The Royal Contract

"So, you must be the man that my daughter had married." A man spoke behind him unexpectedly.

He had been eyeing the man since he walked in with his daughter. Assessing his worth to be good enough to be part of his family.

He had him investigated. A man who came from nothing and built himself up to success. An admirable quality for someone like him. But, it did not mean he had what it took to make it in this business. He was still a man with a lot to prove.

"Good evening, Sir." He turned around and recognized the man. "Yes, I am the lucky man. Troy Collins." Stretching his hand to the other man.

Tyra warned him that her father would find a way to corner him alone. Just like predicted, when Tyra left his side to attend to something, he found himself confronted by his father-in-law.

He had been waiting for the opportunity to meet him, but with all the wedding fuss and the numerous guests, it had been hard to catch his attention and get him alone.

"I have been waiting for my daughter to introduce you to me." John did not bother to take his hand as he eyed him from head to toe. "Let me correct that. I had been waiting for the two of you to visit since I heard the news of your marriage."

He was surprised to watch the news about the unexpected marriage of his daughter to an unknown entity in their social circle. 

He was not expecting that since he had been working on a plan to marry her to Zanders. The man he introduced to her during one of the parties they had attended.

"The marriage had been incidental. We did not have time to invite anyone. Then, things have been a bit hectic since I recently opened a new business." Troy tried to make his justification, but he did not lie. He just did not tell the whole truth.

He was well aware that his wife had deliberately avoided visiting her father or tried to set up an appointment for them to meet. He could not blame her since their marriage was anything but the real deal.

On the other hand, he had been waiting for this moment. He could already sense that his father-in-law did not like the idea of him as his son-in-law. After all, he did not come from old money like him, just like most guests at this party.

"I am sure that a man of your stature could spare some time for family," John replied with a bit of sarcasm. 

He did not like that this man before him did not see his importance to give him the courtesy of a visit. But he would make sure that he knew his place in this family.

Like it or not, until he could convince his daughter to divorce this man, he had no choice but to know him more. He did not like the idea of him as his son-in-law, but maybe he could use him in the meantime. 

"Maybe we can start over again. Will you mind if I set up an appointment with your secretary? So, I could make up for my shortcoming?" Troy offered as a compromise.

He was not afraid to face a man like him. He had encountered worse. But he was curious to get to know the man who had raised his wife.

Based on his understanding, he was an arrogant and self-centered man. Quite different from the woman he had the chance to get to know.

"Well, that seems to be a good idea. I certainly will like to know you more since you are now married to my daughter." John stated as he continued to eye him with suspicion.

He realized that Troy was not an easy man to intimidate. His plan to scare or threaten him to leave his daughter would not probably work as he initially thought.

Paying him would not work either since, at the moment, his net worth was exponentially higher than his. He could certainly use his money, but to accept him in his circle as the husband of his daughter was something else.

"Then, I am looking forward to seeing you again," Troy concluded, seeing that his wife looked in his direction and was about to join them.

He did not have to inform her of his plan. Tyra was very adamant about avoiding her father as much as possible, but he did not have to follow her.

When he agreed to help her, that included protecting her from those who would take advantage of her. Even from her father, if that would come to that point.

"Tyra, my darling." John greeted his daughter once she came to view. He was glad that he had this talk with her husband before she entered the conversation.

He did not want her to know his plans until he had carefully assessed the situation. He still believed that his daughter was better off with someone in their level and not someone who was only using his daughter to enter their world.

He believed if it was not for his daughter, he would never have set foot in such a prestigious event like this. Because social gatherings like this did not invite just anyone, not even if this man had money.

"Hi, Dad. I believe you have met my husband, Troy." Tyra could already see the careful scrutiny of her father. As if he was trying to catch her lie.

She had loved her father since she could remember. Never lied to him before because she was never good at it. He would always read it on her face when she hid something from him.

Now, she wondered if he could decipher her secrets as he stared into her eyes. She hoped not because it would beat all the purpose of Troy's sacrifice to marry her.

"Yes, quite an interesting fellow," John said to her, letting Troy hear his description of him. "Intelligent and charming."

He would break this marriage if it was the last thing he did while still alive. He could not give his blessings to this man. He believed this man was only using his daughter.

He would dig in his past to look for his weakness and use it against him. Someone who worked in such a lowly, trashy, and cheap business would definitely have many. 

He might even have several enemies in his line of work. If he had some terrible skeleton in his closet, he would find it. He would not stop until he had enough dirt to drive him away.

"He is a good man, Dad. I am happy that I married him." She defended Troy from what his father was implying.

She could already guess what her father thought of her husband. She would know that look and tone. She had encountered it too many times every time she would introduce a suitor or a boyfriend to him when she was young.

Even Alex was not good enough for him when he learned that Edward was interested in her. Everyone to him was not good enough for his daughter unless he said so.

"I assure you that I only want the best for your daughter. I have no motive to hurt her or use her." Troy told the old, arrogant man.

He would not allow this man to manipulate his daughter again to do his bidding, not if he could help it.. He would not give John the chance to ruin him because of his ulterior motives to get rid of him.