The Royal Contract

"I think the deal will surely push through. With a little more incentive and persuasion, Mr. Enriquez will certainly sell his shares to you in no time." David announced to the group.

"He is a fool if he thinks he can get a better deal from someone else. Alex already gave more than what his shares cost in that company." Marcus also pointed out.

"Why are you so adamant in buying shares in this company, anyway?" Evan questioned his true intention.

"It is a good investment. You might not see it now, but eventually, it will pay off. Just make sure that no one will be able to trace that I am the one buying the shares." He instructed all that was present in the meeting.

"I guess that concludes the meeting. Thank you, gentlemen, for your time." David dismissed the rest of the people involved in the meeting, leaving just him, Evan, Marcus, and Alex in the conference room.

"Is everything set for your birthday, or is it your summary execution." Evan teased Alex.

"But honestly, are you sure that Dani is the right person to act as your wife?" Marcus still had his doubts, but what could they do now? Even if Alex agreed with Marcus, they already had no time to change their plans.

"Why did you choose her anyway? Besides the fact that she is gorgeous, intelligent, rich, you still barely know her. On the other hand, thinking about it, she is indeed a good choice." Evan suddenly retracted his question after realizing the many good attributes Dani possessed.

"She is all that, but she is also something else. She hates men. I was sure that she would immediately shut down Alex's proposal. Fortunately, Alex here was able to use his charm and persuade her to agree." Marcus revealed what he had learned from Jacky.

"Come on. Dani could not be a man-hater. You are judging her unnecessarily. I am sure that Alex had a good reason why he chose her. Am I right?" David looked at his friend, who was silently listening to them.

"I do. Dani doesn't hate men, but just like me, she does not like commitment. Something that we both have in common. Evan was also right. She has all the qualifications I need as the perfect fiance, the reason why I chose her." He said to his friends. 

"And another thing, she is unquestionably not boring to be around." He was sure that the six months that they had to pretend as fiance would be full of exciting challenges. He was looking forward to dealing with it, with Dani at his side.

"Have you tried kissing her?" Evan was usually the most mischievous one in the group. "As your fiance, people will be expecting it from time to time."

He just smiled at his friend's question. "I better go. Dani already texted that she is ready to leave." He was not the type of man that kiss and tell.

Although, he did wonder what would happen if that circumstance were ever to occur. How would they both deal with it? He did want to kiss her again. He could feel that she was also attracted to him. But was it wise to act on that attraction? He guessed he knew the answer to that. Better to keep the deal as it is. Just another business transaction.

He stood up from his chair, ready to leave. "I'll see you all at my birthday."

Of course, all of his friends were coming. They did not want to miss the unveiling of the future princess. Although, they did wonder if this arrangement would last for six months. And if it did, what would happen to the couple? 

"What if we make this more interesting?" Evan announced to the group before Alex could leave the room.

"What do you have in mind?" Marcus asked, curious about what Evan had in mind.

"Let's make a bet. In this way, Alex will be more motivated to accomplish his goal." Evan suggested to the group. "I bet that Alex and Dani will have an affair, which will be disastrous. They will end up breaking up before the six months is over." 

That would surely stop him from pursuing any romantic notion or more of physical intimacy with Dani. Alex mused on Evan's words.

"I bet that Alex will develop some deeper feelings for Dani, and he will end up marrying her for real?" David, who had always been the logical thinker in the group, joined in.

It was unlikely to happen, Alex thought as he listened to his friend play a game with his arrangement.

"Wait, you already took the good bets," Marcus complained while he thought of another scenario. "I guess I will go for Alex and Dani, ending up getting married against their will."

Another very doubtful possibility, he concluded in his mind. "Ok. I accept your bets." Alex believed that this bet would surely set him on the right path. "What about a million?" He dared his friends, spicing up this friendly game.

"I'll draw the contract," David said as everyone started accepting the challenge.

He left his friends and made his way to Dani's office, believing that he could easily win the bet.

"Are you ready to go?" He found Dani, still emerged in the papers in front of her.

"Just give me a second." She signed the paper, closed the folder, and placed it on top of the file. 

"Ready." She took her things and left everything else for Jacky to finish once she was gone. "Jacky, there are some files on my desk. Make sure to send it before you leave." She instructed before she allowed Alex to guide her down the hall to the elevator.

They walked silently in the lobby, with a few people looking their way. Some probably curious why they were together, with his hand on her waist, possessively.

Although she knew that it was just for show, she could not stop thinking of what it was doing in her body. She had to learn to deal with this situation if she was to last for six months.

It was just an arrangement. Dani just had to keep that in mind.