Chapter 284 - Things Have Changed Already
Vince supported Hailee climbing the stairs. He helped her open the door; he thought she was bringing him into that small lounge behind the rooftop door. But he is wrong.
The sliding door led to an open space, then surrounded by divided halls. Sweeping his gaze to the whole place, he couldn't stop himself from being impressed by how the rooftop turned out.
Calling it a penthouse is not suitable for it as it has no bedrooms but entertainment spaces.
The moment they stepped out of the door, they walked into a rectangular space on the rooftop. In the middle is a fountain surrounded by beautiful blooming flowers. The middle area stands as a garden and an open lounge as he saw many benches and tables scattered around.
Vince's architectural brain quickly draws the blueprint of the rooftop in his head after observing the whole place.
He turned his head to the north direction; he saw a spacious kitchen where two chefs are currently cooking something. Then, in the east direction, is a dining hall with two long tables opposite each other, with sofas on the corner as diners' seats.
Hailee's knights already occupy the two tables, but there are wide spaces between them.
Vince's gaze moves to the next room from the dining hall. Its arrangement looks like a Tearoom. There are ten love seats and coffee tables inside.
In the south direction is a closed room; he could not guess the use of that room when it was the only closed door as the rest halls were transparent glass walls.
Now he scanned the west part of the rooftop. He saw a ten-meters long swimming pool, gym equipment, a barroom with a large TV screen hanging on the wall, a billiard table, sofas, cocktail tables, and another game table on the corners.
In his opinion, that room is perfect for after office hours' relaxation, drinking liquor while watching a football game.
Everything is in here already—a total entertainment, leisurely hanging out with friends.
"The closed-door room in the theater hall."
Hailee finally answered his question. He turned his head to look at Hailee. He smiled at her, then kissed her forehead.
"Thank you," he whispered after the kiss.
"Come on..."
After she thought that he had seen enough, Hailee pulled him toward the dining hall. The moment they walk in, all pairs of eyes look at the door.
"Princess, finally, you're discharged from the hospital!" James enthusiastically meets her at the door. "Come on, princess, sit here!"
James guided her toward the sofa, ignoring Vincent standing behind Hailee. She glanced at Vince apologetically. 'Hubby, come here.'
She was sending it through telepathy. They said lovers in love could read each other's minds and communicate through their eyes.
Vince indeed followed her. He sat down beside Hailee and didn't care if no one invited him to take a seat. Of course. These men wanted to make things difficult for him. Staying clear of his mind and calm is a must.
Seeing what he did, James frowned, but it was just in a second. He quickly replaced it with a sweet smile on his lips as he scanned Hailee's face.
After he was satisfied with what he was searching for on her face, then James burst out. "Good! You're not pale anymore! We are worried sick, princess!"
Hailee patted James' head and said, "I'm sorry for making you guys worry. Where have you been these days, huh?"
In the days she stayed in the hospital, she only saw James that morning before she woke up. She got worried because she saw a bruise under his lip. She learned from Doctor Hector, Pitt punches James when he throws his fist toward Vincent.
It made her worried at the same time, sad, but she tries to understand her knights.
James smiled at her, completely ignoring the man behind her.
"I was assigned to take care of a few things back in P Country."
Vince stiffened his back. If the guy is throwing a dagger look, he is scrutinizing closely at him. His gaze ultimately focuses on James when he mentions P Country.
Meanwhile, Hailee gives James a questioning stare, waiting for him to go on.
James frowned, then said, "I have to escort someone's ex-wife."
Vince shrunk his pupils after he heard James reveal his mission recently.
"I see. Have you met Bruce?" she asked with a sweet smile. It was her way to coax James. She understood that the last thing he would do was something for Vincent.
"Yeah. Keith introduces us to each other. And..." James glanced at Vince before he went on, "I could not believe that this guy's cousin is Carl Johnson!"
The surprise displayed on her face disappears instantly and is replaced with a smile. She said, "Oh, I'm glad you knew Professor Carl."
Carl is a retired mafia lord, but hearing that he was James senior was astounding. The world they are living in is truly small for them all.
"He's my ruthless senior! He always punishes me during our Camp training in Italy!" James continues venting his annoyance.
Hailee only giggled at him but put a pleasant word in favor of Carl. "Professor Carl is a cool teacher."
"He's not!" James immediately disagrees. "He is abusive!"
Listening to Hailee and James' conversation, Vincent cannot conceal his frowning face. It displeases him that she compliments Carl.
Carl helped a lot during the entrapment they set for Liam Huo, so he is grateful for his cousin to protect Hailee.
It was just that he got jealous Hailee was praising another man.
Not long after, the chefs serve Hailee's nutritious food. She was happy that the chef was brilliant in how they could make her food tasty.
Vincent is eating silently. Since Hailee's meal is different, Vince can't put food on her plate other than what the chef prepared, especially for her.
Soon, the girls arrived. The girls had no idea of the tension in the air before they came in. Vince breathed with a sigh of relief when his sisters sat next to him. At least he has them he can talk with during the meal because James keeps stealing Hailee's attention to speak with random topics.
Now, he's happy that Hailee's attention was about their wedding. Gigi and Kelly were showing her the sample of flowers they've chosen for the final selection.
Kelly connected her TAB to the TV screen on the wall. They were all looking at their left side. At the moment, a video is playing on the screen. It shows different kinds of wedding flower arrangements on flower stands, wedding centerpieces, floral arrangements on the tables, ceiling decors, etc.
Hailey had already gone through it before, but this time, it was different. She was elated this time when she organized her wedding with Bryan. Probably because she is going to marry the man whom she was madly in love with.
Out of the blue, Janise exclaimed.
"Oh. Why do I just remember the flower arrangements last time at Vincent's Class Reunion? That was stunning! Vincent ordered 10,000 roses for Hailee!" Janise excitedly opened her gallery and showed it to Gigi and Kelly.
Both girls were amazed. They keep swiping the screen until a photo of Vince and Hailee appeared. It was when they were dancing in the middle of the dance floor.
"Omg, Hail! Your dress is too pretty!" Kelly couldn't help praising. She was blabbing every detail she saw in the dress.
"It was Janise who designed and tailored it," Hailee replied.
Kelly looks at Janise with sparkling eyes. She says, "Girl, I'm going to order a bunch of clothes from you!"
"Oh. Thank you! Actually, I have worked on my new clothesline for my store's anniversary this coming October. Can I invite you as a guest?" Janise was actually nervous. But she thickens her face not to miss an opportunity.
"Of course! I would love to!" Kelly accepts it delightedly.
Janice was beaming when suddenly the smile on her face disappeared upon seeing the man who entered the door. She lowered her head, then continued eating quietly.
Meanwhile, the boys cheered and greeted the newly arrived man.
"Hey, Hansen Park! What brings you here, Mr. CEO?" James asked in a teasing manner. He throws a fist at the guy on the shoulder, but his punch has no strength, just a friendly greeting.
"You're still childish, James," Hansen smirks.
"Hey! Don't kid me!" James complaints. He's blabbing endlessly once again.
Hansen shook his head, pushing James back to his seat. He walks toward the table where Hailee is seated with the girls. He sweeps his gaze to the people who were there. Pitt was sitting next to Janise.
When he's closer to the table, Kelly jumps on him for a hug, then pulls him to sit next to her. His eyes fix somewhere, but the girl treats him like air.
Hailee and Vince look at each other. The way Janise remains lowering her head to eat silently and Hansen glancing in her direction, it was apparent that something had happened to the both of them. They probably had a lovers' quarrel. Both Hailee and Vincent came to this conclusion.
"What brings you here, brother Hansen?" Hailee asked with a motive of gossip. There is no other reason for Hanse's visitation to Dream City. The schedule for her business partner's meetings was on September 1st, so there is a greater reason he is here.
Before Hansen replied to Hailee, his eyes glanced at Janise one more time. He then smiled at Hailee then said, "I have some business to take care of on the South Coast, princess."
"Oh. I see…" But she isn't convinced that it was the real case.
"Hey, Hansen Park! Why are you sitting far from your girlfriend!" Pitt suddenly shouted next to Janise.
On the other hand, Janise burnt her tongue with the soup she carefully sips when Pitt suddenly yells on her side. She was trying to distract herself, not mind her surroundings, especially the guy who just arrived.
"Girlfriend?" It was James who first recovered from the shock. "What do you mean, Pitterson Cha? Tom got engaged! Now Hansen has also had a girlfriend? Then who's next to confess who has a girlfriend?"
He swept his eyes to the entire room. Everyone was looking in his direction, then said, "You!"
"Huh? I'm not interested in having a girlfriend! Women are annoying!"
"Shut up, James! It was you who had more girlfriends among us here!" Pitt who banters at James. The two of them had bickered again.
Hailee had a bright smile on her lips, watching her knights being lively. It was just like a few years back. She misses this, actually...
However, things have changed already. Bryan isolates himself from everyone.
It actually saddens her, but maybe it's for the better.
Hailey was in deep thoughts when a man spoke at the door.
"What's the noise about?"
"Andre!"
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om