Billionaire Woman Went to a Party Dressed Poor—Everyone Rejected Her Except a Kindhearted Single Dad
Chapter 4
Daniel knew nothing about the board crisis.
He spent the next morning getting Lily ready for school.
Breakfast.
Lunch.
Shoes.
Homework.
A missing science project.
His life was ordinary.
Victoria’s was anything but.
Her board meeting lasted three hours.
Seven executives sat around the table.
Her aunt Margaret led the opposition.
“We believe the company needs stability.”
Victoria looked at her.
“Meaning?”
“Leadership.”
“You want my position.”
“We want better governance.”
Victoria’s expression remained calm.
“Who prepared the motion?”
Silence.
Then her CFO spoke.
“It’s not personal.”
Victoria almost laughed.
“It never is.”
She had seen this coming.
But she hadn’t expected the betrayal to be this organized.
The board intended to force her out before the annual shareholder meeting.
The reason?
A proposed merger.
One Victoria had rejected.
Her aunt supported it.
She believed selling a controlling stake would secure the company’s future.
Victoria believed it would destroy her father’s original vision.
The meeting ended with no decision.
But Victoria knew she was in danger of losing control.
That afternoon, she went to the hotel.
Daniel was repairing a leaking pipe.
He looked up.
“You’re back.”
“I needed somewhere quiet.”
“This is a hotel.”
“It’s quieter than the boardroom.”
He laughed.
She sat nearby.
“You seem stressed.”
“I am.”
“You want to talk?”
Victoria almost said no.
Then she changed her mind.
“Someone is trying to take my company.”
Daniel looked surprised.
“Take it?”
“Yes.”
“Can they?”
“They might.”
“Why?”
“Money.”
Daniel laughed.
“That seems obvious.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“It isn’t about money.”
“What is it about?”
“Control.”
Daniel thought about that.
“That’s worse.”
Victoria nodded.
“Exactly.”
He wiped his hands.
“Do you trust anyone?”
She thought.
“Less than I did yesterday.”
Daniel smiled.
“That’s progress.”
She laughed.
He looked at her.
“You don’t have to solve everything today.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“No.”
He looked down.
“I’ve spent four years learning that some things can’t be solved.”
Victoria became quiet.
Daniel continued:
“You can only decide who you want beside you while you face them.”
She looked at him.
“That sounds wise.”
“It sounds expensive.”
She laughed.
“How?”
“Therapy.”
For the first time in days, Victoria laughed properly.
Then Lily ran in.
“Victoria!”
She hugged her.
Victoria smiled.
“Hello.”
“I made you something.”
Lily handed her a drawing.
It showed three people.
Daniel.
Lily.
Victoria.
Victoria stared.
“You drew me.”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“You’re nice.”
Daniel smiled.
“She’s got you figured out.”
Victoria felt something unfamiliar.
Warmth.
She had received diamonds.
Cars.
Houses.
Private islands.
But a child’s crayon drawing felt more valuable.
Then Victoria saw the company logo stamped on the bottom of a folder Daniel was carrying.
“Why do you have that?”
“Repair contract.”
“For Sterling Grand?”
“Yes.”
Victoria frowned.
“Who hired you?”
“Your hotel manager.”
She looked closer.
Daniel’s maintenance company was not a small contractor.
It was a respected regional firm.
But still modest.
“What’s the name?”
“Brooks Services.”
Victoria froze.
She had heard of it.
Her company had recently considered acquiring the firm.
Why?
Because Brooks Services had developed a unique building-maintenance system that reduced operating costs.
Daniel had no idea his work was under consideration.
Victoria smiled.
“You’re more interesting than I thought.”
Daniel laughed.
“That’s what my daughter says.”
Then her phone rang.
It was her lawyer.
Victoria answered.
“What?”
A pause.
“What do you mean the shares moved?”
Her face changed.
Someone had transferred a block of voting shares.
Shares that should have been locked in a family trust.
Victoria looked at Daniel.
He saw the fear in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
She whispered:
“My father may have left me a trap.”
