“You’ve Been Staring Since the Airport,” the CEO Said — The Single Dad Smiled, “You’ve Been Letting Me”
Chapter 4
Liam stared at the email.
Sterling Global was inviting his company to compete for a national logistics contract.
He checked the message twice.
Then called his business partner.
“Do you know who sent this?”
“No.”
“It came from Sterling.”
“Victoria Sterling?”
“Yes.”
His partner whistled.
“That’s huge.”
Liam leaned back.
He wondered if the invitation was business.
Or something else.
He didn’t want to assume.
He prepared the bid carefully.
No favors.
No special pricing.
No shortcuts.
If Sterling wanted them, it had to be because they were qualified.
The presentation was scheduled in Chicago.
Liam arrived at Sterling headquarters.
Victoria was waiting.
He smiled.
“You’re stalking me.”
She laughed.
“You started it.”
“I was looking.”
“You were staring.”
He smiled.
“Still letting me.”
She laughed.
The presentation went well.
Victoria asked difficult questions.
Liam answered.
Her board members were impressed.
At the end, one executive said:
“Your company is smaller than the others.”
Liam nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why should we choose you?”
“Because we’re accountable.”
The executive frowned.
Liam continued:
“If something goes wrong, you won’t wait three days for a committee.”
“You’ll call me.”
“I’ll answer.”
Victoria watched him.
That was exactly what Sterling needed.
A partner who took responsibility.
The contract was awarded to Liam’s company two weeks later.
The deal changed his business.
They hired more employees.
Opened a new warehouse.
Expanded into three states.
Liam was grateful.
But he was careful.
He didn’t want anyone saying Victoria had helped him because of their personal connection.
They stayed professional.
Still, they talked more.
Sometimes about work.
Sometimes about family.
Liam met Victoria’s mother.
Victoria met Sophie’s school teacher.
Their worlds slowly connected.
One evening, Victoria joined Liam and Sophie for dinner.
Sophie asked:
“Are you dating my dad?”
Liam nearly choked.
Victoria laughed.
“Not exactly.”
Sophie nodded.
“Okay.”
“Why?”
“You look at him differently.”
Victoria smiled.
“You’re very observant.”
“I know.”
Liam shook his head.
“You two are dangerous.”
After dinner, Sophie went upstairs.
Victoria and Liam stayed in the kitchen.
“She’s wonderful.”
“She is.”
“You’ve done a good job.”
He smiled.
“I’ve tried.”
Victoria hesitated.
“You know you don’t have to do everything alone.”
He looked at her.
“Neither do you.”
The sentence affected her.
She hadn’t realized how badly she needed to hear it.
For years, people had told her she was strong.
Nobody had told her she could stop being strong for a while.
Liam did.
Without trying.
Their relationship became closer.
But then Victoria’s board discovered a problem.
A rival company was trying to undermine Sterling’s supply chain.
Someone inside the company was leaking information.
Victoria became suspicious.
She asked Liam for advice.
He helped analyze logistics patterns.
The leaks were coming from an executive team.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Marcus Bell.
Chief Procurement Officer.
He had been with Sterling for eight years.
Victoria trusted him.
Liam didn’t.
“You’re too close to him.”
Victoria frowned.
“Because?”
“People who are betraying you usually know exactly what you’ll forgive.”
She stared.
“That’s a dark thing to say.”
“It’s also true.”
She smiled.
“Maybe that’s why I trust you.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“You say difficult things.”
He smiled.
“Someone has to.”
Their relationship crossed another line.
Not officially.
Emotionally.
But the corporate threat was becoming real.
And Marcus knew Liam had noticed.
