The Royal Contract

"Adam seems to be adjusting well. I am thinking of taking him next week on my trip. I think he will be a great help in closing the negotiation." His friend announced once he entered his office with a beaming smile.

He did not stop what he was doing, knowing too well that his opinion did not weigh on his friend's decision. His friend only came to inform him, nothing more.

Nevertheless, he agreed with him. Adam had been performing well, just like he already expected. He would have commended his new hire if not for their situation.

"Do what you think is best, Evan?" David answered his partner as he kept his nose deep in the sheets before him.

He knew he was furious with Adam. He hated his guts for cheating on his sister. However, he could not deny that the firm could need his expertise.

Besides, he could not fire him because he had a grudge against the man. That would be a ground for illegal termination.

"Is there still something wrong with Rosella?" Evan suddenly asked as he took a chair before his desk.

His friend stared at him with the skin above his nose bunching in the center of his forehead. His eyes focused on him as if he was scrutinizing a specimen inside a jar.

But, of course, his friend would think that his glum behavior would have something to do with his fiancee. But that was just partially true.

"I thought things between you two are getting much better." Evan looked confused as he came up with his conclusion.

However, his friend still had no idea about the dispute between him and Adam. For now, he wanted it to stay that way, at least, until he had spoken to his sister.

He would have told his sister what Adam had done, but she would not accept his calls. He wondered if she already knew, but that was the only sensible reason for locking herself in her hotel room.

"It is." He answered. "... sometimes." He hesitantly added, thinking about the times he spent with her.

He still had not completely opened up to his friend about his situation with Rosella. Presently, he was contemplating if he should.

"Sometimes?" His friend questioned. "What do you mean by that?" His concern was visible on his face.

Evan and his wife, Amelia, had been rooting for him to tie the knot with Rosella. They were the first couple he had told about his plans to propose to her.

They even helped him arrange everything. But the unfortunate accident had happened just when he thought everything was going according to plan.

"I don't know." He said, breathing between his teeth as he expelled his frustration. "One minute, we are great. I feel like she is back."

"Rosella is back." He repeated, feeling his heart twisting into a knot. "Then..."

He had to stop thinking he had no idea of what was happening. He had no idea how to explain his current relationship with Rosella.

"Maybe you just need to give her time. I have no doubt she will eventually remember her past and your life together." Evan reassured him.

However, he knew that he was only saying that to appease him. Even the doctors could not guarantee that her memories would ever return in the future.

She could have lost them for good, for all he knew. Then, what? Could he still hope that things between them would return to what they used to be?

"I knew I should be more optimistic about our relationship and the future. But there are times that I can feel that she is slowly slipping away." David confessed to his friend another one of the things that was bothering him.

He believed that the last time he saw her, things seemed to be running as smoothly as he had planned. But he could sense that something had changed.

He had tried to ignore it, hoping it was just a phase that would resolve in time. But what if it would not? What would happen to them? Would he lose her forever?

It was a thought that he could not accept, loving Rosella with his entire being. He could not imagine a life without her.

"I don't know what to say to you, man." Evan sadly said, looking more worried than before. "But all I know is that love always finds a way."

His friend cited his situation, explaining how he and Amelia had overcome the obstacles in their relationship. It had not been an easy journey, but they managed to end up together.

He understood what his friend was trying to say to him. But would his relationship with Rosella have the same outcome? Would they be able to stand the test of fate and time?

He guessed only time could tell. All he had was faith in the love they once shared. He could only hope that even if their memories fade forever. Their hearts would still keep them connected.

"I guess I just have to keep holding on." He knew he had no choice.

But if his fears came true, and she decided it was over, he knew he had no option but to let her go. It would be a tragic loss for him, but it was something he had to learn to accept.

"Yes, my friend, you have to hang in there." Evan walked over to his spot and clapped him on the back to show his support.

If there was one person who believed that he and Rosella should be together, it was his friend. And he badly needed his backing right now.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to damp this on you." Suddenly, he realized they were at work. It was not the time and place for their heart-to-heart talk.

He quickly straightened his shoulder as he returned to his all-business attitude. He never liked slacking during his time in the office, same with his friend.

"Ok. Let us get back to work. But I am glad that you told me about Rosella." Evan finally stepped away from his desk, ready to leave and return to his office.

Nevertheless, David could tell that his friend was genuinely anxious to help. He honestly believed his friend would do more if he could.

"Maybe, Amelia should visit her sometime. Rosella probably can use a friend." Evan suggested.

His friend had been offering to take them out on a double date. But he hesitated, thinking Rosella might get overwhelmed by all the new faces.

His fiancee was already conflicted when someone recognized her, but she could not remember who they were. She had already confided that she felt like an impostor on another person's body.

He could only imagine what she was going through. It must not be easy for her to live a life she did not understand, where everything did not make sense.

"Ok. Let me set it up." David told his friend, feeling desperate to do anything to win Rosella back.

Maybe this time, it would not be so bad for Rosella to meet some old friends. Besides, it could trigger a memory if she saw some familiar faces.

"That is great. I will inform Amelia right away. She has been dying to see her again since she woke up." Evan explained, but he already knew this.

Amelia went to the hospital a day after Rosella came out of her coma. She truly wanted to see her friend. But Rosella did not want to see anyone, so her sister, Roseann, ordered no visitors.

But maybe, he was doing this all wrong. They should stop cuddling Rosella and acting like she was a piece of porcelain that would suddenly break.

"Ok. Then, I will set it up with Rosella." David decided that it was time for a double date.

He knew his plan might backfire on him, but what choice did he have? He would lose her anyway if he did not do anything. He might as well risk it all than stand idly by doing nothing.

He barely noticed his friend leave his office since his mind had already been somewhere, thinking of what could go wrong.

"Many." He mumbled to himself as he shook his head to clear his mind. He still had multiple cases on his desks that required his attention.

He was about to return to them when he noticed a motion by his door. Then, his eyes fixed on a man he hoped not to see or bump into along the hallway, on the elevator, or anywhere in the building.

"I know there is no perfect time to see you, but I hope you will hear me out." The unexpected visitor appeared before him, uninvited.

Adam stood by his door, looking anything like he was afraid or sorry for his contemptuous actions. On the contrary, he looked calm and relaxed, as if he had nothing to apologize for.

"What is there to talk about? It was clear that you cheated on my sister." David accused him, not wanting to hear any more of his lies.

He wanted him gone before he did the unthinkable, beat him again into a pulp. And then he would fire him on the spot. But that would be a lawsuit waiting to happen.

But who cared?

He would not mind spending time in jail if it would give him the satisfaction of revenging his sister. Besides, he knew he could defend himself against his former friend.

However, he cared.

He knew he could not subject his sister to another controversial lawsuit. If words came out about this incident, then the media frenzy would feast again on his sister.

He could not do that to Serena. He had to protect her.

"That is exactly why we should talk. I did not." Adam insisted as he bravely entered the lion's den.