Single Dad Was Hired as a Temp Driver — Then the CEO Heard Him Talk to Foreign Investors
Chapter 7
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Victoria's expression tightened with understanding. "So you stopped traveling.""Not immediately. I wish I could say I understood everything that night—I did not. But eventually, I realized I was helping companies protect partnerships while the most important relationship in my life was learning how to live without me."Grant shifted in his chair, but said nothing.Daniel continued, "I stepped away, took local consulting work, taught languages for a while, did delivery routes when consulting slowed down. Driving came later because the hours were predictable."Fujimori nodded. "And you never returned.""I tried once Sophie got older. Seven years is a long absence in this business—people saw the gap before they saw what came before it." Daniel glanced at the temporary badge on his jacket. "So I kept working. Honest work is still honest work."Grant finally spoke: "It is a touching story, but we still have a transaction to complete."Victoria turned toward him. "No, Grant. We have a transaction to earn."The words landed without anger, which somehow gave them more weight.Daniel opened the binder again. "He is right about one thing: the story does not solve the agreement." Grant looked surprised. Daniel continued, "And nobody should trust my recommendation because of my past. Trust what your partners are telling you now. My job is only to make sure you hear it."For the next 40 minutes, the room changed from defending language to rebuilding it. Daniel asked questions; Watanabe answered; the attorneys revised; Tanaka challenged assumptions; Victoria listened before speaking. By 10:31, three disputed provisions had been rewritten around shared authority, supplier continuity, and joint oversight.Then Tanaka's phone vibrated against the table. He read the message once, and the relief on his face disappeared.Watanabe noticed immediately. "What is it?"Tanaka looked at Daniel, then at Victoria. "Tokyo has scheduled an emergency board vote for tonight."Victoria's voice became still. "A vote on what?"Tanaka placed the phone on the table. "Whether to terminate negotiations with Bennett Global entirely.""What time is the vote?" Victoria asked.Tanaka checked the message again. "Eleven tonight in Tokyo."Daniel glanced at the wall clock and quietly calculated the difference. The revised language on the table suddenly felt less like progress and more like a race against a decision already moving without them.Grant leaned forward. "Then we send the revised provisions immediately. We explain that the concerns have been addressed.""No," Daniel said.Grant looked at him. "No?"Daniel kept his voice level: "If you send revised language without acknowledging why it had to be revised, it will look like damage control. They already know you can change words—they do not know whether you understand why the words mattered."Victoria studied him. "What would you do?"Daniel looked toward Watanabe. "I would stop trying to make the board trust a document, and ask them to trust a person."The room became quiet. Daniel turned toward Victoria. "You should speak to them directly."Grant immediately shook his head. "An unscheduled appearance by the chief executive officer creates unnecessary exposure."