Coming Home •cth• 3/3

Chapter One

It was a familiarly cold day in London, the blossom on the trees was gently swaying in the April winds and everyone seemed to be bundled up in warm layers to protect themselves from the bitter air.

Upon finally arriving at the Embassy I swiped my card along the electronic reader and let myself into the Grade II listed building that was decorated with Australian memorabilia.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I walked up the marble paved floors and headed into the small cafe that sat at the bottom of the grand stair case and beside the relatively newly installed elevator shafts. My hair was naturally a mid to dark brown, but half way through last year I had decided to dye it blonde. I was purely testing out whether blondes really did have more fun.

As if my morning was a written script I picked up my non-fat caramel latte from Beverly who worked as a barista. I couldn't pin-point the exact time she had started at the Embassy but I did know that was a Perth native and studying Criminology and Justice Studies at Kings College London which had its campus across on the other side of The Strand.

Given that it was just past 7am, the building was very quiet with only cleaners, security guards and the odd consul about. I always got to work early because no matter who much paper work I had finished the night before, my inbox would be full with new inquiries and my desk covered in assignments and internship applications.

"Good morning Minister. I hope your journey in wasn't too disrupted, there were terrible delays on the DLR this morning." Mia Winthrop, my assistant mentioned as I stopped past her desk on the way into my office.

She was a brilliant assistant although it was obvious that was destined for bigger things. Unlike myself she was of pure Australian decent and had been raised in a small town just outside of Hunters Hill which is along Sydney's North Shore.

Her application had come across my desk just over eighteen months ago when I had been promoted to Minister of Domestic Applications. The majority of my day was spent trawling through applications from Australian's who wished to immigrate to the United Kingdoms. Most of the applications that came my way were of families, or those of businessmen who had the sponsorship of their companies. Those were the easy applications.

"Good Morning Mia." I smiled. "I drove in, so thankfully I missed all of the commotion." I added before opening the door into my office.

Just as I had thought, my desk now had three stacks of beige coloured folders neatly piled on it. Luckily I knew that Mia would have arranged them in terms of urgency so that at least gave me somewhere to start.

I placed my coffee onto my desk and placed my black Chanel laptop binder next to it. I proceeded to turn my desktop Mac on, before taking off my coat and scarf and placing them on the coat hanger by the door.

As I was about to sit down and finish my coffee Mia popped her head around the door. "Oh Minister, The Ambassador, Mr Williams has just requested your presence in his office." Mia informed me with a smile before disappearing back to her desk I presume.

Of course the Ambassador was already here, and had I not known him better I would assume that he slept here.

I picked up my coffee cup and my laptop binder and took the short walk to his office which was at the end of the corridor. He had the most amazing office, it was very contemporary which was a great contrast to the rest of the building. The main feature however was the Oak Desk, which had been the desk of the Ambassador, or the High Commissioner to which they had been referred to in the earlier days.

Gently I knocked on the glass panelled door and he signalled for me to enter. He got up from his desk and excitedly walked over. "Alyce, it's so good to see you." He beamed.

He enveloped me into a warm hug before inviting me over to sit down at his desk.

"It's been a while River. How did you enjoy your Easter break?" I replied as I took a seat opposite him.

River Williams was the Australian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and he had picked me from thousands of applications to be his assistant just over four years ago now.

He had taught me everything I know now and as soon as I had completed my Law degree, which I graduated with a First Class Degree with Honours, not to mention top of my class, he offered me a position working at the Embassy.

In those three years since I had graduated I had worked my way up from First Secretary to a Minister - making me the youngest female Minister since the induction of the Embassy.

"It was very pleasant, Charlotte was busy working on her dissertation all holiday, but Olivia was happy to spend some time with her Dad." River smiled as he briefly looked to the picture of his daughters on his desk. "Of course, they went to their mothers as well. I'm glad that we were able to work this divorce amicably." He added.

I nodded. "Oh that sounds lovely. I can't believe that Charlotte is nearly graduating, it's doesn't seem like five minutes ago she was applying to Oxford." I chuckled.

Over the years I had formed a close friendship with River's daughters but more so Charlotte. We were very similar in personality, and she was as smart as her father.

We spent the next ten minutes reminiscing over the past few years which had gone so quick. It still astonished me everything I had achieved since I left Sydney.

"Anyway, the reason I called to meet you is to discuss your 9am appointment." River said with confidence. "I just wanted to give you the heads up on the application since it is slightly unusual for a company to request a certain Minister to approve their application." He said furrowing his brow.

My attention peaked, he was right in saying that that was unusual - it never happened.

"It's Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin and Michael Clifford. They are applying for permanent residency in London." River stated.

My mouth dropped and my heart stopped.

••

Well....it's been four years since I wrote Holographic and I've been reading so many of your comments recently...long story short - it seemed like an appropriate time to start writing the third book.

I hope you will enjoy this is as much as I do...

Whether you shipped Luke and Alyce, or Ashton and Alyce - this story I hope won't disappoint.

Thankyou for all your continued support - It really does meant the world to me!

and there are going to be a few new characters including one of course based on my lovely

Elle

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