She Fell in Love With a Worker — Unaware He Was the Millionaire Architect and Owner!
Chapter 6
The next week, Emma kept noticing little things.
Daniel knew the exact budget for the project.
He understood architectural terminology.
He had access to plans that even some consultants couldn’t open.
He recognized expensive structural materials by sight.
And when the project manager made a technical error, Daniel corrected him before the engineers did.
One afternoon, Emma finally asked.
“Where did you learn all this?”
Daniel looked up from a blueprint.
“Experience.”
“That’s vague.”
He smiled.
“You’re nosy.”
“You already knew that.”
“True.”
Emma sat beside him.
“Did you go to college?”
“Yes.”
“What did you study?”
“Architecture.”
She stared.
“You studied architecture?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you working construction?”
He paused.
“I like being close to the work.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you aren’t an architect.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I am.”
Emma blinked.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
He smiled.
She narrowed her eyes.
“You’re impossible.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
But she wasn’t convinced.
That evening, Emma was invited to an executive planning meeting.
Richard had requested her presence.
Daniel immediately objected.
“She doesn’t need to be there.”
Richard smiled.
“She’s the community coordinator.”
Emma looked between them.
“I can decide for myself.”
Daniel nodded.
“Fine.”
The meeting began.
Richard presented a revised redevelopment plan.
The community center would be smaller.
The public garden would be removed.
Several affordable programs would be replaced with commercial spaces.
Emma stood.
“No.”
Richard looked at her.
“Ms. Walker.”
“You’re eliminating everything that makes this a community center.”
“The financial reality requires changes.”
“No.”
She pointed to the budget.
“These costs are inflated.”
Richard’s smile faded.
“You’re not qualified to accuse a company of fraud.”
“Maybe not.”
Daniel watched her carefully.
“But I am qualified to read an invoice.”
Richard looked at Daniel.
“You’re unusually quiet.”
Daniel met his eyes.
“I’m listening.”
Richard’s tone changed.
“You’ve been around Ms. Walker a lot.”
“She works on the project.”
“I know.”
The meeting ended badly.
Afterward, Emma followed Daniel into the hall.
“You knew he was lying.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you stop him?”
“I’m gathering proof.”
She crossed her arms.
“You really are hiding something.”
“Yes.”
That answer shocked her.
“You admit it?”
“I said I’m hiding something.”
“What?”
Daniel looked at her.
“You’ll know soon.”
“When?”
“When it’s safe.”
She was quiet.
Then she said,
“I don’t know whether to trust you.”
He nodded.
“I understand.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“I know.”
She walked away.
Daniel watched her.
He hated lying to her.
But he had one more piece of evidence to find.
Richard wasn’t acting alone.
Someone in Daniel’s own family had been moving money into the shell companies.
Someone with access to every Sterling account.
His older cousin.
Alex Sterling.
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
Alex had always wanted control of the company.
If Richard was working with him, Eastwood wasn’t just a local scam.
It was a takeover attempt.
And Emma was standing directly in its path.
