Which brother should I choose

"Are you single?" he asked.

"Pardon me?" I asked. I wasn't expecting any kind of question. What does it do to work if I was single or not?

"Are you single? As in, do you see any one? Do you have a romantic relationship?"

"I..I ..." I hesitated. Looked at Olivia. She was dumbfounded, too. I didn't have many interviews for jobs until now, but I was pretty sure that they weren't asking about your romantic life in those. "You cannot ask that question in an interview!" Anton grunted from the place he sat.

"I can, and I am. It is important for me to know if my assistant's personal life demands too much attention. That's why I am asking. Totally professional." he said then smirked at me. Olivia turned to me and said,

"Ms. Wonderland, you don't have to answer this question. It is totally up to you."

I could sense it took too much courage for her to revert back an heir's demand, but I guess she had to stay in between for the work ethics.

"No problem, I can answer this question." I said. Matt's smirk widened more, revealing his dimples now. Ahh, freaking dimples.

"I don't have any romantic relationship for the time being. But, it raises a question for me if or when I have one, is it going to affect my employment situation?"

"That's a fair question. And no, it won't. I just wanted to make sure that you will give your full attention to the job until you learn it. That's all." he said and laid back in his chair.

"I don't have any other question, go ahead Parker." he said dismissively. I felt blood rising to my cheeks again. He didn't ask this question to someone else. Or ask any question at all. Did it mean he was thinking of taking me as a personal assistant?

The interview went as expected for the rest of the session. 'Where do you see yourself in five years' and 'What is your passion when it comes to work' type of questions have been raised by Parker and Jones. How creative. And as I expected, 'I cannot wait to start working, I will be a great asset in this team, blah blah...' But all this time Matt's mischievous eyes were fixed on me. I couldn't help but wonder, what would it be like to work with Matt. Watching his excellent dimples all day from my desk and appreciating the view. I would be an introvert but I still had a libido, and he was a site to view.

The interview was brief, Parker and Jones asked a couple questions. Anton Alonzo asked nothing, just observed. And Matt just kept watching me. At the end of the meeting Olivia talked again.

"I guess all of you have asked your questions, and if there isn't anything else, I would like to proceed with the choosing part."

No one answered, and Olivia continued as it's an approval sign,

"I would like to give first choosing chance to Mr. Anton Alonzo, since he is the head of council and CEO I guess this will be proper. Yes, Mr. Alonzo, please choose an assistant."

Anton Alonzo looked at us one by one. His gaze traveled on each and every one of us from bottom to the top. When being-examined turn came to me, he looked into my eyes for a long moment. It was really hard to not to cower under the pressure of his dark eyes and grimace. None the less I kept my chin up, and kept the intensity of his gaze. His eyes were nearly identical with Matt's eyes in terms of shape and position but it was giving a lot of different feelings when they turned to you. Matt's mischievous eyes were warming when turned to me but Anton's gaze was cold, nearly freezing me till my bones. He broke eye contact first, but just to take a look at his brother, who was still looking at me with a twinkle in his eyes. I couldn't help but look back at Matt.

Everything happened so fast. I saw Anton look at Matt and back at me, a recognition appeared on his face then it evolved to a cruel grin. Then he talked;

"Yes, I made my decision. I am taking Ms. Wonderful."

Matt sat up on his chair aghast. Turned his face to Anton with horror on his face. I couldn't see my face but I was pretty sure I had a similar one on me. Anton smirked.

"You mean Ms. Wonderland?" Olivia asked.

"Yeah, whatever. I want this one." He pointed at me like an object. I was horrified. To the audacity and rudeness of him. I wasn't at a point of choosing for sure. But it was too insulting, the way he demands me as an asset not a human. Matt didn't say anything. Just glared at him, fuming. I guessed he was aware it would be very unprofessional if he objected to it. And he has already been unprofessional enough for a work meeting by the question he asked at the beginning. "Okay," Olivia noted something onto her papers, then turned to Matt and continued,

"Yes Mr. Matt Alonzo, it's your turn to choose please."

He just said the name of one of the other competitors and turned his eyes out of the window.

He was looking pissed. The rest of the board have chosen their assistants and Olivia declared that she would take the last candidate that was not selected to the HR office.

"That's all for today, thank you all for coming. Please find your manager after the meeting to plan your next day." She dismissed the meeting and everyone stood up in unison, and moved to the door. Except for the Alonzo brothers, me and the girl - Natasha Ray - that was selected by Matt. She was standing right behind me. Alonzo brothers still sitting. Anton lay behind in his chair and supported his head with his muscular, huge arm. As if resting on a sunbed on the beach. Matt was sitting rather uncomfortable. His forearms were on his thighs. He turned his head and started to watch his brother.

Finally the meeting room has been emptied except for the four of us. I didn't speak a word, the tension in the air could be cut with a knife. Apparently, Natasha also felt the same because she was not talking either. Matt broke the silence.

"I thought you never wanted an assistant who is not punctual?"

"Well, I didn't. But your little speech about first days and personal capabilities made me reconsider my argument."

Matt just kept looking at him, unbelievingly. And Anton kept looking back. This silent war between them went on a while longer. Suddenly, Matt stood up and said,

"Well, congratulations for your choice. I think you picked wisely." he turned to me, winked at me for one last time and said,

"See you around Ms. Wonderland. And, what was your first name again?"Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"I never said my first name." I smirked. I knew it was a pathetic attempt but I was willing to keep him as much as I could. Luckily, he smiled back and acted like it wasn't a cheesy attempt. But apparently Anton Alonzo was not thinking the same, he just grumbled bitingly.

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"So what is your name Ms. Wonderland?" he asked again playfully.

"This is Alice. Alice Wonderland." I extend my hand to shake his hand. His brows arched in amazement. He took my hand and a playful smile curved the ends of his perfect mouth.

"This is one of the best names I have ever heard." He said. He kept holding my hand and lingered there for a while. Until Anton coughed loudly. And Matt shook his head as if waking from a daydream and gave a curt nod to his brother for one last time before leaving the room with long steps. Natasha was nearly running after him.

Finally me and my new manager stayed alone in the room. Anton Alonzo stood up from the chair and stopped right in front of me.

"Yes, Ms. Wonderful finally we are alone." he said. I gulped. I didn't know why but his intense aura was making me nervous.

"First, I still don't like people being late. You will be here at 9 o'clock sharp every day. I want my coffee black, no sugar on my desk at 09:15. And the plan of the day printed."

I nodded. He kept my gaze for a little long before talking. He was looking like waiting for his words to sink deep in my mind.

"And second, I don't like office romances and don't tolerate it. I don't want to see you around my brother more than necessary, and vice versa. If I hear anything about you crossing the line, you will find yourself out of the door with a big bad stain on your professional file."

I was livid. What was he meaning about me? Sure I liked looking at Matt and enjoyed his beautiful smiles. But that was all. I would never do anything that could jeopardize my career. I wasn't that girl. I was just a normal girl with a normal life. Famous, rich and handsome playboy Matt Alonzo was way beyond my league even if he wasn't my boss. And now, while working under his company, I would never dream of anything like that. I could just admire him like admiring a piece of art, that's all.

"Mr. Alonzo, I don't know what you are implying but I am against office romances too, and I would never dream of such a thing about my boss. If you were thinking this little about me, why did you choose me in the first place?"

"Isn't it obvious? I chose you to prevent my brother from choosing you. Let me make one last thing clear for you. Maybe you have such highly morals when it comes to work, but believe me he doesn't. So please keep that in mind from now on to prevent any unpleasant event from happening."

I took a deep breath. And released it slowly to keep my temper in control. No Alice, you cannot kill your boss in your first professional job.

He turned back and walked out of the door. He shout back over his shoulder;

"Tomorrow, 9 o'clock sharp!" and left.