His Contractual Mistress

"James White!" 

"Huh? What is it?" 

"Are you not listening? Or just pretending to have heard nothing?" Josh Lynch chimed in. He is the Chief of the Marketing Department. 

"If you act like that? You know something." Alfie Rinaldi seconded; the Chief Officer of the Human Resources Department.

James denied. He uttered, "What would I know? I'm just the IT guy here!" 

"The more suspicious you are." 

"I told you. I don't know anything." James stands on his lie.

"James!" Andre's voice echoed in the room. 

James, on the other hand, shuddered to hear his commanding tone. 'Too bad it happens when Andre is here!' 

"Tell us what you know." Andre did not stop pursuing him. The more he avoids meeting his eyes, the more it proves he knew something.

James now cornered. He could not remain to lie when the boys were throwing suspicious looks at him. Ah! He has no choice anymore! 

'Andre's face is scary despite how handsome he is.' James mumbled to himself. Andre is what he feared most. However... 

"My loyalty is for Hailey! You can't force me!" 

"Even if we cut your fingers?" Threatened by Chester Liang, who began striding toward him. He is the Chief Officer of the Innovative Department.

James swallowed the big lump in his throat. When it comes to Hailey, these men would not care to threaten their very own buddy!

"Wait a minute! Can I make a request?" James began bathing cold sweet. He knew better these men would not joke around but did all means to make him speak.

"Good luck!" Bryan whispered to him, playing a smirk on the corner of his mouth. 

It pissed James how Bryan only taunted him now after he showed a little care to their friendship. But he could not take it wrong. Bryan also wanted any information to reach out to Hailey. And so he would support everyone's threats!

"Say it now!" Waiting, Leo demanded, which made James twitch his mouth. 

"If you guys are going to cut my fingers, can you cut my feet instead? I need my fingers to continue working with Hailey!" 

"That's the point. Your fingers are the most precious part of your body. So then, it is the part we will use to torture you." 

James started to pale. He cried, "Can you do this to your friend?" 

"We are talking about Hailey here," Leo pointed out.

"But I promise to say nothing!" Oopsie… 

"So you do know about the matter between LN Group?" Andre queried who is now standing in front of James.

"I… guys! I can't betray Hailey!" 

"We know. But how if the matter was serious, James? How can we assure Hailey is alright?" said Josh.

"James!" Yelled Geoffrey. He received an order from Hailey, but she didn't provide any reason why her mind changed. He was also worried if something happened to her.

"Okay! I'll talk!" 

Finally, James surrendered. It is also his conscience if anything happens to Hailey.

"Hurry up!" 

"Fine! You guys are making me peed on my pants." He frowned.

"Then start talking now!" 

James heaves a long sigh to prepare himself from confessing. The room is suffocating already, but more tension arises when all the boys threaten him to know what information he holds. 

"Alright. Earlier, Hailey asked me to do something. She asked the information about a senator named John Gu. And it turned out? His son named Howie Gu, is an architect of LN Group. No. He is one who designed the Pearl Hotel." 

"Has Hailey said anything about why she needs it?" 

"No. But in my further investigation, in the past, LN Group sued by physical harassment and sexual assault." 

"What?" At once, everyone looks at Bryan.

"Do you know about these cases, Bryan?" Andre queried him.

"I heard something like that happen but said they already fired those employees." 

"Really? But the information I gathered says the clients provide women while their architects and engineers are working on their projects." 

"The hell! That won't happen in our projects! What a bunch of trash!" 

"We are not going to work with that sort of person! How if our female employees experience this harassment?" 

"My further investigation about Howie Gu. He has many cases of sexual assault but always wins the case or the defendant back out." 

"It looks like he is someone who has tricks on his sleeves. It could be his father?" 

"That is possible, and maybe something has happened." 

"Is this person crossing paths with Hailey and offending her?" Josh's conclusion.

And Chester concurred, "I think he is! Hailey won't have made a big decision if nothing happens." 

"Then we need to teach that person a lesson! I need to see this man and beat him up till he turns into a pulp!" Trevor suggested, and everyone agreed. They never let off whoever offends or harasses their princess. 

Jacob only listens to the boys. He knew that these men would always do something for his daughter, and he is grateful for it. 

"Okay. I understand what you all feel. But we better ask Hailey. James gives Hailey's contact to everyone."

"But... uncle?" 

"I know your loyalty is for my daughter rather than for me. But we can't just sit around here... Right, James?" 

"James, I need Hailey's contact now." 

Poor James… he's crying inside every time Andre speaks. He is the only person that could shake his knees. 

"Okay!" Soon, James gives Hailey's WhatsApp number to them. 

The men save it in their Contacts except for Jacob, who already has it, and Geoffrey. 

Immediately, Bryan dialed Hailey's number. However, she only canceled his call. He knows that Hailey is still mad at him. 

Not long after, a message arrived. It was from Hailey. He is supposed to be happy. However, the content of the message is like a sharp knife, cutting his heart into two. 

"She doesn't want to talk to me." He said bitterly. He understood, but he still feels strange. Until now, he could not get used to the fact that Hailey keeps her distance from him. 

Observing him closely, James mocks Bryan. "And do you expect her to talk to you casually after what you did?" 

James peeks at Bryan's phone and reads Hailey's message. He intentionally presses hard his hand on Bryan's bruises.

"Ouch! Can you treat my wounds gently?" 

"Really? And you dare to complain? Here! Treat yourself! In the first place, I'm not your girlfriend!" Upon saying it, James throws the ice pack at Bryan. 

Meanwhile, everyone is trying to contact Hailey by sending her messages and attempting to connect a call. 

"Hailey is not picking up the call." 

They attempted once again, but then, they could not reach her phone anymore.

But before that happens, Jacob received a call from his daughter. He told the boys, "Hailey says she was in a meeting." 

Everyone sighs helplessly. All they can do now is to wait until Hailey replies to their messages.

James created a Group Chat and added everyone, including Bryan. But before that, he warned Geoffrey and Bryan to behave, or he will kick them from the Group Chat. 

They also have Group Chat in the past, but James deleted it after killing Bryan in the chat. They all cursed him nonstop. 

~~~ 

Bryan dropped his body on his bed. He massages his forehead while closing his eyes. 

Everyone had dinner, but he understood if no one invited him. 

Of course, things had changed for a long time already. Everyone is avoiding him unless it is related to work. They had no choice but to approach him. 

He isn't sure how long he took a nap. He plans to review the reports regarding the accident, but he falls asleep. 

If it weren't for his phone ringing nonstop, he probably continues sleeping till morning. 

Bryan sat up and reached for his phone. He was disappointed to see the person who is calling him. 

"Hello?" Lazily, he answered the call. "What do you want?" 

"Huh. Are you disappointed that it was me who is calling you in the middle of the night?" 

"For once, can you stop, Eva?" 

"Stop treating me coldly! I'm not someone stranger to you!" 

Bryan heaves a furious sighed. He could feel his head throbbing hearing Eva's shrieking voice. 

He uttered, "I have important things to do, Eva. Since you only called me for a fight. I'll hang up now." 

"Don't dare to hang up on me!" Eva demanded.

(To be continued...)