His Contractual Mistress

He doesn't want to answer the call. But knowing his mom, she would not stop storming him with many questions and nag him to death. 

Vincent swiped the green button and drew close the phone into his ear. "Hello, mom?" 

"Vincent, you must come to London as soon as possible." In the other line, none other than Hilda Shen demanding her son.

It surprised him. "What did you say, mom? Are you in London as of this very moment?" 

"Yes, I am. Your sister will give birth soon. Why? Can't I'll be here?" Hilda philosophically questions Vincent.

And he pursed his lips with a bitter smile. "Of course, you can, mom. I'm just happy to know."

'But you didn't care when your other daughter needed a family.' However, Vincent didn't voice it out. He already knew what would happen if he expressed his honest thoughts. 

"That's why hurry to come here," said the other line.

Vincent replied, "Okay, mom. Did dad came too?" 

"No. He had a lot of business engagements." Hilda sighed. And Vincent noticed the indifferent tone of his mom.

"Then I should go back to P Country as soon as possible," he stated. However, at the back of his head wanted to prolong his stay in Budapest. But now that his mom was in England, he needs to warn Sheena. 

Hilda is still angry at her youngest daughter. Now she is even madder because Sheena prefers to marry an ordinary guy. 

Vincent grows worried. Sheena and Stephen, along with Lena, will fly to London to meet Deena and have their honeymoon. 

If anything, he must protect Sheena once their mom is throwing a tantrum after meeting Stephen for the first time, and she mistreats him. Their mom never likes him.

Vincent heaves a helpless sighed. He glanced at Hailey, who was entertaining other customers. 

Ah, he forgot about his lemonades, which he didn't pay for it yet! And now he cannot ask her out! Even if he could make her say yes, he needs to take care of something, a family matter. 

"Vincent, are you still there?" Hilda asked her son when a long silence had passed, and Vincent didn't speak anymore.

"Yes, mom. I was only thinking about something, mom. I need to check if what available flight tomorrow." Vincent finds an excuse for his mom to end the call soon.

"Okay. The sooner, the better," said Hilda.

"Alright, mom." Sadness flashed in his eyes. Gladly he wore sunglasses, and he could hide the loneliness that exhibits behind them. 

It saddens him he could not ask Hailey to go out. It seems like his life hasn't permitted him to enjoy for a moment.

After the call, Vincent slipped his phone back into his pocket. Great timing and Hailey was now available.

"How much the large lemonade and one box of lemon pie?" He asked Hailey, and the girl gave him the total of his order. "Here, I only have these bills. Please, take it. I hope it can help a little." 

Hailey counted a total of seven hundred US dollars. She burst out, "This is too much!" 

"I hope I had more cash here." Vince smiled at Hailey, who returned a warm smile at him.

Tearing her mouth with that kind of smile made his heart skip a beat and sighing, 'She looks even beautiful.'

Vincent noticed Hailey scanned him from the head down to his shoes. It seems that Hailey we're not convinced he is only an ordinary guy to give that kind of amount. But he hopes that his impression is that he is generous enough to share his only cash inside his wallet. And that was true. All left in his purse now is credit cards, but he had nothing to worry about if he ran out of cash.

Hailey would like to give a few bills back to him, but he insisted on giving them.

"I cannot accept it, but if you insist. Then how about this… I'll give free lemonade to those kids." Hailey suggested, looking in a particular direction.

Vincent followed Hailey's gaze toward the group of teenagers hanging out in the park with their bikes and skateboards. Others are on rollerblades. 

"That was a brilliant idea!" Vincent agreed, and he was even more impressed. Hailey is a very charming person. 

"Well, how about if I give you another two boxes of lemon pie?" 

"Hmm... Okay, I'll accept it." 

Hailey wrapped two boxes, and she handed them to Vincent. 

"Thank you." He said.

"Nah. I should be the one to thank you. So, thank you very much for your generosity."

"You are very welcome," Vincent replied with a massive smile on his face. "So…" 

Vincent is hesitant to leave, but he needs to purchase his plane ticket fo London and contact Sheena. He also needed to pack his things. "Goodbye." 

"Bye!" 

Vincent left the booth with heavy footsteps and a heavy chest. Across the street, he takes one more glimpse at Hailey. At the moment, she was giving lemonades to the kids. And that big smile across her beautiful face is priceless. He wanted to claim it as HIS TREASURE. 

"I wish to meet you again someday." His heart's prayer. 

*

PRESENT TIME 

Vincent shakes his head after coming back to his senses. He badly wanted to introduce himself to Hailey during that encounter. However, because of a family matter, he has to leave Budapest as soon as possible. 

And what happened in London, Hilda has no other choice but accepted Stephen. She still doesn't approve, but her heart melted upon meeting Lena. 

However, when they go back to Metro City, his mom constantly expresses her disappointment toward his two sisters. Sheena was only married to a chef, and Deena married to a football player. Wallace is a famous International Football Player, but their mom wanted a businessman as her son-in-law who in the future could help them salvage their company if ever a time comes that they would go bankrupt. 

But of course, he would not let that happen. He even works harder and meets his mom's expectations. That is why when his mom arranged his marriage to someone he didn't love, he has no strength to refuse because his mom felt that the world is against her after his two sisters left home and didn't come back. 

As the eldest, he has a sense of duty in fulfilling what their mom wanted. But when he met Hailey once again, that's another story. 

It was the time he had to move the mountain and even defied heaven and earth to have her on his side and never let her disappear from his life ever likewise. 

"Hey, you're back!" Hailey could feel burning stares at her back. She then realized that Vince had already arrived, but he remains at the entryway, staring at her. Upon knowing this, her cheeks immediately blush pink. Sometimes, it made her uncomfortable of how he was looking at her intensely, especially that she could not read his perplexed expression. It seems like Vince had something to say to her, but he was taken aback. 

Having these thoughts, Hailey watched Vincent striding toward her. And the moment he halted in front of her, Vincent opened his arms and locked her inside. He was embracing her tight that made it hard to breathe. 

Vincent buried his face between her neck and collarbone. He knew that his action confused her. But he really needed a warm hug at this moment. 

"What's wrong? Is your talk with your parents didn't go well?" asked Hailey. She need not guess. There is only one reason that Vincent's mom would be displeased and furious at him is because of her. 

"Everything is fine. I'm just missing you so bad." 

'Seriously?' But it filled her chest with joy. She isn't sure if it is right to feel like that. She's still confused about their contract's real status and the relationship they have now, but she could not control her heart from desiring. When Vincent pulled his head and covered her mouth with a kiss, she didn't avoid it but responded to his kisses. 

"Hailey…" 

Vincent parted his lips and let his lungs fill with air. He peered at Hailey lovingly, who was also gasping for breath. He raises his right arm and brushes her cheeks. Their eyes lock, and no one wants to end this moment. 

"Did I already tell you how beautiful you are?" 

Hailey shook her head. She was gaping at Vince with astonishment. 'What's gotten to him?'

She could not avoid being curious if what was going on inside Vincent's head. His sweet words and sweet treatment to her lately still left a big question not only in her head but moreover in her heart. 

Vincent raises his thumb and rubs Hailey's lips. It enticed him to kiss them again, but he has important stuff to confess to her. 

"Would you believe if I would say that you are the most beautiful woman that I ever met?" 

Hailey felt strange that Vincent was complimenting her suddenly. But she pushed a playful smile instead and willing to play along, "How about if I won't?" 

Vince chuckled. "You should be because what makes you even wonderful is here..." Vincent's finger pointed to her heart. "They are made of gold." 

She's still feeling strange the way Vince acted after he visited his parents. "Then, in that case, I am honored of your praises."

But she didn't see it coming that this evening, she would be in more shock. 

Vincent is gripping her face with both of his palms. His gaze is tender. And it was like it would melt her heart. 

"I love you." 

Hailey widened her eyes and stared at Vincent with wonder. She asked herself over again if what she heard is correct. 

Vincent confesses to her!?