The Royal Contract

"Does it hurt?" He asked as he took an ice pack from the freezer to apply to the already darkened bruises. He could tell that Nick had forced himself at her and gripped her tightly on her arms.

He swore he would have killed the man if the security had not stopped him. He never felt this kind of rage before, not even when he discovered that Tyra had betrayed him for his cousin.

He could not fathom what he would do if any harm befell Dani because he failed to protect her. He knew that Dani had become his life, and he would not know how to survive without her.

"Not much. Don't worry. It is nothing I can't handle." Dani assured him, already guessing what was going through his mind.

She could see the mixed anger and confusion that ran in his mind as his eyes mirrored what he was feeling. Alex was a man who was always in control. He never allowed his emotions to get the best of him.

But today, she saw how he lost it all just because he wanted to protect her. She feared that he might eventually do something stupid because of how he felt about her.

"Why did you go there in the first place?" He placed the bag on the affected area and then shifted his eyes back at her face.

He was still wondering what possessed her to barge into Nick's office on her own. It was a foolish thing to do, especially when she put herself in harm's way.

"I have to see Cassie and talk to her. He was the only one who knows where she is." She explained to him. "I thought I could convince him to tell me. I was proven wrong." 

She did regret her decision to see Nick. She should have known better to think that he had a tiny shred of good in him. He was a man without a conscience and could never be trusted.

"I told you to leave the part of looking for Cassie to me. I will handle it. Please, stop putting yourself in danger. Don't ever go near Nick again." He commanded in a firm voice.

He did not mean to sound like he was dictating what she could and could not do, but he only wanted her safe. He was only thinking of what would be best for her.

He moved closer to her until he was only inches away from her. He took the ice bag away from her arms and placed her in his embrace. He would protect her no matter what.

"Wait a minute." She did not like the way it seemed like he was ordering her around. "I'm not your damsel in distress that you have to keep on saving. I am capable of doing that for myself."

She suddenly looked at Alex the way she had looked at her dad. She realized that he sounded like Ethan, always telling treating her like she was a child, a delicate piece of object that needed protecting.

She had run away from him because she had enough of his control, but it would seem that Alex was doing the same thing. She could not handle if he, too, would start taking charge of her life.

"I did not want to sound like I am controlling your life. I am sorry." He could see that she did not appreciate what he said. Her face frowning indicated that she was not happy with their situation.

It was never his intention, but the incident earlier warrants for him to intervene with the scene. He could not stand idly by while that scumbag ex-fiance assaulted his girl.

"How did you even know that I went to Nick's office?" She questioned him. Then, a lightbulb suddenly lit and enlightened her confusion. "Of course, all your men are loyal to you."

She finally figured that despite Ben promising not to tell, he still reported what she did. She suddenly felt like she was that young girl who kept fighting for her independence.

"Don't blame Ben. He was only doing his job. Besides, he was concerned that you might be in danger." He tried to defend the man responsible for guarding her with his life.

"Ok, then I blame you." She said in irritation. "You can't keep tracking my activities. I am more than able to defend myself." 

Although she knew that his intention had always been noble, she still could not help but be annoyed with the way he was acting. She never liked this part of him that always wanted to protect her.

Sometimes she felt he was becoming overbearing. Since he always seemed to be overdoing it. He acted as if she was in constant danger when she had lived all her life in this city without fearing for her life.

"What about earlier when Nick had his hands on you?" He could not keep his anger contained anymore, just thinking about it. He was not mad at her, but he was furious with how she put her life in a difficult situation.

"I was handling it just fine. I already put Nick in his place. If you must know, I was already on my way out when you came." She proudly told him. She did not like that he was not taking her seriously.

As far as she was concerned, she could have handled the situation on her own. She was able to defend herself against Nick. She did sustain some bruises, but it did not mean that Nick was able to overpower her.

"Oh! Really?" Alex understood what she was trying to say. "But look at what he did. What if you failed to stop his assault? We can't be too careful." But he needed her to see his point of view too.

He was sure that this was not the last they would encounter Nick or similar situations that might cause her harm. He had to have a guarantee that Nick would never be able to touch her again.

"You will never be able to protect me all the time." She stated frustratedly. "You can't keep dropping everything to run to my rescue." She guessed that he left his obligations again for her.

She could not live in fear, hiding behind him or his men to protect her. She learned to defend herself, exactly, for this reason. She had become to become stronger to survive on her own.

"You can't ask me not to think about your safety. I promise your dad that you are now my responsibility." He reasoned with her as he held her hands in his. He wanted her to listen to him.

"I think I should be getting back to my office," Dani muttered while making a sigh.

She slowly pulled her hands from his, stood on the couch, and grabbed her bag. She did not want to argue with Alex anymore. She felt it was necessary to put some space between them in the meantime.

"I think you should stay and rest. I will call Jacky and tell her to cancel the rest of your appointments." He offered, thinking that she was taking this incident too lightly.

"I can't stay here. I am hardly hurt since you made sure of that. Remember." She somehow sounded sarcastic, but she could not help it. "I still have a lot of work to do."

She walked out of his apartment despite his appeal for her to stay. It felt like she needed to stand her ground.. He had to understand that she was a very independent woman.