A Female CEO Made a Single Dad Pick Up Her VIP Guest—and Then the VIP Asked, “Why Isn’t He the One Running Your Company?”
Chapter 9
Victoria spent the night going through her mother’s estate documents.
She found letters.
Contracts.
Trust agreements.
Photographs.
Everything had been carefully arranged.
Her mother had planned for years.
But one letter was different.
It was handwritten.
Victoria opened it.
My daughter,
You will believe I did all of this for power.
That’s not entirely true.
Victoria frowned.
The letter continued.
Your father wanted the company to remain in the family.
Richard wanted to control it.
I wanted to protect you from both.
Victoria stared at the page.
Her mother claimed she had built the hidden network to prevent Richard from taking Sterling.
But then she admitted something.
She had gone too far.
She had manipulated contracts.
Hidden money.
Used people.
She knew she had become the very thing she feared.
The final paragraph read:
The only person who can undo this is someone who doesn’t want power.
Victoria knew immediately who her mother meant.
Ethan.
She found him in his office.
“You need to read this.”
He did.
Then looked at her.
“She knew about me?”
“She knew what kind of person you are.”
Ethan sighed.
“That doesn’t make me comfortable.”
Victoria smiled sadly.
“My mother would have hated you.”
“Why?”
“Because you can’t be bought.”
They sat quietly.
Then Victoria asked:
“Do you want to become CEO?”
Ethan laughed.
“You’re asking me again?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t think the question is ridiculous anymore.”
He looked at her.
“What would happen to you?”
“I’d become chairman.”
“And?”
“I’d finally stop trying to control everything.”
Ethan shook his head.
“You don’t need to step down because of me.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because I want to build something different.”
He stared at her.
“Different how?”
“Less about me.”
She smiled.
“More about us.”
The word surprised both of them.
Us.
Ethan looked away.
Victoria didn’t push.
For the first time, their relationship became personal.
Not because they were executives.
Because they trusted each other.
Then came another surprise.
Lily entered the office.
“Dad?”
Ethan turned.
“Hey.”
Victoria smiled.
“What’s up?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Do you like my dad?”
Ethan almost choked.
Victoria laughed.
Lily continued.
“Because he likes you.”
Ethan’s face turned red.
“Lily.”
“What?”
Victoria looked amused.
“I like your dad.”
Lily smiled.
“Good.”
Ethan shook his head.
“I raised a menace.”
Victoria laughed.
Later that evening, Victoria walked Ethan to his car.
“You really like her?” she asked.
Ethan looked at her.
“Yes.”
“She’s eight.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Victoria smiled.
“I meant me.”
Ethan laughed.
“I know what you meant.”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
The air changed.
Neither moved.
Victoria stepped closer.
Then stopped.
“This is complicated.”
“I know.”
“You’re my employee.”
“Not exactly.”
“You report to me.”
“Technically.”
She smiled.
“This isn’t professional.”
“No.”
They stood there.
Then Ethan said:
“Then maybe we don’t do anything.”
Victoria nodded.
“Maybe.”
But neither of them wanted to walk away.
