"Hey, guys! Let's do something fun before I go back to New York," Jake suggested. "How about let's have a party in your yacht, CEO Shen?"

  Vincent shook his head as he refused. "Nah. I have a lot of things to do."

  "Hey! We should celebrate the project you won from Dream City, big boss!"

  "Shut up! I haven't known yet how big the project they are assigning me."

  "But it was the Dream City!" Jake tries it out again; maybe this time, he could convince the guy. "Do you know how much the Davies Group budget for this project? TRILLION US Dollars, bro!"

  "Whoa!" The men at their table are all looking at Vince.

  "Imagine a BILLION DOLLAR project in US Dollars? That's a lot already, bro!" Echoed by their other classmates.

  "Okay! And that the reason I have to work hard and have fewer drinking parties," Vince reasons out. It was true, but his main reason, he just wanted to stay home with Hailey.

  "Man, since we are in High School, you've rarely come with us."

  "I know…… Mom is too strict with me. It's only a few memories I have that I had fun in my teenage life. But I didn't hate them. Mom's nagging becomes my path to achieve what I wanted. And that to win over to manage our company and win international projects."

  "I think you are a mama's boy." Confessed by one of their friends. "But damn! When the news explodes that you have a girlfriend and are living together…… My impression about Vincent Shen has changed!"

  "And what's more? The Great Madame Shen can do nothing about it!" The other men chimed in.

  "Love conquers all!"

  Vincent chuckled, shaking his head. He could not correct his friends' judgment. Besides, nothing wrong with their assumption. 'Love conquers all, huh?'

  Well…… He never denied it to his friends or other people, the reason no one suspects that his relationship with Hailey is just an act. Or it is what Hailey believes.

  Thinking about this, a playful smirk curved his lips, and they saw it. Because of it, Vince was teased further.

  "You know, guys…… Vincent Shen is not mama's boy. He is only an obedient son."

  "Yeah!" They cheer to that, followed by glasses clinking and cracks out.

  He was already used to calling him mama's boy. At first, he got angry. But later on, he chooses to ignore those who bully him when he is young. But when he was in High School, he crossed many fights because of it.

  Probably, it was the reason his name was known in Metro City; after he beat up those who bugged him, but then his mother would still nag him because of it.

  The more he stays away from any fight and obediently follows his parents, the more he was teased and bullied.

  'The life rules are sometimes a great joke to others.' Vince thought to himself.

  *

  Meanwhile, Hailey and Hazel sat at the bar and ordered cocktail drinks.

  "Hail, slow down! Wow! You emptied the glass in one go!" Hazel is not an expert with liquor, but she knows that most cocktails are hard drinks.

  "It tastes great!" Hailey complimented. She also praises the bartender and orders one more time. While waiting for her drinks, she queried the bartender.

  The reason she headed to the bar is to try the famous cocktails she saw that posted on social media a month ago. She learns that the bartenders to serve tonight are from the known Academy that experts in mixing drinks and their students are usually sent abroad and work in famous hotels and cruise ships.

  And Hailey is interested in employing their best-trained bartenders soon. And so, she comes over to interview the three bartenders: two male and one female, serving drinks.

  "Hail, that was your third glass!" Hazel began worrying about her. Before, she avoids drinking too much. But tonight, Hailey won't stop ordering more cocktails.

  "It's just my third glass, and I want to try the other recipe!" Hailey ignored Hazel. She read the Cocktail menu and pointed to another cocktail mixed.

  Hazel read the recipes of the cocktails Hailey ordered. She freaks out after reading the names of rum, tequila, and whiskey. "You should stop now, Hail!" Hazel begged. When Hailey didn't listen, she left her to inform Vincent what happened. She whispered at Vince. "Boss, your girlfriend won't stop drinking cocktails! She's ordering the hard ones!"

  Vincent turned his head toward the bar area. He excused himself and joined Hailey, seated next to her.

  Seeing him, Hailey widens her smile. "Hey! Try this one! I asked them to teach me new recipes I want to try out!"

  Vince stared at the glass. The straw on it was already stained with Hailey's lipstick. If he sips on it, it means that's an indirect kiss from Hailey.

  He lifted his gaze at the girl's flushing face. She had a beautiful smile he could not refuse. He sipped on the straw and emptied the glass.

  "Hey! You should drink up just a little!" Hailey complains while she giggles. It amused Vince to watch her behaving like this. She is a bit drunk, and now she's acting cutely. "One more glass! No, make it two…… For us!"

  Vince grows worried when Hailey orders another glass. "Hail, I think that's enough. I should not drink a lot. I have to drive us home."

  "Okay! Then, just this one!" She told Vince with excitement in her voice. However, the one glade becomes another one and another more.

  Hailey got drunk, and he drunk plenty as well. Vince decides to stay overnight at M Resort. He brought Hailey into his suite. Gently, he placed her on the bed.

  "Hey! I want to drink more!" Hailey attempts to get up, but her head is spinning around.

  "No. You have to sleep now." Vince pushes her back to the bed.

  "It's okay! Dad wouldn't know. Besides, I trust you!" she giggled, pointing her finger toward Vince's chest.

  Vince dropped his mouth open. Her last words struck his heart. At the same time, it brought delight to his chest. And it's the first time Hailey mentioned someone in her family. 'So, she still has a dad.'

  "Okay. I won't tell your dad you drink a lot tonight. But in one condition, you have to sleep now."

  "Promise?" Hailey looked up at Vince with droopy eyes. She kept giggling and then held Vince on the face.

  "Yes. I promised." Vince swears to prevent Hailey from getting off the bed. He heaves a silent sigh. This girl is cute. She didn't know this is torture for him. Vince thought inwardly.

  "Great! And because of that! I will reward you with a kiss!" Upon saying it, Hailey reaches for Vince's lips that caught him off guard.

  It was only a quick kiss. She parted her lips from him and murmured, "You taste like strawberries. No, it must be a lemon, Apple and……"

  She giggled again and kissed Vince one more time. At this time, Vince let his mouth work. He returned the kiss and deepened it as he slowly pushes Hailey on the bed.

  Hailey commented that he tasted like the fruits mixed with their drinks. But she also tasted the same.

  After the long kiss, Vince parted his lips from Hailey and peered at her beautiful face. Her cheeks are gleaming red, her eyes staring tenderly back at him.

  He extends his arm and rubs her cheeks. Lowering his head, Vince covered Hailey's mouth and kissed her one more time.

  *

  Vince was currently taking a long cold shower. He heaves a long sigh, letting the water calms his body.

  What happened a while ago is the toughest battle in his entire life. And gladly, he successfully overcomes it. Honestly, it was way more complicated than facing his mother's anger.

  Recalling what happened, he had to stop. Hailey just told him she trusted him, and he could not break that trust.

  Great that Hailey fell asleep before anything else would happen. However, he faces another problem.

  He's debating within himself whether to ask help to change Hailey's dress. Her friends were still at the venue, as more guests stayed to drink all night since they were also checking in at the resort.

  However, if he does that, it is suspicious why he could not do it himself when in the eyes of everyone, they were living like husband and wife in one roof.

  At the moment, Hailey is bathing in sweat cold. She was moaning as she felt uncomfortable. It must be the drinks. So Vince decided to help Hailey clean up asap.

  Taking off his coat, Vince rolled up his long sleeves and got a small basin and hand towel. He gently cleans Hailey, wiping her face and neck.

  Vince takes a long breath before he continues to clean Hailey's body……

  It took him almost half an hour. And because he could not find any pajamas for Hailey, gladly, he has another clean white long-sleeve stored in the closet.

  *

  Vince hurls another sigh. He shook his head to stop recalling those scenes. It won't help him to calm down.

  He stepped out of the bathroom and dried his body, then wore a bathrobe.

  Hailey was still sleeping soundly. She has never woken up again, even after he undressed her and put on a clean cloth.

  Vince walked toward the closet and grabbed clean underwear and jeans. Still half-naked, he heard Hailey moans. He sat on the bed and tried to wake her up.

  "Hail……"

  "Water……"

  Vince helps Hailey to sit up on the bed. He picks up the glass of water on the bedside table and draws it close into Hailey's mouth. She drank half of it before she pushed the glass away.

  "Who are you? Don't touch me!" Hailey growled.

  "Hey, it's me!" Vince calmed her down. He pushed back the strands of hair that cover her cheeks. "Go ahead, sleep back. You need to sober up."

  With tired eyes, Hailey blinks several times. She smiled and giggled. "Ah…… It's you! Vincent Shen!"

  "Yes, it's me."

  "Vincent Shen……"

  "Yeah……" Vince stared at her with amusement. She behaves childishly again, calling his name repeatedly using her sweetest voice.

  "Vincent Shen……"

  "I'm here." Vince combs Hailey's hair. She was leaning on him, resting her head on his chest, her arms wrapped around his waist. Another minute passed, Hailey didn't say a word anymore. He guesses she falls asleep again.

  Vince carefully places Hailey's head on the pillow when she mumbled in her sleep.

  "Don't leave me……"

  He froze for a moment. Then he lay down next to her and pulled the quilt to cover half of their bodies.

  He lay on his side so that he could watch Hailey's sleeping face. But his eyelids are dropping close.

  Before Vince closed his eyes, he traced Hailey's nose, planted a kiss on her forehead, and uttered……

  "Silly…… I should be the one saying that."