The Royal Contract

Was it because he was just an ordinary lawyer who did not make enough to cater to her lifestyle? But he doubted because he had come to know her, the real her. She was not like that.

But how could she dismiss him without giving him a reasonable explanation? She said she wanted to go away. As far away from everything, that meant, including him.

There must be a serious reason for it. But what? Should he accept it, or should he continue fighting for her? But why should he when she did not seem determined to fight for him? If she did, then she would never have left him.

“It is not you, but it is me.” A line that he had heard many say when they did not want to hurt the other. Unfortunately, that was a lie.

Sadly, it did not lessen the pain he felt for losing her. Maybe it was his fault. He had fought so hard not to show his feelings. He did not want to take advantage of her vulnerability, knowing she was going through a difficult situation.

It took losing her to admit to himself that he liked her, maybe more. But it was too late. He believed he had lost her for good. Should he keep faith that they might meet again? He doubted.

Of course, he could try to stop her. But what good would that do? He had seen the determination in her eyes to leave everything behind. Besides, he was just her lawyer, former, quickly correcting himself. He had to respect her wishes.

He never actually had a relationship with her, only a professional one. He could not overstep that boundary. Maybe they had a few intense moments, but he had let it slip away. Now, he lost the opportunity forever.

.....

“Goodbye!” That was all he could say as he walked away from her. Then, when he passed her door that morning, another tenant brought in their things. She was gone again but permanently this time.

David called, clueless about their situation, asking what had happened. But all he could say was that she fired him. He also had no idea why she dropped the case. She did not trust him enough to share that with him.

Presently, he finished his last client, giving his best to focus on their problems. That was his life, devoting himself to helping others. But why did it feel like he was not getting anywhere?

“Damn!” That was just him feeling sorry for himself. “I need a drink,” Adam told himself as he finished his last paperwork and called it a day.

He knew a bar not far from the hospital, thinking of grabbing a drink later. But first, he had to drop off Serena’s file cases with his brother. Then, he could finally visit his friend, more like his girlfriend, who was still in a coma. David said he would be there.

Moments later, he stood with his friend inside the room, staring at the woman David was supposed to marry, looking like she was only sleeping.

From his standpoint, he could only see a few visible scars slowly healing on her skin.

Other than that, she looked ok, except for the fact that she was not waking up. “The doctors still could not give me a time frame for when she would wake up. Only time could tell.” David said, looking slightly desperate.

But, at the very least, the doctor had assured his friend that her condition was stable. She was more or less out of the woods. But still, they had to wait until she decided to wake up.

“I am sorry about what my sister did.” David suddenly said as he tapped him on the shoulder. “I know you did a good job, but she still wasted your time.” He shook his head, looking apologetic.

“No, don’t think much about it. I was compensated well for my services, so it was not a waste of my time.” He assured him.

As a lawyer, there was nothing wrong with clients changing their minds. That was common. But in his case, he believed there was more to their relationship, and that was not just his imagination. He felt it between them.

But that was a ship that had set its course, and there was nothing he could do to turn back time. He just had to accept that they were probably not meant to be.

“I better get going. I have an early client to meet tomorrow.” That was true, but at that moment, only one thing was on his mind. He badly needed a drink.

He would have invited his friend for a shot, but he seemed determined to stay by her side. He did not want to ruin their night together. His friend did not need to be miserable because he was.

He left his friend, not wanting him to know what he felt about his sister because it was a useless effort. It was a knowledge that he intended to bury tonight in the deep recesses of his mind, never to dig up again.

Then.

Bang!

“Ouch!” He bumped into something hard as he turned to the corner on his way to the elevators. It would not have hurt that much if it did not hit his sensitive part.

It was right on the mark, and X marked the spot.

The corner of the table, cart, or whatever the woman was pushing hit him. And it hurt like hell as he twisted in pain, holding in his hands the future of his generation.

He was not even running, but apparently, she was. “I am sorry.” She said, but her voice was anything but apologizing. “But you should not be loitering in the hospital hallways. You could not be standing in the way of emergencies.” She nagged at him.

That certainly negated the apology as he looked at the woman in her uniform, who was mad as she picked up some things that landed on the floor.

To some degree, she had a point, but he was not loitering since he was about to leave the hospital. Still, he decided to be the bigger man. “I am sorry. Let me help!” He offered, feeling that the pain had subsided, picking up the last item he saw on the floor.

But she did not say anything else to him as she rushed out of there, appearing to be in a real hurry. What did he expect? He was in a hospital where everyone seemed to handle some life-and-death situation.