Stefan drained his glass and set it on the wet bar. "Whatever Libby decides, you'll be okay in the end. Eventually the media will find someone else to pick on and this whole thing will blow over."
Alex snorted. "I wish I could believe that."
"It will. And in the meantime, I'm here to talk if you need anything. But for now, I'd better get going. I'm helping Jenna in the lab today."
Jenna … That was the name of the lab technician they'd brought over from the United States. Alex followed Stefan to the door, feeling like a total jerk. He'd been so absorbed in his own life that he hadn't paid much attention to what was happening in his family's lives.
"Thanks, Stefan. For everything" They stood there awkwardly for the moment, then gave each other a quick hug.
"I'll try and get Mother to leave you alone for today at least," Stefan said.
"I appreciate it."
He nodded, and Alex closed the door behind his brother. It felt nice to know that someone cared.
His phone buzzed on his bedside table, and Alex rushed to pick it up, his heart in his throat. Maybe Libby was done thinking and wanted to talk. But it was just a text from Charlotte, letting him know she was thinking about him and hoped he was doing okay.
Alex dropped the phone back to his bed. He wanted to text Libby and demand she see him. But he knew he had to respect her wishes and give her space. He'd be the biggest jerk alive if he pushed her after everything else he'd done.
Tears burned at his eyes and he quickly blinked. In just a few hours, he had a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new wing of the children's hospital. And princes didn't get to take sick days.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Alex took a deep breath, then stepped out of the car and onto the red carpet furled out in front of the hospital. The cool October air nipped at his nose as he raised a hand to the small crowd gathered. Cameras immediately began flashing, but at least it wasn't an overwhelming amount-probably less than a dozen. The new cancer wing of a children's hospital was news, but not a big enough story for stations to send out more than a single reporter and cameraman.
That was fine with Alex. He'd wanted to send Stefan to the ribbon cutting in his place, but Maggie had insisted it would come across as a sign of weakness to Durhams. That was the last thing they wanted right now. The sharks smelled blood, and they were circling.
The last thirty-six hours had been excruciating. Alex had picked up his phone and dialed Libby's number dozens of times, only to hang up before sending the call through. She'd asked for space and he was determined to respect her request. He owed her that much at least.
The crowd wasn't too chatty. Reporters stayed silent as Alex strode up the red carpet and extended his hand toward the doctor waiting for him. He was the chief of something-or-other at the hospital. His graying hair promised years of experience, while his button-up shirt, tie, and pristinely white lab coat suggested that these days he spent more time on paperwork than patients.
"Prince Alexander," the man said, extending a hand. "It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness."
"Happy to be here." Alex held onto the doctor's hand for a few seconds as they both smiled and posed for the cameras. The gleaming glass doors and red ribbon strung across the entrance would make for a striking photo. Maggie would be pleased.
Dr. What's-His-Face stepped up to the podium set off to one side of the doors and tapped the microphone. The reporters quieted while red lights blinked on near camera lenses. There weren't many people in the crowd, perhaps thirty or forty patients and family members bundled against the autumn chill in coats and jackets. A few children sat in wheelchairs, their obviously hairless heads covered in knit caps. Alex swallowed. His life was in shambles, but he still had a lot to be grateful for.
"Thank you so much for coming today," Dr. What's-His-Name said.
Alex watched the faces of the crowd. They blinked up at him, smiling like they were pleased he was here. Was it possible that not everyone in Durham despised him?
"We are so honored to have the Royal Family's support of our hospital. We couldn't have opened this wing without their generous donation. Because of their continued support … "
Alex tuned out the speech. Wind whipped through the trees, rustling the leaves that had started to drop sometime in the last week. Cameras flashed occasionally while cameramen with boom mics recorded the whole thing.
Hopefully the segments would last longer than fifteen seconds and generate some positive press. It was probably an interesting enough human interest story to snag at least a few minutes of air time. Alex would take all the help he could get. Isla had certainly done her best to undo everything Alex and Libby had accomplished over the past month and a half.
" … and will further cancer research … " Dr. Important droned on.
Alex lazily scanned the crowd, his practiced royal smile firmly in place. The usual reporters had been sent to cover the event-no one especially antagonist toward him, but also no one that had treated him especially well during the whole breakup fiasco. His eyes landed on a woman wearing a low-cut blouse and fitted blazer, her golden blonde hair glinting in the sunlight. Something was oddly familiar about her, but the wide brim of her cream-colored fascinator hid her face.
She turned, as though sensing his gaze, and smiled up at him. Alex felt like a bucket of ice water had just been dumped over his head. Only years of training kept his expression in place as he stared at Isla. One corner of her mouth lifted in a smirk.
What was she doing here? Alex's mind whirled as Dr. Long Winded continued to expound on the features of the new cancer wing.
Isla shifted, brushing her shoulder against that of the reporter standing next to her. Alex closed his eyes, sure the move was intentional. This couldn't be happening. The reporter did a double take while Isla murmured an apology. Alex clenched his hands into fists, trying to stop the trembling. They'd recognized her. No doubt that had been Isla's plan all along.
The reporter leaned over to her cameraman and whispered something, catching the attention of another reporter. Within seconds a low rumble rolled over the crowd. Isla didn't acknowledge the attention, but her smile widened.
What was her game? Alex swallowed back the bile rising in his throat. She wouldn't be here if she didn't have a plan.
Polite clapping filtered through the small gathered crowd and Alex realized they were all looking at him expectantly. He cleared his throat and stepped up to the podium.
"On behalf of the royal family, I'd like to thank the entire hospital staff for their tireless work and effort on behalf of the sick children of Durham."
Isla licked her lips and pulled on the bottom one suggestively with her teeth.
Alex blinked, the unexpectedly flirtatious gesture making him lose his train of thought-not because he was attracted to Isla, but because he couldn't figure out what she was doing. She'd cheated on him. Obviously their relationship had meant nothing to her. And now Alex had seen her true colors. She meant nothing but heartache and stress.
Alex cleared his throat, refocusing on the crowd. A boy in a wheelchair sat at the front wearing a cheerful yellow knit cap.
"It is our hope that this new wing will continue to serve the children of Durham and help make a difficult time in their lives a little bit easier. Cancer research … "
Isla brushed a lock of hair behind one ear, throwing her shoulders back so that it pushed her amble bosom forward. The tightly fitted skirt and blazer bordered on indecent. Alex has seen swimming shorts longer than her skirt.
" … and we are excited to see what our continued partnership with the Castlebridge Children's Hospital will bring," Alex finished. He spoke mechanically, his brain on autopilot as he recited the memorized words.
There would be no positive press from this event now. Instead of focusing on the millions of dollars the royal family had donated to the hospital, every station would focus on Isla's presence at the event, and what that meant for Alex's relationship with Libby.
The relationship that might very well be over.
More clapping filtered through the crowd. Alex stepped back and accepted the oversized pair of scissors offered to him. He paused with the doctor, each of them holding one side of the scissors poised over the ribbon, and then they sliced it in two as the cameras flashed.
Alex had to get out of here before Isla cornered him and caused yet another scene. He moved to leave, but the doctor stepped in front of him.
"It was such an honor to meet you, Your Highness," he said. "My granddaughter is a huge fan. Would it be too impertinent to ask for a picture for her?"
The timing was awful, but Alex didn't have the heart to turn down such a simple request. "Of course not. Tell her thank you for the support."