Poor Janitor Single Dad Saved an 8-Year-Old From a Sinking Bus — Unaware Her Mom Was a Billionaire
Chapter 2
By the time Daniel returned home, the rain had stopped.
Lily opened the door before he could find his keys.
“Dad!”
She stared at his clothes.
“What happened?”
Daniel smiled.
“Long story.”
“You’re soaked.”
“Very observant.”
“Did you fall?”
“Not exactly.”
He hung his jacket.
Lily followed him into the kitchen.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Did someone get hurt?”
Daniel hesitated.
“A bus had an accident.”
Lily’s eyes widened.
“Did you help?”
“A little.”
She smiled.
“I knew it.”
Daniel laughed.
“You know what?”
“What?”
“You should stop calling me a hero.”
“Why?”
“Because heroes don’t forget to buy cereal.”
Lily giggled.
Dinner was simple.
Pasta.
Garlic bread.
Cheap juice.
Afterward, Daniel helped Lily with homework.
By ten, she was asleep.
Daniel sat alone in the living room.
His phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Hello?”
“Is this Daniel Carter?”
“Yes.”
“This is Vanessa Sterling.”
Daniel froze.
The woman from the bus.
“I wanted to thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I would like to arrange something for you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I insist.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Really. Your daughter is safe.”
A pause.
“You have a daughter?”
“Yes.”
“How old?”
“Eight.”
Silence.
“My daughter is eight too.”
Daniel smiled.
“Then you understand.”
“Yes.”
Vanessa’s voice softened.
“More than you know.”
They ended the call.
Daniel thought that was the end.
It wasn’t.
The next morning, a black SUV pulled up outside the office building where Daniel worked.
His manager rushed downstairs.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“There are visitors for you.”
“Who?”
“Vanessa Sterling.”
Daniel stared.
The billionaire CEO herself stood in the lobby.
She was wearing a cream-colored suit.
Two security guards stood behind her.
Daniel looked at his mop.
Then at her.
“This is awkward.”
Vanessa smiled.
“I’m getting used to it.”
She handed him an envelope.
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a check.
He immediately closed it.
“No.”
Vanessa blinked.
“You don’t know the amount.”
“I don’t need to.”
“It would make things easier for your family.”
Daniel looked at her.
“My daughter is not for sale.”
Vanessa’s expression changed.
“I never meant that.”
“I know.”
“Then why refuse?”
“Because I did what anyone should have done.”
Vanessa stared at him.
“Not anyone.”
Daniel shrugged.
“Maybe.”
She looked at the mop.
“You work here.”
“Yes.”
“Two jobs?”
Daniel nodded.
“How did you know?”
“I asked.”
He smiled.
“Right.”
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“What would you accept?”
“Nothing.”
“Why?”
“Because your daughter is alive.”
She stared at him.
For the first time in years, someone had rejected her money without trying to negotiate.
Then she noticed something.
Daniel’s shoes were worn.
His jacket was patched.
His watch was missing a strap.
He was clearly struggling.
But he still refused.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“What if I offered you a job instead?”
“What kind?”
“A position with my company.”
Daniel frowned.
“I don’t have a business degree.”
“I don’t need one.”
“What do you need?”
“A man who runs toward danger instead of away from it.”
Daniel smiled.
“I have a daughter.”
Vanessa nodded.
“So do I.”
He didn’t answer.
She gave him her card.
“Think about it.”
Daniel accepted it.
That afternoon, Lily found the card on the kitchen counter.
“Who’s Vanessa Sterling?”
Daniel froze.
“You know her?”
“She was on TV.”
Lily studied the name.
“She’s the billionaire lady.”
Daniel nodded.
“Apparently.”
Lily looked at him.
“Why does a billionaire know you?”
Daniel smiled.
“Long story.”
His daughter grinned.
“I like long stories.”
Daniel laughed.
But late that night, he received another message.
This one wasn’t from Vanessa.
Your hero act got you noticed.
Daniel’s smile disappeared.
The next message contained a photograph.
It was Lily walking home from school.
