His Contractual Mistress

Later that day, Gigi secretly transferred to another hotel. She and Tom leave M Hotel with no luggage, so Galvin's men won't notice anything. 

But when they left the hotel suite, Keith's men dressed up as cleaners and took their suitcases, and moved their things to Metro City Palace Hotel. 

Tom goes through an inspection of the entire suite. He cursed when Gigi's bodyguard booked a presidential suite which has two bedrooms. He frowned after finding out that Gigi locked the door in her room. Now it forced him to stay in the other bedroom.

But of course, he won't sleep alone tonight. With this thought, his lips curled a naughty smile. After he inspected the living room and the minibar of the hotel suite, he knocked on Gigi's bedroom. 

"What is it?" Gigi looked at Tom suspiciously. 

Tom instantly scowls when she only opens a small gap in her door. The woman seemed to think that what happened to them last night was just a one-night stand. 

Heaving a long sigh, Tom pursed a faint smile. "I'm going to check your room." 

"Is that necessary?" she asked.

"Yes. I need to make sure you will be safe here if ever I was away," Tom insisted.

Gigi pondered for a moment before she widened the door and let Tom get inside. She watched him, checking every corner of her bedroom. He even inspected the durability of the windows and bathroom door. 

"Mr. Shen does impressively," he murmured while inspecting the bathroom door.

"Who? Are you referring to Hailey's boyfriend?" 

"Yeah. He's the one who designs this hotel. And his company who constructs this building." Tom pointed out. 

She nodded but said nothing. She only watched him with curiosity in her eyes. 

"The door is solid. It won't give in if someone kicked it, even with force," Tom added.

"Is it important?" She asked innocently. She understood Tom wants to ensure her safety, but what will be the relation of the bathroom door? 

Tom could see that it confused Gigi. He gestures at her, "Come here." 

"Why?" she's hesitant to come near him.

Tom raised one brow. He notices it since they arrived in the mall until they walk into the hotel; Gigi suddenly becomes elusive and keeps her distance from him. Now she's acting like he is just a stranger. 

"I have something to show you, so come with me to the bathroom." 

"But why do we need to be in the bathroom?" she eyed him with a strange look on her face. 

Tom is certain. Something is running inside her head. So he needs to explain it to this naïve woman. 

"Look… There is a possibility that Galvin will force of getting you. If that happens, I want you to run inside the bathroom. The door is solid enough to buy you more time." 

"For what?" she just asked whatever his explanation toward her, and she could see that Tom is getting annoyed by her cold treatment. But it scared her.

How if the feelings she has now is only an unrequited love? 

Tom is a free man. He was like an eagle soars the sky with no bounds. He was always in many places, especially when Hailey was on a trip around the world. 

He could meet hundreds of women, so it is impossible to fall in love with someone like her—a divorced woman.

That is why, while still early, she needs to wake up and kill whatever feelings are blooming inside her heart. 

"Gigi? Did you hear me?" Tom snaps her back to reality. 

"Ah… I'm sorry… I have many things in mind. What is it, by the way?" She was lost in her thoughts, and now she came back to her senses; her eyes widened, staring at Tom holding a gun. "Wha… What's with the gun?" 

Tom takes out the bullets from the gun and gestures to Gigi to follow him. He wrapped the gun and ammunition to a face towel, then placed them inside the Ziplock cellophane. 

"I will hide this gun here in the bathroom. You know how to use it, and so, I will leave it here." Tom put the plastic cellophane in one of the cabinets inside that bathroom. 

"Is that necessary?" she asked with worries exhibiting in her eyes. She doesn't want to recall the past when she runs for her life and gets free from Galvin. Is it going to happen again? 

"Of course. If Galvin succeeds in planting a bullet in my head, then that's the time you have to protect yourself," he explained.

Suddenly, Tom wanted to laugh while observing Gigi's face. He guesses that the woman imagines a scenario inside her head because her face is now twitching. But what made his heart flutter when worried exhibits in her eyes. And he prayed that the reason is for him.

"Why are you thinking about dying?" Afterward, Gigi asked him with seriousness in her tone.

"Don't worry, darling. I am happy to die for you," he said with a solemn facial expression. 

Gigi jolted when Tom caressed her left cheek. She didn't notice that he already cornered her on the washbasin, and now he's leaning over her. 

He is a six-footer, which, compared to her height of only five feet and five inches, the guy is towering her. 

Later she replied, but she only stuttered her words. "Why… Do you think you'll die protecting me?" 

"Why? Are you worried if I die?" 

A glint passes her eyes. "Of course! Who else would become happy if someone dies? " 

"Then you don't want me to die, huh?" Tom looks at her with intent. His eyes are hopeful she would say yes. 

"I… I don't want you to die, yes…." Gigi bites her lip. She lowered her gaze then looked up to meet Tom's intent gaze. "Especially in the hands of my ex-husband… Promise me you will not going to die!" 

Tom's eyes flicker, his lips parted into a gorgeous smile. "For you darling, if I die, I promise to come back from the dead." 

When Tom lowered his head and claimed her mouth, she did not shun away. Her heart doesn't want to refuse anymore. 

* 

Meanwhile, at Crescent Penthouse, Hailey was preparing to leave to meet Gigi and Leticia when her phone rang. 

She checks the caller, and it was Vince. She swiped the green button and greeted the guy lovingly. 

"Hey! You're done having lunch?" 

"Yes. I'm on my way back to the site." 

"Great! You are working so hard. I'm so proud of you." She praises him from the bottom of her heart. And she would love to reward him if ever they were together.

They said men always look forward to a sort of reward, and they become inspired and in a good mood, as long as they are satisfied. She wonders if it was the same case with the others, but it works with Vince. And upon remembering it, she blushed even though she's alone in the penthouse. 

"I missed you already." 

She heard Vince groaned from the other line. She could feel his loneliness as it was what she is feeling at the moment. 

"I missed you too…" she said with sadness in her voice. Soon she remembered they were talking candies. She could hear the inaudible sound of the car. She asked Vince, "Are you driving or Tim with you?" 

"I drove the car. Tim only spent like fifteen minutes eating his lunch then left to see his girlfriend." 

"Tim has a girlfriend?" 

"Yeah. He meets his childhood sweetheart here in the city." 

"Oh, wow! Who's among mmm… Is she an employee of the company?" 

Shot! She almost said, 'Who among my female employees is Tim's girlfriend?' Ah! That was close! Her tongue almost slips out! It seemed like she needed to do something about her secret identity. 

"Hmm. Tim's girlfriend is the supermarket supervisor here," replied Vince.

"Oh. I'm happy for Tim!" she chirped.

"Hah. Now he could not poke fun at me behind my back." 

Hailey laughed from the other line, and Vince smiled delightedly to hear her laughing. He already arrived at the site; he parked near a tree and got out of the car, then leaning on its door. 

It couldn't hide the smile across his face. All of his workers saw how his face brightened while talking to his mistress on the phone.

Of course, there is only one person who can make him happy like that. They have been working with him for many years, ever since he was in college, and he is rare to smile gleefully in front of them. Most of the time, he immersed himself in his training and later—as their boss and less time to mingle with his employees, but only during company dinners and seasonal company parties. 

"Hubby, I'm having a lunch meeting with a DV Gem executive to discuss the progress of your order." 

"Oh. Then you have to leave soon?" 

"Yes. I was about to leave the penthouse when you made this call." 

"Ah. Then I should hang up now," said Vince with sadness in his tone.

"No! We can keep talking while I'm on my way." 

"Okay. Thank you for doing this for me," he uttered with a smile.

"You're kidding. It is the least I could do for you," she responded. Vince is referring to the gift for his mom that she is taking care of. 

"You're wonderful," said Vince, melting Hailey's heart. 

"I'm happy to do everything for you." Her words have a meaning that only she understands.

"I love you, Wifey." 

"I love you too, hubby." 

"How about if you will also open up in the meeting that I am interested in investing in the DV Gem? I mean, it's for you." 

Vince's suggestion stunned her. Gigi was talking about it last night, but Vince is actually thinking about it as well. 

"Do you really mean that?" her voice began shaking with the emotion deluging in her chest. Vince's thoughts moved her. 

"I want to give everything to you," said Vince sincerely.

She rendered speechless as guilt struck her heart. She wants to end her lies and secrets, but she needs to consider the steps she must take care of. 

"Let's talk about that when you come back, okay?" she told Vince. 

'But I don't need everything in the world. Just YOU is enough to complete my world.' Hailey mused inwardly. She didn't voice it out as tears formed in the corner of her eyes.

'Soon… things will take place.'