A Beautiful Woman of Science and Other Absurdities | ✔️ [COMPLETED]

Chapter 28

The next day, Kylian stood outside the building of the research offices of the National Laboratory. He dressed a bit nicer than usual today. He loitered in front of the building, but he shifted his weight from side to side. It looked like he might have indigestion.

Viviane told me to wait outside the building for her and then we'd head out together. I hope this is the right time. What if she already left? What if I'm at the wrong entrance? Wait, there's only one entrance to this building. I must be at the right place! I got here 40 minutes early...she couldn't have left me, did she? Maybe I didn't hear her correctly? Where could she be?

Yes, inquiring minds wanted to know. Where could Viviane be at this designated time?

But Viviane was not late. In fact, she arrived right on time. Kylian spotted her coming toward him and his mind relaxed, but that would not last. Since he only had eyes for Viviane, he had not noticed until a bit later that she walked with a uniformed companion. Right away, Kylian knew who it was. Luc! What's he doing here???

Viviane and Luc reached where Kylian stood waiting. Viviane had the biggest smile and effused giddy happiness about her mini-adventure today.

"Hi Kylian!" she said. "I'm so happy that the two of you will be coming with me today to the test shoot. I have no worries at all now, especially with Luc here, too."

If Viviane looked happy, Kylian looked the opposite.

"Aren't you supposed to be doing Hall Monitor duty?" he asked Luc.

"Hey, it's Saturday," Luc said. "No school today, ya know?"

Kylian, still displeased, turned to Viviane. "I thought you were upset with him yesterday."

"I was," said Viviane, "but then you convinced me 'better-safe-than-sorry,' so I had to apologize to Luc and he said the same thing you did about wanting to come with me to the test shoot. Imagine that? All men must think alike, hum?" Viviane sounded so innocent it melted Kylian's heart, but it also maddened him that he had no one to blame for this unfortunate turn of events.

Kylian came to the realization that he was not going to be getting that "quality time" with Viviane that he hoped for, at least not with Luc hanging around, and he just opened a package of new socks to wear today too!

Starting to feel sorry for himself and having his hopes dashed, Kylian caught himself from flushing down a toilet of misery and decided not to let this plot twist ruin his day with Viviane. He resolved to make the best of it.

"Come on guys, let's go!" A joyful Viviane called out to the two men to hurry before she missed her appointment with Acel Yu.

Since the University and the adjoining National Laboratory were located in the city center where all the cultural excitement happened with its museums, theatres, retail shops as well as being the seat of government, it turned out that Acel Yu's private studio was just on the opposite side of the city center. To get there meant a brisk twenty-minute walk across downtown. As the three friends, or perhaps it would better to say Viviane and her two bodyguards, made the quick walk, they passed through a street market where vendors hawked their various foods, souvenirs, artwork and other gaudy products. Being a weekend, the crowd here was thicker than usual with shoppers and lookers trying to entertain themselves.

Luc noticed the crowds thickening as the party of three walked along. His eyes scanned everything until he could not keep up with it all.