Pretend to be mine tonight (GXG)

Chapter 9

Emily's POV

I lay in bed, restless and consumed by thoughts of her. I wanted to understand who could have broken the heart of this intriguing woman. Our conversation had only deepened my curiosity.

If I couldn't know her past directly from her, I could at least uncover her first name. I opened my laptop and began some questionable online sleuthing.

I typed "Vieira" into the search bar, but the first result was a commercial website, unrelated to my quest. I refined my search to "The Vieira Family" and soon found numerous articles about a man named Gabriel Vieira. Clicking on the first link, I began to read.

Gabriel Vieira, founder and owner of the Vieira Group, age 68, is the chief executive officer. Leading the company since 1976, Vieira's passion for fashion and customer service has been pivotal in driving strategic direction. With a long and distinguished career in business, Vieira and his son, David Vieira, Executive Vice President of the Vieira Group, have been crucial in evolving the brand's product positioning. David took over management after the tragic death of his brother Adam Vieira.

The article was filled with business jargon and failed to mention Ms. Vieira's first name, only discussing Gabriel, David, and Adam. My curiosity about her father's identity remained unresolved.

I continued my search, focusing on "David Vieira." I found several articles about him and his wife, but none provided the information I sought. Frustrated, I typed "Adam Vieira" and was met with articles that made my heart ache.

Gabriel Vieira has declined to comment on the recent death of his eldest son, Adam Vieira. Adam, age 34, tragically took his own life in front of his father and his 8-year-old daughter, Alexandria Vieira, following the death of his wife Victoria Vieira. Victoria's death, attributed to heart disease, came after Adam's attempts to seek financial help from his father were denied.

Gabriel Vieira had disowned Adam when he married Victoria against Gabriel's wishes. Gabriel had intended for Adam to marry the daughter of a prominent businessman, Martin Waters, to strengthen business ties. After being cut off by his father, Adam struggled to support his family, eventually running a mechanic shop. Following Victoria's death, Adam reached out to his father for help, but was refused. Adam's death left Alexandria in the care of her uncle, David Vieira, with no contact with her grandfather, despite being the sole legal heir to the Vieira Group.

Reading further, I could barely hold back my tears. I felt like I had invaded a private pain that should remain untouched. Ms. Vieira's words, 'I know what a broken heart is,' echoed in my mind. I felt like the worst kind of intruder.

The next day at school, I leaned against my locker, hugging my books and scanning the hallways for her. I wanted to make sure she was alright. I regretted what I'd said and hoped she was managing her pain in her own way.

When I saw her approaching, her heels clicking sharply on the floor, I couldn't help but smile. She radiated elegance despite her obvious annoyance with everyone around her. I found myself grinning like a puppy who'd just seen its owner return home.

When her eyes met mine, she gave me a puzzled look and walked past me, as though I didn't exist. I followed her for a few steps, then stopped, realizing I was in the middle of the school hallway.

I needed to talk to someone. I found Cam and, without preamble, dragged her into an empty classroom and told her everything I had discovered.

"Wow... what the fuck?" Cam finally said after a moment of processing.

"Should I tell her I know?" I asked, chewing nervously on my bottom lip.

"Yeah, sure! Just go up to her and say, 'Hey, sorry about your psycho grandpa leaving your mom to die and your dad blowing his brains out in front of you. How's that working out for you, Alexandria?'" Cam replied sarcastically.