The Royal Contract

She looked around the lobby, wondering how she could find his room without anyone suspecting who she was. As her eyes scanned the area, something clicked in her mind.

She knew she had to act as soon as possible since it was getting late. If she would do something, she had to do it now.

"Hi! I am here to see Mr. Adam Mason." She lowered her head, hoping to hide her face from the receptionist. "Can you give me his room number?"

She quickly grabbed a large bill in her pocket and tried to slip it under the folder in front of the woman, bribing her to get the information she needed.

The woman glanced up at her before typing away on her computer. After a few seconds, she returned to her, barely looking in her direction.

"I am sorry, but Mr. Mason has instructions not to be disturbed." The woman behind the counter informed her, pushing the money back in her hand.

"But I need to see him." She knew she sounded desperate. "Can you call him and tell him that..." But what would she tell this woman?

She could not announce to her who she was. "Nevermind." She ended up saying, deciding to find another way.

"Maybe you should come back again another time. Or better yet, you should call Mr. Mason on his private number." The woman suggested, looking apologetic.

She guessed she could not blame her. She was only doing her job. And if she had been the guest in their hotel, she would appreciate that she was trying to respect her wishes.

"Thanks." She said to the woman before turning away.

She remembered her past experiences with the other hotels where she stayed. Many staff would sell her information to the press, the paparazzi, or anyone willing to pay, especially her ex, who would not stop harassing her.

She suddenly went to work on her plan B. She strode across the lobby onto the other side, determined not to go home empty-handed.

"Hey!" She stopped the young man about to close a souvenir shop on the lobby floor. "Please, wait."

She rushed to his side, grabbing him by the arm before he could completely close the door until she got his attention.

"Sorry!" The young man turned to him, slightly confused. "Is there something wrong?" He asked.

"Yeah! I need to buy something..." She said as she looked beyond the glass partition, choosing what she would need.

"I am sorry, Miss." The boy looked apologetic. "But we are already closed." He continued to lock the door of the store.

But he would not stop her. Nothing would, as she pleaded with him. "Please!" She entwined her fingers together to beg for him to reconsider. "I just need to buy a few things."

The young salesman would not budge, but she would not give up either. "Please! I want to buy some flowers." She said what she saw first at the front of the window.

As if something in his eyes glistened when he looked at her, suddenly he smiled. "Wait a minute. You look familiar."

She quickly looked away, trying to cover her face. "I get that a lot. I have this easily recognizable face." She tried to explain, hoping that should satisfy the young boy's curiosity.

"Anyway, please, can you help me? It is just a matter of life and death." She was talking about her heart.

"Ok. Fine." The boy finally conceded, reopening the door of his shop. "My father is going to be mad about this. But fine." He continued to mumble.

He opened the door to her, letting her inside the room. She quickly grabbed the fresh flowers that she liked. She doubted that Adam had any preference. Then, choose five assorted colors of balloons hanging near the door.

"Those are not for sale." The boy pointed to the balloons. Then, his eyes stared again at her face. "Hey, I knew it. It is you." The boy said as his face lit up with excitement.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Suddenly, she felt like she made a mistake in coming here.

"You are Ms. Serena. The famous star." The boy finally said what she was afraid to hear. "I knew I recognized you. I am one of your biggest fans." He added as his voice raised by another octave.

"Sssshhhh!" She tried to stop him from making a loud noise. She did not want to alert the few people in the lobby about her. "Yes, it is me. And I will be eternally grateful if you keep your mouth shut."

As much as she did not want others to know who she was, some situations were just out of her hands. No matter how careful she was, she still lost control.

Suddenly, he closed his lips and made a zipping sign while slightly jumping up and down on his spot. "I promise." This time, whispering to her.

"Ok. Now, can you help me?" She asked as she tried to calm him down.

She watched him take deep breaths as he looked at her with starstruck eyes. But she could still see that his body was overly excited with her presence.

"Ok." He finally responded with a controlled smile. "What else do you need?" He asked as he took the flowers from her hands.

"I need those balloons." She pointed near the door. "And maybe this one." She saw a dolphin shape stuffed toy with a sloppy necktie around the neck.

She could not help it. When she saw the toy, she automatically associated it with Adam, remembering how he never liked wearing his tie.

"Ok. I will take that." The boy said, taking all the items from her. Then he arranged them in one beautiful package. "Do you need a card for this? I assume this is a gift."

"No card. That is just fine." She assured him as she grabbed some bills from her pocket. "And thank you for doing this for me. I promise I will find a way to repay you for your help. But for now, I hope you will keep this as our secret."

She did not know if she could trust this boy, but she could try. Besides, she had no choice but to rely on the goodness of humanity, praying that he was one of those good people left in this world.

"Don't worry. I don't kiss and tell. Not that I am hoping that you will kiss me." He slightly stuttered on that part, which made him look adorable.

He was a young kid who must be fantasizing about famous beautiful actresses, not just her. Therefore, she found it flattering but not creepy.

"Thank you." She said, unable to say anything else.

"By the way, where are you taking this?" He asked her. "I am not being nosy." But he stopped. "I guess I am, but maybe I can help." Then, he admitted.

She looked at him, wondering if she could use his services. As she said earlier, he seemed genuinely harmless.

"Do you want me to deliver this to someone?" He offered. "Because I also deliver as part of our services." He pointed to the sign on the counter.

SPECIAL OFFER: WE DELIVER.

"Oh! But I don't want to be a bother." She remembered that he was already closing when she interrupted him.

"No. It is not a bother. I can drop this and then go on my way." He informed her.

It sounded logical, but she did not want someone else to give that to him. But she figured she could use his help for the last time.

"Ok. But here is the deal." She whispered to him what she wanted to happen. In exchange for his services, she paid him the extra delivery charge rate and added a little incentive.

"Thanks. You did not need to pay extra." He said as he tried to return her money. But she would not let him.

"Take it, or the deal is off." She said to him.

"Ok. But wait for me at the elevator." He said as they exited and locked up the store.

She strode to the closed elevator on the farthest side, trying not to attract any more attention while the kid moved on the other way.

After a few minutes, he rushed to her side, carrying her package around his arms. Then, another minute, they were riding up together toward the upper floors.

"I hope you will say none of this to anyone." She knew she was putting this much faith in this stranger as they rode to the elevator. But somehow, at that moment, she felt she did not care.

She just wanted to see him no matter what happened. She did not care what the outcome would be or if she was ruining her life. She just wanted to do this.

"My lips are sealed." And she felt she believed him as the elevator doors opened to a large hallway.

Then, all she could think about was seeing him. She forgot all about her fears. She had cared less about the consequences. There was no more right or wrong.

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