His Contractual Mistress

Vince chooses a table on the corner to have a private talk with Hailey.

Seated opposite each other, Hailey noticed that every pair of eyes in that room curiously looking at their table, and it made her uncomfortable. 

She glanced at Vince, and he seemed only ignoring everyone, even talks start arising in the café.

Well, everyone knew he was married, and they have never seen him dated after then. But here he is, having coffee with someone tonight. 

Well, for Hailey, they are just having coffee. However, she's still in a state of debating within herself why did she accept the invitation?

Now she was on the hot seat. All the eyes were scanning her from the head down to her flat Strappy sandal.

Gladly, their coffee arrived. She ignored everyone but leisurely sipped on the mug.

Later, Vince spoke up. He said, "Just ignored everyone. Don't pay any attention to them."

"Ah, no. I'm not really..." I was only anxious that I'm with you!

"Anyway, about what you heard. It was true. I ask for a divorce from my nominal wife."

Hailey chooses to listen, as she didn't know how to react. Besides, a question was playing on her head.

'Why is Vincent Shen telling her this?'

She truly overheard his conversation, but it's not something she would gossip around.

Is it the reason Vince invited her for a coffee? She could perceive that if other people heard it, they already posted it on social media or sold the information to Entertainment sites.

"You have nothing to worry about. I won't spread out what I heard. I don't mind others' business," she assured Vince. She comprehends that it must be what he worries about.

"I'm glad to hear that from you. But I still wanted to tell you, if you don't mind?"

"Oh! I'm all ears! I will pretend that my left ear heard it but exited to my right."

Vince chuckled. He thinks she is cute and honest. "Well, as what you heard. I want my nominal wife to sign the divorce paper."

"Is the marriage didn't work out?" she asked curiously. She wanted to find out why Eva was still having an affair with her ex.

Vince only laughs at her question. She finds it offensive, but he quickly apologizes.

"I'm sorry. I... No. We don't need to work on our marriage. Eva and I were only forced into this marriage. So, we both agreed to get divorced after two years."

Hailey studied Vince's face. He is sure not joking, but why is he more sounded explaining? She mused.

"So what happens?" And why am I making questions here? Is this a talk show?

However, she could see Vince seemed willing to answer her queries.

"Yeah. We never live as a couple. After the marriage, we go separate ways."

"Really? You didn't check on her or what she is doing all these years. Are you both married? I mean..." She's still married to you! She's still your wife!

"I'm not interested in her life. I think she is living with her boyfriend after our wedding ceremony..." Vince paused when he saw her coughing. "Are you okay?"

Hailey was choked with the coffee she drank. That has brought a real shock to her nerves.

So, Vince knows Eva is seeing another man, and Vince doesn't give a damn about it!

"Ahem! So... You know she has a boyfriend?"

"Yes. She didn't agree with the marriage as much as me because we both have someone we care about."

"I see. So, you also have a girlfriend?"

"Nah. I don't have one."

Hailey raised a brow. Seriously? Then why say you care about someone? "Then, it's Secret love?"

Vince chuckled before he replied to her. "I think that was the perfect word."

Hailey fell silent and pondered. She tried to figure out and weigh the information she now heard.

So, Vince and Eva were only forced into the marriage, then had agreed to get divorced after two years.

After they got married, they took a separate way, which Vince knows Eva had someone else.

'But where is the girl he loves?' A question that intrigued her.

"Why didn't you marry the girl you love instead?"

This is Q&A! Hailey could not stop herself from asking a question after another.

She makes believes that this is getting to know him. So then, soon, she could offer him a project. She has to make Vince sign a contract with her to work on her dream projects she aims to finish quickly.

That's right! She should make friends with him first, and this is the best opportunity she has!

And since they will work together soon, they should know about each other to feel comfortable.

Hailey has been contemplating while she waited for what answer Vince will give her. However, Vince looked hesitant to answer that question. So give the hint of apologizing.

"Um... I think I went overboard. I should not query too many personal questions."

"Not really," Vince smiled at her. "I just have no precise answer with that one."

"Oh. Why is that? I mean... I'm sorry for asking too much again."

Hailey bites her lower lip, and Vince finds that fascinating. He blinks, then coughs as he straightens his back. He places his arms on the table, clasping his palms.

"It's okay. I'm willing to answer them. Also, it's because you are the first person I'm telling about this," he told Hailey with a handsome smile across his face. 

"It is such an honor, then!" Hailey pursed a sweet smile. She lowered her gaze when Vince didn't leave his eyes staring at her face.

After a short moment, Vince went on. "Well, I wish I knew where she was by that time my mother nagged me about the marriage."

Hailey curled her forehead. She queried, "So, you also separate ways without knowing where she goes?"

"Ah... she didn't know."

"She didn't know, as in? Oh, it's secret love, so you didn't tell her that you like her." Hailey laughs awkwardly. She drew her mug toward her mouth and drank half of the coffee on it. But she could not stop querying further.

"Why didn't you tell her what you feel about her?"

'What's wrong with this guy? He doesn't know where the girl she loves is, and now he doesn't know where his nominal wife is?

So what he intends to do with his life?'

'In what I am seeing. His life is far complicated to imagine. Not only that, his life is more boring than mine at the moment!'

Hailey keeps mumbling inwardly while she patiently waited that Vince would answer her last queries.

She looked up and met his gaze. But he only remains to stare at her. 'What is happening to him now?'

After a long moment of silence, Vince heaves a long sigh before he expresses out...

"I wish to tell you."

"Huh?"

What did he say? What does that mean???

Hailey tried to figure out what Vince is trying to tell her, but her phone rang. It was Hazel who is calling her and looking for her.

~ ~ ~

The following day, Hailey woke up to a loud ring of her phone. She forgets to set it on airplane mode.

She reaches for the gadget and checks out whose calling. It was Hazel, and she also has miscalled from Liza and a bunch of messages!

"Hey! What happens?" She asked Hazel the moment she swipes the green button.

"Miss Hailey Hillson!"

Ouch! Hailey draws out her phone when Hazel shouted so loud from the other end of the call.

"Are you trying to deafen me?"

"Where are you? Are you still sleeping? Or?"

"I am. Remember what time you guys went home? But it's a miracle you already are awake this early after you got drunk."

"Well, mom woke me up after she saw the news. And it helps me sober up."

"News? What news?" Hailey tried to follow what Hazel was trying to tell her. It confuses her if anything is related to her.

"So, you haven't seen it yet?" asked Hazel. Her voice is entirely thrilled.

"About what?"

"I'll send you the links!" Hazel suddenly ended her call.

Soon, Hailey's eyes popped out from her face, reading the headlines.

'What is going on here!?'

It dazes her reading all those headlines and gossip.

It's just a coffee and a great talk with Vince last night about his marriage to Eva.

But now she was all over the news! The Headlines are saying like these:

"Is She Vincent Shen's Rumored Girlfriend?"

"Who is the girl CEO Vincent Shen dated last night?"

"Did Someone Finally Won Vincent Shen's Heart?"

'Why the headlines saying like this?' Hailey could not believe to see all this news. What is happening!?

'Dear God… I know I prayed for some adventure in my loveless life. But not like this! What am I going to do now!?'