The Next Duke

Two

"Stay safe," her brother said after giving her a tight embrace.

Lillian gave her brother another warm hug since he was the only man in her life now. "I'll miss you."

Andrew George Cortez smiled at his sister. "I know. I'll miss you too."

She looked around and saw families and boyfriends and girl friends saying their farewells. She smiled faintly. She was looking at a bunch of graduating college kids only a few years younger than her and they were all full of life and ready for an adventure. Well, they were mostly going to stay in some ratty old mansion and an even more ratty old college dorm like Dean Rogers said.

Dean Rogers looked at her, "You might want to let go of your brother, Lillian, unless he's "going with you?"

"I might join them during the holidays, but then again, I am new at work, I don't think I will her such luxury," her brother said and smiled at her.

She chucked him jokingly on his chin and then their flight was finally called for final boarding. "Are we all ready to go?"she asked.

There were several nods and a few sighs but all of them were ready. Anya smiled at them. She took her hand carry from her brother after giving him one of her famous looks and walked into the gate. Perhaps she needed to exercise her brain or something.

The flight gave her one hell of a headache. Her head was pounding as though something was hammering away on her forehead. She hated it and it was giving her too much pain. After taking two ibuprofen pills, she looked at her charges. Ten students all bright and cheerful. They were ready now waiting for the baggage caruosel when they realize Lillian's luggage wasn't coming out.

"Doc?" one of the students asked.

Lillian rubbed her temples and wished the pills would kick in sooner. He went to the security and it didn't take her ten seconds to find out that the security was looking through her tattered suitcase or rather what was left of it. "I will be pressing charges against those who participated in whatever you would call this."

"You and what army?" one of them asked.

Her students all lined up behind her. "I do not suppose that you and your team are prepared for an international incident in your hands for this sort of bullying? What is your evidence that you need to go through and destroy my things given that I have no criminal records in my country or in this one? What have I done to warrant such treatment?"

"Dr. Lillian Marie Silvano Cortez, a very Spanish name, your name has turned up quite nicely in an international list of criminals. So we are putting you under arrest," one of the officers said smugly and produced a pair of silver handcuffs.

Her students gasped, not believing a single word. "On what grounds? What criminal act? You cannot simply arrest Dr. Cortez under baseless criminal suspicion."

There was a long pause and the security guard slapped the handcuffs on Lillian's wrists. "You're coming with us."

"No! We demand to see a lawyer!" the students began a tug of war with the security. Lillian was getting sick.

"Stop it!" a voice called out.

Everyone froze at the authority in the man's voice. "What in hell is going on here?" he demanded as he glared at the scene before him. The poor woman was extremely pale and greenish. "Dr. Cortez?" he whispered in horror.

"We have captured your criminal, your grace."

The Duke's demeanor visibly changed. His eyes hardened and narrowed and he looked ready to kill. "I have never been surrounded by incompetent idiots! You! I cannot even begin to comprehend! Dr. Cortez is a VIP. She and her students are here under my invitation. Now, tell me, whose bright idea was this?"