The Royal Contract

She had tried four dresses for tonight and she was still not satisfied. She did not want to look like she was dress to impress, but she had to admit it, she had no idea what she was searching for. Her mind was still processing what she would answer him tonight.

The opening of her bedroom door was a welcome relief. Jacky stepped inside her room and strode towards her bed. It would mean that she was back to her old self, and most importantly, she had forgiven her.

"No, you're not wearing that," Jacky shouted out as she studied her in the mirror. Jacky dragged her back in front of her cabinet, searching for a new dress.

"What's wrong with this one?" She looked at the dress that she was already wearing. It was elegant and respectable. This would do well since this was not a date. It was more of a business meeting where they were deciding on a contract, whether she would sign or not.

"You look like you're going to a funeral in that dress." Jacky criticized the vibe that she was conveying with that dress.

She started rummaging into her closet for what she thought would be the appropriate dress to wear for her date tonight. She picked up one dress after another until she pulled the last one at the very back. A black strapless dress. It was in between something sophisticated and a little bit slutty.

She did not even remember buying that dress. Because she never did, it was Jacky's gift on her last birthday. She had forgotten about it since she never needed it.

"I'm not wearing that tonight." She vehemently refused to even consider wearing it. Not that she had anything against sexy dresses, actually she loved them. It just that tonight was not the night for such a dress. She was not going out to seduce him.

"Don't you like my gift? I never saw you even wear it once before." Jacky acted hurt as if she was about to cry.

"Of course, I love them. I just feel like it is not appropriate for tonight." She tried to explain but the look on Jacky's face was enough to guilt her into submission. "Ok. Fine. Let me have it."

She knew Jacky was up to no good, but she could not do anything about it now. She was still trying to make up to her. If this was the only way to make it even with her, then she had no choice but to wear the slutty dress.

She quickly changed into the other black dress that Jacky chose and began to apply her makeup and fixed her hair. In a few more minutes, she was ready for judgment as Jacky scrutinized her final appearance.

"You look stunning. Alex will surely drool over you." Jacky commented as she fixed a hair that escaped the clip on her hair.

"I better get this over with. I'll see you tonight." She said to her friend as she placed her stilettos on her feet.

"I hope not. Go have some fun. Maybe spend the night over at his place." Jacky suggested as she moved out of her room.

Jacky felt like it was time that her friend tried again for a real relationship. She believed that there was something with the way Alex and her friend were interacting. She could sense the chemistry between them.

They might be acting like this was just a game that they were forced to play, but to Jacky, she could sense something was brewing just beneath the surface between them. And she would help them discover those feelings and develop them into something more.

At exactly six, a commotion by the door notified her that he just arrived. When she went out of her room, Jacky was already entertaining him in their living room.

"Hi, Dani." He greeted her upon seeing her walked into the room.

"Shall we go?" She asked him, not wanting him to stay longer than necessary in her home. "Bye, Jacky." She grabbed her bag with the contract inside it and walked straight to the door, without even waiting for him.

There was no point in pretending that they were a couple in front of Jacky since she already knew everything.

"Nice to see you again, Jacky." He also said goodbye to Jacky and followed her outside the door.

As soon as they stepped on the elevator, he quickly placed his hand on the back of her dress as if he was staking his claim on her. But they both knew that this was part of the act.

"Please watched where you place your hands." She warned him in a low voice. "I will not hesitate to bust your balls if you try anything nasty." Not wanting the other occupants to hear their conversation.

"I would never dream of offending you tonight." He assured her. "But allow me to compliment how beautiful you look tonight." He whispered just beneath her ears as his breath softly grazed the tiny hairs in her neck. Sending shivers down through her spine.

He ignored her threat and simply admired the woman that was in his arm. He would not mind if they were truly dating. But he had to control himself around her. He did not want to compromise her cooperation.

He badly needed the contract signed tonight, so he had to act on his best behavior. As far as he was concerned, she was the best option he could think of to play the part. She almost possessed what the palace was looking for, a princess that was worthy of his name.

Physically, she was attractive. Intellectually, there was no doubt that she was intelligent. Socially, she had proven that she could carry herself in public with much grace. In terms of her family's background, she was royalty in her own right, having a father who was declared king in the business society.

There was no doubt in his mind that she was the perfect bride for him.