The Royal Contract

"So, how was your day?" He asked after a very long day, sitting on the sofa of his apartment. He could not help but feel glad to relax with his feet on the coffee table.

"It was tiring but fulfilling." She started telling him about her new pro bono case.  She laid on the sofa as she savored his voice while sipping on a glass of wine. "What about you?" She asked.

"Marcus was about to lose his shit when I almost fell on my chair during a meeting. I was so sleepy. I could not keep my eyes open." He narrated to her what happened that early morning.

"I hope that the client was not offended by your unprofessional action." She could not help but laugh at what her mind was conjuring about his morning.

"It was your fault. You know that." He accused her as a smirk showed on his face.

"How could that be my fault?" She questioned him, raising her voice by an octave, wondering why he was blaming her.

"Because you hardly allowed me to sleep last night." He teased her as he remembered every minute they spent together.

"Funny. If I remember right, it is you who did not want to stop." She could not help the giggle that came out of her mouth as if she was a teenager.

"Ok, guilty." Alex finally conceded to be the reason for both of them not getting enough sleep. "Anyway, your dad called today, asking for a meeting tomorrow." Alex related to her.

He promised not to keep anything from her. He had to tell her about his plan to see her dad. 

"You said no, right?" She asked, knowing her dad. He was probably planning something. 

She did not want to make Alex feel obligated to please her father to impress her or make her happy.

"I... already said yes." He hesitated at first, feeling that he made a mistake. "I am meeting him tomorrow morning." 

"You know you can say no to him. I don't mind if he did not like you if that would put you in a tight spot." She reminded him, not happy that her dad was making a move without telling her.

She knew how her father could manipulate people to do his bidding. Her experience with Nick's association with her father was enough to traumatize her if Alex fell on the same path.

"Don't worry. I can handle your dad. I'm sure it would be a harmless meeting. He probably wants to get to know me. It would be a perfect time for me to assure him that my intentions for you are noble." He assured her as he placed one of his hands at the back of his neck to get a more comfortable position on the couch.

"That is so sweet, but don't say that I did not warn you." She told him as she refilled her glass with more wine.

"I wish that you are here laying down on my lap while we watched an exciting movie." He imagined her looking up to him while she laid down on the couch.

"I also miss you. There is nothing more I would like but to be with you. But we both agreed that we needed some rest." She recalled her day when she also almost slept on her table while working on a brief. 

It was not as worse as what happened to Alex, but it was not acceptable office etiquette. She believed that she had to give her hundred percent in every job she tackled.

"And you should put that phone down so that you can." Jacky just showed up and sat down on the other armchair next to her head. "There is a reason why you are not together right now." She reminded the two of them. She was sure that Alex could hear her.

"I guessed she was right. We need to hang up now." Dani acknowledged that Jacky had a point.

"Oh, but I want to continue hearing your voice and seeing your face." He told her, unwilling to end the call.

"Well, you have no choice but to accept my good night. I hope I can see you tomorrow night." Dani pouted her lips on the screen as a sign of her goodbye kiss.

"Ok, fine. I'll see you tomorrow night." He knew he could not stop her. Besides, she deserved to rest, just like him.

After saying their very long good night and goodbye, they finally ended their video call.

"Finally, I thought the ants were about to attack us. You two almost made me puke with that too much sugar." Jacky jester as she stood from her seat and moved to the kitchen.

"What about you? Is there anyone new in your dating calendar?" Dani asked her friend.

She knew that she was not over with Matthew and Lance, but it never stopped her before from seeking a new date. Her idea was to get over one with another.

"Nah... not this time," Jacky answered her as she grabbed an ice cream in the freezer. "Would you like some?" She asked as she grabbed a spoon. When she nodded, she took two and moved back to the living room, making her scooted a space for her on the couch until they were sitting side by side.

"Are you sure you are ok?" She asked as she treaded on unfamiliar grounds with Jacky's new perception about dating.

"Never been better. I think after failing miserably with my tactics of finding the right man for me. Maybe I should follow your lead, seeing how happy you are now." Jacky shoved a spoonful of the ice cream in her mouth.

"Oh! That's great." She agreed with her friend. "There is no need to rush this. I am sure that the right man would show up eventually." She hoped because she also wanted to see her friend happy.

"But I am happy to see you and Alex doing so well. I also want that." She was now shoving the cold treat in her mouth at a faster pace. 

"Slow down on the ice cream. Leave some for me." She admonished her friend, grabbing the tub from her and taking a few spoonfuls into her mouth before Jacky took it away from her.

She was glad that they were able to enjoy a quiet night together. It had been a long time since they last did this.

"I miss this, just the two of us, a girl's night." Jacky hugged her. "Don't hesitate to tell me if he hurts you because I would beat the crap out of him if he does."

She sensed that Alex was different from most of the men she met. He would still be answering to her if he made the mistake of using her friend, just liked Nick did.

"Of course, but I am sure that he would never do that to me." She was positive that Alex would never hurt her. 

But she was sure that Alex would not do anything to her that would intentionally harm her. She had no idea why she was putting too much faith in him, maybe because he had not shown any reason for her to break her trust.