She Fell for Her Taxi Driver — Then Discovered He Was the Billionaire CEO She Never Expected to Love
Chapter 3
The first date became the second.
The second became the fifth.
Sophia stopped asking whether they were dating.
They simply were.
Daniel still drove occasionally.
Not every night.
But often enough.
Sophia knew something was unusual about him.
She just couldn’t figure out what.
He didn’t drink much.
He didn’t smoke.
He knew expensive restaurants but also loved cheap diners.
He could discuss investments for hours.
He also knew exactly how to fix a broken coffee machine.
One Saturday, he picked her up for a day trip.
She opened the passenger door.
“You aren’t charging me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because this isn’t work.”
She smiled.
“Where are we going?”
“Surprise.”
They drove two hours outside the city.
A small lake appeared.
Daniel had rented a little cabin.
Sophia looked at him.
“You planned this?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I wanted one day where nobody needed anything from me.”
She smiled.
“That’s oddly specific.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“Sometimes I think you live two lives.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Maybe everyone does.”
They spent the day walking.
Talking.
Laughing.
At sunset, Sophia sat beside the lake.
“I like you.”
Daniel smiled.
“I like you too.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“I really like you.”
He became quiet.
“I know.”
“Does that scare you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t know who I am.”
She frowned.
“Then tell me.”
Daniel looked toward the lake.
“My life is complicated.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one I have.”
She became frustrated.
“I don’t need perfection.”
“I know.”
“I don’t care if you’re rich or poor.”
“I know.”
“I care whether you’re honest.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I am.”
“Then tell me.”
He almost did.
He almost said:
My name is Daniel Reed.
I own Reed Meridian Group.
I have more money than I could spend in ten lifetimes.
I’ve spent most of my adult life surrounded by people who want something from me.
I started driving a taxi because I wanted to meet people who didn’t know my name.
And now I have one problem.
I don’t want to lose you.
Instead, he said:
“I’ll tell you soon.”
Sophia looked hurt.
“Why not now?”
“Because I don’t want the answer to change how you look at me.”
She shook her head.
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have started this.”
Daniel nodded.
“Maybe.”
The drive home was quiet.
At her apartment, Sophia opened the door.
Before getting out, she said:
“I don’t want to be someone’s secret.”
“You aren’t.”
“It feels like I am.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You’re not.”
She left.
He drove away.
For the first time since they met, Daniel regretted the taxi.
Not the work.
The hiding.
The next morning, his chief of staff called.
“Daniel, the board is meeting Monday.”
“I know.”
“They need you.”
“I’m not ready.”
“You have to come back.”
Daniel looked at the phone.
“Why?”
“Because someone inside the company is trying to force a leadership change.”
Daniel became serious.
“Who?”
“Victor Lang.”
Daniel froze.
Victor was his chief financial officer.
The man had been with Reed Meridian for fifteen years.
He had been one of Daniel’s most trusted executives.
And now he was trying to take control.
Daniel looked at Sophia’s last message.
I need honesty.
He realized he had two problems.
A company under threat.
And a woman he didn’t want to lose.
He had no idea both problems were about to collide.
