The Royal Contract

She knew she should be excited to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime event. She would be helping numerous charitable institutions, coming from the support they would receive from all the guests participating in this event.

“What is wrong with you?” Pointing to herself as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. “You should be happy. You flew all this way because you are excited about helping these people.”

She kept talking to herself, reminding herself why she was here in the first place. But her heart was not listening to her brain as it went on a downward spiral.

Honestly, all she wanted to do was fly back to Eida and Angela rather than go to this party. She had attended so many parties like this that she would prefer the company of her friends.

“Yeah, right?” Her inner self taunted her, knowing exactly the truth behind her melancholy. It was not because she missed her friends. She was yearning for someone else she knew she would not find here.

“No. I am not.” She denied it once again. But who was she kidding? It was written all over her face and embedded in her eyes.

.....

All the proof was there.

Her heart already knew what it wanted. All she had to do was open her eyes to see and allow her ears to listen. But of course, fear always stood in the way.

“Why do I want you when thousands of men out there were better than you?” She uttered in frustration, knowing she had to fight what she was feeling.

She had been hurt countless times before by Lance’s rejection. She was afraid to get her heart broken again. A great possibility if she would allow her heart to take this lead. She was better off listening to her mind.

“I am better off without him.” She said with determination. “I am sure there is a single man out there meant for her.” She could try to find him instead. As she said, there were thousands of men out there. She was bound to meet one at the party that could be better than him.

Quickly, she stood up from her bed and rushed to the bathroom. A quick hot shower should keep her blood flowing. She readied herself for the party, prepared to meet new people with fake enthusiasm. Well, she was trying her best.

When she was about to wear her new dress, she stumbled on the paper bags Haley suggested she buy yesterday. Her new friends insisted it would be handy on several occasions like this one and for sleeping.

In total honesty, she could not see the logic of putting on something that barely hid anything. Anyway, she already bought it, might as well try it. Besides, there was no one here to see her sporting it and no one to judge her.

“Ok.” She picked one from the selection of bags, something that would match her dress, not that she was wearing it tonight. She was only trying it on out of curiosity.

After donning it, she understood what her friends were buzzing about, seeing it fit her body provocatively. Without her friend’s watchful eyes and nosiness, she finally felt the effect of these flimsy materials on her body.

It still made her uncomfortable, but somehow, she agreed it made her feel different. She never felt sexier and more daring as she stared at herself in the mirror, looking at someone she could barely recognize.

Maybe she should wear it tonight, for a change. She thought as she once again modeled her body before the mirror. She loved wearing beautiful, elegant clothes. But honestly, she was not daring enough when it had to do with flaunting her body.

Then, her phone rang. It was Haley calling. “Hey, I am almost there. I will meet you at the party.” Her friend told her. Then, she left a few instructions before hanging up on her. She seemed to be whispering and in a hurry.

She could only surmise that she was probably with her date. She wondered who her date was because Haley had forgotten to mention his name. But she also did not ask, or maybe she did. She just forgot.

Now, she had to hurry. Although the party would start much later, they wanted to be the first to arrive to see the final details. They could not leave the finishing touches to the coordinators because that was where the problem usually occurred. Then it would be harder to fix the issue.

“I guess it is time.” She finished her preparation and rushed to the door, ready to face her obligation for the night.

A few minutes later, she was crossing the lobby floors on her way to the massive ballroom where the event would happen. Although she was not part of the whole process, she could not help but be proud to be part of this gathering for a good cause.

Finally, she was feeling the celebratory mood, infected by the buzzing of the people around her. Her thoughts of not wanting to attend this party had slowly dissipated in the air.

She was busy explaining to the coordinator that the flower arrangement was slightly wrong. But she was adamant that she had it right according to the specification.

“I was there when Haley told you how she wanted it done. So, I know this is missing some things on it.” She insisted, not wanting a hiccup in their preparations. “Look at the other table.” She moved to the nearby table and grabbed the vase in the center.

“Did this look like the same to you?” Comparing the two vases full of flowers. It did not. “Please, fix this.”

The woman seemed embarrassed by her mistake as she promised to look into it. It was not Amelia’s job, but Haley was still not here, so she had to take over her job until she arrived.

Well, she wanted it fixed, but before they could finish her instruction. A warm, big, soft hand covered her face, blocking her eyesight. She could tell it was a man judging from his large hand and presence behind her.

Immediately her thought told her it was him. Evan was here. She felt giddy like a child who had an early Christmas gift. Honestly, she believed she deserved it because she had been a good girl all year round.