Three drinks had been consumed. Like morning mist, three hours had passed. Lily couldn't recall a time when the conversation flowed so naturally, bouncing from philosophy to art to genetic research and back again without any awkward pauses.
Gabriel leaned closer and argued, "You can't seriously believe environmental factors outweigh genetic predisposition." The bar was now packed, and they had to carve out a private area in the midst of the commotion.
"In certain situations, definitely." Lily ran her hand along the edge of her glass. Consider Valois Syndrome. We've seen instances where the same genetic markers cause wildly disparate symptom presentations. Something triggers the expression."
Gabriel's eyes grew gloomy. "And you think you can find that trigger?"
"With adequate time and resources? Indeed. She looked him in the eye. "That was the focus of the presentation tonight. not only addressing symptoms but also possibly stopping the onset of the illness."
He clenched his fingers around his glass. "And if it's already active?"
His question had a serious tone that caused Lily to pay closer attention to him. "You are aware of someone who has Valois Syndrome."
It wasn't a query.
Gabriel averted his gaze for a moment. "When I was twelve, my mother passed away due to complications from the syndrome."
"I apologize." Lily fought the impulse to put her hand over his. "My sister passed away at the age of seven. For that reason, I" She halted.
"Why have you dedicated your life to solving it," he concluded. "That's something we have in common."
Their intellectual sparring became more intimate after the revelation changed something between them.
Lily whispered, "The current research suggests the genetic markers remain dormant until triggered." "If we could figure out what gets them going..."
"You could spare others the same fate." Gabriel's eyes were searching. "And your approach with the synthetic enzyme?"
Even after activation, it might be able to stabilize the condition. The preliminary findings are encouraging.
Gabriel motioned for more play. "Explain your research in more detail. Everything.
She then proceeded to explain the complexities, which she usually simplified for grant committees. He asked questions that demonstrated a deep comprehension of genetic science, perfectly adhering to her logic.
They had gone from the bar to a quiet corner table by the time she was done, and their knees were almost touching the polished wood.
She said, "You're not just 'familiar' with this field." "You did a lot of digging on it."
The corners of his lips jerked into a smile. "Suppose I've been motivated to comprehend it."
"And what do you do, Gabriel?" She cocked her head. "You never really said."
"International relations. Mostly diplomatic work. His response sounded polished and well-practiced. "Boring is like rewriting genetic code."
"I doubt that." Something beyond scientific curiosity seemed to charge the air between them as their eyes locked.
"One last question," he said. "How quickly could you advance this research if you had unlimited resources?"
"Unlimited?" Lily chuckled. "We could have clinical trials within a year if we have the right team and facilities."
"And what would you need to put that team together?"
"Diplomat, are you offering to finance my research, or is this just a hypothetical situation?" He looked serious, but she meant it as a joke.
"We'll refer to it as professional curiosity." His face was hazy as he looked at the screen of his buzzing phone. "Unfortunately, I have to accept this."
He took a step back to respond, his stance straightening as he used a European, Slavic-influenced language Lily was unfamiliar with. She was fascinated by the change the informal thinker from a few moments ago had given way to someone more formal, almost authoritative.
Something had changed by the time he got back. "I'm sorry, but duty demands it. Tomorrow's early meeting."
"Obviously." She felt disappointment weigh more heavily than she had anticipated. "Talking with you was fascinating."
He surprised her by saying, "The night doesn't have to end." "Unless you want to go back to protein sequencing right away."
She gasped. She was told to thank him for the drinks and leave by the logical part of her brain, the meticulous scientist who planned every experiment and career move.
"I'm not particularly fond of early nights," she heard herself say instead.
He grinned slowly, almost slyly. "Neither am I."
Gabriel watched Lily sleep, her face softened by the predawn light coming through the curtains, her auburn hair sprawled across his pillow. She had assumed that his impressive accommodations during the packed conference were the result of pure luck, but he had ordered a suite far from the conference floors because privacy was second nature to him.
Three evenings. Three evenings of intellectual bonding that swiftly erupted into a physical attraction he had never known before. Something that felt perilously close to freedom for three nights.
It was the third time in an hour that his phone vibrated. If it were not urgent, his personal secretary Marc would not be calling him frequently. He sighed quietly as he got out of his bed and took out his phone from the jacket.
"Yes?" he replied gently as he made his way out to the sitting room of the suite and shut the bedroom door.
"I apologize for the disruption, Your Highness." Marc spoke tensely. However, an emergency council meeting has been called by your father. The state of affairs in the eastern provinces"
Gabriel concluded, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Has escalated." "How bad?"
"The King feels your presence is urgently needed."
Which indicated that it was really awful. Given how meticulously Gabriel planned his infrequent time away from Vallémont, his father never asked him to return unless it was absolutely necessary.
"I can return by this evening."
"Preparations are underway for the royal jet." Marc hesitated. "At noon, the council convenes."
Gabriel looked at his timepiece. He might be able to make it if he left within the hour. Seldom.
"I'll be there." Now gilded with early morning light, he hung up the phone and gazed out at the Zurich skyline.
He had never acted otherwise; he knew this was only temporary. His life had never been his own. Every second spent away from Vallémont was borrowed.
Nevertheless, he had given himself permission to dream for a moment of taking Lily to the Royal Medical Institute and seeing her sharp mind combat the syndrome that had killed his mother and was now exhibiting early symptoms in his own blood work. However, exposing her to that world would require exposing his true identity Crown Prince Gabriel of Vallémont, not simply "Gabriel," the man who had fascinated her body and mind for three nights.
And everything changed when people found out who he was. Always.
Making a concession to his desire for anonymity during these infrequent escapes, he went back to the bedroom and dressed in silence, wearing the loosest clothes he had brought. His eyes landed on Lily's tablet on the nightstand, her research notes still visible, as he adjusted his watch.
A thought came to him perhaps careless, but he couldn't go with nothing but memories. He grabbed a piece of hotel stationery and wrote a brief note, including his private email address, which would not reveal his identity right away. Although it was impetuous and uncharacteristic, these three days had been uncharacteristic from the beginning.
After setting the note next to her tablet, he gave himself permission to take one final glance at her sleeping body. He briefly considered waking her in order to sense her reaction to his touch once more. Rather, he quietly left the room, already adjusting his thoughts to the tasks that lay ahead.
With a sickening feeling of déjà vu, Lily woke up to find her bed empty.
Although it had been years since she had acted so rashly, this was not her first experience with morning-after regret. What had she been thinking about three nights of incredible sex with a virtual stranger?
She wrapped the sheet around herself and sat up, looking around the suite, which seemed suddenly too big and too luxurious without him. She noticed a folded piece of paper on the nightstand.
Lily, Duty abruptly calls me away. In a life where few such indulgences are permitted, these three days have been a unique gift. Both your beauty and your mind are remarkable, but your mind is even more remarkable.
I can be reached at a.valois@private.vm if you would like to talk about your research in more detail at any time.
Until we cross paths once more, Gabriel.
Emotions battling inside her, she gazed at the note. Glad he hadn't just vanished? Anger at the blatant euphemism that she would want to "discuss her research further"? Or disappointment that a hotel notecard was all that remained after three days of intense connection?
She muttered, "Get it together, Lily," and reached for her clothing. "You were aware of what this was."
A fling at a conference. Not much more. Both of them would be going back to their real lives doing whatever "international relations" meant in whatever nation he truly came from, and hers in Boston with her lab, mice, and dwindling funds.
Eager to get out of the suite, which now seemed like a dream, she hurriedly gathered her things. She had to meet with Gustafson on the last day of the conference. It had been nice to divert her attention for three nights, but she had to face reality.
Julia's text message, "Conference closing in 30," buzzed on her phone as she waited for the elevator. Where have you been?
Instinctively keeping those stolen nights to herself, she hadn't told him about Gabriel. Despite her careful maintenance of their professional boundaries, Julia's desire to be more than colleagues had been evident for months.
Even so, it would be awkward at best to explain a three-day disappearance to an enigmatic stranger.
She responded that she was finishing up the presentation changes for Gustafson. She had honed her notes in between spellbinding sex and engaging conversation, so it wasn't totally a lie.
The last networking session and closing remarks went by quickly. Even though she knew he was no longer there, Lily found herself looking around the crowd for a tall man with sharp blue eyes.
Later, when Gustafson came toward her, his face unintelligible, she made herself concentrate.
"Dr. James." He gave her a firm handshake. "Your presentation was fascinating."
"Mr. Gustafson, thank you."
"Unfortunately, we're drastically cutting back on our genetics portfolio, as you may have heard."
The words came like a physical blow even though they were expected. "I am aware that funding is competitive, but our research has a lot of promise"
"Yes." He gave her a small folder. For this reason, I've suggested a six-month extension. Modest financial support to follow your strategy of enzyme stabilization."
Lily blinked. "Six months?"
"Demonstrate clear progress in that timeframe, and we'll discuss longer-term support." His eyes did not meet his smile. "Your ties to the Vallémont research community are of special interest to us."
"My connections?"
"We have taken note of your conversations with the Vallémont delegation. A project's viability is increased when it has several funding sources. He nodded and went on to the next investigator.
She opened the folder; her brow furrowed in confusion. She only had enough money for six months to keep her lab operating, but it was better than nothing.
However, the delegation from Vallémont? She couldn't remember anyone from Vallémont specifically, but she'd talked to dozens of researchers in the last few days.
Except... No. It isn't possible. It was a coincidence that Gabriel and the syndrome had the same last name. It just so happened that he had brought up the Vallémont Royal Medical Institute. That his private email ended in ".vm" Vallémont's country code was a coincidence.
There are too many coincidences.
Her fingers shaking, she took out her tablet and typed in "Vallémont royal family." Formal events and official portraits filled the screen. Gabriel was standing next to an older, austere man with a crown.
However, he wasn't referred to as Gabriel in the caption.
Crown Prince Gabriel Valois of Vallémont, His Royal Highness, attends the opening of the new research wing at the Royal Medical Institute.
She almost dropped the tablet. She had stayed with a prince for three nights. had discussed genetic science, engaged in philosophical debates, and engaged in activities with the heir apparent to a European throne that were undoubtedly outside the bounds of royal protocol.
Nor had he bothered to bring it up.