Grandfather

Her phone’s piercing alarm cut through the heavy silence of the hotel room. Victoria’s eyes snapped open instantly, her body reacting with the hyper-vigilance of a soldier. She didn't linger in bed. She washed up quickly, and instead of reaching for the elaborate theatrical cosmetics, chest binder, and tailored suits that transformed her into 'Victor,' she stopped.

Today was different. Today, she didn't want to be a ghost or a ruthless mercenary. Today was her grandfather’s birthday.

Before her world burned to the ground, one man in the entire Vance family had treated her with genuine, unconditional love: Alex Vance. Her grandfather. She knew with absolute certainty that when her coward of a father had shipped her abroad to rot in an asylum, Alex had been the only one drowning in sorrow and rage.

Not wanting to draw a single eye from her family or the paparazzi, Victoria dressed in simple, nondescript clothes and applied only a layer of light makeup to mask the exhaustion etched into her features. She caught a taxi, keeping her head low as the vehicle navigated the familiar streets of her childhood, eventually pulling up outside the massive, iron gates of the Vance estate.

Through the tinted glass, Victoria watched as a steady stream of luxury sports cars and sleek limousines dropped off the city’s wealthy elite and important guests. The house was alive with the sound of hollow laughter and flashing cameras. A bitter taste coated her tongue, but she pushed it down. She wasn't here for them.

Slipping out of the taxi, Victoria moved stealthily around the perimeter toward the back of the estate. Having grown up in these shadows, she knew the blind spots of every single security camera. She navigated the courtyard like a phantom, scaling the high perimeter wall with a fluid, athletic grace. Within moments, she reached the balcony of her grandfather's private quarters and slipped inside.

True to her judgment, Alex Vance had been completely isolated from the grand party happening downstairs. He sat alone in his armchair, looking frail and staring blankly out the window.

Victoria's chest tightened. Step by step, she slowly approached him, her boots making no sound on the heavy rug.

"Grandpa," she whispered.

Alex Vance stiffened, turning his head slowly toward the sound of the voice. His breath hitched. Standing before him was his granddaughter. The last time he had seen her, she had been a fragile, slightly plump teen girl. Now, she stood tall, breathtakingly beautiful, slim, and carrying an aura of quiet power that he didn't recognize.

"Vicky?" he called out, his voice trembling, unable to believe his own eyes.

"Yes, Grandpa, it's me," Victoria said, the icy exterior she had spent years building completely shattering.

She rushed forward, pulling her surprised grandfather into a fierce, desperate hug. "I am back," she choked out between her cries, the tears finally breaking through her defenses.

Holding her, the old man succumbed to a wave of profound guilt. He squeezed her back with what little strength he had left, his own tears spilling over. He knew he should have protected her from his family. But five years ago, his failing body had betrayed him; he had been hospitalized, fighting for his own life, and by the time he was discharged, the damage had already been done. His beloved granddaughter had been wiped from existence.

They finally pulled apart, and Alex sat back down, his hands trembling as he reached out to touch her arm. "How are you? You have grown so much... look at you."

"I am fine, Grandpa," Victoria said, wiping her tears and forcing a reassuring smile. "I got back yesterday and thought I should come see you first. But I can't stay long. I have things I need to do."

Hearing this, a spark of fierce determination ignited in the old man's eyes. He gripped her hand. "Now that you are back, I can finally announce you as the legitimate daughter of the Vance family. I will set everything straight, Vicky."

"No, Grandpa," Victoria said firmly, gently releasing his hand and standing up. Her voice cooled, returning to the sharp register of a woman on a mission. "I am good. Let them think I am not back."

She reached into her pocket and placed a small, beautifully carved object into his frail palm. "Take this. It's my gift to you. It's a rare jade I got for you."

Before he could protest, Victoria leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her grandfather’s forehead. "I will come to visit you again soon. I promise."

With the effortless agility of a mercenary, Victoria turned, stepped onto the balcony, and leaped straight out of the window into the courtyard below. Alex Vance rushed to the ledge as fast as his old legs could carry him, looking down into the empty gardens, his mouth hanging wide open in utter shock at the lethal, fearless woman his little Vicky had become.

Her emotional goal for the day successfully achieved, Victoria sat silently in the back of the taxi she had instructed to wait for her just outside the grand Vance estate. As the vehicle glided away from the mansion and carried her back toward the heart of the city, she allowed herself to breathe. Seeing her grandfather had filled her with a bittersweet warmth, but the moment the taxi pulled up to her luxury hotel, the real world slammed back into focus.

The hotel lobby was absolutely swarming. Glittering chandeliers cast a harsh glow over a sea of high-society guests clad in designer velvet and tailored tuxedos. It seemed a massive, high-profile corporate party was currently taking place on the main floor. Minding her own business and desperate to avoid the shallow crowd, Victoria pulled her coat tighter around herself and headed straight for the elevators, wanting nothing more than the sanctuary of her private suite.

She had no idea that from across the crowded room, a pair of sharp, calculating eyes had already spotted her, tracking her every movement with predatory interest.

Before she could even reach the elevator bank, two sharply dressed women abruptly stepped into her path, blocking her way. Victoria blinked, her mercenary instincts flaring as she looked at them. At first, she didn't recognize their altered faces under the heavy makeup, but a glance at their exquisite, high-end designer dresses instantly jogged her memory. Of course. It was Maria and Luisa.