"Emma said what now?"
"Don't worry, Daddy. I told her you're too sad about Mama to think about dating anyone, but Emma thinks her mom could make you happy again."
Ethan pulled into their parking space behind the shop and sat for a moment, processing his 8-year-old daughter's casual revelation.
"Mija, you know it's complicated when adults..."
"I know, Daddy. But maybe complicated isn't always bad. Maybe sometimes it's just different."
As they climbed the stairs to their apartment, Ethan reflected on how dramatically their world was expanding.
Monday would bring a business meeting that could change their financial future. Friday would bring a glimpse into a social world he'd never imagined entering.
And somewhere in between was the growing realization that Victoria Sterling was becoming much more than just a grateful customer whose car he'd fixed.
The eviction notice was still sitting on his kitchen table, but for the first time in months, it didn't feel like an insurmountable crisis. It felt like motivation to embrace whatever changes were coming their way.
* * *
Monday morning found Ethan standing in front of his bathroom mirror at 7:00 a.m. trying to decide if his one good pair of khakis and a button-down shirt would be appropriate for visiting a tech company.
He'd been awake since 4:00 a.m., his mind racing through every possible scenario for the meeting with Victoria.
The black sedan she'd promised to send was due to arrive at 9:15, giving him time to open the shop and leave detailed instructions for Mrs. Chen to handle any walk-in emergencies.
Mia knocked on his bedroom door, already dressed for school in her favorite jeans and a t-shirt that declared future engineer in bright pink letters.
"Daddy, you look nervous. Are you scared to see Emma's mom?"
"I'm not scared," Ethan protested, then caught sight of his reflection and had to admit the truth. "Okay, maybe a little nervous. This is a big opportunity, mija. It could change everything for us."
"Good change or scary change?" Mia asked with the directness that always cut straight to his heart.
Ethan knelt down to her level, straightening her backpack straps. "Both, I think. The best changes usually are a little scary at first."
At exactly 9:15, a sleek black Mercedes pulled up outside Rodriguez Auto Repair.
The driver was a professional-looking woman in her 50s who introduced herself as Patricia and assured Ethan that she'd been driving for Sterling Dynamics for 8 years and knew exactly where they were going.
The ride through Phoenix to Sterling Dynamics headquarters gave Ethan time to process the magnitude of what he was walking into.
The building was a stunning glass and steel structure in the heart of the financial district with carefully landscaped grounds and a parking garage that probably cost more than most people's houses.
As they pulled up to the executive entrance, Ethan felt the familiar flutter of impostor syndrome in his stomach.
Victoria was waiting in the marble floored lobby, but she'd clearly made an effort to dress down for the occasion. Instead of her usual executive attire, she wore dark jeans, a simple blazer, and flats.