Single Dad Sat Alone at the Bar—Then His Cold CEO Boss Smiled and Asked, “Will You Buy Me a Drink?”
Chapter 2
Daniel tried to convince himself that Victoria’s words meant nothing.
People said strange things after a few drinks.
Especially CEOs.
Especially beautiful, exhausted CEOs who had just asked their employees for alcohol.
He told himself that.
It didn’t work.
Victoria swirled the ice in her glass.
“You’ve worked for me four years.”
“Yes.”
“You’re one of the best people in the firm.”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“I didn’t know you noticed.”
“I notice everything.”
That sounded more like the Victoria he knew.
Then she glanced at his phone.
“How old is your daughter?”
“Seven.”
“And her mother?”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“She’s not in our lives.”
Victoria nodded.
She didn’t press.
Daniel appreciated that.
Most people did.
They wanted the story.
Who she was.
Why she left.
Whether Daniel had remarried.
He had learned that strangers loved the tragedy more than the person living through it.
Victoria simply took another sip.
After a moment, she said,
“Good.”
Daniel turned.
“Good?”
“You don’t owe me an explanation.”
Something about that answer touched him.
“Thank you.”
She looked at him.
“You should probably go home.”
“I was planning to.”
“Then why are you still here?”
Daniel smiled.
“Because you asked me to buy you a drink.”
Victoria laughed.
It was the first time he’d heard that sound.
Warm.
Unrestrained.
Nothing like the woman who could silence a boardroom with one sentence.
The conversation drifted.
They talked about work.
Movies.
Food.
Lily’s obsession with dinosaurs.
Victoria admitted she hated golf but had learned to pretend otherwise because investors loved it.
Daniel told her he couldn’t cook anything that required more than one pan.
She accused him of having the culinary skills of a college freshman.
He defended himself.
“Mac and cheese counts.”
“It does not.”
“Then Lily has been lied to.”
Victoria smiled.
Then suddenly her phone rang.
Her smile disappeared.
She looked at the screen.
Daniel noticed her hand tighten.
“Everything okay?”
“No.”
She stood.
“I have to take this.”
She walked outside.
Daniel remained at the bar.
He hadn’t realized how much he’d relaxed around her until she left.
Five minutes later, she returned.
Her expression was different.
Cold again.
Professional.
“Ms. Hale?”
“I’m sorry.”
“What’s wrong?”
“My board wants me in New York tomorrow.”
“That sounds normal.”
“It’s not.”
She grabbed her coat.
“Daniel, I need you at the meeting.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Six a.m.”
He nearly groaned.
“My daughter—”
“Bring her.”
He stared.
“To New York?”
“Yes.”
Victoria paused.
Then lowered her voice.
“I’ll make arrangements.”
Daniel frowned.
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
She walked toward the exit.
Then stopped.
Without turning, she said,
“Thank you for the drink.”
She left.
Daniel sat frozen.
The bartender came over.
“Friend of yours?”
Daniel looked toward the door.
“She’s my boss.”
The bartender whistled.
“That’s dangerous.”
Daniel laughed.
“You have no idea.”
What Daniel didn’t know was that Victoria hadn’t asked him for a drink because she was lonely.
She had asked him because she had just received a message that could destroy her company.
And she needed one person in the world she believed wouldn’t lie to her.
She had chosen Daniel.
