My Professor(38)

He stops on the step-and-repeat for only a moment, enough for one decent photo, and now he’s only steps away. I stand frozen in shock as he nears.

The woman holding my ID calls out to him. “Mr. Mercier, may I have a word?”

Oh shit.

OH SHIT.

I would hightail it out of there right that instant, ID be damned, but the way is blocked.

Alexander hears the woman, looks up, and spots me.

Obviously, it would be wonderful if, by some miracle, he knew to play along with my plan.

He pauses for a moment—making everyone around him pause as well—and stares up at me.

I’ve never seen my brother, or pseudo-brother, or whatever the hell I should call him, in real life. He’s taller than I imagined him to be, handsome in a way that makes me feel proud for some inane reason. Whereas Emmett took after Frédéric, Alexander took after their mother. His features are open and friendly where Emmett’s are severe, almost cold.

Alexander has medium-length brown hair he’s combed back for the event, but he hasn’t bothered to shave his facial hair, only trim it. His prominent Roman nose pairs well with his thick brows and wideset jaw. I hunt for similarities between us only to realize belatedly that there shouldn’t be any.

“Emelia,” he says, breaking out in a huge smile before finishing his ascent up the stairs, coming nearer, and folding me into a tight hug.

I’m so taken aback that for the entire duration of it, I forget to breathe. Though to be fair, I’m not sure I could even if I wanted to because he has me squeezed so tightly.

He steps back but doesn’t let go of me. He stares and stares, his gaze roving over my face. He looks completely bewildered, and I’m sure I’m wearing a matching expression.

A cameraman shouts Alexander’s name, and he lets go of me at once and steps back, clearing his throat.

“Is there some issue here?” he asks, looking at the small group of people blocking my way into the hotel.

The woman who has my ID immediately hands it back. “None. Sorry. Clerical error on our part. Ms. Mercier, you’re welcome to go in as your brother’s guest.”

Alexander peers at me with a spark of amusement. I busy myself by putting away my ID then hurry up to the door, anxious to get away from the crowd and cameras.

“You aren’t going to run off, are you?” he asks, coming after me.

“I just…want to get inside before they revoke my invitation.”

He laughs. “They won’t. You’re my guest.”

I take my bottom lip between my teeth for a moment before sighing and turning back to him. We’re in the foyer of the hotel now. The rest of his entourage is still checking in with the woman outside, so beyond a few people mingling here and there, we’re relatively alone.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to cause a scene out there. I didn’t actually expect there to be an issue getting in.”

He tucks his hands into his tuxedo pockets and shrugs. “It’s a swanky event. There’s always tight security at these things.” Then he raises a brow. “Do you routinely crash galas?”

I blush and shake my head. “I actually came here hoping to see you. Well…to meet you, actually.” Then I remember something and frown. “Out there, you recognized me. How?”

My mother and I were so careful when I was younger to keep pictures of me off the internet, and I’ve kept up with that ever since, maintaining an extremely low profile out of habit more than anything.

“Well, for one, you look just like Kathleen.”

At the mention of my mother, my throat immediately tightens and tears spring up unexpectedly in the corners of my eyes. No one has said her name aloud to me in so long.

Alexander notices my reaction and frowns.

“I meant that as a sincere compliment. Your mother was beautiful, and you look just like her.”

“Thank you,” I manage, my words barely audible.

“Also…” He smiles cheekily, likely trying to turn my mood around. “I should come clean and admit that I’ve looked you up a time or two. It’s hard to find information about you, but it’s not impossible. Emmett thinks I’m ridiculous, but I can’t help it. I’ve always been so curious.”

So we’re kindred spirits then. It feels good to know I’m not alone in my endless searches of the Mercier family.

The door behind him opens, and at once, the evening catches up to us. The noise from the red carpet floods the foyer, and his friends filter in, laughing and talking as they make a beeline for us, anxious to reclaim their prince. I take a hesitant step back, not quite sure where to go from here.

I wish Alexander and I were alone somewhere quiet so we could talk. I want to know everything about him, about Emmett too, and their childhood. I want to ask him how well he knew my mother, if they spent much time together as one big happy family before she and Frédéric divorced. I’ve imagined scenarios where things played out differently, a life in which we spent Christmases together, and birthdays, and quiet Sunday afternoons.

Alexander glances at his friends with a subtle grimace before turning back toward me. “Listen, tonight is…well, I wouldn’t have picked tonight to meet you for the first time. These events are more work for me than anything. The children’s hospital—”

I hurry to cut him off. “It’s all right. I completely understand.”