Single Dad Turned Down His CEO Boss Twice—Then She Proposed in Front of the Board
Chapter 4
Daniel barely slept that night.
Noah was asleep in the next room when another message appeared.
This time there was a photograph attached.
It showed Victoria Sterling standing beside a man Daniel didn’t recognize.
The image looked old.
Maybe fifteen years old.
Under it were three words.
Ask her why.
Daniel stared at the screen.
He didn’t know what to ask.
The next morning, he went to work early.
Victoria was already in her office.
She looked up.
“You’re early.”
“I have a question.”
Her expression tightened.
“What kind?”
“Do you know a man named Thomas Hale?”
Victoria went completely still.
Daniel noticed.
“You do.”
She rose slowly.
“Where did you hear that name?”
“Someone contacted me.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
Victoria walked toward the windows.
“Thomas Hale was my father’s chief financial officer.”
“What happened to him?”
“He disappeared.”
Daniel frowned.
“Disappeared?”
“Fifteen years ago.”
“Was he accused of something?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Fraud.”
Daniel studied her.
“And was he guilty?”
Victoria didn’t answer immediately.
“I don’t know.”
That response surprised him.
“You don’t know?”
“My father said Thomas stole millions.”
“Did the evidence support that?”
“My father made sure everyone believed it did.”
Daniel stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
Victoria turned around.
“My father controlled the company before me. He controlled the press, the legal team, and the board.”
“And Thomas?”
“Thomas had evidence.”
“Of what?”
Victoria’s voice dropped.
“I never found out.”
Daniel suddenly understood why the messages mentioned her family.
“This person thinks you know more than you do.”
Victoria nodded.
“Maybe.”
“Who inherited the company after your father died?”
“I did.”
“Did Thomas ever contact you?”
“No.”
Daniel showed her the photograph.
Victoria looked at it for several seconds.
“That was taken three days before he disappeared.”
“How do you know?”
“Because my father made me memorize every person in that photo.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why?”
“Because one of them betrayed him.”
Daniel looked at the picture again.
There were four men.
Thomas Hale.
Victoria’s father.
A lawyer.
And another man whose face had been scratched out.
“Who’s the fourth person?”
Victoria stared at the image.
“I don’t know.”
Daniel’s phone buzzed.
Another message.
Stop digging.
Victoria saw it.
Her expression became cold.
“This isn’t just about my family.”
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
“Someone is watching you.”
“I know.”
“I’ll increase security.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Victoria stared at him.
“You’re refusing security?”
“I don’t want corporate security following my son.”
“Then I’ll arrange private protection.”
“No.”
“Daniel.”
“I can handle myself.”
“This isn’t a debate.”
“It is when my son is involved.”
Their eyes locked.
Victoria finally lowered her voice.
“Then let me help.”
Daniel said nothing.
Because there was something in her expression he’d never seen before.
Fear.
Not for herself.
For him.
And that changed everything.
