Single Dad Bought an Old Bakery after Losing Everything—Then the CEO Who Fired Him Walked In
Chapter 3
That night, Daniel refused to meet Victoria.
He told himself it was because he didn’t trust her.
That was partly true.
The bigger reason was that he still remembered the conference room.
The glass walls.
The papers on the table.
The way Victoria had looked at him when she fired him.
Cold.
Detached.
Almost cruel.
He had gone home that night and told Lily,
“Daddy just needs to find another job.”
He hadn’t told her he’d spent the night crying in his car.
Now Victoria wanted his help.
Daniel wasn’t sure he could give it.
The bakery was quiet after closing.
Lily sat at the kitchen table doing homework.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah?”
“Is the mean lady coming back?”
Daniel smiled.
“She wasn’t mean to you.”
“She made you sad.”
Daniel stopped.
“Sometimes adults make decisions they regret.”
“Do you regret losing your job?”
He thought about it.
“I regret how it happened.”
Lily nodded.
Then she asked,
“Do you want your old job back?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Daniel laughed.
“I like this place.”
“So do I.”
She smiled.
“Me too.”
At ten, Daniel locked the front door.
He checked the oven.
Turned off the lights.
Then heard a noise outside.
A vehicle.
He looked through the window.
Black SUV.
It drove past slowly.
Then stopped.
Daniel watched.
The driver’s door opened.
A man stepped out.
Daniel recognized him.
Graham Pierce.
Former chairman of Hale & Mercer.
The man who had supported Victoria publicly after Daniel’s dismissal.
Daniel opened the door.
“Graham.”
Graham smiled.
“Daniel.”
“What do you want?”
“To see how you’re doing.”
“I’m fine.”
“I heard.”
Graham looked through the bakery.
“Quite a fall.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“You should leave.”
Graham laughed.
“You’re still proud.”
“You’re still arrogant.”
Graham’s smile disappeared.
“Be careful.”
“Of what?”
“People who ask too many questions.”
Then he returned to the SUV.
Daniel watched it disappear.
His phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
You should have stayed unemployed.
Another message arrived.
The bakery won’t save you.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Then Lily appeared behind him.
“Daddy?”
He turned quickly.
“Go back to bed.”
“Who was that?”
“Nobody.”
But Daniel knew better.
Someone had followed him to Maple Street.
And they knew exactly where his daughter slept.
The next morning, Victoria arrived before sunrise.
She walked in as Daniel was carrying flour.
“We need to talk.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Graham came here last night.”
Victoria froze.
“What did he say?”
“That I should stop asking questions.”
Her expression changed.
“I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
“He was watching you.”
Daniel lowered the flour bag.
“Why?”
“Because you’re closer to the truth than you realize.”
She walked toward the counter.
“Your old investigation wasn’t about a leaked report.”
Daniel stared.
“Then what was it?”
Victoria looked at him.
“Money.”
“How much?”
“One hundred and twenty million dollars.”
Daniel went silent.
“What?”
“That’s what disappeared.”
“From the company?”
“Yes.”
“Then why blame me?”
Victoria’s answer was quiet.
“Because you were the only executive who could trace where it went.”
Daniel’s heart started pounding.
“And you knew?”
“I suspected.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Victoria looked down.
“Because someone inside my company was listening.”
