Which brother should I choose

10 minutes after I arrived at my house, the doorbell rang. When I opened the door I saw a huge man with a grin on his face. This was Ean.

"Hello Alice,"

"Hello Ean."

"A busy weekend ha? I brought your dress"

"Yeah..." I smiled uncomfortably. I extended my hands and he gently laid the dress on my forearms. Like it was something special and delicate. Then he placed a paper bag next to the door.

"Thank you." I said. "Would you like to come in?"

"No thank you, I need to return to my job now. Have a nice evening Alice."

"You too."

He winked, as his signature move, and turned back to the stairs. I closed the door after him.

Then all my focus was drawn into the dress that lay on my arms. I hastily spread it on the bed and opened the zipper of the bag. Oh-my-god! Emerald silk poured out from the bag and spread onto the bed like a green pool of water. I touched the soft fabric and all my body buzzed with pleasure. I hooked my fingers to the shoulders of the dress and held it out at arm's length to see all of it.

It was the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. A short cut dress with long sleeves and beautiful swarovski beads adorned on the skirt shows it like a swirling pool of light. I instantly peeled off my clothes and put that on.

It fitted perfectly. It was like a special cut for me. How Mr. Alonzo knew my size? I swirled around myself and watched the dangling lights on the beads of the skirt. Then I dared to look at the mirror. No way! An elegant young woman looking back at me in a perfect dress. The dress's short skirt was showing enough legs to show me like I have long legs but was stopping at a perfect spot not letting me show more than enough of my thighs. The fabric of the dress was hugging me from all the right spots to show all of my good features, like my small waist and large hips. The envelope cut of the neck of the dress was revealing enough cleavage to trigger curiosity but nothing more. The long and loose sleeves were falling from my shoulders delicately, hiding my arms from the view. The dress was sexy and modest at the same time. A perfect balance.

Then my attention switched the paper bag that Ean left at the doorstep. I took that and poured the contents of it onto the bed.

A silver clutch also adorned with swarovski beads. A matching stiletto, as shiny and classy as the clutch. And a large, velvet box. What was it? I slowly opened the velvet box and my breath left my lungs instantly. It was a jewelry box. And in the center of the box, a diamond necklace was lying between two diamond earrings. A simple, one row diamonds with simple one rock earrings. I knew these were real diamonds because the certificate of the pieces was also in the box. Even though I knew I would deliver back all of this stuff after the event I hesitated. Was it wise to carry such expensive jewelry on me? What if I lost them, or damaged them? I was already in debt till my nose thanks to my father, and I wasn't really eager to have more on my name.

But I thought Mr. Alonzo wouldn't want to be seen with less than this. If he was taking me with him, I was sure as hell he wanted me to look presentable enough to walk with him. I was also his accessory so I should have met his standards. That's why he sent such expensive clothes and jewelry. To make me adequate for his company. This thought surprisingly hurt me.

What I was expecting? He invited me out of his good heart? Or he wanted to be seen with me? No, probably he needed someone who could take notes while he was discussing business with other attendees. And even though I was technically a recording machine there, he wanted me to be presentable like everything he owns.

With the knowledge that I was just a possession he owned during the event, I started preparing myself less enthusiastically but adequate for his standards. I made a smokey eye make-up with a hint of green, which was making me look bolder and more mysterious than I was. And selected crimson red lipstick to pop in this modesty. I let my hair down and curled them slightly in large dark waves falling from my shoulders to my back.

I didn't need to do anything else. The dress and the accessories were doing the job so well, nearly a plastic mannequin would look good in these clothes.

Then my phone rang. It was Mr. Alonzo.

"Yes sir?"

"I am outside of your building."

"I am coming down."

He hung up on me again of course. I paid one last look in the mirror and even though it was fake, I liked what I saw.

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I went down stairs carefully, not to damage the dress or lose the jewelry. When I reached the road I saw a black limo was waiting there, with the bodyguard waiting next to the back door to open it for me.

When I approached, he gently saluted me with a head bow and opened the door for me. He held my hand and helped me climb in the car. When I turned back to salute Mr. Alonzo, I saw he was piercingly looking out of the car to the guard. Like he was a second away from killing him. What did he do wrong? But I knew better that there is nothing you should do to make Mr. Alonzo wants to kill you. He would find a reason anyway. Then finally, his gaze switched on mine. His murderous look slightly morphed into something more dangerous. His eyelids drooped a little, his pupils got larger and nearly all of his iris became black pits. His eyes darted between my eyes then to my lips and lingered there for a second. Then he took in all of me from head to toe, and gulped. I saw the large bob of his throat go up and down. Then he grunted,

"You look... fine," he said. Well if you consider it came from Mr. Alonzo I guess it was a compliment. I examined him back. He was wearing a black tuxedo which made him look like jumped out of an Italian mafia movie. His dark hair slicked back perfectly, and he was looking like a perfection monument. God! He was unfortunately handsome. Unfortunate, because he had no heart and it was a waste to see this handsomeness was going waste with his empty rib cage. But I guess it was the law of nature that good looks rarely come with a good heart.

"You look fine too, sir." I returned the feeble attempt of flattery with the same amount of enthusiasm. I recognized the car started going.

"Where are we going?"

"A charity ball for dolphins in the Pacific."

"Whaat?" I snorted.

He looked at me unphased and I understood he was waiting an explanation for why it was funny.

"I wasn't considering you a type of a charity man." I said.

"I am not. But this is business. A businessman should be seen enough around the society and the names attending this ball are quite impressive. I wouldn't mind saving a dolphin or two while securing my business ties." "Okay, that makes more sense." I said. And I was also surprised when he explained this.

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"What should I be doing tonight?"

"Nothing, enjoy the event," he said.

"Nothing?" I asked again.

"Are you sure, you don't want me to take notes or something?"

"I am capable of remembering conversations, Ms. Wonderful."

"Yeah, but then, why are you needing me?"

"I needed a company, the invitation requires a plus one. And someone who is not sticking afterwards. So you are convenient."

"Oh! Okay." I nodded. So I am a convenience. How nice of him. I wasn't thinking he was even trying to insult me. It was natural for him. Like breathing. But somehow he was managing to insult me in every sentence he put together. If the object is Alice, then the insult was coming itself. I didn't mind. I was just a plus one and I didn't need to work, just enjoy a fancy party. That was something a convenience could do.

The car parked out of a large building that I saw for the first time in my life. The stone building was spot-lighted with dozens of projectors. A red carpet was laid from the point that our limo stopped till the entrance of the large building. At the two sides of the carpet, paparazzis were crushing each other to get a better view of the guests. When we arrived they were busy taking shots of the couple walking from the red carpet to the building. With the stopping of the car, all of their attention turned to us. I was panicked. I turned back to look at Mr. Alonzo, but I saw he had already got out of the car. My door has been opened by the guard. He offered his hand again to help me out, but before I could place my hand in his hand, a strong hand snatched my hand and when I looked up, I saw Mr. Alonzo. He paid another murderous look to the guard who was pale as a yellow flag right now, then helped me out of the car.

Now we were standing next to each other, his hand skipped down to the small of my back, and we were giving a pose to the paparazzi.

He leaned down to my ear and whispered.

"Smile Alice, or they would think that I have forced you here."