Single Dad Was Dared to Dance With the Cold CEO — Then She Whispered Something Unforgettable
Chapter 2
Daniel didn’t sleep much that night.
Emma noticed.
She always noticed.
“Daddy?”
He looked up from the kitchen table.
“What?”
“You’re thinking too loud.”
Daniel laughed.
“You can’t hear thoughts.”
“I can hear your face.”
He smiled.
Emma was eight, stubborn, observant, and far too smart for her age.
Since her mother’s death three years earlier, she had become Daniel’s entire world.
He made breakfast.
He packed lunches.
He attended school meetings.
He learned how to braid hair badly.
He worked overtime when bills demanded it.
And every night, he told Emma the same thing.
“We’re going to be okay.”
Sometimes he said it because he believed it.
Sometimes because she needed him to.
Monday morning, Daniel walked into Victoria Sterling’s office.
She was standing by the window.
The city stretched behind her.
“You came.”
“You told me to.”
She turned.
“I wanted to know whether you would.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because most people would be too afraid.”
“I’m not most people.”
“I noticed.”
She gestured toward a chair.
“Sit.”
Daniel sat.
Victoria remained standing.
“Last month, three shipments were reported missing from the southern warehouse.”
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
“Your employee credentials were used to authorize two of them.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“That isn’t possible.”
“It is.”
“I was never there.”
“I know.”
He stared at her.
“You know?”
Victoria nodded.
“I checked the security footage.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Then who used my credentials?”
“We don’t know yet.”
“Then why am I being questioned?”
“You’re not.”
She placed a folder on the desk.
“You’re being warned.”
Daniel opened it.
Inside were copies of access logs, shipment manifests, and encrypted system entries.
His employee ID appeared on several transactions.
But there was something strange.
The timestamps showed him approving shipments at 2:17 a.m.
Daniel stared.
“I have a daughter.”
Victoria said nothing.
“I go home at nine.”
“I know.”
“I’ve never worked overnight.”
“I know.”
“Then someone is using my identity.”
“Yes.”
Daniel looked up.
“Why me?”
Victoria’s voice softened.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
He closed the folder.
“Does Richard Cole have anything to do with this?”
Victoria’s eyes sharpened.
“Why do you ask?”
“You warned me about him.”
“I warned you not to trust him.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“No.”
She walked back to her desk.
“It’s a warning.”
Daniel stood.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Victoria looked at him.
“I think someone inside this company is stealing millions.”
His expression hardened.
“And you’re investigating them?”
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
“For now.”
Daniel shook his head.
“You should have security.”
“I have security.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Something changed in Victoria’s face.
For one moment, the cold CEO disappeared.
She looked tired.
Human.
Then the wall returned.
“You shouldn’t get involved.”
Daniel picked up the folder.
“You already involved me.”
He walked toward the door.
Victoria spoke behind him.
“Daniel.”
He turned.
“Monday mornings are usually unpleasant.”
“What?”
She gave him the smallest smile.
“Today wasn’t.”
It was the first time he’d seen her smile.
And it stayed in his mind all day.
