Two Worlds Apart

As their eyes met, her eyes widen in disbelief. She was afraid to blink. Even to look away for a mere second. Taking two steps back, she grabbed Wes's arm to stabilize her.

“Are you okay?" Wes asked as he frowned down at her hand on his arm.

“A- Y- Yeah,” Alice said.

She glimpsed at Wes for only a second. Forgetting a moment back she did not even want to blink. That mere second, she regretted once she looked back. She blinked a few times hoping, praying that he would reappear again. Could it be her mind playing a joke on her? Fifteen years have passed, and every day she wished, prayed to get only a glance of him.

Her eyes searched through the room.

“Where - Where did he go?” She murmured

“Who? What is wrong with you tonight, Alice? You are not acting like yourself.” Wes followed her gaze,

“I thought I saw...” Alice glanced at Wes, but when she saw his disinterested glare, it awoke her to reality.

“Forget it.”

The little bit of hope her heart longed for, was instantly washed away by the bitterness she kept in her heart. How can something like that even be a possibility when he was dead?

“Whatever. I am going to get something to drink. You want something?” Wes asked,

“No, I am good,”

Wes frowned at her distant behavior. He shook his head and walked away

“You look like someone I knew when I was younger. Only she had light brown hair.

Alice's eyes widen as she heard a voice behind her. As she turned around, she took a step back,

“You - You.” Alice stuttered

“You seem like you have seen a ghost.” He said with a chuckle.

She opened her mouth to respond but heard someone calling her in a hurry.

“Alice!”

She automatically turned toward the voice and watched Khan rush toward her

"Ahem. Yes, Khan?” She asked as she lifted an eyebrow

Khan glared at the guy behind her. His eyes moved to Alice.

“Your father is looking for you.”

“Now?”

“Yes, now. You know he does not like to wait.”

“I … You go ahead. I will be right there.”

“NO! I told him I will accompany you there.”

Left with no choice. Alice turned around. Even when given a second chance, she wasted it. He was gone. Her heart sank as she had to watch his back while he walked away. Even if he was not Kevin. She only wanted to have a few minutes with him. Her heart was screaming at her to follow him.

Jackson Brown’s words ran through her mind, “Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eyes.”

“NOW. ALICE”

Khan’s harsh tone shook Alice out of her thoughts.

Khan followed her gaze.

“Why are you so interested in that guy, Alice?”.

She looked at Khan contemplating if she should tell him. She pondered for a second.

“He looks like Kevin, Khan. Could it be him? I need to follow him.”

“Alice!”

“Don’t you trust me?”

“What do you mean Khan? Of course, I trust you.”

“How can you say you trust me when you think that man is Kevin, Alice? Haven’t I given you enough evidence to prove his death? How can you get distracted by a guy that looks like your childhood love?”

Alice stared into the distance.

“You are right. I lost focus for a few seconds. It will not happen again.”

“Are you sure Alice? Your whole reason for living is to revenge Kevin, or have you forgotten?”

“How can I forget? You're right as always. Let’s go.” Alice said in a cold tone

“Don’t let me remind you again.”

“I said I got it, Khan!”

“Good. Now follow me.”

As Alice followed Khan into another room. She could not get the image of that guy out of her head. He resembled Kevin too much. As they neared her adoptive father, Adriano Bernardi, leader of the Berandi Mafia clan. She watched him standing with his back towards them. Engaged in a deep conversation with other leaders and shareholders.

“Sir,” Khan greeted as they stopped behind Adriano.

Adriano turned around. He glanced at Khan and moved his eyes to Alice.

“Alice, where have you been?”

With a frown, he looked both sides and behind her. “Where is Wes?” He asked

“Good day father. He went to get us something to drink. We only arrived a while back and got held up by a few guests.”

Adriano scowled at Alice. He turned sideways revealing her to the men.

“Gentlemen this is my daughter Alice. She will go to the meeting on my behalf in London.”

“Welcome to my party, Alice. It is a pleasure to finally meet the famous Alice. We have heard a lot about you. Seems you are not someone to trifle with. The apple does not fall far from the tree. I am glad to see Adriano is finally showing you to the rest of the world,” One man said.

“We look forward to working with you,” another gentleman said.

Alice took a glass of champagne from a server that walked passed

“Thank you, gentlemen. I will see you all in London. I hope you all will treat me as one of you.”

All the men lifted their glasses and took a sip.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself Alice,” Adriano said as he frowned at Alice over the rim of his glass.

“Aren’t you planning to hand over the family business to her?” One of the men asked out of curiosity

“It depends if she can pass all the tests. One does not count their chickens before they hatched.”

Testing someone can be done in a thousand ways, but Alice knew her father and his method of “testing.” Hard days were awaiting Alice in the future…