The PROBLEMS

Letting out a long sigh, Hailey next dialed Geoffrey's contact. She waited for the guy to answer. When he does, a tired voice greets her.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Geoffrey!" 

The guy remains silent for a few moments. Probably, Geoffrey was in the process of the voice from the other line being someone he had known all his life.

Indeed, he checked the number registered on his phone. It was anonymous and stated that a call from overseas.

Draw the phone back to his ear; he asked the other line. "Hail? Is this you?"

"Yup! Do you have another Hailey in your life?"

If Hailey were in front of him, he would see how she pouted her mouth. But Jefferson could already picture Hailey's look, so he laughed hard.

"Haha. Yes, you are my angel. I'm glad I heard your voice at just the right time. I needed it. Or I might dig a pit and throw someone in there. Anyway, my anger worsened to think over what that guy did to you." 

Hailey was rendered speechless. She understood what Geoffrey meant by his words.

Geoffrey is the first one who punches Bryan after the boys learn the truth about why she called off the wedding.

He is like a big brother to her and several other men that are so close to her.

"Hey, just forget it already because I'm through it now," Hailey told Jefferson, hoping the guy would calm down.

"Then why aren't you coming back yet? Everyone is worried about you, Princess."

Hailey could sense the sincerity of Geoffrey's voice. She had already missed everyone, but she had a reason why she was away now.

What happened between her and Bryan? It shattered the once strong bond of friendship, and the person who could fix this was her; even if it did not go back to its true shape, at least everyone would stop being furious at Bryan. Everyone now hates the guy.

But that's her biggest problem. She needs to be free from the contract first to go home.

Because one thing that she agreed on is she could not leave the country unless she was with Vince or Vince gave her consent.

It's not that Vince is keeping her in the city. He explains to her. He doesn't want to make the same mistake he did by trusting Eva.

They didn't sign any agreement papers. Now, Eva took him for granted and did not hold on to her words to have divorced after two years. Also, Zenaida denied it when she was the one who stood as a witness to their conversation.

Yes. Vince told her everything his parents didn't know about, the divorce agreement.

So then, Vince wants assurance that she won't blackmail him or create a scandal using all information she hears from him.

However, that would never happen. She has no reason to blackmail Vince. Moreover, it started a scandal.

She was hiding her identity! That was the last thing she would ever do in her entire life! She might do that if a big emergency occurs in her projects. But probably for the runaway part.

However, she needs Vince for real!

Before she met Vince, it impressed her how the SHEN GROUP develops and improves Metro City's structures.

And after an investigation, it shocked her to discover that Vince is Eva's husband and the CEO of SHEN GROUP.

What a fateful coincidence, isn't it?

The man she is looking for is the same person she wants to meet.

But she didn't come to Metro City to tell Vince about Eva's affair with Bryan.

She simply wanted to know more about SHEN GROUP and the CEO to offer the job and become a work partner.

But then things got messed up and worsened after she signed an agreement without thinking twice.

She thought Eva would show up right away. She thought Vince would get his divorce so soon.

Not only that, but she thought Vince wouldn't be this attractive to her!

Ah! What she's doing now? She must stop thinking about this stuff. It only made her head swarm up about how to solve her issues with Eva.

"Hail, are you still there?"

Hailey returned to her senses after hearing Geoffrey's voice at the end of the line.

"Yeah. I'm still here. Just a little stuff came to my mind. Erm... You know, I should not have left in the first place. But for now, I want you guys to forget about what happened. If we can't start over the way our friendships were before... Then at least we all treat each other nicely."

"How would I be nice to that guy!?" Geoffrey couldn't control his anger anymore. He went on, "That would never happen! And where is he now? He didn't just hurt you, Hail! He knew how you built this dream! He was there on the first day you drew your dreams on the air like it was just a child's imagination! He knew this was very important to you! So I want him to pay for hurting you!" 

"Calmed down, would you? Even you guys beating up Vince, we could not change what happened... I... I mean..." Shot! It's too late for her to realize!

"Who's Vince?" asked Geoffrey.

Oh, gosh! Her head was all over the place! Hearing Geoffrey ranting his resentment toward Bryan, all she could imagine were the boys beating up Vince after they learned she was living with him. 

A stranger, man!

Now her mouth spills out his name. What excuse should she come up with? Hailey racked her head; gladly, words came out of her mouth smoothly. 

"Erm, he's a waiter in the resort! He approached me to take my order. I... I was reading his nameplate! So my head and ears split up whom I listen to first." 

OMG! Did she just address Vince as a waiter? Hailey giggled inwardly. She bit her lower lip not to laugh.

Well, Vince wouldn't know, anyway! A playful smile pursed on Hailey's lips.

"Princess, I'm trying to do my best to act professionally every time Bryan and I have to meet because of work. But I can't guarantee to keep my cool."

"Then keep your cool for me!"

Geoffrey heaves a long sigh. His face darkened to hear that Hailey was protecting Bryan, and he even wanted to forget everything he had done just like that.

Could it be that Hailey loves Bryan, not just like a brother, but she already falls in love with him for real? 

"Please???" Hailey begged afterward that no response from Geoffrey.

Listening to Hailey's alluring voice, he knew he could not further rant about Bryan.

"Alright. I will be doing this because of you. We are already behind our target dates. I promised to work hard to help you build your Dream City."

Hearing Geoffrey stating this, she knew the guy stood by his words and knew that Geoffrey was reliable. All of her friends are.

"You guys can stop worrying about me. I'm also to blame for this whole thing. Bryan and I didn't act like a lover. I treated him more like an older brother rather than my future husband. So, normally he will seek someone who can make him a man."

"That's bullshit!" Geoffrey blurted out. "Why does he propose to you if he could not stay faithful to you!? I already had a hunch he was not serious about marrying you. I'm glad you caught him before you both got married. Otherwise, I will kill him if this happens after your marriage!"

Hailey pursed a warm smile. One thing why she could not stay heartbroken was because of her loving friends.

She admits that she is not in love with Bryan. But she was hurt because she had already made up her mind to give herself to him if Bryan asked to start a family after they married.

Hailey truly trusted him, which is why she accepted his marriage proposal. But then Bryan sleeps with his ex-girlfriend after they meet again. Now they are together.

Heaving a sigh inwardly, Hailey pursed her lips and tried to lighten the mood. "Alright. Let's not talk about this, okay? I was more concerned about the workers. Tell me about their condition."

"Two are in a coma now. And most of the workers on that floor are badly injured."

"Oh my God! Did you already help their family?"

"Yes. I'll handle this matter. I promise to take care of it, Hail. Leo was already communicating with the families and gave cash assistance. So, don't worry anymore, okay?"

Hailey sank her heart, thinking about how worried her worker's family was. She felt her energy slowly fleeing from her body. 

"Are the workers going to be okay?" Gloominess written all over her face, she asked further. Her chest filled with concerns. Starting today, she could not have peaceful nights again.

"Dream City Hospital has all the advanced equipment. So nothing you could worry about, Hail. Our doctors were attending them 24/7 and did everything to ensure they would wake up, live a normal life, and return to work."

"I'm praying so, Geoffrey. Okay... I have a few things I must take care of first before I can come back home." Hailey tried to sound cheerful.

But Geoffrey could sense the changes in Hailey's voice. The cheerfulness has now disappeared. It's the reason they didn't report it to her because they knew it would affect Hailey like this.

"Don't worry too much, okay? We are all here to work on the problems. But since Bryan is the Vice President of the Davies Group, I have no choice but to work with him."

Geoffrey hurls a furious sigh before he adds.

"If he properly took leave, we should know how long he will be gone so that we assign someone to replace him and oversee the work in his absence. But he just assigned the work to his assistant."

Listening carefully, Hailey now understood why Geoffrey could not keep his temper. The accident happens under Bryan's direction.

"Okay. I will visit the Dream City soon."

Suppose she could have a good lie that Vince won't suspect! But what excuse could she give to Vince?