Single Dad Was Dared to Dance With the Cold CEO — Then She Whispered Something Unforgettable
Chapter 3
The investigation changed everything.
Daniel began noticing things he had ignored for years.
Shipment numbers that didn’t match.
Security doors opening at strange hours.
Managers who suddenly avoided eye contact.
Records disappearing from the internal system.
And Richard Cole was always nearby.
Richard was Sterling Logistics’ chief financial officer.
He had been with the company for fifteen years.
He was polished.
Respected.
Trusted.
At least publicly.
One afternoon, Richard approached Daniel near the warehouse.
“I hear Victoria has taken an interest in you.”
Daniel stiffened.
“She spoke to me about work.”
Richard smiled.
“Of course.”
“What do you want?”
“Nothing.”
Richard glanced toward the loading docks.
“Just advice.”
“I didn’t ask for any.”
“Victoria doesn’t usually involve employees in executive problems.”
Daniel crossed his arms.
“Maybe this one is different.”
Richard’s smile faded.
“Be careful.”
Daniel remembered Victoria’s warning.
“What are you afraid I’ll find?”
Richard stared at him for several seconds.
Then he laughed.
“You’ve been listening to rumors.”
“I’ve been reading numbers.”
Richard stepped closer.
“You’re a single father, Daniel.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Everything has consequences.”
Then Richard walked away.
Daniel stood there, feeling cold.
That evening, he picked Emma up from school.
She climbed into the passenger seat carrying a paper crown.
“Daddy, look!”
“You’re royalty?”
“Yes.”
“What am I?”
“The driver.”
He laughed.
“Fair enough.”
She studied him.
“You’re worried again.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Just work.”
Emma thought for a moment.
“Do you like your boss?”
Daniel nearly drove into the curb.
“What?”
“The lady at the party.”
He stared.
“How do you know about that?”
“You told Aunt Sarah you danced with the ice queen.”
Daniel sighed.
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
Emma grinned.
“She’s pretty.”
“Emma.”
“What?”
“She is my boss.”
“So?”
“So it’s complicated.”
Emma shrugged.
“Then make it less complicated.”
Daniel laughed.
“That is not how adult life works.”
She looked out the window.
“Maybe adults make everything complicated.”
Daniel smiled.
“Maybe.”
The next morning, his home alarm went off.
Someone had tried to open the back door at 3:18 a.m.
No one got inside.
Nothing was stolen.
Except one thing.
A folder containing Daniel’s old employment records was missing from his home office.
He called the police.
Then called Victoria.
She answered immediately.
“What happened?”
Daniel explained.
There was silence.
Then Victoria said something that frightened him.
“Daniel, don’t go back to work today.”
“Why?”
“Because this is no longer about stolen shipments.”
“What is it about?”
“Someone is trying to find something you have.”
“I don’t have anything.”
“You do.”
“What?”
Victoria’s voice dropped.
“Your late wife’s name.”
Daniel froze.
His wife, Laura, had been dead for three years.
“What does Laura have to do with this?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Then why are you bringing her into this?”
“Because her name appeared in the same encrypted files as yours.”
Daniel’s heart pounded.
“My wife never worked for Sterling Logistics.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you hiding?”
Victoria hesitated.
“I think Laura knew someone inside this company.”
And suddenly, the past Daniel had buried began opening again.
