“You’ve Been Staring Since the Airport,” the CEO Said — The Single Dad Smiled, “You’ve Been Letting Me”
Chapter 6
Victoria’s board crisis returned.
Three directors wanted her removed.
They argued she had become distracted by personal matters.
They questioned the logistics contract.
They questioned Liam.
They questioned everything.
Victoria faced the board alone.
Liam wanted to help.
She refused.
“This is my fight.”
“Okay.”
He respected it.
The board meeting lasted four hours.
Victoria defended every decision.
The contract.
The investigations.
The restructuring.
At the end, she kept her position.
But she returned home exhausted.
Liam was waiting.
“How bad?”
“Bad.”
“Do you want advice?”
“No.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
She laughed.
He made dinner.
Pasta.
Nothing fancy.
Victoria watched him cook.
“You know you’re terrible at this.”
“I know.”
She smiled.
“You’re improving.”
“Slowly.”
They ate.
For once, Victoria wasn’t talking about work.
She talked about her childhood.
Her father.
The pressure.
The fear of failure.
Liam listened.
Then said:
“You don’t have to earn love.”
She stared.
“Where did that come from?”
“Your face.”
“What about it?”
“You look like someone who thinks she has to prove everything.”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
Nobody had ever said it so directly.
She took his hand.
“I don’t know how to stop.”
“You don’t have to stop tonight.”
He squeezed her hand.
“Just don’t do it alone.”
That became their private language.
Don’t do it alone.
Meanwhile, Sophie became attached to Victoria.
They went shopping.
Studied astronomy.
Watched movies.
Victoria helped with a school presentation.
Liam watched them together.
He realized he wanted more.
A home.
A family.
Not just a relationship.
Victoria felt it too.
But she hesitated.
She feared losing everything again.
Liam understood.
He didn’t pressure her.
Then an emergency happened.
Sophie developed a severe asthma attack at school.
Liam was out of town.
Victoria was closest.
She left a board meeting.
Drove to the school.
Stayed with Sophie at the hospital.
When Liam arrived, Victoria was sitting beside the bed.
Sophie was asleep.
He stopped.
“Thank you.”
Victoria stood.
“I didn’t do anything special.”
“You stayed.”
She smiled.
Sophie woke.
“Dad.”
“I’m here.”
She looked at Victoria.
“She stayed too.”
Liam nodded.
“Yes.”
Sophie closed her eyes.
“I like that.”
The hospital became quiet.
Liam looked at Victoria.
“I love you.”
She froze.
She had expected to say it someday.
Not here.
Not like this.
But the words felt right.
She whispered:
“I love you too.”
Their relationship changed again.
It was no longer uncertain.
They were a family.
They simply hadn’t named the future yet.
