His Contractual Mistress

After their class ended, Hailey and Nadia waited for Liza and Hazel at the west parking lot. Nadia spotted Hazel's car. They followed them and drove toward East, where Metro City Garden was located.

It was the most luxurious mall in the country, more likely an exclusive mall for the High Society. 

Five years ago, the country's biggest firms joined to build this mall, and the SHEN GROUP won the project. 

Vincent was in his last year, a graduating student of his Architectural degree. And Fred Shen, who is the CEO at that time around, took Vincent to help him design the entire mall. Vince came up with the idea to build a twenty-five stories hotel within the mall. 

At the moment, Metro City Garden attracts a lot of foreign tourists to have important business trips. It holds Expos not only for Asia but for the whole world that targeted not only big but also small companies. 

Metro City Garden often becomes the host of significant events such as launching new products.

It has become the favorite destination because the guests feel it convenient to stay in a hotel where all they need is just an elevator away: to shop at the mall below, and then dine in ten-star restaurants plus a Convention Hall to hold their business events.

Plus, Hailey loved how Vince designed the mall, using glass roofs to provide natural sunlight to the trees and plants throughout the mall and also gives natural light to the surroundings.

It is how exactly she imagines to be her malls in Dream City. A wilderness ambiance while strolling the mall since Dream City arises in the middle of desert land. And that made her thrilled to working with Vince soon!

*

Approaching the mall, Hailey slows down when they enter the Parking Lot Building next to the mall. She was about to pull over and park next to Hazel when a black Lambo trotted behind her and take her spot. 

"What the hell!" Nadia cussed. She opened the window in her seat and shouted at the driver of the black car. "Hey! That's our spot! Why are you stealing our space!?" 

However, the driver of the car only ignored them. He walked toward the passenger and opened the car door.

A beautiful woman steps out, arrogantly peered at Hazel's car. She saw the whole scene, but she only shrugs her shoulders. Head high, she throws a menacing glance at Hailey's car, which makes Nadia infuriated. 

Nadia tried to open the car door, but Hailey kept it locked. "Hail unlocked this door now! I'm going to show to these people what a nightmare is like!" 

Instead of feeling angry, Hailey only feels amused. But not her friends. She shook her head, watching Nadia throwing a fret. 

"Just ignored it. Please don't waste your energy on them. It's not even worth talking to them," said Hailey to pacify Nadia. 

However, Hazel gets out of her car and confronts the guy on her behalf. 

"That's it! Let me out of here, Hail! I will help Hazel beat these monkeys! I will send them back to their mountain!" 

Hailey laughs at Nadia's rant. She advised her, "Stay here. Let me talk to Hazel." 

"But, Hail?" 

"Just watch..." Hailey winked at Nadia before she stepped out of the car. She walked toward Hazel and pulled her away. "That's enough."

"Don't stop me, Hail! I will teach these ignorant people!" 

"Ignorant? We parked in first! And that's how it is!" The man replied ridiculously. He scoffs at Hazel, but the moment he sees Hailey, his eyes spark with curiosity. "Ah, I'm sorry about that, Miss! No hard feelings! It's just life." 

The guy and the woman mockingly laughed before they left and headed to the elevator. It infuriates Hazel and Liza, including Nadia, who get out of the car. She could not stay just seated inside and do nothing.

Nadia didn't hear everything that the guy quotes, but her ears caught the last part. And it upsets her the way the woman is looking at them downward. 

"Let them be... We don't need to argue with them," Hailey phrased, hoping to coax them to calm down.

But Hazel doesn't want to let this off. She is prepared to quarrel against them. "That arrogant guy and his b...tch starlet girlfriend! Do they think they were that special? Liza, let's go to the hardware store and buy a sledgehammer and smash that fuc...n car!" She stressed out. 

"I'm going too!" Nadia echoed in.

Hailey was dumbfounded, listening to her friends. She couldn't brace herself from laughing. It amused her the way they reacted, and it brought warmth toward her heart. 

"Thank you, girls. I appreciate your concern. But we should not let them destroy our day. We came here to have fun shopping, not committing crimes." Hailey reminded them. She winks at them, "I can park anywhere. Look, a car is leaving! I can take that spot instead! I'm getting hungry so let's better find a great restaurant to dine!" 

Hailey runs back to her car and takes the spot that just emptied. Even though her friends remain upset, they took Hailey's advice to forget what happened. Besides, the more they are in a rage, the more hunger struck them. 

*

"Hail, are you sure we will dine on here?" Liza and Nadia alternately asked Hailey this question. 

She suggested dining in one of the most expensive restaurants in Metro City Garden that serves both; French and Italian cuisines. 

"Yup! It's my treat!" 

"Then, let's go!" Nadia and Liza almost jump in joy. When they heard that Hazel would purchase her evening dress at Metro City Garden, they made sure to dress elegantly today. 

Hailey and Hazel walk ahead while Nadia and Liza follow behind, endeavoring to stay calm walking on the marble floor that they could mirror on it. 

But since it needed a reservation to dine in this restaurant, Hailey negotiated with the receptionist. And since Vince signed her up to enjoy the privilege of dining here as a VIP, Hailey does not need to speak a lot.

The restaurant manager called out. He rushed to the lounge the moment he had a glimpse of Hailey. Of course, she is one of the very important guests he has to remember in his entire life. 

"Good noon, Miss Hailey!" Greetings from Manager Denise. He gestures at the receptionist that he will take it from here. It means he will assist them personally and make sure to serve them well. "What can I offer you, Miss Hailey?"

"Hello, Manager Denise! Um, well... We would like to dine here. But I didn't make any reservation, so I'm wondering if you had an available table for us." 

"Ah! No problem, Miss Hailey. However, all our private rooms are occupied at the moment by foreign guests. Would you not mind if I will only give you our regular table?" 

"Of course! That is fine!" 

"Then, follow me!" 

The manager leads them inside the restaurant; Nadia and Liza dropped their jaw, seeing how nice it was in reality. It was the first time they visited here, and they only see its ads on social media. 

"Here, it is!" Manager Denise gives them a table located in the middle of this luxurious restaurant. However, they noticed the couple that stole Hailey's spot at the parking lot. 

Hazel, including Liza and Nadia, frowned upon the sight of them. They would like to complain, but Hailey persuaded them to ignore the couple. 

"Let's better give our order!" she suggested. She understands that they were reckless and hot-headed because of their age. And as the older, she must stay calm and pacify these teenagers. 

"I'm still not getting over how ignorant people steal your parking slot, Hail. That was reserved for the SHEN FAMILY!" 

"I'm not SHEN, only my boyfriend," Hailey reminded her friends. 

"Still, you have the privilege!" Hazel insisted. Shen has two slots reserved for them, and she took one already and the second one supposed for Hailey. Thinking over, Hazel figured it out. "Wait, a minute... Don't tell me you didn't put up a fight because you know that someone's car is going to throw outside the parking lot?" 

Hailey didn't say a word, but her lips tear a meaningful smile. The three girls dropped their jaw upon realizing it. 

"Oh. I see... Now I get it! You are cunning, Hail! You already perceive it!" said Nadia, clapping her hands. It excites them to imagine that someone's ass is going to kick out soon. 

They glanced at the third table across them; cast a stern look at the arrogant couple, which realized nothing yet.