Chapter 2: The Man Who Was Paid to Pretend
Daniel Hayes had repaired thousands of things in his life.
Broken generators.
Faulty wiring.
Old machines that refused to start.
He understood systems.
Everything had a reason.
Every failure had a source.
Every problem could eventually be traced back to the moment something went wrong.
But sitting inside the Sterling estate, staring at a twelve-million-dollar offer from a woman who had accidentally called him in the middle of the night, Daniel felt like he was facing the first problem he could not solve.
Because there was no manual for this.
No instructions.
No diagram.
No clear answer.
Just a sick billionaire asking a struggling father to pretend to love her.
Daniel pushed the contract away.
“I can’t do this.””
Renee Sterling watched him carefully.
She did not look angry.
She looked like she expected that answer.
“Why?””
“Because this is insane.””
“Which part?””
“All of it.””
Daniel stood and walked toward the massive windows overlooking the gardens.
Everything about this place felt unreal.
The polished floors.
The priceless artwork.
The quiet staff moving through the halls like ghosts.
His entire apartment could probably fit inside one room of this house.
And yet Renee Sterling, one of the richest women in America, looked more alone than anyone he had ever met.
“You don’t need a fake boyfriend,” Daniel said.
Renee remained silent.
“You need lawyers. Security. People who know how to handle corporate battles.””
“I have all of those.””
“Then why me?””
For the first time, Renee hesitated.
That hesitation bothered him more than anything else.
Because it meant there was a truth she was not telling him.
“Because everyone around me has something to gain,” she finally said.
Daniel turned around.
“What does that mean?””
“It means when you’re rich, people don’t always see you.””
She looked down at her hands.
“They see your name. Your money. Your influence.””
“And you think I don’t?””
“No.””
Her answer came quickly.
“I think you saw a scared woman in a hospital room.””
Daniel said nothing.
Renee continued.
“You didn’t know who I was. You didn’t know my company. You didn’t know how much money I had.””
She looked at him.
“You only knew I was alone.””
The words hit harder than he expected.
Because they were true.
But truth did not make the situation less complicated.
“You’re asking me to lie.””
“Yes.””
“You’re asking me to fool your company.””
“Yes.””
“You’re asking me to pretend to have feelings for you.””
Renee looked away.
“Yes.””
Daniel let out a slow breath.
“And what happens when everyone finds out?””
“They will.””
The confidence in her voice surprised him.
“You’re not even pretending it won’t happen?””
“No.””
“Then why do it?””
Renee picked up a folder from the table.
Inside were documents.
Financial reports.
Emails.
Legal notices.
Daniel didn’t understand most of them, but he recognized fear when he saw it.
“This is what happens when a CEO becomes sick,” she said.
She pointed to the documents.
“People who spent years telling me I was brilliant suddenly started saying I was unstable.””
Daniel frowned.
“Unstable?””
“They don’t say it directly.””
She smiled bitterly.
“They say things like, ‘Perhaps Renee should focus on recovery.’”
She opened another document.
“They say the company needs experienced leadership.””
Another.
“They say temporary decisions must be made.””
Daniel understood.
“They’re trying to take control.””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Renee looked at him.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.””
Daniel looked back at the contract.
“And Marcus?””
A shadow crossed her face.
“My ex-boyfriend?””
“Yeah.””
“What about him?””
“You said you called him because you thought he betrayed you.””
Renee was quiet for a long time.
Then she stood and walked toward a cabinet.
Inside was a photograph.
A younger Renee stood beside a handsome man wearing a navy suit.
Marcus Vale.
“He was with me for three years.””
Daniel studied the picture.
“He knew about your condition?””
“Yes.””
“And he left?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Renee’s fingers tightened around the frame.
“He said he couldn’t watch me die.””
Daniel looked at her.
“That’s what he told you?””
She nodded.
“But I found out something strange.””
“What?””
“The day after he left, he received a large payment.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“From who?””
“That’s the problem.””
Renee placed the photo down.
“I don’t know.””
The room became quiet.
Daniel looked at the woman standing in front of him.
She was not asking for romance.
She was asking for protection.
And somehow, that made the situation even more dangerous.
“What exactly would I have to do?””
Renee looked surprised.
“You’re considering it?””
“I didn’t say yes.””
“But you’re asking questions.””
Daniel ignored that.
“What are the rules?””
For the first time, Renee looked slightly relieved.
“Six months.””
“Okay.””
“You would attend company events with me.””
“Okay.””
“You would appear supportive.””
“Meaning?””
“Meaning when people see me, they see someone who has someone beside her.””
Daniel nodded.
“And outside the company?””
“Nothing changes.””
“What does that mean?””
“You keep your apartment. Your job. Your life.””
She paused.
“Your daughter.””
Daniel immediately became serious.
“Lily has nothing to do with this.””
“I know.””
“I don’t want her anywhere near this.””
“She won’t be.””
Daniel studied Renee.
“You already know about my daughter?””
Renee looked uncomfortable.
“I had my assistant do a background check.””
His face hardened.
“You investigated me?””
“Daniel—”
“No.””
He stepped back.
“That’s exactly what I mean. You live in a world where you can dig into anyone’s life whenever you want.””
“I needed to know who I was trusting.””
“And I’m supposed to trust you?””
Renee accepted the criticism.
“You’re right.””
That surprised him.
Most wealthy people he had met never admitted mistakes.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
Daniel looked at her.
A billionaire apologizing to him.
That was new.
“She knows nothing about this,” Renee continued.
“And she never will unless you decide otherwise.””
Daniel looked at the contract again.
The number still seemed impossible.
Twelve million dollars.
Enough to pay off everything.
Enough to secure Lily’s future.
Enough that she would never have to worry about college.
Enough that Daniel could finally stop counting every dollar at the grocery store.
But money was not the reason he was still sitting there.
He knew that.
The reason was a woman who called a stranger because she believed nobody else would answer.
“I need time.””
Renee nodded.
“How much?””
“A week.””
“You don’t have a week.””
The seriousness in her voice made him stop.
“What?””
“The board meeting is in five days.””
Daniel stared at her.
“And?””
“If I don’t show stability before then, they can begin the process of removing me.””
“You’re the CEO.””
“Not if they convince enough people I’m incapable.””
Daniel looked toward the window.
Outside, workers moved through the gardens.
A completely different world.
A world where twelve million dollars was offered like a business expense.
A world where people fought over billions while someone could still be terrified of dying alone.
“I’ll think about it.””
Renee nodded.
“Thank you.””
“I didn’t say yes.””
“I know.””
But her eyes suggested she knew something else.
She knew Daniel was already involved.
And that scared him.
Because she was right.
That night, Daniel sat at his kitchen table long after Lily came home.
“Dad?””
He looked up.
His daughter stood there holding her backpack.
“You okay?””
Daniel forced a smile.
“Yeah.””
“You look weird.””
He laughed softly.
“Thanks.””
“You know what I mean.””
Daniel looked at her.
Ten years old.
Smart.
Curious.
Too much like Sarah.
“What would you do if someone offered you a chance to change everything?””
Lily dropped into the chair across from him.
“Like magic?””
“Maybe.””
“I’d ask why.””
Daniel smiled.
“Why?””
“Because sometimes people give you things because they want something.””
The simplicity of her answer made him pause.
Children saw things adults complicated.
“That’s a good answer.””
“I know.””
He laughed.
Then Lily noticed the papers on the table.
“What’s that?””
“Nothing.””
She leaned closer.
“Dad.””
“It’s work.””
She narrowed her eyes.
“You’re a terrible liar.””
Daniel looked away.
Sarah used to say the same thing.
For a moment, he almost told Lily everything.
Almost explained the strange woman.
The hospital.
The money.
The impossible request.
But he stopped.
Because Lily deserved a childhood.
Not a world of secrets and corporate enemies.
“Go finish your homework.””
She smiled.
“You’re avoiding the question.””
“I’m your father. It’s my job.””
She rolled her eyes and walked away.
Daniel watched her disappear down the hallway.
Then he looked back at the contract.
At the number.
At Renee’s desperate handwriting on the final page.
Please help me survive the next six months.
He picked up his phone.
Before he realized what he was doing, he had opened Renee’s contact.
His thumb hovered over the call button.
He almost pressed it.
Then he stopped.
Because one question kept bothering him.
Why him?
Why a random electrician?
Why not a famous actor?
Why not someone from her world?
Why choose Daniel Hayes?
The answer came the next morning.
When a black sedan followed him home from work.
Daniel noticed it immediately.
He had spent years working in dangerous buildings.
He knew when something felt wrong.
The car stayed behind him for seven blocks.
When he turned left, it turned left.
When he slowed down, it slowed down.
Finally, Daniel pulled over.
The sedan stopped twenty feet behind him.
The window lowered.
A man inside looked directly at him.
Then he spoke.
“You should stay away from Renee Sterling.””
Daniel’s heart tightened.
“Who are you?””
The man ignored the question.
“She doesn’t tell people the truth.””
Daniel stared.
“What truth?””
The man smiled slightly.
“The truth about why she really called you.””
Before Daniel could respond, the window closed.
The sedan drove away.
Daniel stood there, frozen.
Because suddenly, the question was no longer whether he should help Renee.
May you like
The question was whether Renee had chosen him because he was the only person who could save her…
or because he was the only person who could be sacrificed. :::
