Single Dad Turned Down His CEO Boss Twice—Then She Proposed in Front of the Board
Chapter 5
Victoria assigned the investigation to the company’s head of internal security without telling the board.
Daniel continued working normally.
But he changed his routine.
He stopped using the same route to Noah’s school.
He checked the locks twice.
He refused to leave Noah with strangers.
And every evening, Victoria called.
Not about work.
About Noah.
“Did he eat?”
“Yes.”
“Homework?”
“Finished.”
“Still afraid of thunderstorms?”
Daniel smiled.
“Still.”
Victoria’s voice softened.
“Tell him I’m afraid of them too.”
Daniel looked surprised.
“You are?”
“No.”
“Then why say that?”
“So he’ll feel less alone.”
Daniel smiled.
That was the first time he realized Victoria wasn’t simply interested in him.
She cared about his son.
A week later, Noah met Victoria by accident.
Daniel had brought him to the office after school because the babysitter canceled.
Noah walked into Daniel’s office carrying a toy dinosaur.
Victoria happened to be standing outside.
She stopped.
Noah stared at her.
“You’re the boss.”
Victoria blinked.
Daniel sighed.
“He has no filter.”
Noah nodded seriously.
“My dad says you’re scary.”
Victoria looked at Daniel.
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I said demanding.”
Noah shrugged.
“Same thing.”
Victoria laughed.
A genuine laugh.
Noah smiled.
“Do you have a dinosaur?”
“No.”
“That’s sad.”
Victoria crouched to his level.
“Maybe you can teach me about them.”
Daniel watched them talking.
Something inside him shifted.
A strange warmth.
A sense of belonging.
And that scared him more than the anonymous messages.
Later that evening, Daniel found a small dinosaur sticker on his desk.
Under it was a note.
For your son.
No signature.
He looked at Victoria’s office.
She was working.
Daniel smiled.
Then his phone rang.
It was the school.
“There was an incident today,” the principal said.
Daniel’s heart dropped.
“What happened?”
“Someone asked Noah questions about his family.”
Daniel stood immediately.
“Who?”
“We don’t know.”
Victoria stepped into the doorway.
She saw his expression.
“What happened?”
Daniel hung up.
“They approached Noah.”
Victoria’s face went pale.
“Who?”
“We don’t know.”
She immediately picked up her phone.
“I’m calling security.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No. We’re going to the school.”
“I’ll come.”
Daniel hesitated.
Then nodded.
They arrived together.
The principal explained that a woman had approached Noah at pickup and claimed to be a family friend.
She had asked where Daniel worked.
She had asked whether Victoria Sterling was his boss.
Daniel felt his blood run cold.
“Did Noah answer?”
The principal looked uncomfortable.
“He said he wasn’t allowed to talk to strangers.”
Daniel exhaled.
Victoria looked at Noah.
The boy was sitting beside the window, holding his dinosaur.
She crouched beside him.
“You did exactly the right thing.”
Noah looked at her.
“Are you Dad’s boss?”
“Yes.”
“Are you a good boss?”
Victoria glanced at Daniel.
“I try to be.”
Noah smiled.
“Dad likes you.”
Daniel froze.
Victoria froze.
The principal politely looked away.
Daniel rubbed the back of his neck.
“I think we should go home.”
Victoria stood.
“Together.”
Daniel looked at her.
This time, he didn’t say no.
