Chapter 6 - The Executive Order
Before Daniel could ask what she meant, the double doors of the cafeteria swung open.
Four men in dark, identical suits stepped into the room, led by an older man with silver hair and a sharp, military posture.
"Miss Vance," the silver-haired man said, walking swiftly to their table and bowing his head respectfully. "The private helicopter has landed on the helipad. Your mother's legal proxy documents have been digitized and verified by the state notary."
"Thank you, Thomas," Evelyn said calmly, standing up from the booth.
She turned to Daniel, who was sitting frozen, watching the four private security guards standing at attention near the cafeteria tray return.
"Thomas is the chief legal officer for Vance Enterprises," Evelyn explained to Daniel. "He’s been my mother’s personal counsel for thirty years. Once my mother signed the proxy forms an hour ago, Julian’s temporary hold on my accounts was legally dissolved by the federal court."
She tapped her phone against the tablet on the table.
A quiet ding echoed from Daniel’s pocket.
Daniel frowned, pulling out his old, cracked smartphone. A notification flashed on his screen from his banking app:
ALERT: Direct Deposit Received. Balance updated: $50,000.00.
Daniel stared at the screen. The numbers swam before his eyes. Fifty thousand dollars.
"Evelyn... what is this?" Daniel’s voice trembled. "I can't take this. This is... this is insane."
"That is not a payment for your kindness, Daniel," Evelyn said, her eyes burning with an intense, fierce affection. "You can't buy what you gave me last night with fifty thousand dollars. That is simply an advance for the trouble my family caused you."
"Advance?" Daniel repeated, completely bewildered. "Advance for what?"
Evelyn smiled—a genuine, brilliant smile that transformed her entire face, making her look years younger.
"Vance Logistics owns sixteen fleet maintenance facilities across three states," Evelyn said smoothly. "Our Midwest regional director of fleet maintenance was fired yesterday for taking bribes from my brother. I need someone who knows how engines work, someone who understands what it means to keep vehicles safe, and above all... someone I can trust with my life."
She stepped closer to Daniel, looking down at Lily, who was slowly rubbing her eyes and waking up.
"The position pays one hundred and eighty thousand dollars a year, includes a company vehicle, full health insurance, and a housing allowance in Chicago," Evelyn said. "The job is yours, Daniel. If you want it."
Daniel sat in the vinyl booth, holding his cracked phone displaying fifty thousand dollars, looking at the powerful, beautiful woman standing before him.
Four hours ago, he was a broke single father with three dollars in his bank account, wondering how he was going to buy bread and milk for his daughter.
"Daddy?" Lily whispered, rubbing her eyes and looking up at Evelyn. "Is the lady still sad?"
May you like
Daniel looked down at his daughter, tears stinging the corners of his eyes. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, and looked up at Evelyn Vance.
"No, peanut," Daniel choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't think she's sad anymore."
