Confrontation

Matt’s POV,



Fucking Anton!

I smashed my fist on the side window of the car. Luckily it was sturdy enough and did not fall apart under my fist. My guard, who is driving the car now, warily checked me from the rear mirror. He was wise enough not to comment on this. He was taking me to them. My other guard was at the tail of them.

The throbbing pain of my hand helped me to ease my fuming anger and cleared my head enough to think. Bastard! Did not waste a minute to act on Alice. After I brought everything to a point nearly having her, after I finally wrapped her around my finger… To be honest, I am not sure if I really wrapped her around my finger but I was so close. After last night’s divine kiss, I was sure she was feeling something for me. And with that innocence and inexperience it was only a matter of time for her to fall for me. I was thinking to avoid her a little to make her chase me and fall in love with me. And once she is in love with me I could have her, in every fucking way I like.

But of course Anton couldn’t keep away. Why would he? Like every time I put my eyes on something, he always appears from thin air and challenges me on it. But I must admit, this is the first time Anton challenged me on a girl. So far, he didn’t even show the slightest interest in the girls I have slept with. He only scolded me to fuck around with employees. I was even thinking he was asexual. So why was he challenging me over Alice? Or Alice was important to him? Like really liking her? Fuck! If it is the case I could have power on Anton over Alice.

Suddenly I felt all of the anger had left me. It left its place to something bigger; excitement. If I could play my cards correctly, I could make Alice a vulnerable spot for Anton. I wasn’t sure where it could lead me but I was sure it could be some point Anton wouldn’t like. And for now, this was enough. I took a deep breath and let it wash away what was left behind of my anger. I should be calm now to manipulate the situation as I like. Meanwhile the car pulled near a bazaar place and my guard opened my door for me.

A bazaar? Really Anton? I was not sure if my brother put a foot in a place like this in years. So, he thought Alice would like this. I was sure Anton made his research on Alice very thoroughly and studied his lesson, he was a fucking nerd when it comes to dig in anything he interested and I was sure again he must found out that Alice’s slightest interests and secrets. So, she has simple pleasures. Thanks brother for saving me from trouble.

My guard connected with the other guard by his headset, took some directions from him to find where exactly they were, meanwhile I fell behind him, let him guide me in this crowded bazaar area to find our target.

There, before a cart selling street food, my brother Antonio Alonzo Junior, the CEO of Alonzo company, sitting on a fucking stool. My blue-blooded, cocky, snob brother with a cleaning obsession was sitting-on-a-stool-in-a-bazaar. It was not a sight to see everyday. And it was telling a lot about my brother’s weakness for her.

And there she was, too. Sitting next to him nearly shoulder by shoulder. I knew they don’t have many options like a crammed place, but it was kinda hitting a string in me. To know that they were sitting next to each other and having a good time. I could have been in his place. If I called her this morning, I could have been the one taking her out now. Anton said something to her, I couldn’t hear what because of the distance, but apparently it was funny enough to make her burst out the water she was having while Anton was talking.

They started laughing together. Alice’s beautiful brown eyes shone with amusement. Even Anton's features looked different; softer and happy? I haven't seen him happy since we were children. Alice’s eyes met with his, shiny and interested. His eyes locked on hers, like a predator approaching his prey. He slowly started closing the distance between them. No fucking way! I sprinted towards them, I was counting on my long legs to catch them before the bastard confused her. She was mine, she had to look in my eyes like that. Not to his. Her eyes dropped onto his lips. No, no, no! I made it just in time to catch them before they kissed.

I wanted to scream, ‘She is mine!’ but instead I said,

“It's nice to see you're finally getting along,” Words came more breathy than I intended but I didn’t care.

Both of them froze on the track, they slowly turned their heads, like if they acted slow the spell of the moment did not break.

Finally her big brown eyes, and his dark menacing eyes met mine. I was feeling rage again, like a burning pit inside my chest. Why the hell I was feeling that way. She was just a girl I wanted to mess with and he was my usual annoying brother. Why on the earth I was feeling like my heart was about to be ripped out when thinking they could kiss. I clenched my fists and forced myself to calm down. She is just a girl, she is just a girl, she is just a girl… And you need her to manipulate your brother. Be wise!

I took a deep breath and calmed myself.

“What are you doing here?” Anton asked.

“Were you thinking you are the only one putting tails on people?”

“How dare you!” he growled. I wasn’t afraid of him, but I could tell Alice was. Her hands clutched each other nervously, she started pulling her fingers.

“Oh come now Antonio! You are scaring our little dove.”
He paid a side eyed glance to Alice and lowered his voice, damn he was caring for her.

“Don’t call me that.” he said more calmly.

“You have no right acting like this. Not after stalking us like a psychopath when we were having lunch with Alice.”
Alice’s eyes widened in shock, she turned her head to catch Anton’s eyes and he deliberately avoided her gaze. He was annoyed. Good…

“I wasn’t stalking you, I just happened to be in the area and it was a coincidence.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure. But don’t you think it was a little bit far from your usual area?”

I saw anger rising in Anton in a way that satisfies me more than anything in this world, but somehow I am feeling a little bit irritated seeing Alice’s disappointment. Why the hell I was giving a shit about her feelings. She is just a vessel to torture Anton now, and of course a good appetizer to cleanse my palate before continue my usual errands.

I grabbed her wrist, and pulled her onto her feet.

“Come Alice, we are going.” I said as I lightly pulled her. She halted and resisted my pull. Turned back and looked at Anton, as if seeking approval from him. What the fuck!

I pulled more forcefully this time. Anton chose to glare at me instead of looking at her. I held his glare with equal ferocity. It was a wordless war that we have battled a thousand times. Poor Alice was looking at me then to him as if watching a tennis match. Then Anton leaned himself back, trusted his elbows to the counter of the cart behind him and spread on the stool breezily. I got the clue, he was meaning he doesn’t care. But I knew him enough to know that it was a lie.


I pulled Alice once more from her wrist and made her follow me while I was leaving the bazaar. She paid one last glance to Anton’s side and followed me involuntarily. When we were out of the bazaar place finally she yanked her wrist from my grasp. And glared at me. It was adorable to see her angry for the first time but also annoying to know that she was angry with me over Anton.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I am saving you from my incurably dull brother, you’re welcome” I replied jokely. She didn’t look amused.

“I am not a damsel in distress and I don’t need you to save me.” she said fiercely. More fierce than I ever expected from this little bunny. Maybe this bunny has teeth after all. Her little nose creased with anger, her freckles started looking more defined with her flushed face. How cute.

I dragged my hand from my hair and gave a big breath as if I had surrendered.

“I am sorry, okay? I didn’t want to disturb you. But what on earth were you doing with my brother in a place like this?”

“He is my boss and I am his personal assistant, he can take me anywhere he likes during working hours.”

“So was it a work appointment then?” I started feeling the same pit start burning slightly in my chest again. Easy Matt.

She didn’t say anything.

“Just like I thought!” I said a little bit louder than I intended. Practically yelled at her.

“He was going to kiss you if I didn’t arrive on time for god’s sake. Didn’t yesterday mean anything to you?” I asked, surprising myself also.

A shock wave passed from her face then it morphed into something more hurted. Damn Matt, you need to win her, not to scare her away.

“I guess I need to ask you the same question. You didn't call me or text me after yesterday. Do you regret what we did yesterday?”

Fuck, fuck, fuck! This conversation was going somewhere I didn’t like. Of course I couldn’t tell her that I deliberately didn’t call her to make her writhe after me. I needed to find an excuse, and find it now.