Billionaire Woman Went to a Party Dressed Poor—Everyone Rejected Her Except a Kindhearted Single Dad
Chapter 5
Victoria spent the next twenty-four hours investigating the trust.
Her father’s estate had always seemed simple.
She inherited the company.
Her aunt managed some investments.
The rest went into charitable foundations.
But now the documents showed something else.
A hidden trust.
Established fifteen years earlier.
Its beneficiary was not Victoria.
It was her father.
Who was dead.
Her lawyer explained that the trust automatically transferred if certain conditions were met.
“What conditions?”
Victoria’s attorney hesitated.
“Marriage.”
Victoria stared.
“What?”
“The trust requires you to be married before the next shareholder meeting.”
Victoria laughed in disbelief.
“My father put a marriage condition in my inheritance?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“We don’t know.”
She ended the call.
The only thing she knew was that the trust controlled enough voting shares to determine the board’s future.
Without it, she could lose the company.
With it, she could stop the takeover.
But the condition was absurd.
She had three weeks.
Victoria sat alone in her penthouse.
She had everything.
Except the one thing the trust demanded.
A husband.
Her assistant suggested a legal marriage arrangement.
Victoria refused.
A friend offered to introduce her to a wealthy investor.
She refused.
Then she thought of Daniel.
Immediately, she rejected the thought.
He was kind.
Honest.
A single father.
He deserved better than being dragged into her corporate war.
She went to the hotel anyway.
Daniel was with Lily.
They were eating dinner in the employee cafeteria.
“Victoria!”
Lily waved.
She sat down.
Daniel studied her.
“You look like someone who has bad news.”
“I do.”
“What happened?”
“My father put a marriage condition in my inheritance.”
Daniel almost choked on his coffee.
Lily looked confused.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I have to get married.”
“Why?”
Victoria looked at Daniel.
“Because apparently my father had a sense of humor.”
Daniel laughed.
“That’s terrible.”
“I need to be married before the shareholder meeting.”
“You have three weeks.”
“Twenty days.”
He shook his head.
“So?”
“So I need help.”
Daniel waited.
Victoria finally said:
“I need a husband.”
Silence.
Daniel stared.
Lily’s eyes widened.
“You mean Daddy?”
Victoria almost laughed.
“That wasn’t exactly what I meant.”
Daniel looked at his daughter.
“Lily.”
“What?”
“Go finish your dessert.”
“But—”
“Please.”
Lily sighed and walked away.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
“You know I fix pipes.”
“You also run a company.”
“A small one.”
“You’ve never asked me for anything.”
Daniel looked at her.
“So?”
“So I trust that.”
He shook his head.
“This isn’t a game.”
“I know.”
“Marriage isn’t a business deal.”
“I know.”
Victoria’s voice softened.
“That’s why I’m asking you.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Why me?”
She answered honestly:
“Because you’re the only man I’ve met in years who didn’t care what I owned.”
He said nothing.
She continued.
“I don’t need romance.”
“I don’t need a fake relationship.”
“I need someone who will stand beside me while I protect what my father built.”
Daniel looked toward Lily.
Then back at Victoria.
“What’s in it for me?”
Victoria was surprised.
“Whatever you want.”
He shook his head.
“That’s exactly what I don’t want.”
“Then what?”
“My daughter comes first.”
“Agreed.”
“I don’t want her used as part of your public image.”
“Agreed.”
“I don’t want you controlling my life.”
“Agreed.”
“And if I ever say no, you accept it.”
Victoria nodded.
“Absolutely.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You’ve thought about this.”
“For three hours.”
He laughed.
Then he became serious.
“How long?”
“One year.”
“And after?”
“We walk away.”
He considered it.
Then he asked the question she had not expected.
“Do you trust me?”
Victoria nodded.
“Yes.”
He thought.
Then said:
“Okay.”
Victoria’s heart skipped.
“Okay?”
“I’ll marry you.”
Neither noticed Lily standing nearby.
She grinned.
“I knew it.”
Daniel turned.
“Lily!”
She laughed.
“This is the best dinner ever.”
