The Royal Contract

Chapter 595: Strictly professional

She was slightly stunned by his reaction to her seduction. She was absolutely sure that he was attracted to her too. But after he subtly rejected her advances, she felt slightly embarrassed by her actions.

But if she failed with her other mission with him, she still had one more she needed to focus on. Maybe he was not the man for him at this point. She decided to put her full attention instead to her work.

“Oh, right?” Eida returned to her previous position in the bar and took another sip of her beer, trying to get a grip of herself.

She pretended to be clueless that he had just rejected her. She had never been in this kind of situation before. Usually, she was the one turning her back on an offer, not the other way around.

She suddenly felt awkward, thinking that she had misread his earlier actions. It would seem that she was the only one attracted to him. Or otherwise, he was better at controlling his urges than she was.

“I am sorry, but if you want a story, I suggest we get this interview going.” Lance pointed out, trying hard to divert his mind anywhere else than from where his thoughts were going.

Many had flaunted their body to get close to him, wanting a chance to be part of the royal family. But he had stayed clear of them, not letting them use him for their selfish reasons.

.....

He had no idea what she was trying to accomplish, but getting under his pants would not make him spill any information about the case. If that was what she intended by trying to seduce him.

“You said that you have something to say, off the record.” She finally recovered from her situation and went back to business, realizing that she had made an error of judgment.

When she thought about their last encounter, she was convinced that he felt the same way as her. She could tell that the attraction was mutual.

But the way he was acting now, it appeared that he was immuned with her charms. She was wrong to make the first move. Well, everybody made mistakes. She was not an exception.

“I will trust you with this information, but I don’t want any of this to end up in the next news cycle.” He played with his glass for a few seconds, thinking if he was doing the right thing.

As experienced taught him, reporters could not be trusted, but his gut told him that she might be different from the rest of them.

He should trust her with this information. Maybe she had information about this that could help them in their investigation. She had already helped them before. She might do it again.

“When I give my word, you can trust that I will keep it. Whatever you will tell me will be off the record as long as the investigation was ongoing, but give me something that I can write at least.” She reasoned with him.

She was a reporter. Telling a story was her life. If she could not tell anything about the case, then this man better give her something that would be interesting enough for the time being.

He was silent for a while, contemplating his thoughts while she waited for his answer. He emptied his glass before turning again to face her.

With the tip of his thumb, he wiped the foamy white substance that stuck on the side of his lips. He finally made a decision. Hopefully, he would not regret it in the end.

“The couple suffered just like any kidnap victims had under the hands of the perpetrators.” He began to narrate to her. “But they had survived the ordeal and would like to tell the entire traumatic experience in their day in court.”

The couple did not want the press to meddle with the issue, not wanting to sensationalize the criminal act and worsen their experience.

Although the issue was already out with the media, the couple still would like to keep a tight lid on the situation. They avoided talking to the press and having their pictures taken.

Many speculations circulated about the arrest of Nick, but nobody from their camp conducted interviews aside from the official statement released.

“I assure you that I understand what they were going through. I am not here to make matters worse. I am just here to offer my assistance to get their words out to people who might want to hear their experience.” She explained her side to him.

She started asking questions, but he only answered some of them, avoiding the complicated ones. He kept telling her that he could not divulge matters that would compromise the investigation.

He shared more knowledge about the couple, but she felt it was already old news. She wanted something fresh that the other reporters had not yet covered. She needed a new story.

“In a way, maybe it would help them if they would talk about it and air their side. We can only hear the side of the accused, who clearly denies any involvement in the abduction.” She continued.

She would do anything to convince this man that she was here to help and not make matters worse for the royal couple. She had no harmful intention against their case.

“You can’t blame Alex and Dani for keeping their silence. But eventually, they will talk, and you will be the first one on the scene.” He guaranteed. As of now, that was all he could give her.

He did not have the power to divulge more information, but he had something that could be worth her while instead. A deal that might at least give her something to do while waiting for her big story.

Finally, they had settled on a more comfortable conversation after a couple of glasses of beer. The earlier awkwardness was gone.

“Come on, you must have something else that you can give me.” Her earlier attempt to seduce him had been forgotten as her story again took precedence in her priority. “Anything, like if the princess is already pregnant or something.”

It was still a story that the masses would certainly like to know. A piece of story newsworthy of the front page and the top of the hour as far as she was concerned.

“I am sorry, but I have nothing else to tell you about the couple. But if you want another story, why not talk about me.” He offered instead.

He did not usually allow reporters to interview him. He only conducted a few photoshoots and entertained a question or two. That was at most his interaction with the press.

“You will give me an exclusive about your life.” She could not help but register the shock on her face.

From the recent investigation she did with him, she had learned about his refusal to be questioned by the press. A caption even said that he hated reporters.

She was surprised that he was willing to give her the chance to interview him. Well, it was a rare opportunity that she believed she should grab.

She was absolutely sure her producers would love the idea of her talking one-on-one with the prince. Many women would definitely be interested in watching her show.

“Yes, why not?” He looked at her questioningly. “Can I trust you with my story?” He asked her.

He started shouting inside his head, doing a self monologue, questioning his sanity. He just suggested exposing his life to her and to the entire world. He must be going crazy, he thought to himself.

“Of course. You can.” Eida felt honored that he would give her the chance to tell his life story. “Why are you doing this now?” She asked, curious to his reason.

“You need a story, and I have one.” Lance just offered her an exclusive of his life, something he had refused to do for as long as he could remember.

He believed it was the only way to keep her off the back of the couple by diverting her attention to him. He would be the willing victim in the meantime for the sake of the good of everyone.

Still, he did not trust her enough to get involved with her in a relationship, whether friendship or more. This would be strictly professional, despite his physical attraction to her.