Chapter 44
David strolled up to James and gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder, "Hey man, I'm not pointing fingers here. This mess is kinda on both of you, but you're older, so maybe try acting like it."
James thought, 'Yeah right, like I can pull off the big brother act. If Alice gets ticked and starts whining at home, everyone from Gavin to the neighbor's dog will be on her back. The whole Tudor clan spoils her rotten. One complaint and I'm toast.'
"And," David yanked at James's hair, deadpan, "get that hair back to normal by tomorrow."
James thought, 'David's even tougher than Grandpa!'
Once James took off, Alice darted upstairs, peeking around the doorframe at David.
The driver had picked them up from the airport and dropped them at the Tudor house, with their bags already in their rooms. David started unpacking, tossing some clothes into the wardrobe and leaving the rest for the villa.
Catching a glimpse of someone lurking at the door, David said, "You planning to stand there all day?"
Alice walked in.
"We're heading back to the villa after dinner. If you need to grab anything, think about it now, and we can swing by on the way."
"Eh, nothing I really need." She'd already snagged some souvenirs and couldn't think of anything else.
David shot her a look, "Worried the Bailey Family's gonna give you grief?"
"Huh?" Alice was caught off guard, then shook her head, "Nah."
David set the clothes down, grabbed Alice by the shoulders, and plopped her on the bed.
Alice blinked, confused.
"Good kids get candy," David said.
Alice rolled her eyes. "Seriously? Are you five?"
That line was practically her catchphrase.
David raised an eyebrow but stayed silent, his stare intense. Alice licked her lips and looked away, feeling guilty.
"You just chewed out James, and now you want me to chew you out?" David leaned in, towering over her, "James is my bro, so I give him the big brother talk. But you're not my sister. How should I handle you?"
Alice looked up at David's face getting closer, her cheeks turning red.
David smirked and pinched her cheek before she could react, "Relax. I got this."
Alice always tried to handle everything on her own, even when it was too much. But thinking of Lucas gave her the strength to keep going, no matter how tough it got.
She had friends, family, and elders who could help, but she never thought to lean on them.
Alice was one stubborn, worrisome girl.
After dinner, David took Alice back to the villa. He'd texted the housekeeper earlier to clean up, so when they got there, the place was spotless, and the fridge was stocked.
After her bath, Alice sprawled out on the bed, sending voice messages to Esme, showing off the souvenirs and goodies she’d picked up. She asked which ones Esme liked so she could bring them to school the next day.
"You're too sweet, girl!" Esme said.
Alice frowned. "Don't call me girl. We're the same age. Isn't it weird?"
Esme replied, "But isn't it a cute nickname? Just imagine David calling you girl with that sexy voice of his... I'm swooning! Don't you feel the same?"
Alice thought about it and felt... nothing.
Maybe she was just used to it. Even with Esme's teasing, she felt nothing but a bit of annoyance.
Girl... In David's eyes, she was just a kid, so sometimes calling her that was his way of treating her like one.
Thinking about this, Alice flopped onto the bed, her cheek pressed against the blanket.
'Why does he have to be seven years older? Why do I have to be only 19? Why does David still have his first love in his heart? Why did I have to fall for David? Is it true that living together makes you catch feelings?' Alice wondered.
Alice wanted to ask Esme, but then she remembered Esme hadn't lived with anyone, so she probably knew nothing.
Esme waited for Alice's reply after sending the voice message, but after half an hour with no response, she wondered if Alice was too shy to reply.
Esme thought about Alice's personality and shook her head.
Alice wasn't that type.
The next day, David drove Alice to school. Esme saw David's car parked at the school gate from a distance. Before the driver could even stop, she opened the car door and ran up, hooking her arm around Alice's neck and bending down to wave at David in the car.
David nodded at Esme, glanced at Alice, and drove off.
Watching David's car merge into traffic and disappear, Esme turned to Alice.
Feeling Esme's intense stare, Alice got goosebumps and leaned back, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Esme replied, "Don't you think David is surprisingly good to you? Have you ever seen a CEO personally drive a girl to and from school and even come to school to confront Oliver and Declan? Other kids' problems are solved with money, and they have bodyguards and servants for pick-ups."
Alice shook off Esme's arm. "You've read too many novels. Stop fantasizing."
"I have not!" Esme pouted, running to catch up with Alice, "According to normal plot development, it should be like that! But David isn't following the script at all! I thought he'd be a domineering CEO! But actually, he's a gentle and affectionate man. I still prefer domineering men."
Alice stopped and looked back at Esme. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed a car parked across the street from the school gate.
It was a red Ferrari, and she remembered Celeste had one just like it.
"What's wrong?" Esme followed Alice's gaze, squinting at the car, "Do you know that car?"
Alice looked away and walked towards the school building, saying indifferently, "Yeah, it's someone I don't want to know."
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