The Royal Contract

"Wow, what happened here?" Jacky exclaimed when she walked into her office, finding all the flowers around her room.

Jacky immediately took the card that she left on the side of the table and read it. "At least he knows how to be romantic," Jacky mumbled under her breath as she smelled the rose on her table.

"That was just for show. Don't give too much meaning to it." She informed Jacky, not wanting her to misinterpret their situation. 

Nothing about this was real. Jacky should remember that, and so should she. She returned her attention to the files in front of her. However, her eyes kept seeing the flowers around her. Her nostrils were bothered by the aroma coming from them.

"Just help me clear them out of my room. I can't concentrate with those crowding my space." She instructed Jacky, who happily took the flowers, one by one, out of her office and placed them in her workstation. Leaving just two on the side as decoration and the rose on her table.

This place was her office and not a flower shop. She still had work to be done, and she had no time to indulge herself with such romantic notions. Besides, this was not even real, so pretending that she liked it even when there was no one around was a useless effort.

"Did Evan call to confirm the meeting later?" She looked at Jacky as she fixed the flowers on the corner.  She had to wait for her answer since Jacky was taking her time in appreciating the flowers in her hands.

"Not yet. Do you want me to follow it up?" Jacky turned around to face her. Finally, making shows that she had her full attention. 

"Yes, please." She was about to go back to work when she noticed that Jacky was still standing in front of her. "What else do you want?"

"Marcus invited me to Alex's birthday as his date. I was wondering if that is ok with you if I attend." She was going to ask her this morning, but she was in such a hurry, she did not get the chance.

She wanted to go. She had never traveled outside of the state, so it would be nice to see other places. Besides, she liked Marcus' company. He was fun to be around. 

Now, she was taking the opportunity to ask her while she was still in a bit of a good mood.

"Of course, you can. I was planning to ask you to accompany me on this trip. I just got caught up with other stuff and didn't get the chance to tell you yet." She told her friend. Besides being her assistant, she was still her best friend. "But I'm glad that Marcus is taking you with him as his date."

"Wait, are you and Marcus getting serious?" She suddenly realized that they had been going out a lot. Now, she was planning a trip with him. 

It would be the first time she had seen her this attached to a man, which was quite unusual for her. She did not date any man more than a few months. Her reason, she only wanted to have fun but did not like the commitment.

"Of course not. I'm just making the most of this relationship. We are on the same page on this. We are content with our agreement, and I have no plan to complicate it with some unnecessary emotional attachment." Jacky explained their arrangement.

"Casual sex." She voiced out. "I just hope that you don't regret what you are doing and end up falling for Marcus." 

"I'm sorry. I'm not like you. It is you who should be careful not to fall with this prince charming of yours." Jacky jokingly said.

"I'm not. But, I'm happy that you are coming with us. I will be more comfortable with you there with me." She smiled at her friend. "I'm sure we will have a great time."

Mostly, Jacky would make sure that they would have a great time. Ever since she started practicing her profession, she felt that she had changed. In some way, she had turned more serious in dealing with life. Her partying ways and being the light of the party were long gone. 

"Thank you, Dani," Jacky said excitedly. "Oh, we have to go shopping. What about later?" Jacky asked her as she stood from her chair and looked at her expectantly.

She knew Jacky was waiting for her answer, but she still had so many things waiting for her attention. But Jacky was right. She also needed to buy new things. She could not appear on his birthday, not prepared. 

All of a sudden, remembering that Tyra was also attending the party. She was not comparing herself to the supermodel. She just wanted not to look anything less than elegant and sophisticated as Alex's fiance. She tried to remind herself. 

"Ok. Fine." She made her decision. "We'll go shopping later after work." 

"I better let you get back to your work." Jacky immediately walked out of her office with a beaming smile. Finally, she thought, returning to her work. 

She just needed to make sure that she was not neglecting any client if she was busy this weekend. Then later, she also had to notify Evan about her weekend plan. Just in case an emergency happened.

She was halfway through the files on her table when Jacky knocked on her door. She wondered what she needed this time. She already told her that she did not want to be disturbed. Evan already canceled the meeting. She had no scheduled appointments left.

She just wanted to concentrate on her papers and finish some of them before the day was over. So, she could handle the other matters on her plate without any distractions. 

"Excuse me, Dani. But there is a problem." Jacky looked like she was afraid to tell her what was going on.

"What is it?" She had no time for Jacky's games. Not today. She took a deep breath and stared at Jacky, who was still standing by the door.

"Your father is on his way here." The front desk just informed Jacky that a visitor was on his way to their office. When she learned who it was, she rushed to Dani's room to notify her. "Should I let him in?"

She looked at the ceiling as she felt a headache coming. It was the first time that her father went out of his way to visit her at her job. It was usually the other way around. He was the one demanding that she came to his office when he needed something from her.

For the almighty Ethan Hamilton to come all this way and come down from his throne, to see her, meant that he had some serious business that he wished to discuss. Because if it were something personal, then he would demand that she come home.

"Just let him in." She knew she had no choice. Jacky was no match to her father.

"Thanks, Dani." Jacky had yet to meet Dani's father. 

She only read some articles about the legendary man. So, despite her strong character, she was still slightly intimidated by him. Besides, he was still Dani's father, so she needed to give him respect.

"Thanks, Jacky." She believed that she was the one who should be thanking her. She had put up with her and her problems, and now, even with her family.

She stopped working and decided to look at the view outside her office. It was a nice upgrade from her previous job. The scenery outside her huge windows was beautiful and calming somehow. She contemplated the reason why her father was here. She had not talked to him ever since the party.

"Dani, your dad is here," Jacky informed her, letting her father enter the office. Jacky immediately closed the door as she left them.

"Hi, Dad. What a pleasant surprise?" She greeted him, standing up from her chair to give him a kiss and a hug. "What brought you here?" 

"Hi, my Princess." Her dad said as he took the chair opposite her desk. "Can't I just visit my daughter and see first hand what she does for a living?" 

He looked at her office with a blank expression, studying every nook and corner of the room. He neither approved nor rejected her working space. He guessed it was good enough considering her position. But she could have more if she would only accept her place in his company.

However, that was not the purpose of his visit. He came here for a reason. He needed his daughter's willing cooperation.