He looked over the tablet in his hands.

"You're sure this is her?" his eyes could practically pop out.

Megan nodded in confirmation.

Adrian touched the screen, his fingers delicately glazing over the photo of Veronica. He had asked Megan for more information on her. He had the resources, he could find out anything he wanted about her—he could find out what made her tick.

Last night was crazy—too crazy, even for him.

He had been stunned—he couldn't say from what exactly.

Was it her kiss, her surprised breaths, or the glow of lust in her eyes—real and genuine lust for him. He could see it, he could hear it, and he could feel it. His body reacted—not that he had practice withholding his lust, but it surged forward without him. His body clung to her, feeling her deep breaths and moans—it thrilled him, making him swell immediately.

Then, it was over—and she ran. He felt like he did back in the gym—when his body was pumping and he had been knocked around in boxing—but, this was way worse—and better, too. Adrian hadn't decided what to make of it, yet.

But this— "This is unexpected."

Megan nodded again, "That must be why she's so damn well loved here—she's on her A-game, making sure she always kept this job."

She sounded indignant, like she knew that Veronica had something to hide.

Adrian couldn't believe it—a woman like Veronica—getting curled up into the underground markets?

Was she capable of getting into some nasty business.

The profile was a few pages, it said the basics first—age, blood type, family, etc.

But, then it got interesting.

"A woman running from her past—and it's a deep past—" his eyes glazed over the information.

The file said she was in debt. She had gone to the authorities, telling them that her ex-boyfriend had spent her money and used her information. Her debt was owed to some real bad guys. But, no one could find him, and after all—it was all in her name. She couldn't escape it.

Veronica had been trapped.

His thoughts ran over to last night—the woman under him was sweet and innocent, she couldn't harm a fly. But, he barely knew her.

Her other information showed her social media—displaying boring pictures of her and her fiance.

Veronica had introduced them like she said. He didn't like the guy, Brian.

He was a slim guy and full of himself—the kind of guy that says they "know" the Prince—the ones who talk too much and flirts too much. Adrian knew those kind well, he considered them scum.

Adrian could almost smell the dishonesty off him—Adrian was a player, but at least he was honest about it.

"You need to watch yourself," Megan said as he laid down the tablet.

His mind was racing—this Brian didn't seem so selfless—did he know that Veronica was involved with the black markets?

Something in his gut told him no.

Megan laid down some of his new clothes. She wasn't facing him but he could feel her worry.

"I don't know what you mean," he tried to sound nonchalant. But, his voice betrayed him—and she knew him well.

"All I am saying sir—is that we came here for you—and you're acting unusual with her..."

He hadn't bothered to tell Megan about his dry humping, and mind blowing make out session with Veronica.

Adrian got up and went to the dresser, finishing up his outfit. He pulled his hair into a sleek shine—letting some of the blond waves curl towards his face, "And I am—I'm working on the bride thing."

It felt like a lie—the only woman out of the group that popped out was Cressida. And, Adrian wasn't convinced that it was for good reasons.

She walked towards him and clasped a shining piece of metal to his wrist, his favorite watch. It glistened in the room's soft light.

"Sir— you can't afford distractions, and right now—you're not doing a very good job," she eyed him over her glasses. The bags under eyes had darkened, he wondered if she worried about his future as much as she did.

If the worst happened, if his brothers took his throne—would he still get to keep Megan? The answer in his mind said a reluctant, no. He couldn't afford to lose her too, to lose the last of his family.

"I'm not getting distracted—" he said defensively, he didn't want to think about all the hard choices coming his way.

Can't I just have fun?

She sighed in exasperation, "You're not foolin' me—your attention to Veronica is beyond normal—it's too late for those flings, get your act together."

Her words stung, like he was a child getting a scolding—like a child who didn't know when the game was over.

He walked away from her, to the other side of the room, snatching the dinner jacket off the hanger, "I said that I wasn't do anything—"

"Enough!"

He snapped up in surprise. She was glaring at him, all her worries showing, "If you don't find the bride, then Parliament will say no, and I will not let you ruin your future—for Christ's sake, we barely got started!"

She threw her hands in exasperation, sitting down on the bed.

He went to her, he knew she was worried. He sat next to her, placing a hand on her knee. She took a deep breath.

He didn't want her to worry—it would be like making his mother worry over him all over again. He could listen to her for once.

"Meg—don't worry OK, I know what's at stake, and I'm going to do what's right—Veronica is not distracting me."

He tried to smile at her, but as he said the words, he felt like he was lying—so far, Veronica had riddled him, she stood against him, and he loved it. But, he didn't want Meg to know that—to know that he was feeling something that could ruin everything. He told himself that he would be stronger for the both of them, he would prove to himself that he only saw Veronica as an object and the servant she was.