The Royal Contract

"Mom, I'm sorry, but something happened with the communications while we were on the island. They were not able to fix it immediately." She answered her mother as she scoured through her files on the table.

She had been explaining to her mother the reason why she was not able to return their calls. She only learned that she was looking for her when they had landed on the tarmac since she forgot to charge her phone.

She only realized it when Marcus called Alex and informed them of the situation. But it was too late to call her parents, considering that they might be already sleeping at that hour.

"But you should..." Laura was about to make another argument, but she immediately cut her off.

"Mom, there was nothing I could do." She said exasperatedly. "Just tell Dad..." She tried to think of a compromise. "I will just visit him this weekend."

She did feel guilty that she did not make time for her father, who was still recovering from his illness. In her defense, she had been overwhelmed by her work.

Alex did not mean to fly her off on an island without communications. He only was thinking of helping her relieve her pent-up stress.

"The weekend? Can you at least make it in a couple of days?" Her mother used a pleading tone to send her message across. "Your father is turning to an ogre every passing day that passes by without seeing you and Alex."

"But, Mom. I am now at work and swamped with files. I can't just pack up and leave." She blurted out, frustrated with her situation. "I'll in the middle of the week." Settling with her mother.

She could hear the desperation in her mother's voice. It was something she could not ignore. She had been through a lot. If she could do something to help, she would do it.

"Thank you, my princess. I think that will be a great help." Laura conceded, knowing Dani already was on edge.

She knew that when Dani started using that tone, she had already made up her mind. There was nothing she could do to change it. She could not blame her daughter when she was in between her job, her wedding, and everything in between.

She could not add up to her worries. But she could not also ignore Ethan's plea to see his daughter and her fiance. It was the least she could do to help him speed up his recovery.

"How is your, Dad?" Jacky asked when Dani finally ended the call, seeing the stress lines on her expression.

"Fine, but demanding as usual," Dani responded with a sigh. "Do you need anything?" She asked, finding Jacky's presence in her disconcerting. 

Jacky appeared to be acting a bit strange as she stood in front of her desk with an unreadable expression. "Spill it," Dani said, impatient with what was bothering her friend.

"I miss you," Jacky uttered with a forced smile. "I barely see you anymore. Soon, you will probably move in permanently with Alex." She paused, looking down at her hands, unsure of what she wanted to say.

She could still remember her worry when she was not able to contact her friend. Not knowing where she was and the possibility that she might lose her was a wake-up call.

It was like a sign that Dani would eventually leave her, especially now that she would officially marry Alex. It was inevitable, and she was learning to accept it.

"I miss you too, Jacky." She understood what her friend was trying to say. "I'm sorry if I have been neglecting you."

Although they worked together every day, it was different when they bonded together at home or out on a gimmick. She had been barely home lately as she frequently stayed at Alex's place.

"That is ok. I understand your situation. I think I am just being sentimental." Jacky finally sat on the chair across from her. "Do you think we can go out?"

She just needed a friend because lately, she was feeling down. She could not explain why. Maybe it was because Lance left and Dani had barely had time for her. 

She wondered if she was lonely. Then, the thought of Marcus came again through her mind, nagging on her subconsciousness. She did not want to make a big deal of the truce they had on the weekend.

"Sure. I will very much like that." She had thought about that for a while, but her busy schedule usually forced her to postpone her plans. But this time, she would make sure to prioritize her friend for a change.

She could sense that her friend was going through another dilemma, but she could not force her to tell her until she was ready. But she was hoping she was wrong, that Jacky only wanted to party.

"That is great," Jacky shouted with excitement, with a smile that reached her eyes. "Thanks for being such a good friend. I will leave you now to your work."

She stood and strode out of the room, happy that she would be spending some time again with her best friend. She needed her company in times like this.

Dani hardly returned to her papers when Jacky peeked again in her room. "I'm sorry, but I came to your office to tell you that Gerald wanted you to report to him when you are available."

She smacked her forehead to indicate that she forgot to tell her the reason why she even entered her room in the first place. She gave her a crooked smile, silently apologizing for her mishap.

"Hey, Jacky. Can you call him back? Tell him that I will be there in an hour." Checking on her schedule once again. "Show my next appointment in as soon as he arrives."

She still had one appointment that morning before she could be free to handle her work with Gerald. She could not ignore her other responsibilities to the company and her pro bono just for one case.

Even though it was a priority case that the partners cleared her to work on, she still would like to balance her time with her other obligations.

"Sure. I will." Jacky acknowledged her direction. She quickly returned to her seat and busied herself with her work. 

Dani was once again on her own in her office, thinking of her busy schedule. She noted on her calendar to squeeze in a time to visit her father on the weekend and checked when she could finally go out with Jacky for their date.

She was glad that she was able to unwind a bit on their getaway. Although physically, she did not get much rest with Alex around, her mind did at least have some time to relax and enjoy.

Now, she needed to get back on the saddle and work her ass out, but it would mean more late nights. She suddenly remembered the last time she was in her office.

But she quickly shoved the thought away. It was an isolated situation where she let her imagination take over her reason. She had to focus her attention again on her case so that she could give it her hundred percent. 

She was once again back to the grind.