A Single Dad Took His Drunk Friend Home — Then the CEO Who Watched Him All Night Asked Him to Stay
Chapter 4
Ethan called Victoria immediately.
She answered on the first ring.
“They know about you.”
“I know.”
He told her about the envelope.
Silence.
Then Victoria said:
“Get out of the house.”
Ethan looked toward Lily’s room.
“She’s sleeping.”
“Wake her.”
“Where do we go?”
“My house.”
Ethan hesitated.
“No.”
“Why?”
“I’m not bringing my daughter into the middle of your problems.”
Victoria’s voice became firm.
“Your daughter is already in the middle of them.”
That was enough.
Ethan woke Lily.
She was confused.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Why?”
“We’re having a sleepover.”
“At the business lady’s house?”
Ethan smiled despite himself.
“Yes.”
Victoria had security waiting.
The moment Ethan arrived, she personally opened the gate.
Lily looked around.
“Wow.”
Victoria smiled.
“Your room is upstairs.”
“You have a room for me?”
“I had one prepared.”
Ethan looked at her.
“When?”
“While you were driving here.”
Lily looked at him.
“She plans fast.”
Victoria laughed.
“She does.”
Ethan noticed something then.
Victoria’s expression changed whenever she looked at Lily.
Not businesslike.
Something softer.
She showed Lily the guest room.
There was already a small stuffed rabbit on the bed.
Lily smiled.
“Thank you.”
Victoria nodded.
“You’re welcome.”
After Lily went to sleep, Ethan and Victoria sat in the library.
“I owe you an explanation.”
Ethan leaned back.
“I’m listening.”
“Marcus has been trying to access a private investment fund.”
“What’s inside?”
“Something worth far more than the money he stole.”
“What?”
“Proof that several powerful people have been using Sterling Global to move illegal assets.”
Ethan frowned.
“And my transportation company?”
“One of the routes was used without your knowledge.”
“Could someone at my company be involved?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Victoria handed him a list.
Ethan read it.
Then stopped.
The name near the bottom was familiar.
His supervisor.
The man who had hired him.
The man who had recommended him for promotion.
He looked at Victoria.
“He couldn’t.”
“People surprise us.”
Ethan looked toward the hallway.
“Why was I targeted?”
Victoria became quiet.
“Because you’re the only person who handled one particular shipment without reporting it to the wrong people.”
“I don’t understand.”
“The shipment wasn’t supposed to exist.”
“What was in it?”
“We don’t know.”
Ethan shook his head.
“I don’t remember anything unusual.”
Victoria studied him.
“That’s what worries me.”
Then she said something else.
“There’s one more reason I asked you to stay.”
“What?”
She looked toward the staircase.
“I need someone I trust around my home.”
Ethan stared at her.
“Security?”
“Security protects buildings.”
She looked at him.
“I need someone who knows when a person is lying.”
Ethan smiled faintly.
“You’ve known me for two days.”
“I’ve known your actions for years.”
He didn’t understand.
“Years?”
Victoria looked away.
“I’ll explain later.”
That answer bothered him.
But he was too tired to push.
He slept in the guest room.
Lily slept safely down the hall.
And Victoria remained awake until morning.
Because there was something she hadn’t told Ethan.
She had known his name long before the restaurant.
