I Married My Ex Boyfriend's Father

/008- Background Searches, and Worthless People/

**Massimo’s Point Of View**

I kept my eyes on the tablet as I skimmed through the information on the tablet. The notes my watcher had sent me were based on my new wife. I always do a background check. Of course. I need to know everything there is to know about her. She was in a private boarding school throughout most of her life until her parents' death.

How did they die? And why would the Sinclairs do that to their only child? It says here that they were partying for most of their lives. In fact, they barely implemented any new laws or changes, leaving the task to Victoria's aunts and uncles.

They died overseas, shot in the head. Murder-suicide? What the f**k? Abraham Sinclair, Victoria’s father grabbed one of his prized shotguns, and led his wife to the balcony of their hotel, video-called his DAUGTHER, AND SHOT HIS WIFE AND HIMSELF BEFORE HER VERY EYES?

I reached blindly for my cellphone to call Watcher, Lionel, he’s excellent. He does his job so well. But surely he’s wrong about this. When you look at Victoria, you’d never tie her to this. And it’s not even private information, he even added it in the file that the whole case shook Las Vegas where the headquarters of Sinclair Advertising used to be.

Before an eighteen-year-old Victoria demolished the building, and had another built in the rich city of Aurora.

This is something she should share with me. But we’re not there yet. Interesting. Well, soon enough she’ll fall in love with me. And I’ll know everything about her.

Well, I’ll know everything right now.

“Sir, it’s unlike you to call me twice in one day.”

“Did the Sinclairs really die in front of their daughter? Virtually?”

Lionel chuckles quietly. “Believe it. There was no photo, no video, no paparazzi shot of Victoria during this time. It’s like she didn’t even seem bothered by it at all. I admire her for that. She came in as a ruthless corporate queen, rather than a broken-hearted heiress. You know, like your sweet sad Natalie.”

I roll my eyes. Natalie is my first-in-law. She’s such a sweetheart. Lost her parents to an unfortunate accident, and guess what, she couldn’t continue. Had she not been dating Alessio she would have signed over everything in that glorious company to her stupid cousin.

I like to think my son saved her from a disaster. She’s happier now. But I see his point. Victoria was a sheltered child. The public barely knew she existed until her parents' death hit the news. I hadn’t been paying attention because... well, I didn’t really care about them at the time. I was focused on my family and the next way to make more money.

Victoria reappeared as the Ice Queen because no one could find a photo of her. Her parents really hid a girl as smart as her.

“Thank you, Lionel.”

“You pay well, Mister Buscami.” he jokes, and I hum a quiet sound. I hung up the call and went back to reading. The screen blocking the driver’s seat from the back came down, and my eyes pulled away.

“Rafe?”

“Sir, may I speak freely?”

“You may.”

“This woman... this new relationship is a bit dangerous for you. You canceled an important meeting, you know those men are going to be furious.”

My eyes return to the screen. “And they can stay furious. My time is precious. I delegate who to give it to.”

“I understand that. But... I worry you’re a little more than smitten with this woman. And she doesn’t even love you. The last woman you did something like this for was Alana. And even after three more marriages, you never chose any of those women over work.”

“I get why you’re concerned, but what I feel for Victoria is still a work in progress. Let me enjoy it. This is my first marriage since Giulia’s mother. I would like to rediscover aspects of myself that I lost.”

He nods and taps on the button to lift up the screen.

Alana was my first wife. We met when we were sixteen, and she got pregnant at nineteen. I’d done everything to make sure Alessio was born into a good home despite being a child myself. When she died, my heart forgot how to beat. My next three wives were used to fill the hole she left in me. I know it wasn’t right, and I felt remorse- just a little- when the other two died. Even my divorce got me a little shaken up.

Because I never expected to be accused of killing my wives and to have a terrified woman think I’d do the same to her.

But after Alana, my only love was shown to my children. So why am I so enamored by this... this dark-eyed swan who says what’s on her mind and goes after what she wants? I can’t explain it. When I first met Alana, I thought she was the sweetest woman in the world.

She was always eager to put a smile on my face, even on days when she knew there was nothing to smile about.

Victoria is different. She does it without trying. I can’t imagine how I’ll feel once I’ve gotten to uncover the woman she’s hiding.

I stared at the photo on the screen. A newspaper article shows Victoria with her mask on. She was staring at the camera. I couldn’t look away. What a woman.

The car slowly approached my estate. So I began to lock up the file into a folder and place my devices into my bag.

One of my bodyguards hurried to open the door and I stepped out.

“I want you to keep tabs on Enzo for the next two days, tell me if he takes even a sip of alcohol.” my tone is empty and the guard nods stiffly. As though afraid to act too slow or too eager. Good.

Time to handle the child who thinks he can misbehave. He should really learn from his past mistakes.

I heard laughter coming from the downstairs living room as I got further into the mansion. My kids usually watch their movies in the basement. I stopped by the entryway to look at them.

“Enzo,” I called his name, and his head snapped in my direction.

“Father, you're-”

“You threw a beer bottle at my wife.” his smile diminished and his body tensed up. The muscles in his jaw work as he tries to keep a straight face. “You will explain yourself within the next fifty-six seconds or I’m going to teach you some manners.”

“I was a bit tipsy. I didn’t mean it. I... father, is she not too young to be your wife? She doesn’t belong with us.”

“And I suppose your woman does? Who gave you the right to speak on who I marry? And most importantly, what audacity do you have that convinced you to throw something at that woman?”

“I... I’m sorry father. It won’t happen again.”

I was already shaking my head before he finished. “Your fiancee will get a job tomorrow or I will retract my hospitality and kick her out. And you will take Victoria to a nice dinner. Where you will apologize for being a moron. You will pay for food, and if she wants anything after you give it to her. It comes from your wallet. If she looks even a little bit sad when she comes home, I’m going to make it so your chances of getting your place as my heir are thinner than a thread. Are we clear on that?”

“Yes Father, it won’t happen again. And I will make sure Eleanor gets a job, and I will apologize to Victoria in the way you suggested.”

I straightened my shoulders. “And from now on, you’re not allowed to drink.”

“Father.”

“You blew through six million last year when you thought you were signing a deal to co-run a chain of casinos when instead you were drunk off your mind, and giving away the passcode to your account. You are lucky that bastard only took six million before the account noticed the suspicious activity. Drinking is off. That is final.”

Enzo looked at me with a raging glare. I lowered my eyes a little to return it and he cowered back.

“On another note, Giulia, how was your day?”

“Perfect. The mayor invited me and Oliver to his charity ball next week.”

Of course, he did. “Alessio?”

“I discovered that I am entirely useless when in the face of bosom.”

I cringed. “Please keep that to yourself.” His smile was bigger than normal, I could sense his amusement. “Matteo?”

“I know what I want for my birthday, Dad please.”

“Is it a boat?”

“A yacht-”

“No, you have six.”

“But this is the latest one for my collection. I’ll pout and cry.”

“You should not be doing that.” I pinched my nose.

“And you know if you say no, I’ll just ask your bestie.”

“Bestie?”

“How old are you?” I stepped into the living room and leaned over the long couch to flick his forehead.

“I said no to the boat. And your husband is going to Mexico for the weekend. Your attention span is small. By the time he gets back, you won’t want the boat anymore.”

he pouted, but I’m immune to that. With Matteo and Giulia, if I fell for every pout, I would be the poorest man in the world, not the opposite.

“And how was your day, Dad?” All three of them asked in unison. I merely grunted at them before leaving. I could hear them snickering like little demons. Believe me, I love those kids. They made my life so much better.

And easier. All except for that one... weirdo.

I haven’t finished the file Lionel kept on Victoria. He still has to get me more because I want to know what Victoria was doing when she didn’t have the mask on. How did she go unnoticed for years? Aurora is so future-forward that you can use facial recognition to find someone as long as they’re next to a phone, camera, or anything. Or maybe that’s just me since I did design the system that does that.

I felt a great sense of relief as I approached my bedroom door.

“Hey, I’m back...” Those words died in my throat as Victoria blinked out of her thoughts. Her long lashes fluttered as her eyes connected with mine.

What is she wearing?

“Don’t just stare, do something about it.” Yeah, I’m gonna. I dumped my bag on the ground, kicking the door with the back of my feet.

Rafe is wrong. She’s going to fall for me as I would for her. She doesn’t really have a choice.