A Single Dad Fell Asleep on His Boss’s Shoulder — What Happened Next Changed Everything
Chapter 3
At 7:15 the next morning, Daniel woke to someone knocking on his apartment door.
He opened it.
Noah stood outside with a backpack.
“You said you were taking me somewhere.”
Daniel blinked.
“I did?”
“Yesterday.”
Daniel remembered.
He had promised to take the day off.
Noah smiled.
“Where are we going?”
Daniel looked around his tiny apartment.
“Anywhere you want.”
Noah thought.
“Breakfast.”
Daniel laughed.
“That’s your big dream?”
“Pancakes.”
“Done.”
They walked to a small diner.
For the first time in months, Daniel didn’t check his phone.
He didn’t open his laptop.
He didn’t answer emails.
He just listened to Noah talk.
School.
Baseball.
A science project.
A girl named Emma who apparently had a crush on someone else.
Daniel laughed so hard he nearly spilled his coffee.
Then Noah asked:
“Do you like your boss?”
Daniel nearly choked.
“What?”
“Your boss.”
“Why?”
“Because you said her name when you were sleeping.”
Daniel froze.
“What did I say?”
“Victoria.”
Daniel stared at his son.
Noah grinned.
“Is she pretty?”
“Eat your pancakes.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“You’re eight.”
“I’m observant.”
Daniel laughed.
But later that afternoon, his phone rang.
Victoria.
He answered.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?”
“With Noah.”
“Good.”
Daniel smiled.
“Everything okay?”
“Not really.”
His smile disappeared.
“What happened?”
“I found something in the company accounts.”
“What?”
“Your name.”
Daniel frowned.
“My name?”
“There are payments being made through a subsidiary.”
“What kind of payments?”
“Payments connected to your employee records.”
Daniel felt a chill.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Is someone stealing money?”
“Possibly.”
“Then call the police.”
“I don’t know who is responsible.”
Victoria lowered her voice.
“And there’s another problem.”
“What?”
“Someone accessed your personnel file last night.”
Daniel stopped walking.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Can you track it?”
“Yes.”
“Why would anyone access my file?”
Victoria hesitated.
“That’s what worries me.”
Daniel looked at Noah.
“Does this involve me?”
“Maybe.”
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
“What should I do?”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
“What?”
“Not yet.”
Victoria continued.
“I want to investigate quietly.”
Daniel agreed.
That evening, he returned home with Noah.
But when he opened the apartment door, something was wrong.
The lights were on.
Daniel never left them on.
He stepped inside.
“Stay behind me.”
Noah grabbed his hand.
Nothing looked disturbed.
The television was off.
The windows were locked.
But Daniel’s laptop was open.
He hadn’t left it open.
The screen displayed a single message.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED ASLEEP.
Daniel’s blood ran cold.
Noah whispered:
“Dad?”
Daniel closed the laptop.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from Victoria.
Don’t go home tonight.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
Someone is following you.
He looked through the window.
A black SUV sat across the street.
The engine was running.
Daniel grabbed Noah’s jacket.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
“We’re leaving.”
They rushed downstairs.
The SUV’s headlights turned on.
Daniel took Noah through the back entrance.
They ran three blocks.
Then stopped at a crowded café.
Daniel called Victoria.
She answered immediately.
“Are you safe?”
“For now.”
“Good.”
“What is happening?”
“I found the person who accessed your file.”
“Who?”
Victoria’s voice became quiet.
“One of our board members.”
Daniel stared.
“Why?”
“Because he wasn’t looking for your employment records.”
“What was he looking for?”
Victoria took a breath.
“Your son’s birth certificate.”
Daniel’s heart stopped.
