The Royal Contract

Chapter 946: A nice, innocent girl

He had been early these past two days, wondering when he would see her again. But she had been a no-show at work since he took the position as the CEO’s new intern. They were supposed to be working on the same floor, just opposite offices, but her desk remained empty.

He just came from the office supply room and returned to his desk when a woman he knew was working on the other side of the floor passed him along the hallway.

“Ah! Did...” He stopped the secretary of the COO, thinking of asking her about their intern but thought better of it. “Never mind. Sorry!” He apologized and dismissed the idea. He suddenly felt like he was making a fool of himself.

Was he going out of his mind? Even he was puzzled by his unusual behavior. It was not like him to act this way.

He was about to return to his station when he heard the elevator ding, making him stop and turn around before disappearing from the other corner. Fortunately, the wall hid him from plain view as he saw the woman he had been waiting for exit the lift.

Should he say hi? But what else would he say to her? “No, that is a bad idea.” He mumbled silently to himself as she watched her stop in the corridor, having a conversation with one of the top executives on the floor.

He finally thought better of it as he continued to conceal his presence from her sight. He still felt guilty about how he acted the first time he met her. Or even in their last encounter.

.....

He finally saw her walking towards her table. He had been wondering why she had not been to work for days. He, somehow, felt remorseful that his letter might have something to do with her absence. He even thought she might have quit because of him.

He wanted to ask her boss or co-workers, but he did not want them to be suspicious of his interest in her. So, he just kept his silence, waiting for any news. But he was glad she was now back at her desk, looking a little haggard.

“Is she sick?” He could not help but wonder, staring at her tired appearance. As if she had not been sleeping well. Or did she have a problem?

It was not like him to be nosy about someone else’s life. Truthfully, he could not care about other people. He admitted that growing up in a political family taught him to exploit others as they used them.

But for some reason, he could not stop worrying about her. It did not make any sense since he did not even know her. But he wanted to find out why he seemed to remember her from somewhere.

“Zach!” He heard someone suddenly call his name behind him. He finally turned around to see who it was.

“Zach, Alex wanted you to finish all of this.” Alona walked towards him, handing him the papers in her hands. “By the way, what are you doing here? Is there a problem?”

He did not realize that he was still standing by the corridor, watching the empty hallway. “Nothing. I just remembered something and was momentarily distracted.” He must have appeared strange, lost in his thoughts, staring at space.

She was long gone in her little hideaway, and yet he was still left staring at the path she walked on. He had no idea why he was suddenly obsessed with her. Something about her seemed to keep his curiosity since she bumped into him.

In truth, she was not his usual type. But what kind of woman interested him? He was not particularly picky, but she was different. He seemed unable to take her off his mind, and seeing her at that bar, confirmed it.

“I will get it done right away.” He continued, not wanting his boss’s secretary snooping around in his affairs. At the same time, he wished to impress his boss, wanting to fulfill his promise to do his best.

As far as most were concerned, he was just an ordinary intern trying to work his way into this job. Only a few truly knew his true identity. Alona was one of them, so he better be careful around her.

He intended to keep his anonymity as long as possible, enjoying this new challenge. He would admit that everything in his life came easy. But now, he wanted to prove something, not only to his father but also to himself, that he could also do better, be a better man.

He was inspired to hear his other co-workers praise Alex for achieving something without the help of his family’s wealth and influence. The Prince had started a new life in a strange country with nothing much but hard work and perseverance.

Alex turned down a crown, working his way to the top of the business ladder with sweat and determination. Zach also wanted that kind of admiration, not the respect he usually got for being the son of a politician.

“You better. I need it before the end of the day.” She said, staring at him one last time. “Those papers are urgent.” She reiterated its importance.

He could swear Alona gazed at him funnily as if she knew something that he did not. “I promise.” He held the papers in his hands up in the air, thinking it was about his task. “It would be at your desk before the day is over.” Smiling at the woman to dispel her doubts.

Alona suddenly stopped walking away and looked back at him as if she still had something to say but was slightly hesitant. Then, she turned, facing him again.

“What?” Zach questioned her, wondering if she had forgotten to say something, additional instructions perhaps.

He had learned in the short time he had been with this company that Alona worked hard to be where she was, fiercely loyal to her boss, and did not take crap from anyone.

It meant everyone, not even her boss, Alex, if she believed he was in the wrong. Therefore, the last thing he would wish was to be on the wrong side of her good graces. He had to impress her first before his boss.

“You can stop ogling her now.” She uttered with a warning in her tone. “Besides, you are just wasting your time on her.” Pointing in the direction of his sight.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” He pretended not to understand what she was saying. But, of course, he realized what she implied with her words. Was she onto him?

He turned away, walking toward his station with her following. His desk was not far from hers since he received most of his instructions from her when his boss wanted him to do something.

He thought she would move back to her desk, but surprisingly, she was not yet through with him. “Stop feigning ignorance.” Alona stood in front of his desk as he sat down to scan the documents she gave him.

“What did I do?” Zach asked, playing clueless, confused about what she seemed to be accusing him of doing.

“I saw you staring at her when she arrived. Besides, I have a good instinct about these things.” She explained as she stepped back, feeling proud of herself.

“Ok. I was looking, but that was it.” He finally admitted, knowing there was no point in lying to her. “I am just curious about her.” That was the truth as far as he was concerned.

It was not like he was going to court her. At that moment, he had no idea what he planned to do with her. All he knew was that he was fascinated by her.

“Then, stop,” Alona said with finality, her face appearing very serious.

“Why?” He did not understand why she was so concerned about him. Was office romance forbidden in this company? Not that he had that in mind.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I am a grown-up man.” He emphasized this by sitting straight, showing off his masculine build.

It might have been too much, but he did not like how she was meddling with his affair. Perhaps he was not used to someone telling him what he could and should do.

Then, she started laughing as if he had said something hilarious. One of her hands automatically went to her lips while the other went to her midriff as she tried to control her laughter.

“What is so funny?” Zach finally asked, seeing that she was calming down. He was more perplexed about her reaction than before. What was so funny about what he said?

“You!” She blurted out with a few more chuckles escaping her lips. When he raised her brows at her in question, she continued. “You think I was thinking about you.”

But when he appeared clueless, she added, back to her serious face. “Look!” She seemed to want his full attention. “She is a nice, innocent girl. I don’t want to see her get hurt by you.”

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