The CEO's Little Wife

Chapter 8: The Contract in the Shadows

— Lately, older brother Thanh has changed and started working hard to take care of the family, Minh. Why don't you just quit that job at the bar? Even though it's just serving and carrying trays, all sorts of people hang out there. Thi is genuinely worried about you!

— I'm so glad older brother has changed. But now he also has to look after Mom. Soon there will be house rent and hospital bills to pay. Once we get through this tough phase, I'll figure things out.

— But...

— Alright!!!! My dear Thi ❤. I know Thi is worried about me. I promise I'll protect myself, so don't worry too much. — Thi, go into class first! I need to use the restroom and I'll go in after!

Binh Minh watched her best friend skip happily toward the classroom, a sharp pang gripping her heart.

"I'm sorry, Thi! I can't tell you. I can't keep myself pure anymore!"

She hid in the restroom and dialed a series of numbers on her phone. Beep, beep sounds echoed. No one answered. She let out a sigh and put her phone away before heading to class.

In the afternoon, Binh Minh drove to the hospital to relieve her brother. She stayed with her mother while her brother went home to rest before coming back to the hospital in the evening.

— Minh, you've been so busy with your studies these past few days that I haven't asked you. Tell me now, where did you get the money for the surgery?

Her hand peeling fruit paused as she turned to look at her mother.

— I... I had some savings.

— Don't lie to your mother. How much could you possibly have saved?

She smiled and reached out to stroke her mother's shoulder to reassure her.

— Of course it wasn't enough, but I still have friends! And Thi, too. A little bit from each person, how could it not be enough? Besides...

The phone's ringing cut off her words. When she picked it up, it was that same phone number calling again. Startled by a guilty conscience, she hung up right away.

— Who's calling, dear?

— Just a spam number! Don't worry, Mom, I won't do anything that would make you fret.

— Oh right, let me call Thi to ask for a half-day leave for you.

— Yeah. Alright, lie down and rest for a bit. Go ahead and call her. Tell her Mother thanks her a lot.

— Yes. — Binh Minh carefully helped her mother lie down on the bed. She gently opened the door, stepped out into a deserted hallway some distance away, and then mustered up all her courage to call the phone number back..

The moment the ringtone sounded once, the other end immediately picked up.

— Hello... I'm sorry, sir. Earlier I was busy with something and couldn't talk, which is why I hung up midway...

— And here I thought you were planning to skip out on the debt and run away with the money. — Dang Phong's low, slightly husky voice came through the earpiece, carrying a teasing fondness. — Why did you call me back?

— Well... yes... no... — Binh Minh stammered, her fingers tightly twisting the hem of her shirt. — I just wanted to...

She didn't know how to phrase it. She had already received the money he gave to handle her mother's hospital fees. Even though she didn't want to sell her self-respect, she couldn't be shameless enough to take the money and "vanish" either.

— Stuttering like that? — Dang Phong let out a low, quiet chuckle in his throat. — Do you have a shift at the bar tonight?

— Yes... I do.

— Come straight to VIP room 202 to see me tonight.

Binh Minh's entire body stiffened, her heart hammering against her ribs:

— Yes...

— Hang up and get some rest. And... — Dang Phong leisurely added another sentence, his tone half-joking and half-serious. — I'm only 30 years old, not old enough for you to call me "sir"!

— Yes! I know now... un... uncle—no, brother.

A low chuckle sounded from the other end.

— Good girl.

Hearing the beep-beep sound indicating the disconnection, Binh Minh finally dared to let out a long breath. Though her heart was still filled with fear, she knew she had no choice but to face it. She quickly regained her composure and turned back into the hospital room with her mother.

At nine o'clock in the night at the bar, Binh Minh had arrived. Just as she stepped through the door, the manager intercepted her. The moment he laid eyes on her, his eyes lit up like he had struck gold:

— Binh Minh! What took you so long to get here? Hurry up and take the wine to room 202 for President Tran right now! He's waiting for you!

— Yes...

Every single step Binh Minh took felt as heavy as if she were shackled to stones. Her heart trembled with every beat, and as she walked, she continuously reassured herself that she had to be truly strong.

Standing before the door of room 202, she took a deep breath and knocked:

Knock... knock...

There was no response from inside.

— I am Binh Minh! I'm bringing the wine for o—you, sir!

Habitually about to call the customer "sir," she hurriedly corrected herself. She called out softly twice and still saw no one answering, then gently pushed the door handle. The door was unlocked. Binh Minh slowly stepped inside, where a soft, soothing ballad melody was playing in the room.

The scene ought to have been romantic if not for the chaotic mess right before her eyes. Documents and papers had been crumpled up and tossed scattered all over the floor, and a porcelain cup lay smashed to pieces in the corner of the wall. A single glance was enough to tell that the owner of the room had just been through a violent fit of rage.

Hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom, Binh Minh gently placed the wine tray on a shelf. She bent down, meticulously picking up every single crumpled sheet of paper, smoothing them out, and arranging them neatly on the desk. After that, she carefully picked up the shards of broken glass

Absorbed in cleaning with her back turned, she had no idea that the bathroom door had opened at some point. A pair of deep eyes were intently observing her every movemen

Having picked up the final piece of shattered glass, Binh Minh turned around to find a trash bag when her entire body froze. Dang Phong was standing leaning against the wall right nearby. He was bare-chested from the waist up, wearing only a single bath towel wrapped securely around his hips. Undried droplets of water from his wavy short hair leisurely slid down his rugged chest, rippling masculine abdominal muscles, and then vanished beneath the fold of the towel.

The other day, she had been too terrified by the scare to look closely at his face. Now, at such close range, his sharp, handsome features were breathtaking. The man curved his lips into a faint, meaningful smile. A wave of overwhelming, seductive magnetism radiated from his entire being, making the surrounding air feel as though it were bursting into flames.

— What? Is there something on my face? Why are you staring at me like that? — Dang Phong narrowed his eyes, teasing her with his voice.

Only then did Binh Minh snap out of it. Realizing her own lapse in composure, her cheeks burned with heat, and she hurriedly turned her face away:

— I... I am looking for a broom to clean up these glass shards...

With that, she took a quick step, intending to flee from this suffocating atmosphere. But before she could reach the door, a large, warm hand reached out, effortlessly grabbing her wrist and pulling her backward. Dang Phong chuckled softly:

— No need. I've already called the cleaning staff. Stay right there.

Having no excuse to escape, Binh Minh was pulled by him to sit down on the edge of the bed. Right at that moment, the cleaning staff opened the door and walked in to clean. Catching sight of the young girl sitting on the bed alongside a seductive, shirtless man, the woman stared fixedly at them with a nosy expression.

Seeing Binh Minh biting her lip in embarrassment and lowering her head in shame, Dang Phong's expression darkened instantly. He raised his eyes to look at the cleaning lady, his voice dropping low into an icy tone:

— You'd better finish quickly and get out of here right now. If you keep staring, you won't need to come back to work here starting tomorrow!