversee the production. And so, can you take care of all the stuff regarding the expansion of Metro City Garden?" 

"Alright. I'll assign Rodney to supervise this project." 

"I'll be at ease then, especially now you will be there." 

"I know," Zaijan replied meaningfully. "I'll be in the country for a longer time, and one idiot here also decides to live in Metro City permanently." 

A dagger look threw at Zaijan, but he still ignored the guy. Of course, it upset him when Zaijan mentioned 'one idiot.' He knew that it refers to him. 

"Great. Anyway, I have another favor to ask." Vince went on. 

"Sure. Spill it out." 

"Can you look at who is behind the article?" 

Zaijan didn't need the full details. He already understood that Vincent is referring to the gossip thrown at his mistress. 

"Okay. I'll take care of it." 

"Thank you, Zayn," said Vince.

"Small thing. But we should throw you a party once you come back." 

"Hm. It's mom's birthday soon. Maybe it would be best to announce it by then."

"It looks a better idea." Zaijan concurred.

"Alright. I'll hang up now." 

"Okay." 

Vincent ended the call. It was more likely a plain and boring conversation, but they had already shared important information. 

Zaijan looks up to meet the curious eyes looking at him. 

"What?" He asked lazily. 

"Nothing. I'm just impressed that if Vincent you spoke with, you were so calm and spoke softly." 

"So? What's intriguing about it?" Zaijan raised a brow.

Rodney shrugged a shoulder and responded. "As I said, it's nothing." 

Zaijan stared at Rodney for a long moment before he explained. "Vincent and I both run a big company. Apparently, we understand each other better and shared the same struggles to handle business matters."

Rodney curled his mouth. Again, Zayn is lashing him face to face that he is less reliable. 

"Get your car ready."

Later Zaijan told Rodney, which made the latter even more annoyed. 

"What am I? Your private driver?" He grumbles. 

Zaijan made a sidelong glance at Rodney; soon, he withdrew his gaze and focused on his phone to dial a particular contact. 

"Where are you?" he asked the person at the end of the call. 

"In my office," Fraine answered lazily. 

"Lunch break just began. Have you finished that quick?" 

"I brought food with me," she replied. 

'What? She made a lunch box only for herself and didn't make one for me?' Zaijan clenched his jaw. Today, he left the apartment earlier than he always does, and so he didn't know whether Fraine cooks something when he's gone. 'That woman!' 

"Go to the parking lot right now," he ordered before he hung up the call. 

Zaijan sat up from the couch and walked toward the door without casting a look at his cousin. He doesn't like repeating his words. 

Rodney, on the other hand, heaves a frustrated sigh then quickly follows Zaijan. 

"I'll drive you as long as you'll treat me to lunch every day." He mouthed with a massive grin across his face. 

Zaijan scowled at him. The guy would be only willing to be his driver because Fraine would be there as well. 

On the other line, Fraine frowned. She has no plan to listen to him. However, it's no use if she didn't follow what he said. The guy will march toward her office, and then an endless argument would erupt between them. 

Fraine sighed helplessly. 

In the parking lot, Fraine heard the elevator chimed. She turned around and gazed at the two handsome men who stepped out of the elevator. 

Both are undeniably handsome, and their height almost no different. Although one has a much firmer body than the other one, it didn't make him inferior. His cold expression made him mysterious while the other one, his personality, exploded everywhere. 

Fraine lightly shook her head and withdrew her gaze from the two men. 

"Yo!" Rodney tries to steal her attention, but she ignores him. 

"Get in." Zaijan opens the door, and Fraine climbs into the car in silence; neither talks to the men. 

Once Zaijan settled in the passenger seat, Rodney drove his car to a restaurant he and Zayn discussed in the elevator a while back. As usual, there is a brief argument before it is decided. 

Fraine grew uncomfortable with how silent the two men. It made her wonder why the seriousness? 

Later, it was Zaijan who broke the silence. 

"After lunch, start investigating that article." He told Rodney. 

"Alright." 

Although she ignored the presence of these men, Fraine got intrigued by their casual conversation. 

"Vincent truly loves his girlfriend." 

Later, Rodney made a comment that gave Fraine an idea. She quickly texted Hailey. 

"Hey! I learned that President Shen asks President Zaijan's help to deal with the article." 

Meanwhile, Hailey is currently preparing the dress she will wear tonight. She quickly reads her messages when the sender is Fraine. 

Her eyes flickered to know that Vince was trying to protect her even though he was not in the country. 

"Okay. Thank you for notifying me." 

Somehow, her relationship with Fraine has become her advantage to get information from Vince's cousin's activity. It will be a lot easier for her to monitor what is happening with the Lopezes. 

*

Extra Scene: 

Fraine was exchanging a few messages from Hailey; she didn't notice that they had arrived already. 

She just realized it when both of the backseat doors open. 

She was dumbfounded at first, but then it was replaced with irritation when the two men acted childish again; both were throwing measuring gaze at each other. 

Fraine rolled her eyes, but she didn't know which door she was going to choose. 

'Ugh! Can't they leave me alone?!'