The Royal Contract

"Is it true that she tried to leave you?" The man who just walked into his office said with a wicked smile and comfortably sat on the sofa located on the side of his office.

His visitor seemed to feel like he owned the place as he made himself comfortable without waiting for an invitation. He could only shake his head, unable to do anything about it.

He was now his partner in his fight against his mortal enemy. Sharing the same nemesis had bonded them together. He believed that with his help, he might finally get what he wanted from the start.

"No, where did you even hear that?" He denied it, not wanting him to find any weakness in his plans.

He just confirmed that his new friend had someone spying on him, and he seemed not to care if he found out. He wondered what game he was playing at, but he knew it was about power.

He had allied with him, believing that he would become an asset in his plans. Presently, he still could see potential in their partnership. He just had to be careful with his dealing with him.

"From the grapevine." He answered him vaguely, making sure that his new partner would know that he could never double-cross him in this business venture.

His title depended on the success of his plans. He could not lose the money he had invested in his company. At the same time, he shared the same passion for bringing Alex down.

"Edward, let us cut to the bullshit. You don't need to spy on me. I am not hiding anything from you. We are partners, and we are in this together." Nick could already guess that the prince was not buying his bullshit.

But for the sake of partnership, they were trying to be amicable with each other. After all, Nick and Edward were after the same thing. But Nick still felt that he had to thread wisely around him.

"In these times of troubles, we can never be too careful. Now that Alex had Ethan's company at his disposal, we are facing a bigger fish in the sea." Edward reminded his new ally.

Edward placed all his eggs in this basket. If it failed, then his chances of being crowned would go with it. He would make sure that Nick would not ruin everything with his arrogance and stupidity.

If the rumors were correct, that bitch was playing Nick in her hands while he was clueless about her plans. He had to look into this before all their ideas backfired on them.

"But I am already on top of it," Nick assured him. Edward had nothing to worry about, except if he tried to do something to jeopardize their situation.

In truth, he still was working on it. Cassie was still withholding the evidence from him. Although, she appeared to be back to her old self. She still would not reveal where she had hidden the files.

She was still twisting him underneath the palm of her hands, making him dance in her tune. He was giving her the benefit of the doubt for the long friendship they shared.

"Are you?" Edward questioned him with skepticism in his voice. He rubbed his stubbles with his fingers, looking at the man still sitting on his desk.

He learned that Nick was a ruthless man, but when it came to the woman named Cassie, he was a little softie. It would seem she was his Achilles heels.

"Would you like something to drink?" He quickly changed the subject, knowing that they would only be going in circles.

He could deal with his meddling with their partnership, but Edward had no business with his relationship. Cassie was a great partner, in bed and with his plans. He wanted to believe that was still the case.

If not, he would not hesitate to end her if he discovered that she had broken his trust. He might like her to indulge her whims from now and then, but he was the devil himself if he felt threatened.

But he could feel that his patience was slowly slipping. He would soon want every evidence she had, and if she still refused to give it to him soon. Then, there was nothing else he could do.

"Sure. I think you already know what I like." Edward flicked his fingers on his dark suit as if he was removing an invisible lint on the surface.

But he was only showing Nick, who was running this show. It was not only him but the two of them. He did not like being kept in the dark about matters that involved their plans.

He had been away for a few days, but now he was back. He wanted all the details of what happened while he was not around. But if he still refused to share it with him, he had his other ways.

"Our plans are still on the right track. We have acquired a few more shares of Alex's company." Nick started recounting the actions they had taken.

He knew that it was not what he wanted to hear, but he wanted to see how much his informant had already told him. He could not allow a snitch to roam around freely in his business.

"Alex's company is old news. He could lose it without even flinching because he now has the biggest company in the city." Edward did not like how Nick was withholding information from him, but he would let it slide for now.

"Yes, you are right about that. But it still has some sentimental value to Alex. We could still use it as a stepping stone to our plans." Nick was trying to convince Edward that it was the right move.

He was slightly aware that Edward was not of the same caliber as Alex when it came to intelligence in running a business. He was still a newbie who he could manipulate easily with the use of some of his tricks.

Edward would never know what hit him once he was through with him. Unlike Alex, who had always been a step ahead of him in his every move. But he would find his weaknesses and an opportunity to use them against him.

"Yeah, you are right. Alex has always been a sentimental fool." Edward finally had agreed with Nick. He recalled the way Alex's parents brought him up.

He also remembered how Alex was favored by the King and Queen, their grandparents, even if he was the rightful heir. He hated him so much for always thinking that he was better than him.

Alex should be bowing to him, kneeling and begging for his approval, and not the other way around. But the duke, with the help of the Council, made Alex believe he had a right to what was his.

"We can use that to our advantage. Besides, we had already set up a few traps for our common enemy. Once baited, we can go for the kill." Nick wanted to rile him up. Use his anger to his advantage.

The wicked glint in the prince's eyes told him that his plan was working. He knew he could use the prince and his resources to his advantage if he could play his cards right.

Edward was a cunning man in his territory, but he was playing on a different battlefield. In this part of the world, he owned him. He could destroy Edward if he made a wrong move against him.

He could not afford to lower his guard down when he already had the chess pieces in line with his goals. A few more moves, he would have the other prince at his mercy, defeated.

Checkmate.