I was silent for a long moment, my mind digested all of what he had offered me.
"There's one condition," Daniel said quietly. He was watching whole of my reactions this whole time.
My breath hitched. 'Here it is. The catch.'
"What condition?"
"You can't tell anyone about this offer. Not to your family. Not your friends. Not to your current employer."
His eyes held mine, his expression serious.
"If you accept, you'll give two weeks' notice at Jensen & Partners and start here immediately after. But until then, this stays between us."
"Why the secrecy?"
"Because I don't poach employees publicly. It damages relationships."
He stood with a smile on his face, then moved back to the windows.
"But more than that… I want you to make this decision freely, without pressure from others. Can you do that?"
I stood too, though my legs were shaking.
Three hundred thousand dollars.
A chance to escape the company that had turned toxic.
A mentor who could actually help my career.
But I didn't forget that this man—the one that investigated me without permission, knew things he shouldn't, and asked me to keep secrets—was undoubtedly suspicious.
"I need time to think," I said.
Daniel turned, and for a moment, I caught a glimpse of something in his eyes.
'Was it a disappointment? Or respect?'
His expression didn't change, and he pulled a card from his pocket and held it out to me.
"Of course. Take the time you need. My private number is in this card. Let me know when you've decided."
I took the card. It looked luxurious, embossed lettering with the name of Daniel Tan, CEO on it.
"The car will take you wherever you'd like to go," he said.
I nodded, clutching the card tight in my left palm.
As I turned toward the elevator, his voice stopped me.
"Lulu."
I looked back.
He was silhouetted against the windows again, with the city view sprawling behind him like a kingdom.
"You deserve better than what they're giving you. Don't forget that."
The elevator doors closed, and I was alone, feeling that I was still in a dream.
Three hundred thousand dollars.
A new life.
All I had to do was to trust a man who had been watching me from the shadows.
As the elevator descended, I stared at the card in my hand.
And I realized that I had already made my decision.
I just wasn't ready to admit it yet.
*******
The driver asked where I wanted to go, and without thinking, I said, "The park. Downtown park."
He nodded and drove in silence while I put Daniel's business card on my wallet.
The park was nearly empty on that Wednesday morning. Only some people passed by. Joggers, a woman with a stroller.
I watched some pigeons pecked at invisible crumbs near a fountain.
Normal people living normal lives.
I found a bench overlooking the water and sat.
Three hundred thousand dollars.
The number kept echoing in my head like an annoying song that wouldn't go away.
I pulled out my phone and opened my banking app, then checked my account balance. $3,247.52.
Rent was due in a week, I should pay $1,200.
That left about two grand for food, utilities, transportation, and trying to pretend I had a life.
I had been living like this for a year, and kept telling myself it was temporary.
That if I just worked hard enough, eventually I would get promoted, get a raise, get something from the company.
That was I thought, naively.
But Sarah was going to get the senior position. I knew it now. And after yesterday's probation, I would be lucky if I still had a job next month.
My phone buzzed.
Jenny: Where are you? Marcus is asking. Are you okay?
Me: I need some air. Tell him I'll be back tomorrow.
Jenny: Did you meet him? The billionaire?
My thumb hovered over the keyboard.
Daniel's words echoed in my mind. 'You can't tell anyone about this offer.'
Me: Yeah. It was… interesting. I'll tell you later.
Jenny: INTERESTING?? Girl, I need details!!
I pocketed my phone before I could say something I would regret.
A jogger passed by, her earbuds in, wearing athletic wear. The kind of effortless fitness that came from having time and money.
She looked my age. Maybe younger.
What did her life look like? Did she worry about rent? Did she have coworkers sabotaging her works? Did she have a mother constantly pushing her toward marriage like it was the only path to happiness?
Or did she just… live?
I pulled out Daniel's card again.
This wasn't a scam. I had been to his office. I sat in his penthouse, looked into those intense eyes and saw a man who meant every word he said.
'You deserve better than what they're giving you.'
Did I?
For so long, I had convinced myself that struggling by my own two hands was noble. That independence meant doing everything the hard way. That accepting help—especially from a man, any man—was a weakness.
But this was an opportunity. Wasn't it?
My phone rang, jolting me from my thoughts.
Mom.
I almost didn't answer, but guilt won.
"Hi, Mom."
"Lulu! Did you meet Daniel? How was he? Was he handsome? Did he like you?"
The questions came in rapid fire, she was giving me no space for answers.
"Mom—"
"I told Mrs. Wang about him. She was so impressed! A CEO! Do you know how lucky you are?"
Lucky. The word felt a hammer in my gut.
"Mom, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, darling."
"How do you know Daniel?"
A pause, her cheerful voice suddenly stopped chirping in my ears.
"What do you mean?"
"How did you meet him? How do you know he's looking for… whatever it is you think he's looking for?"
"Oh! Mrs. Wang introduced us. Her nephew works at Tan Industries. Such a good company. Very prestigious."
My chest tightened. "And Daniel specifically said he wanted to meet me?"
"Well…"
She paused again, this time a little longer.
"Mrs. Wang mentioned you were available, and Daniel seemed interested. He's such a good man, Lulu. Successful, kind, generous—"
"But did he ask to meet me, or did you push for it?"
Silence.
"What does it matter? He agreed, didn't he? That means he's interested!"
I closed my eyes, and sighed.
My mother hadn't found me a suitor.
She had offered me up like a product at a matchmaking market, and Daniel had… what? Taken the bait? Decided I was worth investigating?
"I have to go, Mom."
"Wait! When are you seeing him again? You should—"
I hung up and felt my face was hot due to furious.
All this time, I had thought Daniel sought me out specifically. That he had seen something in me worth pursuing.
But maybe I was just convenient. The widow daughter of a woman desperate to marry her off.
Easy prey for a billionaire looking for… what? A project? A temporary distraction?