Billionaire Woman Went to a Party Dressed Poor—Everyone Rejected Her Except a Kindhearted Single Dad
Chapter 2
Daniel led Victoria through a quiet hallway toward the ballroom.
The music grew louder.
The room glittered with chandeliers and crystal glasses.
Everyone looked expensive.
Victoria felt strangely out of place despite owning the building.
Daniel handed her a glass of sparkling water.
“You look nervous.”
“I’m not.”
“You keep looking at the exits.”
She laughed.
“Maybe I like knowing where they are.”
Daniel smiled.
“I do too.”
Victoria studied him.
“Are you security?”
“No.”
“Then what do you do?”
“Maintenance.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You work here?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you carrying drinks?”
“Because the event manager is short-staffed.”
Victoria laughed.
“You’re doing everything.”
“I have a daughter.”
“That explains it?”
“She’s ten. She thinks I can fix anything.”
Victoria smiled.
“I know the type.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Children?”
“No.”
She hesitated.
“Not yet.”
Daniel nodded.
A waiter passed.
He looked at Victoria.
“Who invited her?”
Daniel answered:
“She has an invitation.”
The waiter frowned.
“But—”
Daniel cut him off.
“She’s fine.”
Victoria noticed something.
Daniel wasn’t trying to impress anyone.
He wasn’t even trying to defend her dramatically.
He simply believed she deserved to be there.
Then Lily appeared.
“Dad!”
Daniel turned.
A little girl with dark blonde hair ran toward him.
“I finished rehearsal.”
“Good job.”
She hugged him.
Then looked at Victoria.
“Who’s she?”
Daniel smiled.
“Someone who needed a friend.”
Victoria’s heart softened.
“Hi.”
Lily smiled.
“Do you like cake?”
Victoria laughed.
“Very much.”
“Then you’ll like my favorite part.”
“What is that?”
“Dessert.”
Lily grabbed Victoria’s hand.
“Come.”
Daniel laughed.
“Lily, don’t kidnap people.”
“She likes cake.”
“I do.”
“Then she’s coming.”
Victoria followed.
At the dessert table, wealthy guests surrounded a collection of elaborate pastries.
Lily pointed.
“That one’s my favorite.”
Victoria looked.
A simple chocolate cake.
“Good choice.”
Lily nodded seriously.
“I don’t like fancy ones.”
Victoria laughed.
“Neither do I.”
Daniel watched them.
He smiled.
Then someone approached.
A woman named Caroline Hayes.
She was one of Victoria’s closest social acquaintances.
She didn’t recognize Victoria.
She looked at Daniel.
“Who is she?”
“Her name is Vicky.”
Caroline looked at Victoria’s clothes.
“Staff?”
Victoria answered calmly.
“Guest.”
Caroline laughed.
“Of course.”
She turned to Daniel.
“You should be careful who you bring into rooms like this.”
Daniel frowned.
“She was invited.”
Caroline looked at Victoria again.
“By whom?”
Victoria smiled.
“You wouldn’t believe me.”
Caroline walked away.
Daniel looked embarrassed.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“People can be cruel.”
Victoria shook her head.
“I’ve seen worse.”
“What do you mean?”
She looked around.
“I mean people usually behave differently when they know what you own.”
Daniel didn’t understand.
“Why would that matter?”
Victoria smiled.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
Before Daniel could ask another question, the host stepped onto the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Victoria Sterling’s thirty-second birthday celebration.”
Applause filled the ballroom.
Victoria stood still.
Daniel looked at her.
“You know her?”
Victoria smiled.
“Very well.”
The lights dimmed.
A giant photograph of Victoria appeared on the screen.
Everyone applauded.
Daniel looked from the screen to Victoria.
His eyes widened.
“Wait.”
Victoria slowly turned toward him.
Daniel whispered:
“You’re Victoria Sterling.”
She nodded.
He stared.
“The billionaire?”
“Yes.”
Daniel took a step back.
Victoria expected the reaction.
Instead, Lily tugged his sleeve.
“Dad?”
“What?”
“You’re staring.”
He looked at Victoria.
“Sorry.”
Then he laughed.
“I just let a billionaire steal my daughter’s cake.”
Victoria laughed for the first time that evening.
And somehow, that mattered more than all the applause in the room.
