Single Dad Was Dared to Dance With the Cold CEO — Then She Whispered Something Unforgettable
Chapter 8
Victoria refused to sleep that night.
Neither did Daniel.
The ledger had changed the investigation.
It suggested the company had been designed to transfer control from one generation to another while hiding billions in illegal transactions.
But Victoria’s name being in the ledger was something nobody could explain.
Daniel sat across from her in the motel room.
“You knew about the ledger?”
“No.”
“You knew your father was involved.”
“I suspected.”
“And you never checked your own name?”
“I didn’t know there was one.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I want to trust you.”
Victoria looked up.
“Then don’t trust me blindly.”
That surprised him.
“Trust what we can prove.”
He nodded.
For the next several hours, they compared every document.
The pattern emerged slowly.
Gerald had created shell corporations.
Richard managed them.
Several executives moved funds.
But Victoria’s name wasn’t attached to any transaction.
Instead, she was listed as an eventual beneficiary.
She wasn’t stealing.
She had been positioned to inherit the company and unknowingly inherit its liabilities.
Daniel finally understood.
“They were setting you up.”
Victoria stared at him.
“Exactly.”
“If the company collapsed…”
“I would take the blame.”
“And you would lose everything.”
“Maybe more than that.”
Daniel reached across the table.
“You don’t have to carry this alone.”
Victoria looked at his hand.
Then took it.
“I don’t know how to do this.”
“You don’t have to know.”
“I’ve been alone for so long.”
Daniel smiled.
“So have I.”
For a moment, the investigation disappeared.
Victoria leaned closer.
Daniel didn’t move.
Their faces were inches apart.
Then Emma called.
“Daddy?”
Daniel’s phone was on speaker.
“What happened?”
“I can’t sleep.”
Daniel looked at Victoria.
“I’m coming home tomorrow.”
“Is the ice queen there?”
Victoria laughed softly.
Daniel smiled.
“Yes.”
“Tell her good night.”
Victoria leaned toward the phone.
“Good night, Emma.”
“Good night.”
The call ended.
Victoria looked at Daniel.
“She likes me.”
Daniel smiled.
“She does.”
“That’s dangerous.”
“Why?”
“Because I do too.”
Daniel’s heart raced.
Before he could respond, the motel door opened.
A man stepped inside.
Richard Cole.
Daniel stood immediately.
Victoria moved behind him.
Richard smiled.
“You found it.”
Daniel tightened his fists.
“You killed my wife.”
Richard’s expression changed.
“I didn’t.”
“Then who did?”
Richard looked at Victoria.
“Your father.”
Victoria froze.
Richard continued.
“Gerald ordered the crash.”
Daniel’s face drained.
“You’re lying.”
Richard shook his head.
“No.”
He reached into his coat.
Daniel prepared to attack.
Instead, Richard threw a flash drive onto the table.
“Watch it.”
Then he left.
Daniel stared at the door.
Victoria picked up the drive.
A single file appeared.
The recording showed Gerald Sterling meeting Laura three years earlier.
The conversation was clear.
Laura threatened to expose him.
Gerald threatened her.
Then he said something that neither Daniel nor Victoria would ever forget.
“You should have understood, Laura. Some families survive by protecting their own.”
The video ended.
Victoria covered her face.
“My father killed her.”
Daniel looked at her.
For the first time, he didn’t know whether to comfort her or walk away.
Then Victoria whispered,
“I was wrong about everything.”
Daniel answered,
“No.”
She looked up.
“You were wrong about your father.”
He took her hand.
“But not about me.”
