The Royal Contract

Marcus stared at the girl who claimed to have valuable information for Alex. He contemplated whether he should believe her or not. After all, he still considered her as the enemy because of her close association with Nick.

However, there was no harm in listening to what she might have to say. Alex could decide later if there was a significant truth to what she might be telling them.

"Give me a few minutes to see if Alex has a spare time. Can you wait for me here?" Marcus asked Cassie, who looked quite anxious. 

He could not simply believe her, knowing that she had been quite a good actress, fooling the people around her with her lies. But he could not ignore her either.

She might suddenly grow a conscience and decide to have a change of heart. It was not very unlikely to happen. Even the worse people could find themselves thinking of changing.

"Sure. I'll wait for as long as it takes." She sat back down on the chair, showing Marcus that she was not going anywhere.

She would endure whatever punishment she deserved for all her wrongdoings, especially to Dani, who had only been good to her since she first met her.

As for Ethan, maybe it was time that she buried whatever hatred she had for the man. After all, all evidence she gathered against him regarding his involvement with her father's downfall was purely circumstantial.

What if she was accusing the wrong person? Or she made the mistake of tying the evidence and pinpointing it to Ethan. Until now, she still felt a slight doubt in her accusation, the reason why she could not proceed with her plans.

Marcus left her to proceed at Alex's new office. He still needed to get used to their new headquarters. Although they still use their old office, Alex preferred to stay here more often because he had more access to Ethan's businesses.

Marcus found Alex preparing for the next meeting. He interrupted him, informing him of Cassie's presence downstairs. Although he thought that meeting with Cassie was worth the risk, he was still leaving the final decision to Alex.

"I will just finish my last meeting this morning, then we can check on Cassie's reason for coming here," Alex informed Marcus, instructing him to have Cassie brought to one of the vacant conference rooms where she could wait.

Alex was also surprised to learn that he had a visitor. He was not expecting her to come here and wished to talk to him. Whatever she had to say, Alex was willing to listen. Although, he was putting some benefit of the doubt on her words.

Marcus immediately asked his secretary to handle Cassie and make her wait comfortably. He could only hope that she was here for their benefit and not to spy against them.

After an hour, Alex's meeting concluded, and he was free to check on Cassie. Marcus was already waiting for him at his office, ready for his next instruction.

"I think it is time to check on Cassie." Alex had his secretary arrange for Cassie to come to join them in his office. She had waited long enough.

"Do you think she had something to say that would help us against Nick?" Marcus asked Alex, still skeptical of Cassie's sudden appearance.

"We would know once we talk to her. See if she had something valuable to tell us." Alex could only speculate as of the moment. Until he heard her reason for showing her face in his office, there was no way for him to understand her intention.

He did not know Cassie personally, except for the things Dani had told him about her and from the little details he gathered in his investigation. But he had not centered any of his resources on her, not finding her much of a threat.

After a few more minutes, Cassie finally walked into his office, carrying herself very well. There was no sign that she was agitated or nervous in his presence.

But Alex already knew that she could act very well. She had managed to fool Ethan and Dani for a long time. There was a very likelihood that she might be here under pretenses.

She was now double-crossing Nick with her meeting with him. Could he also believe that she was here due to her intention to help him? Or was this another game that Nick had her play for his benefit?

"Please come in." Alex offered once his secretary ushered Cassie inside his office.

Alex could see that this woman was not plain and simple. She carried herself with grace and power. If his assessment was correct, Cassie was never a pushover.

Nick might appear to be using her, but he could see that she used him as well. Whatever happened to their relationship for her to betray Nick, he hoped it would be their gain.

"Please sit down." Marcus offered the seat next to him while Alex sat behind his table.

"Thanks." Cassie immediately took the offered seat and waited for the two gentlemen to ask her a question. She did not want to rush things by saying the wrong words. 

She wanted their attention and cooperation if she was going to pull this off. Once Nick found out about her betrayal, she knew she would need some help to ward Nick off her back.

"Marcus told me that you have something you wish to say. We are listening. Don't worry about Marcus' presence. I don't keep secrets from him." Alex opened up the conversation, hoping that Cassie would start speaking.

"Yes. Thanks again for seeing me without an appointment. You're probably wondering why I am here." Cassie started to say as she made herself more comfortable in her seat.

She had rehearsed what she wanted to divulge to Alex since last night, but it was not easy to do it than think about doing it. There was still a slight hesitation in her mind if she was doing the right thing.

Once she spilled all she knew about Nick's plans, there was no more turning back. Her plans of revenge would also go down the drain.. She could kiss goodbye her relationship with Nick.