The Royal Contract

The week had passed since she started working with Gerald, and it had not been easy with her schedule. There were nights that she had to work overtime, not wanting to neglect her other obligations.

In a few more hours, she would be free to take some time off. A weekend rest was what she needed. She looked forward to a couple of days away from her job, which meant more time with Alex.

"Jacky, why don't you go ahead?" She said to her friend, who was still waiting for her to finish.

She wanted to finish a few more loose ends on her pending case before the weekend so that she would not have to think about it. By Monday, she could deal with them with lesser possible problems.

"What about you? Are you coming home tonight?" Jacky asked her friend, who she rarely saw at their apartment.

She stepped inside her office and dropped some files she had finished typing, placing them on her table. So, she could check them first thing on Monday.

She did miss Dani's company, but she was happy that her friend had found the man she would share her life with and build a future together. 

"No, but I will drop by the apartment in the morning. I need to get some things." She informed her friend. 

She was thinking of staying at Alex's apartment tonight and surprising him with a nice dinner. She had been neglecting him this week. She wanted to be able to make up to him.

"Then, I shall go ahead. But don't take too long." Jacky reminded her. "You had been working hard this week. I don't want you to get sick." 

Jacky moved to the door before waving goodbye to her friend. She did not want to leave her friend alone in the office, but knowing her friend, she would not let her wait for her.

Now, Dani was on her own again in her office. She doubted if the other offices on her floor had someone else working overtime. Most of the employees had probably left in a hurry. They were either going out on dates or proceeding home with their families.

After half an hour since Jacky left, she noticed an unusual eerie silence in the office. It was not the first time she felt like someone was out there, but she always considered it her wild imagination.

"Stop it. There is no one out there." She mumbled to herself, looking behind her to the darkness outside.

She never believed in ghosts since she never experienced seeing one. Although, she was not discounting the possibility that there might be an entity still beyond a human's comprehension.

After a few more minutes, she could not help feeling that something was moving outside her office. However, the chance that there was someone out there at this moment was very slim. 

She concluded again that it was just her active imagination working overtime. She was just tired and feeling susceptible to the different elements around her.

Maybe it was time to go home. Alex would not be coming to fetch her tonight because he still had a late meeting. But Ben was waiting for her downstairs at the parking lot.

"Anybody out there?" She peeked slightly at her door, just checking if she might find someone out there. But Jacky's desk was empty, and she could not find anything moving on the corridors.

She returned to her table and stared at her files. She was still debating whether she should leave or finish what she had already started when her phone suddenly rang. 

She was slightly startled by the sudden shrilling sound that broke the silence. At the same time, welcome it, wanting someone to disrupt her wayward thoughts. "Hi." She quickly answered, seeing Alex's name on the screen.

"Ben told me that you are still in the office. I am just checking if you are ok." Alex said with concern in his voice.

He felt guilty that he had been neglecting her this week with the work that had piled up. Since he took over Ethan's company, it felt like his workload had tripled.

Now, he was still in a meeting but hoping to wrap it up soon. He was also looking forward to the weekend where they could spend some alone time together.

"Yeah. I am just finishing up, but I am leaving soon." She told him, not wanting him to worry further.

He had so many things to think about, and she did not want to add to it. He had been carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders. He also deserved some time for himself. 

She suddenly remembered that since they had been together. She could not recall Alex going out with his friends. He had devoted his time to her and the business.

"Good. Don't overwork yourself." He reminded her, then he smiled at himself, thinking that he should listen to his advice too.

He could not help it. He had to catch up with Ethan's work. His company was far complicated than what he was used to handling. He was still studying half of his obligations.

Luckily, he had Marcus and his team to help him with the adjustments. He knew he was good at his job, but it took Ethan his entire life to build his company. He could not simply step in and learn it in a day.

"I am hanging up now so that I can finish up. I'll see you later at home." Dani could not stop the smile that came to her lips as she realized what she called his apartment.

"Ok. I'll see you home soon." He answered back, also noticing her statement. "Goodbye." She quickly turned the phone call off, or they would keep saying goodbye. 

She was back in the empty room with nothing else she could hear but the sound of her breathing. Then, a loud crashing noise resounded in the empty hallways.

This time she was sure that she was not alone. She quickly moved out of her chair to check out the noise. She walked towards her door with caution, picking up a small vase as a weapon.

She hid it at her side, just in case she would need it to defend herself from the unknown intruder. She slowly peeked outside her door, checking if there was any movement. But all she saw was a quiet and empty space.

"Who's there?" She shouted, hoping to scare whoever was out there, but no one responded, and no movement happened.

She walked further outside her office, to Jacky's table, but no one was hiding under the table. But she saw Jacky's things scattered on the floor. It was as if someone knocked it down and let it fall down the table.

But it could be something else. Dani's mind was trying to convince her since there was no sign that she had company. All the lights were still on. The janitor or the guards had not roamed yet to do their jobs.

"Is anybody out there?" She repeated one more time, directing her call on the hallway. But nothing replied to her howler.

She finally gave up and returned to her room. She immediately returned to her table and fixed up her things. She had enough for the night.

She was not a coward, but tonight was different. Her instinct was telling her that there was danger in the air. She would rather side with caution than find herself in deep trouble.

"Ben, I am on my way down." She called her bodyguard, hoping that he would be waiting at the car park. 

After feeling a chill go through her spine, she knew she could not ignore her fear. She would prefer Ben waiting for her than to walk in the parking lot to her car alone.

"I'll be waiting for you at the elevator," Ben replied to her, knowing the drill. 

He knew that something was off with her. She seldom called him to inform him if she was leaving. Most of the time, she just ignored them. 

In addition, he heard a hint of a tremor in her voice. As if she was afraid of something. His instincts told him to be alert because something was wrong with this scenario.

"Ok." She quickly ended the call and gathered her things. She decided that she could continue working on her work on Monday.

She stepped out of her office, locking it before striding towards the elevators. But as she moved, she could not stop the feeling of someone watching her.

She quickened her movement, almost doubling the size of her steps as she neared the elevator. But so far, she still did not see anyone else on the floor. The other offices were closed, and the hallways were empty.

She tapped on the button and waited for the doors to open. She could not help but scan the place, but she still could not find anything amiss.

"It is just your imagination." She finally concluded with herself. She pushed on the button again, willing the doors to open. Finally, it opened and revealed an empty box.

She stepped inside and pressed the button to the parking floor. Before the elevator closed on her, she saw a glimpse of a shadow moving out of her vision. This time, she felt the hair in her nape stand up.

She was not alone in that office, but she failed to see who it was. Was it someone she knew, a ghost, or a figment of her imagination?

"Hey!" She tried to call the attention of the intruder, but the door closed on her.. All the response she got was the sound of silence.