The Royal Contract

"Guys, I think I had enough. What about you guys?" Alex said as he grabbed his card and handed it to the girl serving their drinks. "Charge everything to me." He could not see any point in staying anymore.

"It is still early. Why don't you stick around for another hour," Marcus replied as he went back to kissing the girl in his lap.

Marcus kept telling himself that another girl was all he needed to get back to his old self. Jacky was a distraction he never wanted. He was better off without her in his life.

"Sorry, guys, but I am tired. I still have a lot of things to do tomorrow." Alex made his excuse, although he only had one thing in mind that he had to do. He wanted to see Dani and hang out with her compared to his seemingly drunk friends.

"I am also going with Alex. I think the two of you can handle it from here." David agreed with Alex, not particularly thrilled to spend more time with the other two if Alex was already leaving.

"You two are no fun." Evan finally spoke up as he shoved the remaining alcohol in his throat.

"Don't go yet." The woman that was under the arms of Evan said to Alex, clearly still flirting with him. "We have not to dance yet."

"I'm sorry, guys. But I will see you on Monday. Have fun for the rest of the night." Alex stood up and grabbed his card from the waitress. He saluted to his friend, walking away from their table with David doing the same. 

Out of the club, they turned to their individual awaiting cars. "Are you going home?" David asked his friend.

"Nope. I plan to check on Dani. If they were already through, I might as well pick her up." Alex told David, who only smirked at his plans. 

"You are that serious with her." David finally understood that Alex was not playing around when he said he was entering a committed relationship with Dani. 

"Yeah, I am." Alex once again confirmed to his friend. "What about you? Are you still fit to drive home?"

He already asked two of his security to drive the other two if they were too drunk to drive.

"I'll probably crash at Rosella's apartment. It is just around the block. I am too tired to go home." David made his excuse. But like Alex, he was not intoxicated.

But to Alex's brain, he was only using that excuse to see Rosella. He still found it hard to admit to himself that he was already falling for her. The sweet and kind girl he met two years ago.

"Ok. Then I'll see you on Monday." They waved goodbye and went on their way. 

Compared to the two that they left behind. Alex was not drunk. He never drank beyond his limits, which was three glasses, not wanting to end up incapacitated. 

His security already informed him of Dani and Jacky's location. 

"Are they still inside?" Checking on the address, it was only a few blocks from his location. It would not take him long to reach the place. His man confirmed that they were.

He only hoped that Dani would not think he was invading her space by following her on her night out. He did not want to seem clingy, but it appeared that he was beginning to become one.

"What are you doing?" He asked himself as he held the steering wheel in his hands.

But in his defense, he only wanted to spend more time with her to establish a more stable relationship. Because he knew that there would come a time that his work would demand more of his time once all their plans were in place. 

He was entering a battle where his concentration would be needed. He would not have time for any distraction. He was not saying that Dani would be one, but he felt his time with her might be reduced.

He looked around the club once he was inside. Getting entry was easy when the bouncer recognized one of his men. As he went further, he found Dani and Jacky happily dancing on the dance floor. 

Both seemed a bit intoxicated but still able to dance into the rhythm, or so he thought when the two bumped into each other. They almost lost their balance as they held each other. But after a few seconds, they started laughing and continued moving to the music.

"Scotch neat." He told the man behind the counter and sat at the bar while he watched the two girls. 

He could see that several men were looking in their direction, but no one came to dance with her. He wondered why, but who was he to complain. That meant no problems for him as he observed Dani's movement, entranced as she moved with grace and class. 

She was indeed a good dancer, probably a result of years of training. Well, except for the occasional slips and out-of-cue movements, which made him smile. 

Then, finally, a man came close to Dani. He recognized him as the man he saw at her apartment. He leaned down closer to Dani's ear, probably saying something to her. He was uncertain what came over him when he found himself standing up and walking towards the dance floor.

"Hey, surprise, Dani." He stood in front of Dani and the guy. He could not determine if his name was Troy or Ray, but whatever, he was not interested. He did not appreciate the way he was moving around his girlfriend.

He claimed that he was not the jealous type. But at this moment, he could not help but be possessive of Dani. It was not in his character to act this way, but his instinct warned him to be cautious.

"Alex, what are you doing here?" Dani could not believe that her boyfriend was standing in front of her. She had to blink her eyes several times to be definite that it was him and not just her imagination. "Alex." She repeated before moving towards him.

"Sorry if I came without notice." He moved towards her and wrapped him in his arms, showing whoever happened to look that she was his. That included Troy. He lowered his head and gave her a light kiss, but it was enough to ward off any other guy interested in her.

"Alex, you remember Troy, my neighbor." Dani suddenly remembered that they were not alone. "Troy, this is Alex, my boyfriend." She found introducing him in that manner a bit unfamiliar, but it did feel right. "Jacky, Alex is here." She shouted over Alex's shoulder.

Jacky, who was dancing with a group, turned around and looked at them. "Oh, you are here. I hope you did not bring your stupid friend." She said before twirling around again to dance without a care.

"I did not," Alex answered, knowing who she meant.

"I better leave the two of you alone." Troy excused himself and went back to his friends.

"Want to dance?" Dani asked Alex.

He grabbed her waist and brought their bodies closer together as they tried to move in the rhythm of the music. She never knew that dancing at a slow pace on a fast beat could be so sensual.