His Contractual Mistress

Office of the Chief Operating Officer

Inside the office, everyone was surprised to see the person who entered the room. 

"Andre!" 

"Hey, dude! Why you haven't informed us you are coming home?" asked Attorney Leo Grubber, he is the Head of the Legal Affairs Department of Davies Group. 

Andre retorted, "It would not be surprising anymore if I told any of you of my arrival." 

"Yeah!" They cheered.

"Welcome back, Andre!" Jacob sat up from the chair and met his brother-in-law halfway. Andre is Marley Hillson's half-brother when her father got married again after 15 years that he is a widow.

"Thank you, big brother." Andre stretches his arms and offers Jacob a warm hug. Once they parted, he sweeps his gaze to the entire room and queried everyone. "So? What is going on here? And why Hailey hasn't returned yet?" 

Andre throws a glare at Bryan. Until now, he still could not believe that the first man who would break Hailey's heart is his best friend he treats like a brother. A family. 

All those years that he is away for training. He knows that Bryan is always on Hailey's side. The one who looks after her and protects her. And that he was very grateful.

At first, it surprised him when he heard the news. But possibilities for them to fall in love, so he gives his blessings. However, he was wrong to entrust Hailey to him.

"What's the reason, and you both beat up each other?" Andre queried after no one answered him.

"Someone has a thick face to barge in my office and forced me to give him Hailey's other contact number." It was Geoffrey, who replied.

"Hailey is my boss. Why can't I talk or report to her?" Bryan has no way to let Geoffrey just accuse him of all he wanted. Still, he is sincere in helping Hailey to finish the projects they had planned for years.

"You know the reason why!" Geoffrey shrieked from across the room.

"All right enough!" Chairman Jacob cut in. It irritates him watching this scene. "Since Hailey wasn't here yet, you all can report to me if you have issues. Now I'm all ears." 

Bryan and Geoffrey shared a glance. Both withdrew after a moment of clashing glares.

"I want to talk to Hailey myself, Uncle Jacob. I have something important to discuss with her," Bryan's request.

"And why can't you let us hear it as well?" Trevor Johansson queried. He is the Chief of Finance Department. 

"No. I want to hear Hailey's reason why she pulled out the project she gave to LN Group." 

"Pulled out? The Pearl Hotel Project? What's going on?" asked Jacob, his gazes shifted to each of them, waiting for an answer.  

James White clears his throat. He is casually coughing and pretends he is browsing his phone. Meanwhile, Geoffrey remains silent while the rest express they didn't know anything about it. 

And in this case, only one or two people must know something, Bryan and Geoffrey. But since Bryan also queried, then it was Geoffrey. 

All eyes fell in his direction. Anyway, he was about to report this to the Chairman. And that is what he was typing on his computer when Bryan barged in in his office. 

"I received an order from Hailey, Uncle Jacob. She wanted to take back the project and blacklisted the LN Group from our future projects," he confessed.

"Okay. But what happens? Why does her mind suddenly change? This is a big project. Who does she plan to continue the project?" 

It seems no one can answer. Jacob leaned on the chair and pondered. They already had a big problem with the accident last week. He fired out the H Group and now the LN Group? They could not afford to delay more time to finish everything Hailey has been working on. 

Jacob needs to talk to his daughter. Something is not right, and the best way is to beg Hailey to come back. 

Seeing that the chairman fell in his thoughts and no one is concerned, Bryan pursued his means to get Hailey's secret contact number.

"Uncle Jacob... This is the reason I want to talk to Hailey, why her mind suddenly changes. Something must happen to her and I was worried."

However, across the room, Geoffrey scoffs at Bryan's. Including Andre, all the boys are looking at him. They are shaking heads.

When Hailey announced that no more wedding, everyone saw Geoffrey in a rage after they learned the reason the wedding called off.

Until now, Geoffrey is the first one to mock Bryan in every way.

 "I know you have a problem with me, Geoffrey," Bryan said, tightening his jaw. However, he has to keep his cool. Still, he admits his negligence. "But this is not the time for your disdain on me." 

"Why can't I? Naturally, you wanted to talk to Hailey, not because you are the VP and the Chief Administrative in this company but because it was you who introduced the LN Group to her. And that ex-girlfriend of yours once working with them!" 

"So, you made an investigation?"

"No. But Hailey said it's not worth it since that woman resigned from that company before you cheated on Hailey. And she won't go against a company with such childish reason. But probably, there is a bigger reason."

Bryan remained silent. He could not counter Geoffrey's point against Eva. All he could reason out, they already signed them for this project.

"We already give the LN Group a contract."

Geoffrey throws a glare at Bryan and says, "Are you questioning Hailey's decision?" 

"Not. I just wanted to know what bothers her to change her mind. If whatever it is, I will deal with it myself." 

"Forget it. Hailey already assigned me about this matter." 

"I'm part of this company, so a matter to me too!" 

"Enough!" Andre cut in. It irritates him, listening to these adult men arguing like kids. "I think I understood why Hailey was taking her distance. If this is what she witnesses every day, then she should not come back. It was so annoying to listen to any of you making this reasoning, which? I could sense the personal resentment!" Andre shifted his gaze between Bryan and Geoffrey. He went on, "Honestly, I am not happy about what happened. But if we will always talk over about it. I believe that the great team Hailey formed years ago will only prevent from working on the projects smoothly."

"I'm still unhappy and angry that Hailey's heart broke by the person she trusted all her life. But this is not the time for you to keep fighting and act like wild animals wearing suits! Save your energy to finish Hailey's project as soon as possible!" Andre added.

"I'm giving all my energy to help Hailey to make her dream possible. Unlike someone else out here," Geoffrey mumbled, enough to be heard by everyone. 

"I do know my shortcomings. You need not remind me all over again about my affair Geoffrey. I already regretted what I did. But I cannot turn back the time." 

"Really? Do you regret and plan to repent? Not! Where were you? Look what happened now? It's a huge casualty that happens because you prioritize seeing your girlfriend over your work!" 

"You know what? It's no use I will explain myself. Fine! You can blame me for everything. All of you can hate me for the rest of your life. But I won't give up working here. At least it is what I can do for Hailey. I want to finish her dream city project," said Bryan to them. Then, he fixes his gaze toward the chairman. "Uncle Jacob, I know you are disappointed in me. I know you haven't forgiven me, yet. But please, allow me to make right my mistakes by working hard from here on. The accident? It won't happen again. I will not take my eyes from everything from now on." 

Jacob is about to open his mouth. But Geoffrey cut in.

He exclaimed, "You better be!" 

"This is what I am talking about! Both of you only barked at each other! You can't solve one problem by acting like this! Both of you are the top executives that Hailey trusted to handle this company!"

The rest of the boys sigh with relief. They are grateful that Andre was here to lecture these two from arguing nonstop. 

Bryan and Geoffrey were also the best buddies when Andre wasn't around. Both know how to please Hailey and both are the overprotective brother to their Princess. 

But now they who could not stop hating each other.

Jacob could only shake his head. No matter the lecture they do, Bryan and Geoffrey won't stop clashing.

It didn't hide to him that Geoffrey has special feelings for Hailey. But he guesses his daughter doesn't have the same feelings for Geoffrey. 

"Alright! Starting this evening, I don't want to hear or witness any of you arguing and blaming each other. Maybe Andre is right. Hailey chooses to distance herself if this is what she witness every single day." Jacob paused from his speech. He hurls a long sigh before he went on. "Now, let us talk about the LN Group. Do any of you have any idea why Hailey pulled them out of the project?" 

"I know nothing, Uncle Jacob." The rest of them answered. 

But one person they see that is not taking part in the meeting. 

"James!" Leo yelled at the guy. "You know something, aren't you?"