Chapter 155 - Stalking
Outside, Bruce's eyes traveled to the beautiful scenery that lay before him. From this height, it feels like he is the king of the world.
'No wonder wealthy men love to build a penthouse then live on top of the building.'
Bruce straightened his back and stood still after he heard a door opening.
"Good morning, boss." Bruce greeted the man that came out, and next to him is a beautiful woman, his Princess.
"Good morning," Vince greeted back. He glanced at Hailey and introduced the guy. "This is Bruce. He will be your personal driver and bodyguard. He will also accompany you even in your field activities if you don't mind."
"I understand. No problem with me." Hailey smiled at Vince; she turned her head and looked at Bruce. "Hi. Hailey Hillson. Nice to meet you."
"Bruce at your service, Miss Hailey. It's my pleasure meeting you. By the way, I'm just one call away if you needed me."
"Cool!" She widened her smile, but then she remembered what Vince said before. She must not smile enormously in front of other men. She returned her gaze at Vince to let him see that she is OK with the arrangement he prepared for her.
"Alright. I'll go now," said Vince. He added, "Bruce will be in the parking lot after he drops me in the office. See you later."
"Hm. See you later."
Vince lowered his head and kissed her in front of Bruce. She didn't see it coming, and so she blushed a bit.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you, too."
After Vince and Bruce left, Hailey took a nap for hours. By three in the afternoon, she is ready to meet Fraine to check out the branch store at Metro City Garden.
Hailey went to the parking lot; she saw Vince's Maybach parking across the lift, which Bruce promptly opened the door in the backseat upon seeing her approaching. She thanked him and sat comfortably.
Along the way, Bruce handed her an envelope. She read the reports, her head throbbed.?She muttered, "Why does the new evidence point in more directions?"
"I will do my best to dig more evidence, Princess," Bruce assures.
"Alright. Right now, we must keep an eye on the possible culprits."
"Copy, Princess," Bruce replied. He glanced at the rearview mirror, and it didn't hide the displeasure registering on her beautiful face. "Something is bothering you, Princess?"
Hailey tilted her head to the side. She's pondering, and it made her upset more, thinking about the people who want Vince dead.
Bruce looked in a mirror and studied her face. He is sure that she figured something out.
"We're here, Princess," Bruce announced when they arrive at the mall. He didn't ask further if the Princess chose not to share her mind with him. For the time being, he'll wait until she shared her mind.
"Thank you, Bruce. Let discuss it at some other time." she steps out of the car after Bruce opens the door for her.
"Princess, paparazzi, five o'clock," Bruce informed her before she could take another step.
"Great!" She planted a sweet smile across her face and swayed her hips every step she took toward the mall entrance door.
If they love taking photos of her, then she will give them her beautiful angles.
After Hailey entered the mall, Bruce took out his phone and called his other boss.
*
MGC Headquarter, METRO CITY GARDEN
Vincent lifted his head upon hearing the chime of his phone. He checked the caller and saw it was Bruce. "Excuse me, Zayn. I need to answer this."
"Okay." Zaijan nodded.
"Bruce. What is it?"
"A paparazzi following, Miss Hailey, boss." His report.
Vincent knitted his brow and sharpened his gaze. "Okay. Thank you, Bruce."
"What happens?" Zaijan asked Vincent after he put down his phone.
"Paparazzi is following Hailey."
"Oh. Someone is looking for fun. It's been a while since the last time I beat up someone." Rodneyletst his knuckles create sounds as he stretches his neck. "I'll go check the Security Cameras."
"I'll tell Bruce to point out their faces."
"Great!" Rodney salutes and is swallowed by the door.
Vincent looked at Zaijan. "They're not leaving me alone."
"They're also bothering Fraine. I'm thinking of sending her back to Mainland City, but she was chosen to manage the DV Gem Store."
"I see." Vince is nodding, listening to Zaijan. Later, he asked his cousin. "Are you going to marry Jessie?"
A sharp glare flashes in Zaijan's eyes. He clenched his jaw and replied to Vince, "It's just a marriage of convenience."
"Are you willing to commit to that?" Vince gaped at Zaijan, waiting for his answer. "Make sure you know what you are doing."
"Advised from someone experienced, huh?"
Vince shook his head and rolled his eyes. That was sarcasm but the truth. He dropped the subject; he resumes to discuss the expansion of Metro City Garden.
*
Meanwhile, Hailey was informed by Bruce that Vince is on the move to catch the paparazzi, and they will be banned from Metro City forever.
Hailey breathes a sigh of relief. Since Vince is here, she will let him protect her and take care of everything.
"So, do you like it?" asked Fraine, showing the whole layout of the store. "Tell me if you want me to change anything."
Hailey flipped the photos displayed on the TAB and carefully studied them.
"I like it. The lounge is gorgeous." Hailey approved Fraine's recommendation.
"And these are the samples for DV Gem Asia Branch catalogs. I studied the old themes, and they inspired me, so I came up with an idea of mixing some patterns."
"I see." Hailey reviewed the three samples Fraine laid on the table. She chooses, "I like the third one, Fraine."
"I'm glad you like one of my samples." Fraine is now able to breathe. She's nervous about whether this princess likes it or she needs to each her head for another idea that meets her taste.
"Okay, Fraine. That's all. Thank you for your hard work." She complimented the girl.
"You're welcome, Hailey." This time, she completely relaxed.
"Then, we are done here. Vince is in President Lopez's office here in Metro City Garden. Can you show me the way?"
"Sure!"
Fraine leads her toward the Fifth Floor of the mall; they cross someone Fraine and Hailey don't want to see.
"Oh. Look who's here? The same feather flocks together. Isn't it Zenaida?"
"Huh? Ah. Yes, Jessie." Zenaida concurred, and she laughed awkwardly. She cast a glance in Hailey's direction, but she withdrew her gaze quickly.
"What a sight. Two Mistresses are like best friends. I am impressed." Jessie snorts. Her eyes never left Fraine.
But Jessie was shocked when someone grabbed her arm.
"Let me go, bas... Zaijan?" Jessie was startled to see Zaijan. Not only that, he is gripping her arm, and she's hurting. And in her eyes, panic flashes as the guy is gaping at her with a threatening look.
But what made Jesse freak out when Vincent Shen appeared behind Zaijan. Same as the guy, Vincent is throwing a sharp look at her. All of a sudden, her knees were shaking. She didn't know that Vincent is back in Metro City!
Meanwhile, after looking at Jessie indifferently, Vincent ignored her and walked toward Hailey, then you kissed her left cheek. He asked, "Did you buy what you need?"
"Yeah! Fraine helps me pick out."
"Good," said Vincent; he glanced at Fraine and nodded at her.
Fraine faintly smiled. Not long, she bid goodbye to Hailey. "Hail, I'm going first."
"Okay. Thank you again." Hailey watched Fraine walk past Zaijan and Jessie while Zenaida is quiet on the corner.
"Where are you going?" Zaijan asked Fraine.
"I'm going home," she replied coldly.
"Why are you not wearing a coat?"
"I'll buy one in the store downstairs," she responded stubbornly, which annoyed the guy.
"Stop right there! I'm still talking to you!"
But Fraine didn't listen and walked straight to the elevator.
"I said, stopped!" Zaijan shouted. He let go of Jessie's arm; his voice is softer this time. "I'll drive you home, Fraine."
"Zaijan? Have you forgotten? We have a dinner meeting soon!" Jessie reminds him.
Fraine stops to take another step, but she didn't turn around. She muttered, "I can get a cab."
"It's raining outside." Zaijan starts walking toward Fraine, ignoring Jessie, but Rodney appears from nowhere.
"I'll drive her home." Rodney now stood close to Fraine. He took off his coat and placed it around her shoulder. "Come on, Fraine."
Fraine nodded and resumed walking. She quickly steps inside the elevator and sighs with relief when the door closes.
Watching the drama in front of her, Hailey remained to stare at the elevator where Fraine disappeared from. She's sort of worried about her.
"Are you okay?" Vincent asked her with a worried expression on his face.
"Yeah. I'm fine." She replied gloomily, which made Vince even worried.
"I could see that you are concerned about her. Don't worry. Zaijan is doing everything that is best for her."
"Hm... Okay. Hazel's birthday is about to begin."
"Let's go then." Vince took Hailey's hand. He leads her toward the hallway heading to the hotel. But she remained silent. "Are you still thinking about Fraine?"
Hailey glanced at Vince and saw he's worried about her. She pursed her lips into a smile and rested her head on his shoulder while they walk the aisle.
"I just remembered those times that your cousin keeps visiting Fraine even though she doesn't want to see him."
"Ah. You were neighbors before, of course."
"How did you know? I didn't mention it to you? Oh, did your cousin mention it?"
"Ah. Regarding that... Yes! Zayn told me that he had seen you in Fraine's apartment."
"Hm..."
Inwardly, Vincent sighs with relief. Although Hailey knew that he was stalking her before, he can't admit that it was him who realized that the woman Zayn is living with is Hailey's neighbor back then.
Vince kissed Hailey's hair. She looks up and gapes at her curiously. "You seem acting weird now."
"Me? Why should I?" He acts innocent indeed.
"You found it out on your own, isn't it?"
"About what?"
"Because you were stalking me before."
Vince chuckled sexily. He can't deny it anymore. "Yeah."
"You are cute!" she smirks, teasing him.
"Hey! Like you aren't stalking to me either."
"And why would you say that?" She's a bit nervous about Vince's words.
"Everywhere I go, I've seen you."
"You have a thick skin, you know." She told Vince. She's indeed stalking him, but Vincent didn't know her real purpose.
Hailey laughs, and they had nothing to deny toward each other. If only Vince knew, they were stalking each other. Now, as Vince remembers, they could not stop teasing each other.
"Did you hear that I work at the coffee shop near your company? The reason you were coming there? I heard from the old baristas. You were rarely going there."
Vince laughed before he replied. "You're right."
"Sneaky!"
"Aren't you sneaky too?"
"Yeah. I am..." Hailey admitted it. "Because of your cousin's obsession, he forgets to care about other people. So, I am accompanying those teenagers, and maybe you could talk to your cousin."
"Yeah. But it's an advantage on my part, by the way," said Vince with a grin on his mouth.
"And why is that?" She raised one brow and glared at Vince.
"The fish eat the bait."
Hailey reached his waist and pinched Vince. They continue teasing each other and laugh. They don't care if everyone is looking at them.
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