The Royal Contract

He drove the two of them to the City Hall building, where they had an appointment in ten minutes. He could not help but fret whether they were doing this for the right reasons.

"Are you sure about this, Tyra?" He asked again for the hundredth time, sitting on the driver's side.

Although they had discussed their decision to push through with this plan thoroughly, he still had some doubts, not about his decision, but how she might feel about this.

He was afraid, after all this, she would eventually change her mind. Then, she would regret getting involved in this ridiculous charade.

"Yes, Troy, I am sure. Don't worry. I already thought this through." She assured him, seeing the hesitation in his eyes. She hoped to sound convincing because she did not want him to back out now. 

Last night, her father called, only to go on about finding her a more suitable husband despite her explanation that she was already engaged.

Having a fiance still would not stop her father from setting her up unless she was married. But then again, she was still doubtful if a piece of paper would be enough.

"I need to be sure because this is a big commitment. I don't want you to feel that I have pressured you in any way to do this."  He extended his hand and held her hands in his.

He had nothing to lose in this arrangement, but he felt that she might have. He did not want her to end up losing in the end when all he ever wanted was to help and save her from a sure disaster.

In the short time they had known each other, he realized that she was not hard to like. But entering another relationship after ending a long one was not yet in his priorities.

"No, I assure you that I am doing this with my free will and with a sound mind." She turned to him in her seat and stared into his eyes. "This is a business deal that would help both of us in the long run." She hoped to appear confident.

She believed she was gaining more from this deal than he was. She could not help but wonder why he had agreed to her plans in the first place.

Not that he needed the money that she offered. She recently learned that he was doing very well with his business. So, it could not be his reason for sacrificing his freedom and being tied to her in marriage.

A broken heart could be a great motivator to do stupid things. Tyra would know since she had been in his shoes before. Tyra wondered if that was his only justification.

"Then, I guess it is time to get this show on the road." He squeezed her hand in his, reassuring her that things would work out just fine.

If anything, she could count on him that his intentions were pure. He was not helping her out to take advantage of her vulnerability. 

On the other hand, he only wanted to protect her from her father and his plans. In truth, he had learned to care for her. She was not an ordinary acquaintance anymore but a friend that he would like to cherish.

"Ok." She inhaled deeply, nodding at him in acknowledgment. She waited for him until he opened her door and assisted her out of the car.

If they had met in another circumstance, maybe things between them might have been different. Tyra could see herself getting attracted to a man like him.

But, right now, it was the last thing that she wanted. She was only doing this to get her father off her back. At the moment, all she planned to do was work her way back to the top of her modeling career.

They walked into the building, up to the room of the one officiating their wedding. When the secretary saw him, she immediately showed them to the room.

"Uncle Ben, I hope we are not bothering your busy schedule." Troy greeted the man behind the desk. The judge, who was about to perform the ceremony, quickly stood to welcome them. 

The bald man was not his uncle by blood, nor did they have any family relations. But their relationship had been thicker than any blood relations.

He was the first man to help him through his darkest hours. He had guided him out of the shadows that had been his companion since he was young.

Other than Cassie, Ben was the only other person Troy loved, trusted, and respected. He always considered him as his family. If not for him, he might still be in the slums, scavenging for scraps.

"Of course not. For you, I will always make time." The man hugged Troy back, clapping him on the shoulders. "You must be the lucky woman who had snared my nephew's heart."

He also gathered Tyra in his arms, giving her a warm hug. He had heard a great deal about Tyra not only from Troy but also from the research he had done on her.

He could not help but be wary about Troy's association with her, seeing who her father was and her past association with his niece's fiance.

But he was hoping that this was mere coincidences and had nothing to do with fate playing tricks on them. The last thing he wanted for Troy was to be involved in a tight situation. 

"Yes, I believe so. But I am also hoping that I can bring some luck to his life." Tyra looked at Troy, wishing that her words would come true.

She agreed with what the sweet man said about Troy. She was lucky to have met a man like him. Aside from Alex, she believed that Troy also possessed good qualities that made him unique and special.

She only hoped she was not ruining his life by getting involved with her. If she could help it, she would try to help him achieve whatever he was aiming for while they were together. It was the least she could do, to repay for what he was trying to do for her.

"I beg to differ. I think I am the one who is lucky to have met a woman as kind and lovely as her." He moved closer to Tyra, putting his arms around her waist, appearing that they were a loving couple. 

Then, he looked into her eyes when she coincidentally looked up to see his face. In a way, they both knew that this was what they needed. They both silently agreed to proceed with their plans.

"Then, can we all agree that your presence here was not coerced or forced by the other?" Both automatically nodded in agreement with the judge's question.

Ben was still a bit doubtful about their decision to tie the knot. He gathered that they only met recently. He did not see the need to rush the matter unless there was some other reason for it.

He just hoped that they knew what they were doing. He could not help but think of his niece, who was also about to undergo the same process.

He could only speculate about what young couples thought of marriage these days.. But he had a clear idea why divorce increased at an alarming rate.