The Royal Contract

I'm ready to leave. Where are you? 

She texted him as she cleared her table and picked up her things. Jacky was also preparing to go home as she turned off her computer and put the remaining files on her table back to the cabinets.

After barely a minute, Dani's phone pinged, indicating an incoming message.

I'm at David's office, but I'll meet you at your office. On my way.

She read his message as she was also on her way out of her office. "Jacky, you can go ahead. I'll have to wait for Alex here." She locked her door and walked towards Jacky's table.

"Are you sure? I can wait with you." Jacky said. "I'm in no hurry."

"No need. Alex is here now." She looked beyond Jacky and saw Alex striding along the hallway towards hers.

She could not take her eyes away from him. He certainly looked delectable in his crisp shirt and well-fitted suit. She did not realize that she was feasting her eyes with his body until Jacky jabbed her ribs with her elbows.

"Close your mouth, dear. You can eat that yummy body later." Jacky whispered in her ears as she took her bag on the table and walked past Alex. "She's ready for you." She uttered mischievously, leaving them behind. Alex could only look at her and smile back, clueless about what she truly meant.

"Hey, hope you did not wait that long." She quickly recovered from her drooling and met him halfway through the corridor. 

"Not at all." He gave her a quick peck on her cheeks before letting her go.

"Shall we go?" She hooked her hand on his arms and dragged him in the direction of the elevator. She did not want him to have a hint of what her mind was thinking.

She did not want to appear too desperate for his attention. She enjoyed what they have now. She did not want to drive him away by being too clingy, demanding, or showy. She was still trying to find the balance for a perfect girlfriend. 

They rode the elevator in silence together with some of her colleagues and other employees. She noticed how the other women inside could not help but looked at the man in her arms.

She had noticed it before but did not give it much thought. Now that they were officially together, she found it intriguing. She was not sure if she should act proud that she found her prince charming.

"You can leave your car. We can use mine." He said to her in his low voice as the elevator dinged, indicating that they were already on the ground floor.

When the door opened, he quickly ushered her outside to a waiting car. This time, he was not driving, but someone else was sitting on the driver's side. Another man opened the door for them as he helped her inside before he followed. 

The man that opened the door for them quickly walked to the other car waiting for him, parked behind them.

"Do your bodyguards have to follow you around all the time? Don't you find it irritating?" She asked, suddenly uncomfortable with the situation.

There was a time in her life that she also had bodyguards following her around. Of course, courtesy of her father. She made sure to get rid of them when she was old enough to take care of herself.

She agreed to take self-defense lessons to prove to her father that she could protect herself if the need arose. So far, there was no instance yet that required her to defend herself.

"I got used to them. Besides, my securities are not just anybody. They are, sort of, my brothers. I protect them as much as they protect me. And now they will also protect you if there is a need." He explained to her the reason for his constant security.

He also underwent rigorous training to protect himself by hand-to-hand combats or through the use of a gun, knife, or whatever was available. But, in his position, he also believed that having some backup was not a stupid idea.

"I don't need any bodyguard. I am more than capable of taking care of myself." She crossed her arms on her chest, showing that she did not agree with any of his plans.

"I'm just taking precautions. With the recent announcement of our engagement, some of my security was a bit concern for both our safety." He held her by her shoulders and turned her around to face him.

"I don't..." She was about to protest again but stopped when he interrupted her.

"Please… Just until the news frenzy about us died down. I'll make sure that the team would be inconspicuous, so you will hardly notice at all." He assured her, not wanting her to decline his plan.

It was one of the things that he and Ethan had discussed this morning. They were both concerned that the exposure of their union might attract some problems. It was better to be prepared than to be sorry in the end.

Besides, Ethan believed that if it came from Alex, Dani was less likely to reject the idea. But, if it would come from her father, Ethan already could guess the outcome.

"Fine. But make sure that your men will not stand in my way. I don't want to see them anywhere near me." She did not know why, but she was finding it hard to refuse him.

"That's my girl. I know you can defend yourself, but let me protect you too, even if I am not around. I don't want anything to happen to you." He pulled her closer to him until he cradled her in his embrace, with her head laying underneath his chin.

"Where are we going?" She asked when she saw that the car was going on a different path, away from her apartment.

"I thought that you might want to taste my cooking." He replied as if that should answer her question.

Honestly, she could not care where he took her as long as they were together. She did not know what was happening to her, but she could not get enough of him. 

Her mind was warning her to take it slower, but her heart was already diving in head-on. There was a fear in the back of her mind that she wished to ignore, but as logic suggested, she should take heed of the warning.