Rochester Savings Bank was only a couple blocks down the street. Newly built back in '27, it was a towering four-story building that was impossible to miss. Old money had always dealt with Rochester Savings, despite this being the newest location. Rosalie's father would usually come home from work telling his family about the biggest deal of the day; typically some Wall Street titan looking for an extension of their aging assets. Because of his proximity to such well-known men, George Hale would receive nice bonuses for his part in the deals. The position also afforded the Hale family some invaluable social connections as well, placing them right up next to some of the New York elite.
The sun gleamed against Rosalie's golden blonde curls. Without a hat, upon her mother's odd insistence, she was forced to instead use her hand to shield her eyes from the sun as she looked to make sure the way was clear before crossing the street. She held tight to her father's packed lunch in her other hand. A nearby streetcar honked at her and she jumped in automatic response, almost tripping up the ledge of the sidewalk. The driver leaned out of his window, a cigar perched precariously in his mouth as he smirked smoothly. Rosalie looked over her shoulder to give him a quick once over from her spot on the sidewalk.
The man's hair was thick with pomade- shining like the leather of his car seats. He sat in his Lincoln convertible, which was a deep navy blue. Her eyebrows rose in interest at his impressive car- she had never seen one like that before.
The man in the car noticed her looking back at him and winked. She rolled her eyes, but a small shiver rolled down her spine. The feeling of men watching her was nothing new to Rosalie. Men had watched her walk for most of her teenage years- Vera had always warned her to be more careful. While that ever present chill was always there, Rosalie used it as fuel. While Rosalie's family wasn't necessarily famous, they were well-known enough and well-off enough that Rosalie wouldn't think any man in Rochester would be so bold as to try something against her. That and she couldn't deny she liked compliments- even if it was the wrong sort.
Rosalie shook her head, flicking a stray strand of hair behind her as a she reached for the front door of the bank. She stepped inside and blinked at the abrupt contrast from the bright sunny day outside. The bank, despite its massive size, did not have very many windows. The jade and ochre walls loomed over her in their sheer enormity. She often visited her father at work when he worked late to bring him the dinner he missed with his family, especially since they had been in this building that was so close to their house for the past almost five years. A couple of the tellers looked up at her and smiled, waving her on. She slipped up the first flight of steps to the first office on the right, finding the mahogany door her father's name pasted on the door in golden letters. She smiled softly and knocked.
"Ah! There's my little Rosie!" Rosalie frowned as her father's proud voice boomed from behind her. She turned, still grasping the satchel holding her father's lunch tightly.
Her father, blond and statuesque as his daughter, was coming up the steps. He removed a handkerchief from his breast pocket and patted the sheen of sweat that had appeared on his brow. Rosalie grinned walked to give him a warm hug.
"I must have just missed you!" He exclaimed as they went into his office.
"It's quite alright!" Rosalie brushed it off. "Pretty scatter-brained aren't we today, father?" She teased as she handed him his lunch. He took it, and sat at his desk to unpack it. Rosalie took a seat at the deep seated leather backed chair across from her father's desk. She crossed her ankles and smoothed out the skirt of her dress as her father rambled on. "I went out the back entrance, l was looking for a client I was supposed to be meeting. Well, I say client, but his father owns the bank. He contacted me about his investments. I suppose… Ah!"
Rosalie looked up at her father curiously, but he wasn't looking at her. His blue eyes widened as he hopped up from his chair quickly, moving his lunch to the side. "Mr. King!"
Rosalie followed her father's gaze to find a tall, lean man standing casually in the doorframe. Her eyes widened and she felt glued to her seat as she recognized him.
"Oh no, Mr. Hale, please call me Royce." The man spoke with a lazy tone that oozed old money. His arms crossed across his smart grey suit that hugged his frame in a way that insinuated it couldn't be anything but tailor made for him specifically. His cool grey eyes flashed handsomely as he looked directly at Rosalie- who openly stared from her seat.
Mr. Hale cleared his throat, making a swift glance at his daughter and she understood. Standing, she slowly walked over to him, lost in thought, and her eyes narrowed. Automatically she raised her hand, as she had been conditioned to do in her years of cotillion. In the presence of such a well-dressed, smart man she suddenly felt as middle class as her family really was. The air of superiority Rosalie had gripped so tightly vanished as soon as he had opened the door.
"Well, Royce, let me introduce you to my daughter. This is Rosalie."
Rosalie couldn't help her automatic reaction; her eyebrows raised as Royce took her hand in his, pressing his lips to her fingers, maintaining his eye contact with her. Rosalie's mind raced.
This was the man who had honked at her outside just minutes ago.
Her father cleared his throat awkwardly again, also searching to fill the sudden silence. He continued speaking to his daughter as if they weren't just talking about Royce moments before.
"Rose, Royce here is Mr. King's son," father reiterated, the set of his eyes hardened into a meaningful glance that father and daughter shared for a moment and she understood immediately.
His father owns the bank.
Royce King was the richest man in town. This man that stood in front of her now in her father's office, the man that had honked at her in the street- was the son of the richest man in all of Rochester. He was Royce King II.
Rosalie nodded to herself as the pieces all seemed to fit together, but it probably looked like her acknowledgement of their meeting to the two other men in the room. She looked down at her fine white lace dress, smoothing out her skirt again. She saw the point of dressing so finely for such a short trip to 'deliver a lunch'.
The Kings had money, despite the abysmal state of the economy, and- as Rosalie studied his face- he looked no more than early to mid-twenties. This was what her parents had raised her for; repeatedly remarking her good looks- she could marry rich and help provide for their thoroughly middle class family.
Rosalie took a deep breath and smiled at Royce. While her family had somehow still maintained stability, the reality was that money was scarce. Romance could be fashioned, but the necessity was a marriage to a man who could provide for the family was invaluable. Rosalie thought back to her walk with Vera- her marriage to a carpenter was risky. The instability there was terrifying and Rosalie wasn't sure the match would last despite their love. It just wasn't smart.
"Hello, Mr. King," Rosalie tilted her head as she observed him more. "I was just here to bring my father something from home, but I think I should be headed back now. My mother probably needs me around the house. Besides, I'd hate to distract from business." She swiftly glanced at her father and he subtly nodded his approval.
She was being short, yes, but not rude. Not overstaying a welcome or distracting from the business- a purposeful and tasteful display that proved that she knew how the business world demanded respect. A dutiful future wife. A chill ran up her spine.
"Of course," he nodded sternly. "Well, it was lovely to meet you, Rosalie. I hope I get to see you again soon."
"Likewise," she gave a polite curtsey before she turned to return to her father, actively giving her dress a little turn so that it would flair flatteringly as she walked away from him. She couldn't help but notice how Royce's eyes drifted to follow the hemline. Satisfaction burned in her gut as she realized she may very well be able to land the most eligible bachelor in town.
She kissed her father on the cheek and gave Royce a tiny wave before heading out of her father's office. As the wooden door clicked shut in the latch, she took a steadying breath. Her nerves numbed her fingers and she could feel her hands start to shake slightly- was this what love at first sight felt like?
She took another deep breath, back against the door as she squared her shoulders, trying to hide the fact that her legs were now shaking too. What was it people always said about meeting your love- that feeling of weak in the knees nonsense? Surely, this must be it. Her heart really felt as though it would hammer out of her chest.
The deep voices of Royce and her father began again from the other side of the door, and she debated for a moment on listening. No, not only would that be improper, but what on Earth could she gain from that? Or worse, what if they suddenly decided to leave the office for a stroll? She would undoubtedly be caught in her eavesdropping and sabotage the whole idea of her future just as it was being planned. She couldn't risk that.
Without another thought, Rosalie stood tall, her head held high as she walked down the steps and briskly out of Rochester Savings without another look back.