Single Dad Sat Alone at the Bar—Then His Cold CEO Boss Smiled and Asked, “Will You Buy Me a Drink?”
Chapter 6
Victoria didn’t sleep.
She spent the entire night reviewing the financial records.
The account was real.
The transfers were real.
The amount was real.
But something didn’t make sense.
Daniel’s account had received $2.4 million over the last eighteen months.
Daniel’s salary was nowhere near that.
By morning, Victoria had built a timeline.
Every payment occurred while Daniel was working on major company projects.
That made him look guilty.
But she remembered every project.
Daniel had no access to the final transfer approvals.
He could not have authorized the movement.
Unless someone had given him access.
Victoria called her head of security.
“Run a forensic audit on Daniel’s accounts.”
“Should we alert him?”
“No.”
She paused.
“Not yet.”
At breakfast, Daniel looked exhausted.
“Did you sleep?”
“A little.”
He looked at her.
“You seem distracted.”
“I have work.”
“Did something happen?”
Victoria forced a smile.
“Nothing important.”
Lily entered the room.
Victoria immediately changed expression.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning!”
Lily climbed into the chair.
Victoria pushed the fruit toward her.
Daniel noticed.
His expression softened.
“Thank you.”
Victoria looked at him.
“For what?”
“Everything.”
She almost told him.
Instead, she said,
“You’re welcome.”
That afternoon, Daniel was called into Victoria’s office.
She had already prepared the evidence.
He sat down.
“What is this?”
“Your bank account.”
He stared.
“Why are you looking at it?”
“I found something.”
His expression changed.
“Victoria, I swear—”
“I haven’t accused you.”
She slid the statement across the desk.
Daniel read it.
His face went white.
“I don’t know what this is.”
“Two-point-four million dollars.”
“I’ve never seen it.”
“The account is yours.”
“I know.”
He looked up.
“I swear I’ve never touched that money.”
Victoria studied him.
She wanted to believe him.
More than she wanted to admit.
Daniel grabbed his phone.
“I’ll call the bank.”
“Don’t.”
“Why?”
“Because if someone is using your account, they know you’re looking.”
He stared.
“Then what do we do?”
“We investigate quietly.”
He leaned back.
“Do you think I stole from you?”
Victoria answered honestly.
“I think someone wants me to think you did.”
Daniel studied her face.
“You trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you shaking?”
She looked at her hands.
She was.
“Because if you’re innocent, someone is setting you up.”
“And if I’m not?”
Victoria’s eyes met his.
“Then I’ll deal with that too.”
He nodded.
For the first time, they were no longer simply CEO and employee.
They were partners in a dangerous secret.
That evening, Daniel discovered a hidden camera inside his apartment.
Someone had been watching him.
And on the footage was a familiar face.
Graham Pierce.
