Nolan suspected that there was something wrong when Sophia Keller stepped out of the car with her pretty head bowed and her glorious black hair shielding her face from curious eyes. He had been with Luke long enough to recognize a broken heart when he saw one. What struck him as odd, however, was that the crown prince spent half of the way to the air base trying to reach the woman. If he meant to end their dalliance, then he could have just sent her a clinical rejection letter, which Luke probably had a template for. The fact that he didn’t, but instead ate take-out from a fast food restaurant for lunch and waited for more than an hour inside a parked car, probably without assurance that she would appear, was evidence that he did not intend to end anything that afternoon. Then again, it was not his place to meddle with anybody’s personal life, especially not his passenger’s.

But it was still difficult not to try to guess what happened in the few minutes inside the car. Even as he expertly navigated the traffic, he kept on thinking back to the little details that might be a hint to solve the puzzle. However, if his royal highness’ behavior was any indication, Nolan could sense nothing amiss. The brown-haired man was still too absorbed in what he was doing to even show a either a hint of happiness or sadness, or anything in between. He was on the phone with different people for purely business purposes, which Nolan did not care about.

“Are we going to make it before 4 PM?” The passenger’s eyes were fixed on the tablet, most likely reading a report, or maybe editing a document. The truth was that he was reading about Alec Wescott, Chief Operations Officer of Evolab, the name Sophia uttered when Luke asked who. Wescott was not a descendant of any of the noble houses. He was an American expatriate. Technically, Luke had the capacity to revoke Wescott’s permit to work in the kingdom. It wouldn’t be too difficult to do so, as all it required was his signature and seal. But that would be too obvious, an obviously a desperate move too. It was not worth tarnishing his good name for. Besides, he was Prince Alessandro Lucius Castiliogne, lady killer, the most desired bachelor in Europe. He would not waste his time running after one woman who turned her back on him when there were others fighting for his attention.

“There is plenty of time, your highness.” Nolan’s voice cut through his thoughts. “We are meeting with the rest of the boys, switch cars, then we will be on our way to Evolab’s headquarters.” Good thing that the traffic was always in their favor. The privilege of driving for the crown prince.

It was two in the afternoon. Luke closed the window showing Wescott’s impressive degree and work experience and went back to editing the short speech he was asked to deliver that afternoon. He read two sentences from the middle of the page before he brought up the communicator window and typed in ‘Tobias Lavanchy’.

[i]Tobias,

Where have you two been today? 

I need Rhiane to meet me in the Evolab HQ at four o’clock this afternoon. Advise her attendants to prep her for a formal business event. I trust that they know how to properly dress a lady, but be the judge. I do not want to see the my fiancee either over or under dressed for the occasion.

Call me and let me talk to her if she refuses to dress and/or leave the room.

Luke[/i]