Victor Gregory had been keeping an eye on Oliver for ages, so well that Oliver never even noticed. After all, Victor had spent decades in the kind of senior posts that made him a true professional. Up to now thered been no trouble Oliver hadnt brought anyone home, hadnt done anything shady. But Victor knew you cant fool a seasoned headhunter forever; eventually Oliver would slip up. His gut told him it was only a matter of time.
It mattered a lot to Victor, because it hit home his family, his own name. He remembered how happy things had seemed when Ellie was just a baby. When she was born, Victor was a bit disappointed she wasnt a boy; he never showed it, but deep down hed scratched at that feeling a daughter!
Just when youve expected a lad, a little girl arrives! hed mutter to himself. Who am I going to have a proper mantoman chat with when things get tough? Who will teach me about life, who will shape a real person?
Hed married late, work always in the way, and his demanding job didnt win him many admirers among the ladies. Then he met Lily his Lily! By then both were pushing forty, so dreaming of a son felt a bit out of reach.
Then something unexpected happened. Victor didnt even realise when his tiny daughter started to work her magic on him. The first time she grinned at him and pinched his nose with her little hand, he was completely smitten. One day Ellie waddled over, a little unsure, then suddenly brightened and ran to him shouting, Dad, dad! Victor scooped her up, pressed her close and thought, Thats it my whole world now is her happiness. My little star, Ill never let anyone hurt her.
Ellie would giggle, Victor, youre spoiling us! and Victor would buy gifts for his beloved girls, watching the sparkle in their eyes and feeling content.
How did Ellie grow up so fast? Just yesterday shed been clinging to his big hand while he walked her to nursery, tossing a ball up and looking up at him with that adoring stare: Dad, youre huge! Can you buy me a teddy bear? He felt like a godfather in those moments. Now shed finished school, signed up for a parttime degree and landed a job shed taken charge of her own upbringing. Dad, its time for me to be independent. Ill learn on the job right away, no point wasting time, she told him. Victor swelled with pride at his clever girl.
Then Lily baked a pie, her eyes twinkling like a secret treasure. Victor wondered if the girls were trying to get him to buy something, or maybe they wanted a favor. But it was something else entirely Ellie had just turned twenty.
Dad, she said with a smile, flicking an invisible speck of dust off his shoulder, I want you and Mum to meet someone. Dont get nervous. Oliver is a really nice bloke; were thinking of filing the paperwork. Ive invited him over for tea today. Oh, look, hes calling!
Lily was the first to answer the door. Good evening, come in, lovely to meet you, Oliver. Im Lily Vasily, and this is my husband, Victor Gregory. Victor gave a nod, shook Olivers hand, and felt his mouth go dry.
Heres a man showing up to whisk his daughter away thats a nightmare! A stranger taking his only child from his house!
A voice of reason whispered in his head, What are you thinking? You want your daughter happy, dont you? Hes a good match, strong and kind. Why would you keep her forever with just Mum and Dad?
Victor ignored that inner voice. He decided Oliver wasnt good enough for Ellie and that was that. A plan formed instantly he would test the lad, make sure he never hurt his daughter.
Weeks passed. Victor parked his work car by Olivers house, watching from the shadows after Oliver had dropped Ellie home. Hed followed the lad a few times, trying to spot any slipups.
Then one afternoon he saw a young woman arrive with a little girl at Olivers front door. He watched as Oliver greeted them, took the girls hand and disappeared inside. Victor thought, So thats the other side of the story.
He began to suspect Oliver wasnt who he pretended to be, yet something about the boy reminded Victor of his own younger self open, straightforward. Maybe his suspicion was getting out of hand.
One day Ellie burst in, beaming, Dad, our weddings in a week! Oliver and I booked a café for the reception. Im over the moon. Victor stared at his daughter, suddenly embarrassed about the whole spying business. Ellie kept going, Dad, Olivers parents will be here tomorrow evening to meet us, theyll stay over. Tonight his sister and her daughter are coming from York Natalies sister, actually. Her husbands on a business trip, but hell join later.
At the wedding Victor danced with Lily like a young man, deciding enough was enough no more endless suspicion, no more mixing work with family.
A year later Ellie gave birth to a grandson, Samuel. Victor, now a freshoffthebench granddad, actually shed a tear. Dreams do come true. He finally had someone to have those proper male chats with, and a good soninlaw in Oliver, who turned out to be a wonderful bloke.
Little Samuel grew fast, shouting Bash! and soon started babbling words, turning the house upside down with his joy. As for Victors little investigation into Oliver, he kept it to himself some secrets are better left between close ones.
So thats the story, mate. If you liked it, give it a like and drop a comment. Cheers!
