Single Dad Was Dared to Dance With the Cold CEO — Then She Whispered Something Unforgettable
Chapter 7
Michael was found the next morning.
Alive.
He had been hiding in an abandoned motel two towns away.
Daniel drove there with Victoria.
Michael looked exhausted.
“I didn’t know who to trust.”
Daniel’s anger returned.
“You could have told me.”
“They were watching you.”
“Who?”
Michael looked at Victoria.
“Her.”
Victoria stiffened.
Daniel stepped forward.
“What did she do?”
Michael shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed at Victoria.
“Not her personally.”
Daniel frowned.
“Then what are you saying?”
Michael sat down.
“Three years ago, Laura discovered Richard wasn’t stealing alone.”
“Who was above him?”
Michael answered quietly.
“The board chairman.”
Victoria’s face changed.
“Gerald Sterling.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
Michael nodded.
“He built the shield.”
Silence.
Daniel stared at Victoria.
“You told me your father was trying to help.”
“He was.”
“Then why—”
“Because he was scared,” Michael interrupted.
“He knew Richard and the chairman were laundering money, but he couldn’t prove it.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“My father.”
Michael continued.
“Laura found documents proving Gerald knew about the stolen funds.”
Daniel looked at Victoria.
She seemed devastated.
“Did Laura confront him?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“He promised to protect her.”
Michael swallowed.
“He lied.”
Daniel’s anger turned into confusion.
“Then how did Laura die?”
Michael looked at him.
“She was killed.”
The words silenced everyone.
“What?”
“A staged crash.”
Daniel’s knees weakened.
Victoria caught his arm.
Michael continued.
“Richard arranged it.”
“And my brother?”
“I helped Laura.”
Daniel stared.
“You helped her?”
“After the accident, I found one of her files. I realized someone had taken over her investigation.”
“Who?”
Michael looked at Victoria.
“Your CEO.”
Daniel turned.
Victoria’s face was pale.
“What did I do?”
“You took the evidence.”
Victoria shook her head.
“I didn’t.”
“You moved it.”
“I was trying to hide it.”
Michael nodded.
“That was the mistake.”
Daniel frowned.
“What evidence?”
“The original ledger.”
Victoria looked stunned.
“You know where it is?”
Michael nodded.
“My brother’s garage.”
They returned to Daniel’s hometown that night.
Inside a locked toolbox, they found a ledger.
Names.
Transfers.
Payments.
And one signature that changed everything.
Richard Cole.
But beside his signature was another.
Gerald Sterling.
Victoria’s father.
Daniel looked at her.
She was staring at the signature as tears filled her eyes.
“He knew.”
“Yes,” Michael said.
“Then why did he tell me otherwise?”
Michael answered.
“Because he was dying.”
Victoria whispered,
“He wanted me to inherit the company without knowing the truth.”
Daniel looked at the final page.
There was one more name.
Not Gerald.
Not Richard.
Not Michael.
Victoria Sterling.
Daniel stared.
“Why is your name here?”
Victoria took the ledger.
Her face went white.
Because beneath her name was a note.
Next CEO. Final asset.
