His Contractual Mistress

They have arrived in the main building and trailing down the corridor toward the kitchen, and they spotted the Head Chef was talking on the phone. Immediately, his face lit up the moment he saw Mrs. Gomez coming to the kitchen. 

"Thank god, you are here, Mrs. Gomez! Chef Tessa is on the other line. She wished to speak with you." 

"Sure, give me the phone." Mrs. Gomez took the phone from Chef Uy, and she was thrilled to talk with the famous culinary instructor. "Good evening, Chef Tessa." 

"Hello, Mrs. Gomez. I'm very sorry about this matter. I would love to be part of the event. However, I could not leave my daughter yet. She's still under observation." The famous chef explained.

"We understood, Chef Tessa. Your daughter's condition is more important than cooking for us. In fact, I found someone that was actually is your old student." 

"Oh. Is that true?" 

"Have you remembered, Miss Hailey Hillson?" 

The female chef fell in thoughts. "Hailey? Hm... Oh, yes, of course! My student from Australia! Yes, I remember her! She is one of my best students! So, she's in the country, as well?" 

"Yes, she is! As a matter of fact, she is my HRM student." 

"Oh, great! Can I speak to her?" 

"Sure! I'll pass her the phone." Mrs. Gomez gestured at Hailey as she handed the phone. "She wanted to talk to you." 

"Okay, Mrs. Gomez." She took the phone and greeted her former teacher. 

Mrs. Gomez and Chef Uy shared a glance. It happens; Hailey talks with Chef Tessa in French. At this moment, they had no idea what they were discussing is about.

After a brief talk, Hailey returned the phone to Mrs. Gomez, and the two instructors continue to discuss the problem. Chef Tessa highly recommends Hailey to replace her.

"Thank you for helping us out with this, Miss Hillson," Mrs. Gomez sincerely expressed her gratitude.

Hailey replied, "Small thing, ma'am. I'm glad to help."

"Alright!" Mrs. Gomez clapped her hands. "I need to go back to the reception. I have to make sure everything is taken care of over there." 

"I understand, ma'am. By the way, can you keep it a secret?" 

Mrs. Gomez and Chef Uy exchange glances. Soon, both nodded amd swear not to acknowledge that she is the one who saves this year's Class Reunion.

And in the next two hours, Hailey prepares the food Chef Tessa is supposed to make. Not only that, but she also makes another dish. It's Vince's favorite Italian dessert, Tiramisu. 

"It's done! We can serve them now," Hailey announced. 

*

Meanwhile, in the venue, the event has already begun. The alumni are one by one arrived, and each of them has the same reaction upon seeing the reception. They were all blown away by how spectacular the reception is in this year's Homecoming. 

Not long, Vince appeared. The emcee acknowledged his arrival, which he hated an introduction this way. 

"Ladies and gentlemen... Let's all welcome our Alumni President, Vincent Shen! Around the applause, please!" 

Vincent nodded at everyone, struggling to return the greetings and shaking hands. Soon after, the university President met him halfway and guided him to the table where the Administrative school personnel seated.

As the gathering continues, it is time for dinner. This time, Vince joined the table of his AB classmates. Last 2015 is the year when Vince finished his first-degree course before he took Architecture. 

"Hey, hey! It was the famous CEO Vincent Shen!" Jake Velasco, Vince's best friend and childhood friend who migrated to the US after their graduation. "Where's your date?" 

"Jake, welcome back! You just arrived this morning, right?" Vince throws a knuckle at the guy, and they hug each other as they have not met for two years. 

"You haven't answered my question, huh?" Jake laughs, shaking his head. He knew Vince very well, and this guy hasn't changed at all. 

Vince, on the other hand, was looking around, but he could not find Hailey. He attempts to ask one of her classmates or friends, but the school president and other administration members keep chatting with him; he could not free from them until dinner was announced. 

He smiled at Jake and said, "She will be here soon." 

"Alright! Don't forget to introduce me to her, hm?" 

"Okay! Now, let's go to get our food! The Alumnae paid a great chef from Paris. We should try the food." Vince leads Jake to the buffet table. 

Falling on the line, Lloyd Khan joined Vince and Jake. Seeing what he did, the two men tease the guy. 

"You're cutting the line!" 

"Hey! What are friends for?" said Lloyd, laughing. "Thank you for reserving my spot, friends!" 

"We're not!" Vince and Jake said at once. However, Lloyd has actually had a thick face. 

He turned around and waved at the back. With a bright, handsome smile, he told the people behind them. "Excuse me, girls! They actually reserve me a spot here." 

Jake and Vince could not help it but shook their head from embarrassment. Meanwhile, the girls behind them only giggle and drool. The truth is, they don't mind at all. 

Vincent Shen, Jake Velasco, Lloyd Khan are the hottest men in their department. They once dreamed of being their girlfriend, but the lucky girl was never them. 

"Wait... Who is she? Is she your girlfriend, Lloyd? Why don't you introduce me to her, huh?" Jake throws a punch on Lloyd's left shoulder. He notices this girl standing behind Lloyd.

But the truth is, she was hiding behind Lloyd. 

"Hey, you forget my little cousin?" Lloyd glanced behind him and pulled the girl to show herself. "It's Hazel!" 

"Oh... She's not little now! Wow!" Jake scanned Hazel from the head down to her red stiletto. She is also wearing a red shimmering tube dress with a long slit on the right leg. "Hazel! I didn't recognize you!" 

"Hi! Well... It's been a while!" Hazel casually took Jake's hand when the guy extended his arm for a handshake. What she didn't expect, Jake would kiss the back of her palm instead. This sent a thousand bolts throughout her nerves. 

"Ah-uh! Hazel is still a little girl!" Lloyd leaned over and whispered to Jake to warn him. "Don't dare to hit on my cousin." 

"Hey, I only appreciate a beauty!" Jake reasons out, but the smirk on his mouth is visible.

"Remember that you are eleven years older." Lloyd reminded his friend.

Jake laughs. He thinks Lloyd is just an overprotective cousin. He made a point, "Why does age matter?" 

"Not! But Hazel is just too young for love yet!" Lloyd reasons that cause Hazel's mouth to drop open. Lloyd is embarrassing her! 

"Hey! What are you talking about now, Lloyd!" Hazel is glaring at her cousin. She wanted to hide in embarrassment. 

However, instead of to replied to Hazel, he faced Jake. "I am a man. So I know how you look at my cousin." 

"Okay! I'm just thrilled that she grew up this gorgeous!" 

Lloyd would like to argue further, but it was now their turn to take food. The tree men excitedly scanned the table while Hazel followed silently. Her face remained flushing red. It made her happy that Jake had an eye on her. 

Checking out the food, Jake asks the server to put only a little food of this and that to have a taste of them first. 

"Hm! This really tastes spectacular! Is this French cuisine? I never tasted it this good!" Jake's compliments. 

Vince was encouraged to have a taste as well. His forehead curled up. The moment the food reaches his tongue, there's only one person who comes to his mind. It tastes more like Hailey's recipe. 

Of course, he is now very familiar with every dish she prepared for him. Hailey's recipe is different from those he had tried in a French restaurant, Italian or Asian food he knew...

Now that he got to taste the French cuisine prepared tonight, he has no doubt—Hailey, who cooks them. 

At the round table, the three men were seated along with their other two friends back in college. They were merrily eating while having a random topic which ends them up cracking. 

Hazel is eating silently. She wishes Hailey were here to keep her company. Listening to this men's lousy joke made her roll her eyes in secret. 

'Where are you, Hailey!?' She has to ask Nadia and Liza. It's time to dress, Hailey!