"Valenciara?" Genevieve echoed, her brows pulling up into a frown. "I don't... Valenciara is such a far call from Armani. The names aren't even in any way similar so why did they change it? Are they... running from some people?"
Rick shook his head at the absurdity and, at the same time, logicality of the situation.
"Running? Not exactly. But I think we can say they were hiding from some people," he replied.
"And who are those people?"
A frown started to form on Rick's face, like he was just realizing the complexity of the situation and how hard it would be to explain to Genevieve that most of what she'd known about her parents had been a lie.
However, the earnest and confused look in her eyes as she stared at him, made him swear inwardly that he wouldn't leave here today without providing her as much clarity and answer as many questions, as he could concerning her parents dealings.
"I have to start from the beginning to make you understand, but I'm not sure we have enough time for it."
"Just answer it anyway you can," Genevieve pleaded, "I will piece up everything you said later and try to understand it on my own."
Giving both ladies a curt nod, Rick began, "As i was saying earlier, we guards had no idea that your family's name wasn't Armani until we accompanied them on their first business trip to the city. When they were addressed as Valenciara and we were addressed as The Valenciara's guards, we were confused."
His gaze alternated between Genevieve and Anna's. "Until we got home, and Master and Madam held a meeting to explain what was going on. Apparently, they only use Armani back at home, and everywhere else, they are Valenciaras, which is their real name. Apparently, they don't want those at the meeting to have any of their personal info; like where they live and how they live. Master Armani told us it was to avoid impromptu visits and sudden attacks, but didn't go indepth on it. After all, we guards already knew we were hired and trained hard for a reason."
"Papa said that?" Genevieve repeated, but didn't wait for confirmation before asking, "Does that mean the people in those meetings were his enemies or what?"
"Not open enemies from what i now know," Mr Rick explained, "It's like being the children of a president. Just because there aren't obvious enemies doesn't mean you should roam around without protection. There could always be threats lurking in the shadows. Since you and Young Master wanted to live normal lives, the best way to ensure your safety was to purchase a mansion in a private area, adopt the most common names in the district to avoid suspicion if anyone decided to investigate, while still keeping the name Valenciara on official records."
Genevieve's expression turned serious.
"So, the reason I never found any information about my family is that I was searching under the wrong name—Armani. Does that mean if I search for Valenciara, I'll finally uncover everything I've been missing for the past two years?" she asked.
As she spoke, her aunt had already retrieved a phone from the sling bag draped across her shoulder and handed it to her.
But Rick's next words made them both sigh in exasperation, while Genevieve fought the urge to hurl the phone against the wall.
"You'll find a little," he admitted. "Barely anything useful. No mention of your name, Young Master's name, or even the madam's. Just vague details, mostly about your father."
"Vague details like what?" Genevieve pressed.
"Just how the Valenciara family is practically a dynasty, with a few extra words to emphasize that point. Nothing that would actually help you learn more about them, unless you have an expert hacker on your payroll." He paused briefly before adding, "That said, I do have something else that might help you dig deeper."
"And what would that be?" Genevieve asked, frustration lacing her voice. "If even knowing our real names isn't enough to uncover anything about my family without an expert hacker, what else could possibly help?"
"Maybe understanding why there's so little information about them online," Rick suggested. "Don't you think that's the real question?"
Genevieve's eyes narrowed. "You know why?"
The older man nodded slightly. "It was obvious to all of us guards back then. Remember when I mentioned the business trips? And how only certain people addressed them as Valenciara? Those same people, the ones they dealt with, have names and histories that can't be found anywhere on the internet either."
"There are more?" Genevieve's brows furrowed. "What are their names... No, wait, you just said we can't find anything about them online. Then who are they exactly?"
Rick's expression remained unreadable as he listed them off. "Federal spies, top government officials, Interpol agents, heads of major business corporations around the world, elite developers and hackers, and last but not least… the Italian organized crime divisions, better known as the..."
"The Mafia," she finished for him, her heart beating loudly in her chest. Partly from fear. Partly from the anticipation that she was on the verge of discovering something big; something that would either push her forward or set her back in her quest for revenge.
Even though Mr. Rick had assured her that her parents weren't bad people who deserved what happened that day, knowing they associated with such powerful figures, including the Mafia, rekindled a flicker of doubt in her mind.
"Yes, better known as the Mafia, the Cosa Nostra," Rick confirmed, snapping her out of her thoughts. "They were the ones who attended those monthly meetings, just like Master and Madam did."
Geneveieve let out a dry laugh. "That's funny," she said, shaking her head. "Cause what would my parents be doing with people of that caliber? What kind of job did they have to be involved with them? If… if they didn't want their names known, were they spies? Federal spies?" Her eyes rounded in horror.
Rick shrugged. "You asked me to tell you everything I know, Miss, and that's exactly what I'm doing. I'll share my guesses, too, but I won't speak on what I don't know or what I'm unsure of."
He paused, tilting his head slightly as if recalling something. "As for what Master and Madam were doing in those meetings… they seemed like a neutral powerhouse. We, the guards, weren't always allowed inside, but we could monitor the security footage from outside. Every time, someone from one of the groups would step onto the podium, say something, and then look toward your parents. If they gave a nod, the person on stage would almost smile, like they had just received approval. And it happened at every meeting."
Rick met her gaze. "It was like watching a council of ministers presenting proposals to a king, the one who held the final say."
Geneveieve blinked.
"And Mama and Papa were the 'King'?"
He nodded in affirmation.
Genevieve dragged a hand down her face, a soft puff of air escaping her parted pink lips.
"I'm more confused than ever, Mr. Rick," she admitted, "But I suppose this is better than nothing. I still have a few questions, though. If my family was as powerful as you just implied, then their obsession with safety, the guards, even homeschooling me... it all makes sense. But on the flip side, why were they attacked? You're saying they were more powerful than the president, yet they were harmed, and nothing was done about it. It wasn't even broadcasted in the news so how come?"
"Because the one behind it was one of the people in those meetings," Rick replied flatly.