The Royal Contract

"What is this?" Marcus asked, perusing the papers in his hands that he received in his office a few minutes ago. 

He immediately marched into Alex's office to confirm if the content of those documents were legitimate. Since he had not heard anything about it, it caught him by surprise.

"What is the meaning of this?" Marcus asked, entering his office despite his secretary's warning that her boss did not want to be disturb.

He was not going to wait to get answers when the matter at hand needed an immediate explanation. It was not a simple matter that he could let go and approved without confronting his friend about it.

"Marcus, what is that?" He asked since he had no idea of what Marcus was holding in his hand. He dropped the pen he was holding and leaned on his chair to look at his legal counsel.

Marcus threw the file in his direction and stood in front of his desk. "The legal department handed it to me for final approval a few moments ago. Why did you not run it by me?" He asked, slightly offended that his friend kept him out of the loop and the deal.

"You knew that I met with Ethan last week. I told you that I would not do anything that would jeopardize our company and our plans. If I am keeping it from you, then I would not need for your final approval." Alex explained after glancing at the file and realizing why his friend was reacting that way.

"But are you sure that going on a business merger with Ethan is a good idea?" Marcus asked his friend, who turned away from him and looked at the wide window behind his desk. "Does Dani know about this?"

"If you trust me, I think being associated with Ethan would be good for us. And I never kept anything from Dani. I will tell her if ever we decide to go through with this project." He told his friend as he looked at the tall skyscrapers that surrounded him.

His company was not yet at par with most of the businesses around him, but it was slowly getting there. With his plan to do business with Ethan, he was sure that it would give his company the boost it needed to strengthen and increase its value in the stock market.

"Honestly, if all of this is just a business transaction, I will not have a qualm about doing business with Ethan. I will be totally on board with any business association with the mighty king." Marcus told him.

"Then, what is the problem?" He asked, but he already knew what was going through his friend's mind. He just needed to hear him say his opinion on the matter.

"Remember, you are now in a personal relationship with his daughter," Marcus told him with concern in his voice as if that was the major problem.

"What does it had to do with this?" He asked as if his personal life was not any of their concerns. Knowing that it was what he was about to say and hearing it was two different matters. 

He still could not believe that Marcus could not accept his relationship with Dani. He still found it as a hindrance to their plans.

"I know that you are genuinely trying to make things work with Dani, but what if it did not work out? What would you think Ethan would do with this deal?" Marcus could see many different outcomes with this scenario, and most of them were not ideal. They would be on the losing end of the stick.

"I don't see any reason why our relationship will fail, but if it does happen, I am sure that it will not end the way you see it." He assured his friend. "And it will not affect our business venture with Dani's father."

He could almost see how Marcus' mind was turning, coming up with the worse possible scenario he could think of about his relationship with Dani. But he would prove to him that his relationship with Dani was not just a passing fling.

He would also prove to Ethan that he was not using Dani to gain anything for himself. It just happened that he offered to help him with a great opportunity, and it was a waste if he would pass it up because of Dani. 

It was purely business and had nothing to do with Dani. He still wanted to believe that he could separate his business from his relationship. Those were two entities that did not mix up in his book.

"As long as you know what you are getting into, I trust you, my friend." Marcus finally conceded to his boss. He took the file once again from his desk. "I'll check on all the details and then have it at your desk early tomorrow morning."

"Thanks, man." Alex went back to his work, satisfied that his friend finally saw things his way, watching Marcus get out of his office. 

After two hours, he dropped his pen and shut down his computer. He knew he still had tons of work to finish, but his mind was already somewhere else. 

For the first time in weeks, he did not want to think about work. He grabbed his phone and his jacket from the backrest of his chair, then strode out of his office. 

"If anyone looks for me, tell them that I went out. I'll be back tomorrow." He told his secretary without any further explanation.

If he was serious with his relationship with Dani, he knew that he should be putting more effort into it. He had promised, again and again, that he would give her a surprise, but it always ended up not materializing. Now he was not waiting for the weekend.

"Sir, what about your appointments this afternoon?" His secretary asked, stunned as she grabbed the papers that almost fell on the floor. 

"You can tell them that I went on sick leave or whatever you think would be appropriate. Be creative." He said the last words as an afterthought as he smiled and walked away into his private elevator. 

He drove quickly away from his office and went to a small boutique near his office. He frequented this boutique because of the clothes that he particularly liked. He bought two outfits that he believed would be appropriate for his plans.

After several seemingly long minutes, he stood again outside her office, facing Jacky, who appeared busy on her computer.

"Sir, Alex. You have to stop coming here without an appointment." Jacky informed him with a wink, making sure that her voice was loud enough so that her friend would know who was out there to see her.

"Let him in," Dani said upon hearing the commotion outside, knowing that the two were probably conspiring against her and there was nothing she could do about it. It would be better to get it over with and get back to their respective work.

But she could not help but feel giddy that he was here to see her. Last weekend had been exceptional, even if they only stayed indoors. The way he had made her feel wanted and needed was more than anyone had ever made her felt before.

She did not even want to think of what happened to her in the past. She wanted it buried in the deepest recesses of her subconsciousness if she could not erase it from her mind. 

She just wanted to focus on the present and on the man that had open her up to a new kind of experience that she thought only existed in her dreams.