She looked at Alex for an explanation, instinctively trusting him more than Sebastian. As she looked at them now, all powerful, exuding wealth, dressed in their hand-tailored suits, fabulously expensive watches, cufflinks, footwear, manicured again with short executive hair, she could hardly believe these two men had been fighting over her like wild men less than 24 hours ago.
Alex smiled at her reassuringly, as though none of the crazy events on the island had ever happened.
Sebastian opened the door of the first car and gestured for Melanie to get inside.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
"To meet our father." He said coldly.
"Don't worry, sweetheart." Alex said. "Everything is going to be just fine. Sebastian and I have it all worked out. Haven't we little brother?"
Sebastian gave his brother an icy look. "Have we?" He said.
"Sure. Well, not every little detail, but we can go over things in the limo. It's an hour's drive, so we can talk things through on the way."
"Shouldn't I be with you for that?" Melanie said.
"Just get in the car, Melanie." Sebastian said. "Our father asked for us to travel this way, so that's how it's going to be. You don't mess with the old man."
She looked to Alex again. He nodded to her with just a glimmer of a smile and finally she got inside. The door clunked shut with dull finality. The car was absolute luxury of course. The driver glanced at her in the rear view mirror.
"If there's anything you need ma'am, just let me know."
She recognized his eyes. He was the one who had discovered Alex and her together in the forest. What in the hell was he doing driving her car now?
"I'm good, thanks." She said. The driver nodded and the darkened partition between them slid upwards. En route, the familiar streets of LA passed beside her. It was a smoggy day with traffic from hell, and it was going to be a long journey. After her month in tortured paradise, this was a helluva way to come back down to reality. Even if she was in a luxury limo with every technological convenience, a full bar and a selection of delicate mouthwatering snacks, the color of life was drained from everything. In under an hour she would be told to pack her bags and go, probably never seeing either of the brothers again.
She tapped on dividing panel and then watched it to slide down.
"Yes ma'am?" The driver said.
"What's going to happen to me today?"
"Excuse me ma'am?"
"What's happening here? I feel like I'm being taken to an execution and all this fancy food here is my last meal. I know you're more than just a driver. You were on the island as well, when..." she hesitated.