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After a fast tutorial from Mia, I download the file and transfer it to my computer. Then, sweating in a race against Vix’s clock, I print the file on the printer in the butler’s pantry. I send my shopping lists and recipes down to the staff from our computers semi-regularly. I run down the stairs to grab it and then head back up to my room in a flash.
The stack of papers is thick.
There is a lot of standard information I already knew, and a million photos I’ve already seen. But she did discover more about his early years than I could find. Adopted at age eight, after he was “dumped at a fire station.” My heart aches involuntarily. He was thrown out like trash? As an eight-year-old? I can’t fathom that. The press made a big deal of the Whites adopting him, and from then on, he was a sort of prince-in-training.
The next interesting tidbit is Melody Carlisle. The blonde from college. There are only a couple photos of them walking and smiling casually together. Nothing like the later Papárazzi pics. It says they dated for two years and then ended without much fanfare when he graduated. Rumors were that the family didn’t approve of her, but she’s also from a wealthy family. I guess it could be that she’s East Coast money? My heart aches again. This time I’m annoyed by the sensation. Because I’m imagining him with her, letting her in, laughing, dating, touching. Was he so closed off back then? Did he love her? Does he still?
They didn’t have any lingering contact, so maybe not. According to Vix’s thorough report, he immediately began dating anyone and everyone. His only social calls besides press opportunities are rare meals with his mother. His father doesn’t join them. Vix did add an interesting note.
POSSIBLE PREFERENCE:
Over 40% of his companions possess red hair.
35% dark/brunette, the remaining 25% light/blonde.
Interesting. The Volotov princess misses nothing. She lists everything from his known allergens (shellfish), book preferences (autobiographies and military stuff), music choices (R&B), to his suspected favorite color. It’s gunmetal gray. I would’ve guessed black, but she based this on almost all of his known purchases; phones, watches, shirts, cars, suits. A shiver runs over me at the amount of information she found in such a short time.
There are pages of information about his political connections. There are also multiple pages about his adopted family. All the people remotely close to him are powerful and intimidating. I guess the same could be said for me, though. After scrolling for ages I don’t feel all that enlightened. But then I reach Vix’s end notes.
DISCREPANCY: Only notable vice, as discovered via excessive purchases, is coffee. See below. No dark web contacts, porn sites, or odd search history. Highly irregular and suggests a top-of-the-line, cloaked, re-directed, highly secure secondary network. Could explore further for additional fees.
I am taken aback by the coffee thing. This man has purchased what looks like every single coffee bean, every exotic piece of coffee equipment, things I don’t even understand or recognize. I guess he lied about the no hobbies.
I smile. Good to know.
As for the secondary network, surely that’s normal for a politician? I’ll have to ask Luna. Though the way Vix noted it, maybe not. He is partnering with the mafia. But Vix is Bratva. To keep her locked out of said system is noteworthy. I shudder again and scroll on.
DISCREPANCY: Estimated value of promised and existing funds exceeds that of Eleanna Delgado’s 50 million dollar dowry.
I stand up. I’m going to be sick. My dowry is fifty million dollars?! What!
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
I pick up the phone.
“Wow, she sent you his file already?” Lu says in lieu of an actual greeting.
“Lu. How much is your dowry?”
She hums. “I don’t know, but it’s got to be up there, five million maybe? Ten? Why?”
“And what does this mean? Vix says Mark’s estimated value of promised and existing funds exceeds my dowry.” I don’t tell her the amount. It’s too sickening to say out loud. That is so much money. No wonder Mark is marrying me!
“Wait, say that again.” Lucy says, almost whispering.
“Discrepancy. Estimated value of incoming funds exceeds Eleanna Delgado’s dowry.”
“Well.” She says softly. “That is weird.”
My nausea gets worse. “What? Why?”
“That means he doesn’t need your Tio’smoney, Ellie.”
“But, but, then, then…” I stammer.
“But then why, exactly, is he marrying you?”
I shake my head furiously. “That can’t be right, she must’ve made a mistake.”
