6 He Is Becoming Closer
Evening...
An enticing aroma filled the house, a calamari soothing Vince's nostrils. The smell was only faint but still caught his nose.
Ever since he brought her to the penthouse, he became sensitive to the food she prepared exclusively for him. Lately, he realized he had been looking forward to having a meal with her world-class dishes.
Instead, he thinks of what he has as a private chef rather than a mistress.
Reaching his chin, Vince mused. 'What other things is she good at aside from cooking?'
Unable to find an answer, Vince got up from his chair and walked out of his study. He placed one hand on the railings, and one hand was shoved into his pocket. His eyes swept at the table, and then his attention lingered on the woman stirring soup in front of the cooking stove.
He was watching both the food and the chef. His mouth drools from his desire to have a taste of them.
Having this thought surprised him for what appeared in his mind. He cannot be. There is only a contract that binds their relationship. So why did he feel sad after making her sign the agreement with such clauses?
But he was cautious now, after his regrets. He didn't prepare an agreement for Eva to sign that they would immediately get a divorce after two years of marriage.
So then, when the day came, he didn't want any drama.
To get to the point, he hates to pursue a woman who leaves him, which now happens. His wife, on paper, won't sign the divorce he wanted.
It's been three years already, and he hates to fly to the US to beg for a divorce, and it's not his type to pursue a woman.
Besides, he paid threefold for his lawyers to take care of this matter. Yet nothing happens. He needs to think of another plan for Eva to sign the divorce paper.
Meanwhile, Hailey could feel a pair of eyes staring at her. She need not guess when the only person with her is Vince.
She turned her head toward the railings. She was right, and Vince was watching her from upstairs. When their eyes met, she smiled gently and said, "Are you hungry? I'm almost done."
"I can wait. I'm just stretching my back." While saying this, Vince descended the stairs and walked toward the kitchen. "You will grill pork steak?" he asked when he noticed the marinated meat in a bowl.
Nodding, Hailey replied, "Yes."
Looking at the raw meat makes his mouth drool; he craves it more. "Well, let me help you grill the meat."
Upon saying it, Vince took out the electric grilling pan, placed it in the middle of the table, took out an extension cord, and plugged in the power cord. He walked toward the counter and took the bowl with him. Vince seemed to enjoy himself placing the meat on the grill plate.
Vince's face remains expressionless, but a glint of excitement exhibits in his eyes. Hailey, who observes him silently, amused her by watching him like this. She was grateful that Vince was not picky. Initially, she was shy about asking him what food he preferred. So, she decided to prepare him with all the dishes she knew. If he complains, she will take that dish off the menu.
However, surprisingly, Vince never complains but stuffs his mouth with everything she prepares on the table. Still, she wasn't sure what food he liked; she devised an idea to make a menu every week. When Vince comes over, she knows what to cook that he hasn't eaten that week.
Now that she was done with the soup, Hailey started setting the table and placing the three dishes she had prepared. Before she took her seat, she made a sauce for the grilled meat.
Hailey mixed up the fish sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, unripe tomatoes, onions, chilies, and lots of limes in a smaller bowl.
On an oval platter where she finely arranged the calamari, she placed the bowl of cheddar in the middle.
Seated facing each other, Vince quietly flips the meat. It surprised her when he placed the meat on her plate. Shyly, she thanked Vince, lowering her head to eat quietly. However, Vince put another beef on her plate. With this gesture, she lifts her head to thank him.
"Thank you. But I'm fine already. You should eat now and let me cook my share." Hailey was careful not to stammer her words. She has to stop him before she melts with the attention he is giving her. She prefers him to be distant. In that way, it will be easy for her to ignore his mood.
But his being thoughtful and acting gentlemanly and romantic overwhelmed her chest, and it fluttered like crazy.
She couldn't afford to blush like a teenager in front of him. She wants to keep their relationship as boss and employee. But on second thought, he hired her as his mistress. A time would come when they needed to pretend to be sweet to each other. So, maybe it's not wrong to be comfortable in each other's presence.
Vince realized he had done things he had never done before. Even to his mother and two sisters, he never showed such gestures. Nodding, he pursed a thin smile. Yet, he was perplexed as to why he did that.
It seems these things came naturally when he was around her. Unconsciously, he shows her a side of him that even he didn't know was there.
'Indeed. She is charming.' Vince thought.
He tried to focus on his plate for the next few minutes. But he could not ignore Hailey's presence. Pondering what topic he could open up about, Vince carefully chose a few things he felt comfortable discussing with her.
"So, how was school? Is everything fine in your lessons?"
Hearing him ask a question before she replied, Hailey picked up the glass of water, gulped half of it, then put it down.
"Everything's just fine. Nothing to worry about."
Hailey understood why Vince asked her this question. Since she signed the contract, the students at the university have noticed the changes in her lifestyle. She started hearing rumors about her being accused of being someone's mistress. They assumed it was confirmed after seeing her drive a yellow Ferrari that cost 3.5 million euros. She receives more harsh words and insults. She even makes fun of her in social media posts and ignores them. But he deleted all those posts sooner. It looks like Vince did something with that matter.
At first, it irritates her, but soon she gets used to the lashing behind her back. Now she was enjoying the drama of how these people were willing to waste their time on her. All they could do was be jealous of her.
Of course, she is not proud of being called someone's mistress. But she has her own reason. All she has to do is prepare herself for what is coming. After Vince gives her the car, she realizes Vince has no plan for playing hide-and-seek, and he wants his affair to be apparent.
And it became obvious to Vince's family that his mother tried to give her money. But she didn't need money. If only she could tell every soul. But surely, she would only laugh at it.
After eating quietly for some time, Vince spoke up again. "Tell me right away if someone is bothering you again."
"Okay." To make this end, she nodded and continued eating quietly. But to her surprise, Vince was still busy serving her.
"Let me pour more wine into your glass."
Stunned, Hailey just let him do whatever he liked. Maybe she should use it with his thoughtfulness.
Later, Vince was done eating and finished even the last piece of calamari.
"Thanks for the food. I've eaten more than I could fill my stomach."
Vince sounded joking, and it was new to her. She chuckled, pursed a timid smile, and said, "I'm glad you like the food."
"I do. Everything cooked perfectly." Vince is trying to praise her but cannot put the perfect word to compliment her. "All right. I need to finish my work," he declared.
"Okay. I will bring tea later."
Vince, already on the staircase's first step, paused and glanced at her. "That sounds amazing," he said, then resumed his steps.
Hailey finished the wine in her glass alone at the dining table. Staring at the empty bottle, she murmured to herself.
"He is becoming closer to me."
Sadness flashed in her eyes. She could not decide whether to feel bad or happy.
