Alice and the Hot Banker Heir

Not again...

Sure enough, there was a cafeteria that was a mix between a cozy café and a modern chill-out club complete with bean bags, play stations, wooden tables with colourful chairs and modern lamps hanging over them, there was a kitchen with a cooking station and a fridge as well as an assorted meal section where Alice could help herself freely but firstly, she decided to get a cold water refill and was on her way back to their chosen table when she slammed into someone, spilling the water down their waistcoat.

“I’m so sorry!” she cried.

“You must be joking…” said the man, in a somewhat familiar, rich baritone voice.

“I don’t believe it.” Replied Alice, absolutely stunned.

“Really, if you’re that mad at me, you need to at least tell me why!” Richard laughed.

“If anybody has the right to be mad, it’s you but I did not do it on purpose, I’m so sorry…” rambled Alice, reaching for the napkins on one of the cupboards. She felt all eyes on her, some folks were stunned, others were openly laughing, others look on with pity.

Dayna had her hand across her mouth.

The worker behind the assorted meal section reached towards Richard, gesturing that he should give him his waistcoat for drying “I can take care of it Mr. Carrington.” He said.

At this, Alice looked up at Richard and silently prayed for the cafeteria floor to open up and swallow her whole. Leave it to her to absolutely c**k something up so royally. She’d just emptied her drink on the second male Carrington heir, for the second time, for no good reason!!

Although included in the family’s biography on the website, Richard was the most elusive of the Carringtons. Tabloids had nothing on him. He was not even listed on the bank’s website! No picture of him was on any of the articles in which he was mentioned and she hadn’t really bothered about him – until now. What had she done?

Richard looked at her expectantly. What was she supposed to do or say? She felt red creeping up her neck and into her face once more, but this time, tears were accompanying it. Oh no, she was not going to melt down in public. Handing him the napkins, she raced outside the cafeteria and into the nearest room she could find, which was an empty office with no glass walls apart from one which overlooked the main street in which the bank was located.

In her haste, Alice did not notice Dayna getting up to go after her, nor did she see Dayna stopping upon realising that Richard was following her as well. Hearing a knock on the door, the brown-haired girl thought it was her new Australian friend, certainly not the dark-haired gentleman that had entered the room.

“I’ve really made a mess of it, haven’t I?” she said, wiping her tears away. “Should I pack my things?”

At this, Richard’s serious expression turned into a laugh. He had a lovely laugh. “My family and colleagues will be poking fun at me for months, but no, Alice. You are definitely not fired for pouring your water on me again…”

Straightening up, Alice became defensive. “I would never do such a thing on purpose!”

At this, Richard elevated his hand in mock surrender “I know that and I would never accuse you of having ill intentions. So, you’re Eman’s new recruit, huh?” he said, grabbing a computer chair he found beside the door. Rolling it to her side, he sat down and gave her a smile – he actually seemed amused.

“When I’m not dropping water on people, I can be pretty good at compliance,” Said Alice, smiling back. “I did not know who you were yesterday – nor today for that matter! Not until the guy behind the counter called you Mr. Carrington. How are you not famous like your brother? Were you undercover or something?” she finished with a small laugh.

“No,” he smirked. “Almost, though. I spent a few years in the FCIA investigating financial crime and only joined now that I know my brother is running the show. I would never have stepped in before my father retired. I’m not even in the bank directory yet! I never wanted to be famous like Edward and, after a motorcycle accident when I finished college, I spent a year living like a hermit at a rehab centre. And I still have the scar to show for it…thank God, I didn’t end up maimed or dead.”

Turning away from her, he ran his hand through the short hair at the back of his head and Alice could see the scar that almost divided his skull in half. She knew that whatever happened, had to be bad and Richard would have had the fight of his life to get over it.

No matter how much she wanted to despise him for not telling her who he was in the first place, for being the boss’s arrogant but charming brother and for being so damn good looking…she couldn’t help but feel admiration and dare she say it, attraction to this man who could not be more than 32 years of age yet had gone through a trauma that would have left most in a coffin underground.

She was sure he could be insufferable when he wanted to be, but his eyes were so kind…he was not the poster boy for good looks the way Edward was. His beauty was different. He was slightly more down to earth, more rugged in his shirt rolled up to his elbows, to his dark locks being a little longer than they should be, almost covering his dark eyes.

“Edward tells me I’m like Frankenstein’s monster…” he quipped, making her burst into laughter. Turning back, he joined her. “See, I’m happy you’re smiling again.”

Why was he looking at her like that? His smile was not the usual half smile or smirk. It was warm, sweet and his dark eyes twinkled.

Alice looked at her shoes. “Thank you for pulling me together again. I guess I should get back to Dayna before she launches a search party.” She said in a low voice, getting up from her chair, prompting him to do the same.

“Ah yes, I wouldn’t want her to come after me. Quite a character that girl, please don’t let her think I bullied you or something.” He opened the door for her.

“I’ll do my best.” She promised, making her way out and waving softly before using the stairs to make her way back down to the floor.