The Royal Contract

He would not be this late if not for the unexpected visit he had. He intended to have dinner with his other guest. But judging from the time, the meal would probably be cold.

“Haley!” He called into the hallway, but no one answered. Once he reached the living room, he knew why. And just like before, he found her lying on the couch, fast asleep.

She must have dozed off watching a movie while waiting for him to come home. It was her habit to drop by his apartment without notice, but she never demanded his time.

She never texted him asking where he was but waited till he came home to surprise him. He thought he would grow tired of her, and she would find their arrangement bothersome. But somehow, he looked forward to seeing her at his apartment.

“What are you doing to me?” He asked the woman, who had her eyes tightly closed.

He knelt before her, tenderly touching her cheeks with his fingers, wondering what to do with her. Then, he leaned closer until his lips gently touched hers, not to wake her up.

.....

He refused to think she could betray and use him for her father’s ambition. He wanted to believe that she was here because she loved him. But did he love her? Was this love that he felt for her?

“Shit!” He silently cursed. He was angry not at her but at the circumstances he faced.

He liked what they had. But how long could they keep this up? Everywhere he looked, someone was trying to outmaneuver him. He could protect himself, but what about her?

Then, he decided to leave her be for a few more minutes. As he had assumed, he walked into the kitchen to find the table set for two. But the meal she had prepared was already cold.

Was she sent to him as punishment for his crimes? Somehow, he realized he had found the woman who had managed to keep him interested. She had all the qualities he never even thought he liked.

But could he marry her because of an arrangement with her father? But if he could be honest with himself, if he did want to marry anyone, it would be her. But would that mean he loved her?

“Are you fucking crazy?” Gerald mumbled as he took the cold meal from the table and started reheating it in the oven. Why was he even considering if he loved Haley?

What did he know about love? He knew his mother loved him, but his father negated that by how he had raised him. He had a brief glimpse of what love could be when he met Ethan, but it was short-lived.

Then, he was back to this darkness, that the only way to survive was never to trust anyone. Haley was the only light left in his dark world, but current events had also tainted that with suspicion.

“Hey! Why did you not wake me up when you arrived?” A soft sleepy voice called out to him. He was just done with the meal and about to complete it with a chilled wine when he turned around and found her walking towards him.

She was indeed stunning, even with her face bare of makeup. She could have been a model with her height or an actress with her looks. She could have any man at her disposal, but she chose to be with him.

“You look so adorable when you are sleeping. It seems a crime to wake you up, especially when you snore.” He wrapped her instantly in his arms as she leaned closer to him. Then, he planted one intense kiss on her lips to wake her up.

“I don’t snore.” She complained when they finally came up for air, punching his chest with her dainty hands.

It did not hurt, but he flinched upon contact. It was not eh pain but how he liked the way they acted around each other. There was familiarity, comfort, and easiness. It felt like home to him.

“Ok, you did not snore, but you certainly had a few drools staining my couch.” He reacted with slight teasing as he touched her chin with pillow marks as his evidence.

She made his lifeless apartment into a home without him noticing it. It used to be a space he went to take a bath and sleep in when he was in the city. But now, looking at the different things that had changed, it felt like this place had come to life.

“I was tired.” She acted defensively, not denying that it might have happened. Finally, they were both laughing while still in each other’s arms.

But was it just the place that had changed, or did he? Was this a phase that had him thinking he might have a shot at happiness? But soon enough, he would learn the sad truth that nothing about this was real.

“That is why I already prepared dinner for us. I meant reheated.” He quickly corrected his statement, seeing how her eyes changed to complain. “Come on, sit down and let me be at your service.”

He guided her back to the table as he served the meal before her. Finally, he took the chilled wine and poured her glass. Then, he came again to another resolution. He had never served another woman in his life, except his mother, when she was still alive.

Did it mean he was also ready for a domesticated life where he could be happy with just one woman? He doubted as his mind reminded him of who he was and his responsibility to the organization.

Again, was he overthinking all of this because of the pressures placed on his shoulder? That could be it. It was nothing else but tension. Once he had worked her out of his system, he could finally focus again on his goal.

“I am pregnant.” He heard her. At least, he believed that was what she said.

“What?” He had to ask again because he felt like his entire world suddenly went on a tailspin.