His Contractual Mistress

Vincent stood in front of his car for a moment. He lifted his chin and looked up at the sky as he breathed out furiously. 

He didn't mean to be disrespectful toward his mom. But he would not allow her to take away the only thing that makes him happy. 

Vincent slid into the vehicle and sat in front of the steering wheels. He pulled out his phone and typed a message he sent to his dad. 

"I'm sorry, dad. I better leave now. Can we talk again tomorrow in the office?" 

Vincent throws his phone on the passenger seat. He turned on the engine of his car and drove out of the mansion. He speeds up the moment he exited at the main gate of the Metro Real Estate. 

Since it was Sunday, the main road has only minor traffic today. It didn't take long for Vincent to arrive in the penthouse. 

Vincent pushes the door open of his unit. He takes off his shoes, places them inside the shoe closet, and wears his house slipper.

The house is too quiet. He saw Hailey was in the kitchen preparing something. She supposes to review her lessons, but there she is, making their dinner. 

She didn't hear his arrival, and so he guesses she wore the earbuds. 

Vincent crossed his arms across his chest and rested his back on the wall. He remained in the entryway to watch Hailey in silence. 

And as he was looking at her lovingly, memories flooded his head as he recalls where he meets her. 

*

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

Vince ordered a cup of brewed coffee and a croissant. He took his coffee and bread outside the coffee shop, seated in front of a sidewalk market near a riverbank. His eyes sweep in the whole place. Today seemed like a busy day, with several tourist groups passing by his table. 

Near here is an old church where everyone loves to visit. He loves that church too, and admired its architectural design. It is one of a few reasons he was here in Budapest. 

"Sorry to make you wait!" 

Vince lifted his head from typing on his phone. His lips tear a smile upon seeing the girl seated across him. "Hey, want some coffee?" 

"Yup! I need more of it. Lena stayed awake late last night, and so, she's still sleeping this late morning." 

"Okay. Kids change their sleeping hour cycle, so you must bear it for a while," Vincent's advice. 

"Oh. And when does my dear brother know this stuff?" Sheena teases Vincent. She is wearing that playful smile across her beautiful face that her big brother missed already. 

But then, Vincent rolled his eyes. True that he has no experiences with many things such as relationships and never went on dates but only became his sister's chaperone occasionally. And they've witnessed how he has only avoided those girls who wanted to get close to him. 

His sisters knew how a bookworm guy he is, who instead dated his books in the library rather than to go out, spending his youth in nightclubs and women. 

"Of course, I know about it, at least. My passion for reading books would be a waste if I didn't know this simple information about having kids." 

"Oh, yeah? And how about women?" 

"And what about women?" 

Sheena laughed out when her dear brother only repeated her question. It only means he wanted to drop this topic. Of course, she knew him very well. 

"Don't tell me you didn't hook up any beautiful Hungarian women last night?" 

Vincent dropped his jaw. His naughty sister never spares him from taunting about this kind of stuff. He warns her, "Watch your question, young lady." 

"Come on! You should enjoy your vacation at least!" 

"And do you think I could do that? I have sisters whom I am overprotected from scumbag men. But then you are encouraging me to do such a thing?" 

"It's not like that, brother! But I'm sure there are women out there who are willing." Sheena winked at her brother, who has never changed. But she was happy to see this side of Vincent. He is undoubtedly a boyfriend material for every girl who prefers a gentleman and respectful guy. He isn't a possessive and scum person who sleeps around with every girl he meets. 

Vincent stared at his little sister with awe. "How could you encourage your brother to make out and have a one-night stand?" 

Sheena sees how cute her brother is mouthing these words. She couldn't stop laughing that the passersby could not help looking at their table. Thank god, and they were speaking in their language, and these people would not understand their conversation because if it happens, Vincent will die in shame because of his silly little sister. 

"Just spare me, would you?" Vincent frowned. Sheena continued laughing, and he started feeling embarrassed to be laughed at by his very own sister. 

"I'm sorry, brother." Sheena stops laughing and apologizes after. She may always tease Vincent, but she doesn't want to go overboard. But one thing she has been noticing all this time while she was talking with him. Occasionally, he was looking in the same direction. 

Sheena was very curious to find out; she turned her head and swept her gaze across the street. Her eyes gleam with fascination. She returned her gaze to her brother and looked at him with excitement. 

"What?" The way his little sister grinning at him now, Vincent was suspicious that her head had silly ideas at the moment. 

"So… you were looking at a particular girl this whole time we are talking about dating!" Sheena burst out excitedly.

"Jeez. I'm just looking around." Vincent defended himself. Even if he were to be caught red-handed, he would not admit it. Otherwise, Sheena would not stop teasing him once again! 

"She's pretty! Excellent choice, brother!" Sheena patted her brother's shoulder. "So, go ahead and get her name and number!" 

Sheena says this with an enormous smile across her face. Vincent raises a brow. How ironic that his little sister taught him to be like a Casanova. 

"Wait… What are you doing with my phone?" Vincent attempts to snatch back his phone when Sheena grabs it from the table. 

Sheena focused the camera across the street and took several photos. After that, she returned the phone to her brother. 

"Here, my beloved brother. Now be a Romeo!" 

Vincent twitches the corner of his mouth. "Romeo dies at the end of the story," he mouthed. 

"Okay, fine! But at least Romeo got his Juliet?" Sheena reasons out, winking at her brother, who was still a coward, to approach a girl. "You are such a coward, you know." 

"I'm not! I am just not interested." Vincent's excuse, but it made him obvious. He sipped on his cup and averted his gaze, looking in a different direction. 

Sheena rose a brow and shook her head. It amazed her always that every time her dear brother only denies to the bones! "Okay. If you weren't a coward, now ask her name." She challenged him.

Vincent could only stare with astonishment at his silly sister. He knew she would not stop bugging him about it if he didn't do something. 

He lowered his gaze to his phone and swiped the screen to look at the photos. He lifted his head and glanced across the street to looked at the beautiful girl greeting her customers with delight.