Alexander's POV

Glancing at the clock I saw that it was almost 1pm. That Villardi fuck would be walking into my office building any second now. I was shuffling everything on my desk and inside my drawers looking for the file on him. It had everything that I would discuss with that disgusting old man. Over the phone, David and him negotiated on a contract that would be beneficial to both of us. I couldn't speak to him without losing my temper so I had David take over.

I was informed that the last 3 mines I had purchased recently, were promised to be his by the multiple joint shareholders. To my good fortune they picked me instead. Undoubtedly they were some of the most profitable mines I had laid my eyes on. The clear potential and abundance they possessed would make me more rich. I had got lucky and Tomasso got bitter.

Listening to that twat of therapist along with my inner conscious and my beautiful, sweet Rachel, I was trying to be a better man and a better person. Hence I had decided to sell one of them off to Villardi at a reasonable price. It was better than nothing and the ethical thing to do since his name was first.

Besides I didn't want to get lawyers involved. It would have been a very messy case and digging into my past, questioning my character... high profile cases drag out for years and every detail is left unscathed whether or not it's relating to the matter at hand. I couldn't afford for the authorities to dig up my past.

I honestly deserved to wrench the man's neck for attacking my property and injuring my miners. Additionally, I'd also demand a hefty price from him to compensate those families apart from what I would provide. It won't bring them back their loved ones, but at least it would provide some leverage going forward. Lucky for him my insurance covered the vandalism.

"Okay where the fuck is it?" I growled out in anger throwing things around on my desk. I couldn't seem to find that file anywhere. What's the point of having this meeting without it?

"We were reviewing it last night in your living room. Did you remember to leave it in your study when we done?"

I stopped and pinched the bridge of my nose in realisation.

"You're such a fucking idiot," said Liam and continued to play with his rubik's cube. I was grateful for his presence here because I knew that I would kill Tomasso Villardi within 5 seconds of his arrival if Liam wasn't here to restrain me. It's happened before many times with multiple people.

I couldn't call Jock or Lev to get the file for me since they both were at different parts of the city doing their weekly inspection of my casino's and restaurants. Apart from them being my bodyguards, those boys were my all-rounders. David was swarmed with piles of work that I had dumped upon him yesterday since I had my own shit to deal with and practically neglected everything. It would take too long for me or Liam to drive home and drive all the way back here and make it in time.

Grabbing my phone from my pocket, a little gleam came over me when I saw my screen wallpaper. It was the same picture of Rachel and me in that little café when we matched outfits. Her presence so bright and lively.

"Hey you," Rachel answered warmly.

"Hi princess," I said as an involuntarily smile came across my face. "How's my girl doing today?"

"I'm great!" she beamed and I heard rustling in the background. "Sorry for the noise. I'm making baklava today. The phyllo pastry is so tricky, I'm on my second batch but it's going to be the best thing you ever tasted, I promise."

"I can't wait to try it, princess. But first will you do me a favour?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"There is a brown file on the living room coffee table where Liam and I were sitting last night. I really need it right now. Would you be able to bring it to the office building within 10 minutes please?"

I heard more rustling in the background and I could just imagine Rachel wearing cheeky little shorts and a tight t shirt like she usually did when she cooked and baked. "Oh no problem at all. I had to stop at the store anyways because I needed some more butter and pistachios. I'll be there soon."

I instantly let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, sweetheart."

"It's so cold out today. You didn't even wear a blazer or your suit jacket. I'll bring you the snug jumper that I just finish knit for you. I'm on my way."

I hung up the call and checked my email to see if I had a digital copy however it was the original contract and not the revised version so I wouldn't be able to use it.

Huffing out loud I went over to my office bar cart and poured myself some whiskey. "Want a drink?" I offered Liam to which he declined and put all of his focus back on that stupid rubik's cube. I spent the next few moments tidying up my office and all of the scattered documents everywhere. I replied to some emails leaving the bigger tasks for later because my concentration wasn't all there.

"Mr Viotto?" David's voice flowed in through the intercom, "You're 1pm appointment is here."

Looking at my watch I let out a mocking sound seeing that this man was a whole 15 minutes late. "Send him in, David."

Finally Liam had put away that damn cube and straightened up in his seat. "Don't pounce on him," he warned me. If he pissed me off then I wouldn't hesitate to beat him to a pulp.

David opened the door for the man in question and welcomed him inside. Closing the door behind him, the room was filled with an incomprehensible amount of tension and a very eerie feeling.

Looking over at Tomasso Villardi, he was a fine aged man clad in an impeccable, crisp white suit with familiar brown eyes, familiar brown hair, a familiar smile and a whole familiar face.

Liam stood up in shock but I still remained in my seat dumbfounded when staring at this man. I couldn't believe my fucking eyes. Was the one glass of whiskey I had taking it's toll on me? What the shit was I seeing?

"So," Tomasso started, "Mr Viotto-Ashford, we finally meet," he said coldly with a smug smile. He started to walk towards me but I abruptly stood up not realising that my chair had wheeled far back and hit the glass wall due to the impact.

Clearing my throat and trying to decipher whether or not my eyes were deceiving me I looked at Liam who was still looking at the man curiously.

My eyes weren't actually deceiving me.

At that realisation I didn't bother listening to what Tomasso was saying, all I needed to do was get him out of here as soon as possible.

"You need to leave. You need to fucking leave this instant," I growled out unable to control where my temper was going. I walked to the door and swiftly opened it gesturing for him to leave. He looked at me confused and in disbelief.

"Mr Viotto, you ask for me to come here and now you kick me out? Where's the professionalism in this? And mind your manners please, I'm not an animal that you cuss out too."

I don't give a shit about what this man was saying. This whole thing was a mistake. I should have never asked to meet him. "Listen here, you just need to leave right this instant. Leave now or I will drag you out myself. David will correspond with you via email. That's it, just go quickly."

In my world, that was practically begging and I was not one for it. When he didn't move I grunted in annoyance. Liam was leaning against my desk looking even more mortified that I was at this point.

I walked forward and grabbed Tomasso's upper arm and dragged him out of my office and quickly to the elevators. I paid no heed to his protests and threats at touching him.

Rachel will be here any second and she absolutely cannot see him.

I nearly break the damn elevator's button pressing it so many times. Finally it arrived and before I could throw him inside, Rachel looked up at me with a grin from inside when the doors opened. Her face as sweet as ever and she was holding the black jumper and file I had requested.

This is not happening. Fuck.

Her eyes made their way to the man whose arm I was gripping tightly and her whole face dropped. Her smile instantly vanishing and a look of terror washing over her.

For once in my life I was stuck. I didn't know what to do. I just stood there like a statue looking at her petrified face. This is bad. In retrospect, I should have locked him in my office and waited for Rachel outside.

"Alexander? What... who is this?" she asked meekly and in shock looking back and forth between me and Tomasso.

Looking over at Tomasso, he had his poker face on and I wasn't sure if he was in the same state of shock as I was in. Slyly, his eyes raked his eyes over Rachel and I'd be damned if I didn't see realisation sweep though them.

He knew.

Looking at him and then back at Rachel, you'd have to be blind to not see the uncanny resemblance that they shared. Rachel was literally a younger female version of him and that thought scared me like no other.