The Royal Contract

Drunk youngsters, maybe in their late teens, pretending to be mature enough, and working adults crowded the dance floor, gyrating their bodies to the booming music, having the wildest time of their lives.

“So, when you said it would be loud here, you were not joking.” She slightly raised her voice for him to hear her words. The same went for him every time he had to say something.

Or the other option was to come closer and lean near his ears, so there would be no need to shout. But that seemed too intimate for someone who only was here to talk business.

“I told you, but I do want to see you.” The way he said it somehow sounded differently in her ears, but he quickly added. “I do want to help with your cause.”

She quickly returned to business mode, not wanting to be distracted by his baritone voice, the choice of words he used, or his enigmatic eyes.

“I am glad to hear that,” Haley felt more relaxed when she talked about business or the foundation.

.....

She was not shy or naive, nor afraid of men or relationships. But she had chosen to set aside any form of an affair until she found the perfect man who could satisfy her conditions.

She did have her fair share of relationships that did not work for one reason or another. But many of those men only wanted money. They were only after the wealth of her father.

“So, tell me more about this event since I only heard good things about it but had never participated in one before,” Gerald ordered another round of drinks since he already drank his while she still had half of hers left in her glass.

“I hope you are not thinking of getting me drank.” Haley pointed to the drink placed before her.

“Of course not, but I don’t want you to accuse me of not being a gracious host. I invited you here, so the least I can do is provide good service.” He spoke to her, leaning over again nearer her face so as not to shout.

But like earlier, she could not help but feel the chill of his voice as it crawled underneath her skin and up her spine. The alcohol seemed to have no effect of warming her body against him.

“Noted.” She raised her glass to him and drank the rest of the content on her first glass, hoping that would calm down her nerves.

She was not a drinker, but she could still hold her alcohol. Therefore, she was not afraid of a few shots. It would not make her fall flat on her face that easily.

“Anyway, about the fundraising...” She talked about the fundamentals of their organization, the people involved, how it worked, and the benefits of joining their cause.

He seemed genuinely interested as he listened and put up valid questions that she answered in her best capacity. Honestly, she liked to talk more to those philanthropists who did not want any recognition in exchange for their help.

If Gerald had been helping many foundations, as Dani had mentioned, she would assume that he never took credit for it since his name did not appear on her radar.

Some investors only listened halfheartedly to what she would say but still wrote a check, not because they wanted to help from the bottom of their hearts. They only required the distinction and the benefit it would provide for their interests.

“What about you? I heard that you are quite an accomplished architect.” Gerald slightly changed the topic, finishing up another drink and signaling for another round.

“I am good at what I do if that is what you asked. I like creating things from nothing or remaking something that already existed.” Haley proudly told him, slightly uninhibited by her words.

Maybe she felt more relaxed around him after talking and sharing a few things for a bit. But it could also be the alcohol talking since she had consumed more than her fair share.

She had always been proud of what she had achieved for herself. Not because of her family name. But because she had worked hard to earn her spot in the architectural world.

“What about this place? Do you think you can recommend anything to improve its style?” Gerald waved his hand, indicating he was talking about the club.

“Well...” But her words were drowned by the loud sound blaring in the speakers around them. She could hardly hear herself speak, what more him.

“I am sorry, but I think they were about to have a dance-off.” He shouted in her ears, but she hardly understood most of the words, but she saw what he was pointing out.

She noticed the crowd converged in the middle of the dance floor, creating chaos as they shouted and danced to the loud music.

“Come on.” She vaguely heard him say before she felt his hands wrapped around her wrist as he pulled her out of the bar and across the room, avoiding the rowdy group from bumping into them.

“Where are we going?” She asked, hardly able to catch her breath as her feet followed him wherever he was taking her.

“Somewhere quieter where we could continue our conversation.” He shouted over his shoulder as they continued on a narrow path. And then climbing up the stairs, going somewhere.

She knew she should not go along with him. But either she was drunk to think clearly, or she was too curious about what he was about to show her.

But she believed it was the latter since she could still recite the alphabet clearly in her mind, forward and backward. They continued to walk until they stopped outside a door.

“What is this place?” She asked, a little confused as she watched him open the door with a key card.

Why did he have a keycard? And where did he take her?

“This is my place.” He said as the door opened to a clean-looking apartment, fully furnished with a modern, slick design.

She was not expecting that as her eyes wandered around the room, checking if it was safe to enter. Was it a little late for that? Her mind chastised her for her impulsive behavior, but she still ignored the warning sign as she let her curiosity take over her.

“So, when you said you have an apartment nearby, you referred to this room above the club.” She stepped into the spacious place, inspecting it, finding the place fascinating.

“Yes, I own this place, among other things.” Gerald followed her inside, closing the door behind him. “Why don’t you make yourself comfortable while I pour us another drink?”

“Make it scotch neat. I think you have that.” She was tired of drinking the fruity drink the bartender gave her back in the bar.

“Ok. Give me a second.” He moved to the other end of the room while she sat down on the long, black leather couch in the middle of the room.

Suddenly, she realized that this man was full of surprises. He was a mystery she was finding intriguing. But her mind insisted that she should heed caution because he could still be a dangerous man.