Victor Gregory kept such a close watch on Oleg that he never even noticed—no surprise, given Victor’s years of experience in the field; the man’s a true professional!

**Diary Entry 12th of May, 2023**

Victor Whitmore had been watching Oliver carefully, though the younger man hadnt the faintest clue. Not surprisingVictor had spent years in roles that demanded discretion. He was a professional. But so far, Oliver had given him nothing. No suspicious visitors, no odd behaviour. Still, Victor knew better than to rush. Sooner or later, Oliver would slip up. His gut had never let him down before.

This mattered too muchit was personal. His family was at stake. He remembered when little Eleanor was born. At first, hed been disappointed she wasnt a boy. Oh, hed never let it show, but something nagged at him. A daughter? Him, a man of standing, with a girl instead of a son? Who would he talk to, man to man, when life grew heavy? Who would he teach, mould into a proper man?

Ah, but then then life had a way of changing things. Hed married latework always got in the way, and women never took kindly to his long hours. Then he met ElizabethLizzie!but by then, she was nearly forty. Too late for sons.

And then, without warning, Eleanor claimed him. The first time she smiled up at him, tiny fingers gripping his nose, he was done for.

When she took her first wobbly steps, squealing, *”Daddy! Daddy!”* as she rushed into his arms, he understood. Nothing else mattered but her happiness. His little girl, his starhed never let anyone hurt her.

Lizzie would laugh. *”Victor, you spoil us!”* And he did, buying gifts just to see their eyes light up.

Then, somehow, Eleanor grew up overnight. Wasnt it just yesterday shed clutched his hand on the way to nursery, tilting her head back to say, *”Daddy, youre so tall! Will you buy me a teddy?”* That look made him feel invincible.

Now shed finished school, started university part-time, and taken a job. *”Daddy, its time I stood on my own feet,”* shed said. And hed swelled with pride.

Then came the blow. Lizzie baked a cake, eyes twinkling like she knew a secret. Victor assumed the girls wanted something. But no.

*”Daddy,”* Eleanor brushed invisible dust from his shoulder. *”Theres someone Id like you to meet. Olivers lovelywere thinking of registering our marriage. Hes coming for tea tonight.”*

Before Victor could react, the doorbell rang. Lizzie welcomed Oliver warmly. *”Im Elizabeth. This is Victor, Eleanors father.”* Victor shook the mans hand, throat dry.

This stranger had come to take his daughter away.

A voice in his head argued*What did you expect? Should she stay with you forever? He seems decent.*

Victor ignored it. Oliver wasnt good enough. And so, he hatched a plan.

For weeks, under the guise of work, he tailed Oliver after he walked Eleanor home. Just in case. What if he had someone else?

Then, one evening, Victor saw it. A woman with a little girl met Oliver at his flat. He kissed her, took her bag, held the childs hand. They disappeared inside.

*I knew it.*

Yet, absurdly, Victor liked the lad. He reminded him of himselfopen, straightforward. Had he let suspicion cloud his judgment?

Eleanor greeted him the next day, beaming. *”Daddy, weve booked the café! The weddings in a week!”*

Victor hesitated, shame creeping in. Then

*”Olivers parents are visiting tomorrow. His sister and niece came last nighther husbands away on business.”*

At the wedding, Victor danced with Lizzie like a young man. Hed been a fool to doubt.

A year later, Eleanor gave him a grandson. Little Henry. The moment he held the boy, Victor wept. Dreams came true after all. Now he had someone to talk to, man to man. Oliver turned out to be a fine fellow.

And as for his little investigation? Best kept quiet. Trust was everything.

Funny how life works.