“You’ve Been Staring Since the Airport,” the CEO Said — The Single Dad Smiled, “You’ve Been Letting Me”
Chapter 3
The Denver conference lasted four days.
Liam’s sister changed her plans.
His trip became longer.
Victoria’s board meetings expanded.
Their paths crossed repeatedly.
Breakfast.
Lobby.
Elevator.
Coffee shop.
A bookstore.
It almost seemed ridiculous.
Sophie loved it.
She began calling Victoria “the airport lady.”
Victoria laughed every time.
On the third day, Sophie found Victoria alone in the hotel lounge.
“You’re sad.”
Victoria looked surprised.
“Why?”
“You look like Dad when he’s tired.”
Victoria laughed.
“I’m not sad.”
Sophie studied her.
“Okay.”
Then she sat beside her.
“Do you have kids?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Victoria hesitated.
“I worked a lot.”
“That’s not a reason.”
“Maybe it is.”
Sophie thought.
“My dad worked a lot too.”
“Does he still?”
“Sometimes.”
“Does he like it?”
Sophie shrugged.
“He likes me more.”
Victoria smiled.
“I think that’s a good thing.”
Sophie nodded.
Then asked:
“Do you like him?”
Victoria froze.
She laughed.
“Your questions are dangerous.”
Sophie grinned.
“Dad says that too.”
Liam appeared behind them.
“Sophie.”
She smiled innocently.
“What?”
“What did you ask?”
“Nothing.”
Victoria laughed.
Liam sat.
“Should I be worried?”
“Probably.”
He smiled.
The conversation became easy.
Victoria told Liam about her company.
Not the numbers.
The pressure.
The responsibility.
Her father had built the company.
She had spent her life trying to prove she could carry it.
Liam understood.
His own father had died when he was young.
He had become responsible for his family early.
Then came marriage.
Then Sophie.
Then loss.
He had built his own small logistics business.
It was successful.
But nowhere near Victoria’s scale.
Neither mentioned money.
It didn’t matter.
One evening, they walked along the river.
Sophie ran ahead.
Victoria asked:
“Why don’t you date?”
Liam smiled.
“That’s direct.”
“You don’t have to answer.”
“I was married.”
“I know.”
“Then she died.”
Victoria nodded.
“How long ago?”
“Four years.”
“That’s not long.”
“Some days it feels like yesterday.”
She looked at him.
“Some days I imagine grief gets tired.”
“It doesn’t.”
He smiled sadly.
“You just get better at carrying it.”
Victoria looked away.
“My husband died too.”
Liam was surprised.
“I didn’t know.”
“Most people don’t.”
“What happened?”
“A car accident.”
“How long?”
“Five years.”
Silence.
Sophie called from ahead.
“Come on!”
They walked faster.
That evening, Victoria sat alone in her hotel room.
She thought about Liam.
He didn’t ask about her money.
Didn’t ask about her company.
Didn’t seem impressed by her title.
He asked whether she was okay.
That was unusual.
The next morning, Liam had to return home.
He approached Victoria in the lobby.
“It was nice meeting you.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know if we’ll see each other again.”
Victoria hesitated.
She didn’t know why that bothered her.
Then she handed him her card.
“You have my number.”
He smiled.
“So I do.”
Sophie waved.
“Bye, airport lady!”
Victoria laughed.
“Goodbye, Sophie.”
Liam smiled.
“Maybe we’ll see you again.”
Victoria looked at him.
“I hope so.”
He left.
She watched until the doors closed.
Then returned to her meeting.
She didn’t expect what happened next.
Three weeks later, Liam’s logistics company received an invitation to bid on a major Sterling Global contract.
The project was worth millions.
And Victoria had personally asked for his company to be included.
