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Carter DuGray watched the elegant young woman follow his commanding, arrogant son into the family library with a knowing smirk. After five years nothing had changed and this was a fact, which though he would never admit, Carter was thankful for. It was true that he had disliked the youngest Huntzberger when his wife, Andréa, had mentioned that she was dating his son and they had gotten quite serious. Carter had been away on business in England, which meant that he had not laid eyes on Victoria Huntzberger since she was seven years old. He had come home rarely during those years and when he came home it was usually because Tristan was in trouble.
After sending Tristan to military school for two months, Carter had taken his son out of the hell hole, which they called a military institution and sent him to a boarding school in the South of France. He was sent to the same boarding school, which Victoria Huntzberger had been attending since she was sixteen years old. Though Carter had not seen the youngest Huntzberger since she was a sweet child, he had heard of her reputation. Victoria Huntzberger had been notoriously known as a wild child with a reputation that put her brother, Logan's reputation as a troublemaker to shame. To say that Carter was not pleased would be an understatement.
That is, he was not pleased until he had the pleasure of reacquainting himself with Victoria. Carter had heard of her great wit and charm. Her beauty was famous amongst the society set, but so were her wild exploits. It so happened that Carter had returned on business from England when Tristan was seventeen years old. DuGray senior, who was a good friend of Mitchum Huntzberger, had been invited to a dinner at the House of Huntzberger, which would ultimately lead to Carter's acceptance of his son's love for Victoria. What Carter did not anticipate, however, was that he, like the rest of his family, would become enchanted with the fiery, wild young woman. He remembered their first meeting after he returned from England extremely well.
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Five Years Ago. .
Carter and Andréa DuGray, along with their son, Tristan, arrived at the Huntzberger House in a timely manner for cocktails. Andréa DuGray surveyed her husband and inwardly hoped that he would be on his best behavior and treat his son's girlfriend with some respect. This was not only her son's girlfriend, but the daughter of dear family friends and Carter had been known to become mean when he had drunk more than his fair share of alcohol. Andréa, however, knew of Victoria's reputation for being blunt and knew that the young woman could probably stand her ground against Carter.
Tristan rang the doorbell and a scurrying could be heard from behind the door as a disheveled maid greeted the trio.
"Good evening sirs and madam. May I please take your coats?"
"That would be lovely Helga," Andréa politely responded, placing her coat into the shaking hands of the maid. Mrs. DuGray noticed Helga's unusually frightened demeanor.
"Dear, I don't mean to pry, but are you alright?"
"Yes, yes thank you," Helga responded, "Ms. Victoria is home and she and Mr. Huntzberger have turned the living room into a battlefield. It might be safer to steer clear of that room at the moment Madam."
As the three DuGrays wandered farther into the Huntzberger's mansion, they heard screaming and what seemed to be the end of an argument between three parties.
"Fuck you Dad!" Victoria Huntzberger screamed, "You don't understand one fucking thing about me or Logan."
"I understand you both better than you think Victoria. Neither of you care about your futures. You sully the family name and fuck around sinking boats and crashing Porsches," Mitchum screamed back.
"Shut up Dad. Who lets us crash the cars and sink the boats huh? Maybe if you ever tried being a father we wouldn't have to have this conversation every time one of us comes back to the house of hell," Logan added angrily, standing near his sister.
"You will not speak to me in that manner. You will follow my rules and if you don't like them well that's too damn bad because you don't have a choice. I'm your father and that demands some respect. Both of you need to step up and take responsibility for yourselves instead of trying to make me the bad guy. It's not my fault that you two are such fuckups."
Logan, face red in rage stormed out of the room leaving Victoria and Mitchum to continue the battle.
"Show you respect? Show you fucking respect? Hah, that's a good one Dad. Maybe we'd show you respect if you deserved it. What do you do that deserves respect Dad? Huh? I didn't know that treating your kids like shit and cheating on your wife with any secretary you can find that's ready and willing automatically put you in the running for father of the year. Times have changed, huh? If there's any reason that we're fucked up, that reason is you!"
"Me?" Mitchum asked incredulously. "I made you fuckups. I put money in your pockets. I allow you two to live comfortable and I made you fuckups. You better watch it young lady."
"Wow Dad that sure taught me my lesson. Don't act like you care. You've never cared. Honor's your golden child and Logan and I were the two mistakes that followed. Hell, you've hated me since I can remember. Where were you when I was growing up Dad? I'll fucking tell you. You were at work. Where were you when you promised to take me to those father-daughter dances Dad? Huh. Screwing your slut of a secretary at the time! You didn't even take me to get my fucking car when I turned sixteen—
"The car that you crashed the first day you got it? You may think you're perfect little girl, but let me tell you something you and your brother are just like me whether you like it or not. You may have your boyfriend, but we both know that if he doesn't get sick of you, you'll screw the relationship up somehow."
"No I won't," Victoria firmly stated, "I'm not you."
"You're more like me than you care to admit. Now if you'll excuse me," Mitchum said as he smirked at Victoria, "Our guests have arrived."
She wanted to scream.
The DuGrays watched the scene before them with open mouths. Carter was the first to speak as Mitchum approached the trio.
"Mitchum," Carter said, easily.
"Carter, Andréa, Tristan. It's great to see you all. Please excuse my daughter. She enjoys making scenes."
"Of course," Andréa said politely, though she was a bit shaken by the fight that she had witnessed.
"Why I haven't seen your daughter in about ten years, Mitchum." Carter turned to face Victoria, who stared at him impassively.
He thought to himself, 'She is pretty, I'll give her that much.'
"It's nice to see you again young lady. I haven't seen you since you were what, seven years old? I've heard that you've been making quite the name for yourself."
"Have you now? Well it would seem that we have something in common. We both have poor reputations, which precede us."
"Meaning?"
"Simply meaning that I have a reputation for being a wild, party girl, which is what you choose to believe. I know for a fact that you are somewhat of an ass due to what I have heard about you and if I had not heard that you are, in fact, a presumptuous asshole, I would have made the assumption on my own tonight after listening to you address me in such a condescending and patronizing tone."
Victoria Huntzberger had no time for condescending businessmen and she abhorred playing the role of the perfect daughter. She was not scared of Carter DuGray like many other young women her age were. Victoria did not fear pompous, arrogant, business tycoons. She had spent her whole life being torn up by a full-fledged business tyrant and he was the only one who could tear her down.
Carter was shocked. No one had ever stood up to him quite like that, aside from his son and father. His wife did not even address him in such a manner. Though it should have infuriated Carter, he found it refreshing.
"I apologize for my rude daughter," Shira stated as she entered the eloquently decorated living room.
"Nonsense," laughed Carter, "I appreciate your lovely daughter's bluntness."
Shira's airy laugh filled the room.
"At least someone does," Mitchum deadpanned.
Shira sensed the tension between father and daughter and attempted to break it.
"Let us sit and have cocktails before dinner," Shira said.
Victoria continued to glare at both of her parents before meeting Tristan's eyes. She smirked and said, "Let the festivities begin."
A/N: Ok, well I hate to end it here, but that's how it is. A little insight into Victoria and Logan's relationship with Mitchum. Next chapter will contain more of the dinner and some important moments between Victoria and Tristan. Please Review.