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Chapter 4

At the restaurant, Alice found her parents on their usual table. They got up and greeted her. Her mother, same stature and lighter brown hair. And her father, taller than them, gave her a bear hug. "There's my girl." He said proudly.

"We are so excited for you, sweetie." Julia said as they sat down.

"I propose a toast." Carl said, lifting his glass. "To my beautiful, genius daughter. May all your dreams come true."

As they put their glasses down, Alice took a look around the restaurant. A few tables next to them she saw someone familiar, well, kind of familiar. The elevator stranger was looking at her. She got chills and smiled politely as he resumed his conversation with another gentleman at the table. Both of them were wearing suits. They must work together.

As her parents engaged in conversation between each other she stole some quick glances at the stranger. He was so handsome and he carried himself so professionally. He had strong arms, you could see the bulging muscles through his suit. And his hands, the way he spoke with his hands. She strained, trying to listen to his voice. All she heard him say was sorry that day and it sounded deep, but she wanted to hear him have a conversation. Then he smiled and she found herself smiling too. His smile was contagious.

"Alice?" Carl called.

She quickly looked at her father, breaking the trance. "Yes?"

"What's on your mind, honey? We've been calling you."

"Just happy, I guess."

"If it isn't my favorite family." Alice heard from behind. She knew that voice. She gritted her teeth, hoping she was mistaken.

"Landon, son!" Carl said, getting up to greet him. She hated him for calling him son. Carl always said Landon was like the son he never had.

"Carl, Julia, how are you doing this wonderful night?" Landon said, coming into sight hugging Julia.

"We are doing wonderful. We haven't seen you in forever. Thought you had forgotten about us." Julia said, hitting his hand.

"No, I've just been busy. With graduation around the corner and looking for internships, I was going crazy. But the greatest thing happened today. Thomas and Clark called me and offered me an internship at their firm."

"No way!" Alice said, slamming her hand on the table breaking her silence.

"What a coincidence, here we are celebrating Alice for getting hired by them too." Carl said proudly.

"Really? Seems we will be working together. You don't know how happy that makes me." Landon said giving her that smile that used to make her forget everything but that wasn't working for her anymore.

"Well, it doesn't make me happy!" Alice stood up. "It seems like you keep weaseling your way into my life one way or another. I have no break from you."

"Alice Fletcher! Manners." Her mother muttered looking around the packed restaurant. All eyes on them.

"No, mom. I'm done with him. I made that perfectly clear and he still won't give up. Isn't it pathetic, Landon?" She looked back at the stranger's table but he was gone, she was glad about that. Didn't need someone from her new job watching her outburst. "Excuse me, I'm going to the ladies room." She excused herself and walked away, leaving them staring after her.

As she hurried into the ladies room, she crashed into a strong chest. As she looked up to apologize, she found herself looking up at the stranger's deep blue eyes. "Woah, are you okay?" Said the deepest voice she had ever heard.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention." She said as he helped her steady.

"No worries. It seems that you're running away from someone. Is it that gentleman at your table you screamed at?"

She covered her face in embarrassment with her hands. "Oh, you saw that?"

"To be fair, the whole restaurant saw. No reason to be embarrassed." He said as he pulled her hands away. "I've seen you before. Have we met?"

"Kind of. We saw each other on the elevator at Thomas and Clark's on Monday."

"I knew when I saw you tonight I'd seen that face somewhere. You're too pretty to forget." He said as she blushed. "My name is Mike, Mike Cunningham." He said, offering her his hand.

She stared at his hand before placing hers in his and shaking. "Alice, Alice Fletcher."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Fletcher."

She smiled as he said her name. "Look, I don't want to cause a bad impression. I just got a job as an intern at the firm. I know my behavior looks bad, but I am not a bad person. I don't want this to make a negative impact at my job. I'm totally a different person. If you work there, could we keep this between us?"

"You have nothing to worry about. I don't work at the firm." He said as a look of disappointment came over her. "But don't look so disappointed, I do business with the firm. So, I'm in and out all the time." He smiled at her.

"It would be nice to see a friendly face." She said, smiling back. "Well, I should be getting back. They must be worried, specially the way I stormed out."

"Sure, no problem." He said as she started to walk away. "Alice?" He called her.

She quickly turned around. "Yes?"

"Would you like to exchange numbers?"

Her throat was dry, she didn't know what to say. She's never been asked for her number before. She's only been in one relationship her whole life. And he was still a stranger. But wasn't that how people got to know each other? Plus, he seemed like a nice guy. She basically knew where he worked. She would really like to get to know him. "Sure, I would love to." She said handing him her phone for him to put his number as he did the same.

"Alright, Alice. I'll be in touch." He said walking away as Landon appeared.

"Alice, are you okay? Was that man bothering you?" Landon asked, staring after Mike.

"No, Landon. I was actually having a nice conversation with him. Now leave me alone!" She started to walk away.

"Please, can we talk?" He said, grabbing her arm.

"Let go of me, or I'll scream."

"Dammit, Alice. Don't you think you caused enough scenes already? Hear me out for once."

"For once? All you do is talk, you never shut up. I'm done listening and I'm done with you, Landon. I mean it, leave me alone or I'll tell everyone the reason we broke up, including your parents." She said turning around and walking back to her parents.