The Royal Contract

She looked at her sleeping friend before looking at the driver, who looked at her questioningly, probably wondering what the plan was. How could she tell him when she also had no idea?

“I am working on it,” Evan responded with slight irritation. “I need you to be patient.” As he added, calmer this time.

Then, he was silent for a few seconds as if he was thinking, but she could hear the background of the hospital. She also noticed someone else with him, but it was too far. It was not clear.

But could he blame her for wondering if he would ever call after what he did earlier? She knew he was only helping her because his grandmother forced his hand. But she was taking advantage of it.

She would do everything she could to help her friend even if she had to act civilized with this man. Still, she would watch herself around him. She still could not trust a man like him.

“Fine. Should I wait for another hour?” Amelia answered sarcastically, but she could not help it. He was making her blood boil, just hearing his voice.

.....

“Stop it, or I will hang up this phone and never talk to you again.” The man threatened, then she heard him talking to someone else again. His voice was faint. He must be covering the mouthpiece. She could not understand what they were discussing even if she strained her ears on the receiver.

She sat in the backseat and waited till he returned to the line. Then, she heard the noises on the phone. Then, he was back talking to her again.

“Here is what you are going to do.” He started explaining on the line the first step. Then, somebody beside him interrupted. It was a female voice that sounded familiar.

She might know who was helping him in creating this diversion.

She appreciated it, but they had to act fast because she believed a reporter had already spotted their car and was getting curious.

After giving his instructions, Evan ended the call.

“Start the car, move the car to the next block and park it on the side,” Amelia asked her driver.

Immediately, the driver followed her, speeding away just in time before the reporter could reach their location and determine the car’s occupants. That was close, she thought.

She looked around her, gazing at the back window, checking if anybody followed. Fortunately, it seemed that they were in the clear as they moved on to the street sign where there were not many people around.

“Now what?” She mumbled as she waited for him to call again, staring at her phone, inspecting if she missed any calls or messages. But nothing.

She recalled her conversation with him, checking if she had the instructions correctly, but, so far, she believed it was correct.

Then, her heart suddenly skipped a beat when a knock came through her window. A man wearing a white coat and a mask stood outside. She wondered what he wanted, not expecting anyone to come knocking on her door.

She looked around, but no one else was with him. She partially opened the window, just an inch, just enough so she could talk to the man.

She would never open her door to a stranger. That was dangerous. That was a recipe for disaster.

“What do you want?” Slightly afraid to talk to the man wearing a mask.

“Ms. Amelia, do you want me to deal with him?” His driver finally asked, noticing her agitation. Her driver was about to exit the car when she stopped him.

“No need.” She responded to the man in the wheel when the man outside her window finally removed his mask, revealing himself.

“It is me.” He said, sporting a bright smile on his face, highlighted by the light coming from the lamp post on the side.

He tapped on her window again, indicating that she should lower it down some more.

“What are you doing?” She asked, suddenly wary that he was wearing a doctor’s uniform.

What game was he doing? She narrowed her eyes at him, suspicious of his actions. But from the short time she had known him, she could not discount a stunt like this.

“You said to help you. Here I am trying to do just that.” Evan answered him like it was the most logical answer. “Why don’t you open the door and let me in so we can talk?”

“How? And why are you dressing up like you are a doctor?” Amelia again was baffled by this man’s actions.

She finally opened her car door to allow him entry to the car since many people were starting to stare at them. She did not like the unnecessary attention.

“Because it is part of my props.” He said as he entered the car to explain to her what else would happen. “You see. An ambulance is waiting for us in that corner.” Pointing to the other direction.

She strained her neck, but something was blocking her sight. So, she would have to take this man’s word for it.

“Then, I will take your friend here.” Evan finally looked beyond her to check on her friend, who still slept peacefully at her side. “And ride the ambulance together until we are inside the hospital.”

She looked at the man, who had a smug look on his handsome face, feeling like he had just solved a world crisis. Sometimes, she wished to punch a man who seemed to think so highly of himself, just like this man.

“You can just have asked the driver to do that or pay the MT. You did not have to come yourself.” Amelia appreciated what he did, but still, she preferred if she did not have to look at his face.

That handsome face, her mind kept reminding her.

“And miss all the fun. Not a chance.” He answered her, looking directly at her face as if daring her into a staring contest. But she quickly looked away. She was still fuming with him.

For what?

She was angry at him for acting like a jerk and making her feel like she was nothing.

“Excuse me. But we are not a source of your entertainment.” She interjected, slapping him on the shoulder, unable to control her irritation anymore at him.

“Ok. Fine. I was only joking. But honestly, I also need to get out of there for a while. I need a breather.” His face suddenly turned solemn, remembering why he was doing this in the first place.

Amelia did not respond right away, slightly taken aback by his sudden change of attitude. She was not expecting that from him.

But she felt guilty that she was rude to him.

What if he was also going through something? She did not stop to consider that since she only focused on her worries. Now, she suddenly saw him in a different light.