Which brother should I choose

Alice's POV

After my encounter with both of the Alonzo's, I had the worst flight back to New York. 10 hours of silent treatment in a personal jet... Maybe you could think that a flight in a super lux personal jet would be awesome. Well it was, to a certain point, but there was nothing pleasant to sit next to a slab of ice, unresponsive Anton Alonzo, and trying to find places to look at rather than murderous black eyes.

Finally when we landed in New York, I was very close to kissing the ground. But silent torture left its place to some other form of torture. Chasing after a long legged and pissed Anton Alonzo. After we stepped out of the plane Anton took the lead and I stumbled after him as fast as my stilettos let me. He went here and there in the airport and I half-runningly followed him everywhere.

After we had managed to leave the airport finally, I was already exhausted from my sprint in the tail of him. When we placed ourselves on the back seats of a huge black SUV, I was grateful that finally my buttocks found a place to rest and my feet throbbing with pain had a break. He was sitting at the farthest end of the back seat as far as he could go, like I was infectious or something, and looking out of the window with a stone face. How far from the ride we had in Hawaii. When, our hands were holding each other. No, don't go there Alice!

The slight rocking of the SUV while driving us, the hum of the engine and tires while we rode and the perfect temperature inside the car was enough for me to roll in a restless sleep. I was already sleepless from the 10 hours flight at night, and even though the seats were fully expandable, we even had a couch, I couldn't peacefully sleep while Anton's annoyed presence was there.

So before I knew it, I fell asleep at the back of the SUV. I didn't know how long I slept or what I looked like. But when the car stopped, the sudden halt made me open my eyes slowly. I recognized that my head was resting on something hard, covered with a soft silk cloth and smelling like sandalwood mixed with spice.

I slowly raised my head from its sturdy but surprisingly comfortable resting spot and I gasped when I recognized what it was. It was Anton's shoulder. Somehow I managed to lean onto his shoulder during the sleepy ride and he didn't pull it off. I saw a trail of salvia on his jacket when I looked down and I instantly buried myself in deep shame. I didn't just sleep over his shoulder I also drooled on it. Stupid! Stupid Alice!!

I finally managed to raise my head from my shame and looked out of the window, we were in front of my apartment. I wasn't expecting that. I was expecting them to leave me in front of the company building, and find my way back home by myself. While I was looking out of the window wondering why they brought me here, the guard sitting in the passenger seat at front came to my door and opened it for me. A sign for me to move. I turned my head to Mr. Alonzo, and bid him good night. He gave a grunt in return without paying a glance oto my side, I assumed it was a replacement for goodbye and left.

The guard opening my door also helped me with my luggage. He was a good looking man. Brown hair nearly matching the brown eyes, and a joyful smile. I have seen him before in the New York security crew. He carried my luggage to the third floor because my apartment had no elevator. He didn't complain once about my extremely heavy luggage. When we reached my door, he genuinely smiled again.

"Thank you so much!" I shrieked. "I caused you a lot of trouble. The luggage was too heavy."

"Not at all." he said,

"Would you like to have a glass of water or something?" I looked at the beads of sweat formed on his forehead from the carrying.

"No thank you I am okay." he said "This is Ean by the way."

"This is Alice," I said. We shook hands.

"I know," he smirked. "I thought it would be better to know each other, since we will see each other more around Mr. Alonzo."

"Yeah, I guess so," I said reluctantly.

"See you later, Alice..." he said.

"See you later Ean," I replied. He gave a wink, turned and walked to the stairs again. Meanwhile, I went into my apartment and locked it behind me.

Then before changing my clothes or going into a well deserved shower, I lay down on my disturbed bed and slept.

I didn't know how long I slept there in my work clothes, I woke up with the ring of my cell phone.

"Yeah?" I answered dizzly.

"Alice?" It was Rachel.

"Hi Riri"

"Were you sleeping?" she asked.

"Yeah"

"Don't tell me you forgot about our family weekend?" Oh god's sake! How did I forget? Of Course I didn't say I forgot.

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"Of Course not! I am already dressed and got my bag ready. I was just taking a quick nap after our flight from Hawaii."

"Oh god! I still cannot believe that you were in Hawaii. You should tell me everything!" she exclaimed with excitement.

"I will. Let me hang up now or I will never make it on time there."

"Okay. Don't be late, mom expects you at the dinner and you know how she gets sour when her expectancy couldn't be satisfied."

"Rachel!" I added a warning big sister tone to my voice.

"What? I am just pointing out the obvious." I couldn't bring myself to discuss it now with her since I had a lot to do and I had to do those in 15 minutes.

I hung up the phone and took the quickest shower of all time. Then pulled comfy yoga pants and an oversized t-shirt on it. I missed being casual. I hurriedly stuffed some spare clothes, toothbrush and my purse in a backpack, and left the apartment without even opening my luggage.

I was on the subway in twenty minutes and I had a long ride in front of me until I reached Jersey.

It was three and half hours later when I finally made it home. My mom opened the door with a big smile on her face. The blonde curls of her head bounced when she hugged me into a tight embrace and announced my arrival to the rest of the household. She made me twirl around by myself by holding my one hand above my head.

"Oh my baby, you look so thin, wasn't this company feeding you well on that trip?"

"Mom, I am perfectly fine." Rachel and Bunny came to the entrance together from the second floor. I hugged both of them. I missed them a lot.

Bunny started searching my back pack a minute after to find something she might like, and Rachel started talking about her acceptance letters. We walked into the living room as a walking talking bundle and finally when I reached the living room I saw my dad. His warm brown eyes, the same set I inherited from him, shone brightly. His tall figure has started curling from the shoulders by the age but was still handsome. He stood up as he saw me and hugged me into a warm embrace. I guess, every child has a favorite parent, mine was my dad. He was always so devoted to us and loving towards us, I couldn't even think of how it would be to have any other kind of dad. But mine was the perfect dad I could ever ask for from god.

With the coziness of our house and the joy of being reunited, my heart blossomed with warmth and love to my family. The equation with two unknowns I found myself in, was not mattering that much anymore. I could do whatever it takes to provide and help for my family. Even if it was meant to bear the unbalanced nature of Anton or inconclusive flirting attempts of Matt.

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We ate our dinner in the same cacophony that we created with my sisters and my mom. But my dad was curiously silent and distant. I tried to include him in conversations but he skillfully dodged my attempts and kept his silence. After we had dinner and retired from the dining room to the living room again, I deliberately sat next to him.

"Dad, is everything all right?"

"Of course my sweet princes. Why have you asked?"

"You look distracted. Like there is something bothering you?"

"Not at all honey. I am so happy now that all of my family are together and my second daughter will start college soon. I am over the clouds." he said. But his eyes and expression were not matching with his words. Even so, I didn't push the topic any further.

The door rang at the same time our conversation was over. I jumped onto my feet, to answer the door. Dad came after me and held me in front of the main door.

"You go back honey, I can answer it."

"No worries dad, I am already here."

"I told you to go back!" Suddenly he raised his voice.

"Okay..." I said in confusion but returned and walked back towards the living room. But I halted at the edge of the living room door and eavesdropped on my dad. The door opened, I couldn't see the faces behind the door but I heard two men talking in unison.

"Good afternoon Mr. Wonderland..."