The Royal Contract

"It was nice meeting you, Dani." The prince bowed down to her and took her hand, placing a soft kiss as his sign of respect.

She also bowed to the prince as what their custom dictated. "It was also nice to meet you, Prince Edward." She said formally.

The prince eventually bowed to Alex and left them on the dance floor. But he knew that Edward was not through with them yet. He had seen Edward's interest in Dani, and he was not going to allow him to mess up with her.

He knew that Tyra was just another victim in Edward's plot against him. He did slightly blame himself for not protecting Tyra from Edward. It was the only reason why Alex was able to forgive Tyra after her betrayal. But he could not love her again.

This time, he would make sure that Edward would stay away from Dani. He would not allow history to repeat itself. Besides, Alex was responsible for Dani's safety and well-being while the contract was in place. He was not doing this because he had feelings for her, he reminded himself.

"Are you alright?" Dani asked Alex as they dance silently on the dance floor. Ever since Alex came back, he had not said anything to her at all.

She had sensed some form of animosity between Alex and Edward. But they had been too polite that it would seem as if it was only her imagination. But she was trained to read people. She might not be an expert yet, but she felt it in the way their body language communicated.

"Yeah, I am. I don't like celebrating my birthday." He did not. It was a stupid celebration that he could do not need. Everybody present here did not come to celebrate his birthday. All of his people had their personal motives for showing up in this festivity. 

He was not a fool like them. He was here to exploit them and not the other way around. He had no interest in the crown nor this kingdom. The only thing he wanted was their wealth. He needed them to invest in his company so that he could finally get what he wanted.

Alex strived to be one of the best in the business. Be the king on the other side of the world. He desired what Ethan Hamilton had, recognition in the business world due to his accomplishment. And not because he was entitled to the throne.

"Well, me too." She could sympathize with him. She also never like this kind of celebration. The best birthday she ever had lately was the one that Jacky threw for her. It was just the two of them in her small living room with a small piece of cake.

"At least we have that in common." He pointed out as he tried to focus on her this time. He already had neglected her earlier. It was time to show everyone that she was the one he was going to marry. 

"I guess we have a few things that we could relate to." She admitted as she looked at him closely. She could not read what he was thinking, but she could feel the tension in his body.

"Are you ready to act as my fiancé?" He made sure to give her a warning.

"Of course, it is the reason why I am here." She had not forgotten why she was here in the first place.

"Then, it is time that we showed them that we are indeed a couple." He saw Edward was still looking at them from afar. On the other side, Tyra was with her friends. But he was sure that she was also observing him and Dani under her radar.

He was entirely sure that everyone was studying them under a microscope. That would include their parents who were conversing in a group. Although an unlikely match, still an intriguing union to watch out for in the future.

He knew that most of the people who expressed a wish to invest in his company tonight had learned about his possible association with the legendary businessman, the father of his bride, Mr. Ethan Hamilton. He had no problem with that. He would use that to his advantage if he could.

"What do you mean?" She was not able to say anything else as he pulled her closer to him.

The sudden impact of their bodies was too much to her senses. Although Alex did gave her a warning, she was not expecting that. She was not ready with the way her body reacted to the feel of his chest against hers.

Then when he lowered his face to hers, all she could do was stare at his eyes as she got lost in them, drowning in the depth of his desire. It was written all over his eyes, the way he wanted her. She had seen it before, and she knew she would never forget that look.

It reflected exactly the way she felt, too, as their eyes locked before she eventually closed hers. The lips that touched hers were gentle at first. She knew her feet would not be able to support her weight anymore as her hands clung to him for dear life.

Luckily, his arms were strong enough to support her weight in his embrace. If not for him, she would have fallen to the floor with the way her body had betrayed her.

He, too, was not expecting the way she would react to him. He also did not intend to kiss her passionately in the middle of the dance floor. He just wanted to show them that they were a couple, but when he saw how her eyes dilated. He knew she wanted this as much as he did.

He got carried away when his lips claimed hers. The softness of it was enough for him to want more. When Dani slightly moaned under his arms, he knew he could not stop himself. He was taking what he always wanted from the very start.

But then again, he gradually withdrew himself away from her. He knew that it was not real. He had to stop before he lost all control. But the realization came like a cold bucket of ice.