Single Dad Sat Alone at the Bar—Then His Cold CEO Boss Smiled and Asked, “Will You Buy Me a Drink?”
Chapter 3
At five-thirty the next morning, Daniel stood in his apartment kitchen packing Lily’s medicine into a small bag.
Lily sat at the table wearing a pink hoodie.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you nervous?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because you keep putting the same sock in the bag.”
He looked down.
She was right.
He had packed one sock three times.
“Okay,” he admitted. “Maybe I am.”
“Are you going somewhere fun?”
“Business trip.”
“Boring.”
“Very.”
Lily smiled.
Then she asked,
“Is your boss going?”
Daniel paused.
“Yes.”
“The pretty lady?”
He stared at her.
“How do you know she’s pretty?”
“You showed me her picture.”
“I did not.”
“You did.”
Daniel sighed.
“Please don’t tell her.”
Lily giggled.
At six fifteen, they reached the company jet terminal.
Daniel expected chaos.
Instead, Victoria was standing beside a black SUV.
She wore a dark suit and carried no luggage.
Her eyes immediately went to Lily.
For the first time, Daniel saw something soften in her face.
“Hi.”
Lily looked up.
“You’re Ms. Hale.”
Victoria smiled.
“Victoria.”
Lily shook her hand seriously.
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
Daniel noticed something strange.
Victoria crouched to Lily’s level.
“Feeling better?”
“A little.”
“Do you like dinosaurs?”
Lily’s eyes widened.
“Yes!”
Victoria looked at Daniel.
“Then I have good news.”
“What?”
“There is a dinosaur museum near our hotel.”
Lily turned to her father.
“Daddy!”
Daniel laughed.
“We’ll see.”
Victoria stood.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
The flight was smooth.
Lily fell asleep against the window.
Daniel looked across the cabin.
Victoria was reading reports.
“You don’t sleep, do you?”
“I sleep.”
“When?”
“Eventually.”
He smiled.
“You should.”
She looked up.
“You’re giving me health advice?”
“Someone has to.”
She almost smiled.
Then her phone vibrated.
Her expression changed instantly.
Daniel saw the name on the screen.
Graham Pierce — Board Chairman.
Victoria answered.
“What?”
Daniel couldn’t hear Graham.
But he heard Victoria’s replies.
“No.”
“Absolutely not.”
“I won’t sign it.”
A long pause.
“Then replace me.”
She hung up.
Daniel stared.
“You’re thinking about quitting?”
Victoria put down the phone.
“No.”
“Could have fooled me.”
She looked at Lily.
“I won’t let them hurt my employees.”
Daniel frowned.
“What are they asking?”
“To sell a division.”
“Why?”
“Because they’re hiding losses.”
“How bad?”
“Bad enough to bring down the company.”
Daniel looked at the reports.
“You need an audit.”
“I know.”
“Then do one.”
“I have.”
“And?”
Victoria met his eyes.
“The fraud is inside my executive team.”
Daniel went quiet.
“You don’t know who?”
“No.”
“Could be one of your direct reports?”
“Could be someone above me.”
“Your chairman?”
She didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
Daniel looked away.
“Why me?”
Victoria’s voice was quiet.
“Because you don’t play politics.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I’ve watched you for four years.”
She paused.
“You protect your team even when it costs you.”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“You really do notice everything.”
She looked at him.
“Unfortunately.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Lily woke.
She looked between them.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Is Victoria coming to dinner with us?”
Victoria looked at Daniel.
Daniel looked at Victoria.
Then Lily added,
“Because I think she likes you.”
Daniel nearly died.
Victoria turned her face away.
But not before Daniel saw her cheeks turn pink.
