Chapter 314 - Naughty Girl

After a long day exploring the island, Halia, Jackson, Natalie, and Sean, returned to their resort to have dinner. Right next door was a popular pasta restaurant with a fusion of flavors. As well as the popularly adapted Filipino-style spaghetti bolognese that had a distinctively sweet sauce, there was also a chicken adobo pasta, and a longganisa pizza.

After dinner, the two couples decided to have a few c.o.c.ktails at the resort's bar. Even though Natalie couldn't have any alcohol, there was an extensive list of mocktails. Missing her little boy in China, she picked an interesting pumpkin spice mocktail and made a video call to her son.

"Hello Pumpkin," she smiled as she waved at the little boy on her phone screen.

Pumpkin saw his mother through the phone and smiled back. Next to him was Halia's father.

"Are you having fun?" Pumpkin asked.

Natalie immediately nodded her head and raised the mocktail in her hand. "Guess what mommy is drinking," she said.

Pumpkin's eyes opened wide, "Wow! Is that a magic elixir?"

Natalie giggled, "It is a pumpkin spice mocktail. I ordered it because I miss my little Pumpkin."

Pumpkin clapped his hands, pleased with this response.

At that moment, Natalie turned the phone to face Halia and Halia quickly waved at Pumpkin and her father.

Caught by surprise, she quickly looked at herself and adjusted her hair. But, just as she was doing so, she noticed a familiar figure walk past behind her. It was only for a short moment, but she immediately recognized the man and it made her heart almost jump out of her chest.

It was Joel Gabriel Santos!

Finally, she saw the man in person. 

She had heard his voice last night and suspected it was him, but she was certain now that her suspicions were correct.

She immediately turned her head and watched as the chubby man entered the elevator. A man next to him, who appeared to be a bodyguard, stretched out his hand to stop others from sharing the elevator with the man. Joel Gabriel Santos then scanned a card on the scanner.

"That guy looks like quite a big shot," Sean commented as he followed Halia's gaze.

Halia nodded her head. "You'd think that he owns the place..." she said with deep meaning.

Of course, Sean had no idea that she was being serious. This man really did own the place. He owned it with Trojan and the place was somehow linked to The Organization.

Halia furrowed her brows. She needed to find a way to follow the man. She was certain he was going down to the bas.e.m.e.nt, but she had no access to that level. What could she do? If she couldn't find evidence, then Trisha could not launch an investigation. This was a huge lead that she didn't want to let go of...

At that moment, she spotted another familiar figure sitting on the other end of the bar. 

A man laughed sleazily as he hugged two women in his arms.

Halia's eyes lit up. This was the man they had seen in the elevator twice. The one that she suspected had access to the bas.e.m.e.nt!

Halia stared at the man and their eyes suddenly met. While her friends and husband were busily talking, the corner of her lips lifted slightly into an attractive smirk. This man was her key to the bas.e.m.e.nt...

The man immediately looked at her with interest and lifted his glass towards her. His hands were covered in gold rings and he had a thick gold chain necklace around his neck; he was obviously very wealthy. He looked to be roughly in his early 30's, but his slicked-back hair made him look like he was stuck in the 80's. Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be of Chinese descent, but his style made him look like someone from either Malaysia, Indonesia, or Singapore. There were some rich tycoons in those parts of the world and they loved to flaunt their wealth.

To avoid being noticed by her husband and friends, Halia did not lift her glass back at the man. Instead, she smiled slightly and took a sip of her c.o.c.ktail.

The man was hooked. He immediately let go of the two women beside him, winked at Halia and stood up to go somewhere. Halia took the hint and stood up as well, "I need to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back."

She then walked in the direction that the man went.

The bar was dimly lit and there was a live jazz band playing on stage. Most of the guests were seated at the bar or on tables around the venue, but there were a few groups of people that were standing. Halia weaved herself through the people until she reached the other end of the bar. From there, she could no longer see her husband and friends, and they could no longer see her.

At that moment, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her waist and turned her around. Halia found herself looking into the face of the man from earlier. He had a huge smile on his face and a sleazy look in his eyes. "You're a naughty girl," he said in English.

Halia felt disgusted by the man's voice, but she played along. "And you're a naughty boy," she said as she ran a finger down the man's back and tried to reach for the wallet in his back pocket.

The man was excited by this and quickly hooked his hand under Halia's chin. "Aren't you afraid of your husband?" he asked.

Halia laughed, "Not if he doesn't find out."

The man obviously liked this answer, so he quickly pressed Halia against the wall and tried to kiss her. He was not saying no to such an attractive woman, even though she was married.

Of course, Halia tried to avoid the man as she continued to reach for his wallet. If she was quick, she could grab his key card and leave without the man noticing. "Not here. Let's find a quiet place," she whispered. But, the man was too excited to stop.

Halia sighed. This scene reminded her of Marissa. Did she have to knock this man out like she did to the woman when she was disguised as Mars?

But, just as she thought this, a loud punch landed on the man's cheek and he fell to the ground. 

Halia gasped in surprise. Someone else was a step ahead of her.

"How dare you touch my wife!" a domineering voice growled.