The Royal Contract

An hour earlier, at Dani's apartment. As she was still applying light makeup on her face, Jacky entered her room without knocking. She was used to that. She also did the same sometimes.

"Are you seriously wearing that?" Jacky asked incredulously. "We are going on a club, not inside a courtroom." She blurted out upon seeing Dani's clothes. 

She knew that Dani was not a conservative person. She used to dress more sluttier than her when she was young. But to look like a nerd about to go to a party was not something unacceptable. Well, she was exaggerating, but the point was, Dani's dress would not do.

"What's wrong with my dress?" She asked as she stared at herself in the mirror. 

After a few more minutes of staring at herself in the mirror, she finally realized what Jacky had seen. In the past time that she had gone out with Jacky, she would not be caught wearing a dress like this in a club. 

But she was trying to consider what Alex would think if she wore something more provocative. So, she chose something that was what exactly Jacky was thinking, conservative.

"I think this is better if you don't want to look like you are looking for a hookup, but did not say that I am a loser." Jacky handed her a glamorous dress that she had not worn for ages, forgotten in her closet.

"Fine." She took the dress and hurriedly changed into it. She once again in front of the mirror, checking her reflection. It was more sexy than slutty, so she could not complain about Jacky's taste. 

She suddenly realized something. She should not bend too much her ways to please Alex. He should also learn to like her for what she was. She should find a way to balance her adjustment, not changing too much of her identity and personality to make this relationship work.

"That's better." Jacky expressed with a sigh, then whistled to indicate that she loved it.

In thirty minutes after leaving the house, they arrived at an unfamiliar establishment. Dani had not been here before. But from the look of it outside, she believed that she would not like it inside.

"Are you sure this is the place you want to try?" Dani asked her friend, who already unbuckled her belt and opened her door.

"Yes. Come on." Jacky was out of the car before she could stop her. 

She quickly followed her. "Wait, we need to talk about…" But she barely finished her sentence when Jacky interrupted her.

"Are those guys going to keep on following us?" Jacky pointed to the other car that parked on the other side of the street. 

"Yes, Alex would not have it any other way." She answered. A small concession that Alex extended was to cut down the bodyguards into two instead of the four he originally put on her. "But don't worry, I already told them to remain outside."

She would prefer zero, but Alex was right. There was no harm in being cautious.

Jacky could only shake her head as she ushered Dani inside the structure. Jacky only showed a card to the bouncer, and they were immediately allowed entry. As they proceeded inside, the lights got dimmer, and the crowd was starting to get wilder. 

"What was that?" Dani whispered to Jacky, but the noise only swallowed her words as Jacky continued to walk further inside the massive room. She had no idea that Jacky had any connection to this kind of club.

As the noise got louder, she decided to pull Jacky to the side. She never agreed to this. As far as she knew, Jacky was bringing her to a regular bar. Somewhat the same as the usual place, they hang out to drink.

"What's wrong?" Jacky played the innocent card on her as she looked at her as if she had no idea why she was upset.

"Really? Nothing about this rang a bell in that brain of yours." This time she made sure to shout it out so she would hear her. She did not care if the other people around them looked at them. But nobody seemed to mind as they went on with their business.

"Ok, fine. Just this once. Can you enjoy this with me? We always do it your way, so I figured that maybe we could do it my way this time." Jacky pleaded with her, pouting her lips at her.

"But you know I don't like places like this." She once again looked at her surroundings and knew that it was not her scene.

"One time. That is all I ask. After this, you might get married to Alex, and you will not have time with me." Jacky started with the dramatics that she knew would make Dani melt in the palm of her hands.

"First, this is not the last time we will be together, even if I ever get married. Last, I am not getting married to Alex. Not anytime soon, and I am not sure if I will ever will." She made certain that her friend heard her. If the noise were not loud enough, the entire crowd would have heard her.

"Still, can we enjoy this? We are here anyways." Jacky knew that it was wrong for her to trick her friend into coming here. But she would like to enjoy this night with her, even for once in their life.

"Ok. I will only agree to this just this once." She reiterated to her.

There was a time in her life that she did enjoy this crowd, the never-ending parties. But she was so young then, she thought that being part of this crowd was the coolest thing in the world. However, she did grow up and learn that there was more to her life than this.

She still did not have any qualms for those who like these things. Everybody had their preferences. She and Jacky might be different in so many ways, but she loved her just the same. 

They made their way to the bar to get their first drink when somebody shouted at her.

"Dani, I never thought I would see you here." A man suddenly appeared behind them. The voice was familiar, and it did make her heart skipped a beat.