A Single Dad Took His Drunk Friend Home — Then the CEO Who Watched Him All Night Asked Him to Stay
Chapter 2
Ethan didn’t sleep much that night.
He picked Lily up from his sister’s apartment just after midnight.
She barely woke when he carried her to the car.
By the time he reached home, she was asleep again.
He tucked her into bed.
Then he stood in the doorway for several seconds.
His mind kept returning to the woman on the phone.
Victoria Sterling.
He had never met her.
Not personally.
He had seen her in newspapers.
On television.
At business conferences.
She was known for being brilliant, demanding, and almost impossible to read.
She had built Sterling Global from a family investment company into a multinational organization.
She was also known for rarely asking anyone for help.
Yet she had called him.
A transportation supervisor.
A single father.
A man who had spent the evening driving his drunk friend home.
At breakfast, Lily noticed something immediately.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re thinking.”
Ethan smiled.
“How do you know?”
“You make your forehead do that.”
She pointed.
He laughed.
“Very observant.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s what you say when something is wrong.”
Ethan looked at her.
She was eight years old and already knew him too well.
“Someone called me last night.”
“Who?”
“A businesswoman.”
“Is she nice?”
“I don’t know.”
“What did she want?”
“She asked me to help her.”
Lily frowned.
“With what?”
“That part I’m still trying to figure out.”
She returned to her cereal.
“Maybe she likes you.”
Ethan nearly choked.
“What?”
“Mommy liked you.”
“Lily.”
“I’m just saying.”
He laughed.
“Finish your breakfast.”
Later that afternoon, Victoria called again.
“Did you think about my invitation?”
Ethan was standing in his office.
“I did.”
“And?”
“I’ll meet you.”
“Good.”
“Can I ask why?”
“Yes.”
She paused.
“I can’t explain everything over the phone.”
“Then where?”
She gave him an address.
A private residence overlooking Lake Michigan.
Ethan stared.
“That’s your house?”
“Yes.”
He almost refused.
But something about her voice had changed.
She sounded tired.
Not powerful.
Not like the woman from television.
Like someone who hadn’t slept.
At seven, Ethan arrived.
Victoria opened the door herself.
She wore a simple cream sweater and dark trousers.
No jewelry.
No assistant.
No security visible.
“Come in.”
Ethan stepped inside.
The house was beautiful without being cold.
Large windows overlooked the lake.
A fireplace burned quietly.
Books filled an entire wall.
Victoria gestured toward the kitchen.
“I made dinner.”
Ethan stopped.
“You cook?”
“Badly.”
He smiled.
“That makes two of us.”
For the first time, she laughed.
They sat across from each other.
Victoria poured wine for herself and water for him.
“I know this is strange.”
“Very.”
“I saw what happened last night.”
Ethan frowned.
“At the restaurant?”
“Yes.”
“You were there.”
“I was.”
“Why?”
“Because Marcus was celebrating a deal my company almost lost.”
Ethan looked surprised.
“Marcus Lane?”
“Yes.”
“That’s your friend.”
“He was my colleague.”
“What’s the difference?”
Victoria smiled faintly.
“He used to be.”
Ethan listened.
Victoria took a breath.
“I hired Marcus five years ago.”
“Okay.”
“He became one of the most trusted people in my company.”
“What happened?”
“He betrayed me.”
Ethan’s expression changed.
“How?”
Victoria looked toward the lake.
“He stole from me.”
