The Royal Contract

She looked out of her window, enjoying the view outside. The clouds were barely visible in some areas. While on the other side, a thicker portion was spreading on the horizon. She observed that they were steadily gliding on the vast ocean underneath them. 

It was such magnificent scenery, so peaceful and calm. However, like everything else in this world, nothing stayed the same. At any moment in time, things could change. What was once quiet could suddenly become chaotic. 

But what she did not realize was where her gaze had travel eventually. She just noticed that Alex was smirking at her. She then discovered that she had been staring at his chest for some time. She might appear to be looking at him, but her mind was somewhere else.

"Enjoying the view." He smiled at her, but when she gave him an irritated smile, he knew he made a mistake. 

He should stop antagonizing Dani, especially when it was he who was asking for her help. If they were to pull this off, he would need her full cooperation. That meant he had to be on his best behavior too.

"I know, it's not funny. Sorry. I'm just trying to lighten up the mood." He looked at her apologetically, not wanting to see a scowl on her beautiful face.

He suddenly found himself unable to look away. He had always known that physically, he was attracted to Dani. Such attraction had not been an issue with him before with other women. He could easily control it with his strong will. 

But with her, he always had to work harder to control himself around her. Something about her was pulling him towards her. She had always intrigued him as no other girl had done before. Even if he wanted not to think about her, she managed to creep into his consciousness.

"Maybe just stop being so annoying." She knew there was no point in starting an argument with him over something so trivial.

To be caught staring, even if she was not aware that she was, was quite embarrassing. Now that her mind registered Alex's presence, she could not help but steal a few looks at him when he was not looking.

"Deal." He nodded at her, acknowledging her request. "I hope that you already prepared yourself for what was about to happen when we land." He told her as they neared their destination, changing the subject to divert his mind to something else.

He suddenly doubted if he made the correct decision of choosing her. Last night, it took all his control not to kiss her in her apartment. He knew he could handle having a physical relationship with her without getting emotionally involved, but he doubted if she could.

He was not prepared to make any commitment to any woman until he had reached his goal. And he was not about to use her as a pastime while they were playing the acting game. He liked her, but he could not love her.

"You should have been more forthright about your identity. Instead of pretending to be someone else." She admonished him. 

She always thought that he was just another businessman who struck some luck to land in the big league. Learning about him being a prince was quite a surprise. She would not expect it in a million years.

"Will it matter if you knew beforehand that I was a prince? Will it change your mind about agreeing to my proposal?" He did not think so. He believed that she would still accept his offer because she needed what he was giving in exchange.

He felt somewhat sorry that he was exploiting her, using her weakness against her to get what he wanted. However, he was a desperate man who believed that she was the only person that would be perfect for the position.

"No." She answered him honestly. She believed that she would still have accepted it despite knowing who he was. "But it would have been better if I had known before I agreed to this." 

"Noted." He understood her point of view. "Can we start again? This time, I promise that there will be no more secrets. I will be open to anything that involves our agreement." He swore by using his entwined hands, placing them on his chest just above his heart.

"Ok. I will also do the same." She smiled at his childish way. She figured that there was no use in making it harder for both of them. It would only worsen their situation if they kept fighting like cats and dogs.

"If it is alright with you, maybe we could start by considering each other as friends. In that way, we can be more comfortable around each other." Alex offered his suggestion. 

"Maybe we can do that." She agreed. 

Putting him in the friend zone should help her situation, she thought. She could not keep looking at him as if he was someone available to her. She knew Alex was attracted to her. She was naive, but she also knew that he was not looking for anything serious in a relationship, as stated in his contract.

"One more thing, don't fall in love with me, and I will do the same." He had to say it. 

He had to be clear about that. He did not want any misunderstanding of what was about to happen in the six months they would be pretending. Because that was all it was, an act.

"Of course, I assure you that it will never happen." She could mark it in stone and put a stamp on it. She swore never to do that.

Getting involved with Alex in anything sexual could only lead to an emotional attachment too. She was not ready for that. She knew if that happened, she would be the one on the losing end. She could not fall in love with him and end up rejected again. She would never allow that to happen. 

"Then, we have an agreement, Dani." He offered his hand so they could shake on it. "Truce?"

"Truce." They finally agreed that they should make their lives easier by working together to get what they both wanted.