THE BILLIONAIRE’S BLIND SPOT

Daniel stared at the embossed logo, the reality of Conrad Vaughn’s ruthlessness settling heavily on his shoulders. The man wasn’t just a manipulative businessman; he was actively threatening a three-year-old child to secure a real estate merger.

"When did you find this?" Daniel asked, his voice deathly calm.

"Tonight," Rosa wept, sinking onto the edge of the bed. "After we got back from the gala. I went to put Tomas to bed, and the envelope was sitting on his pillow. Daniel, I didn't steal your files. I don't even know what a merger is!"

"I know," Daniel said softly, crouching down to her eye level. "I found Isabella’s bracelet in my office. She used Tomas’s tablet to download the files, hoping the digital trail would point to you. She must have left the photos on the bed while we were at the party."

Rosa looked up, her eyes wide with terror. "Why me? Why would Miss Isabella do this to us?"

"Because you were the perfect scapegoat," Daniel said bitterly. "And because her father is desperate."

Daniel stood up, his mind racing. Conrad Vaughn was trying to force the Harbor Commons deal through by leaking the internal memo—a memo that detailed Daniel’s private environmental concerns about the land. By leaking it, Conrad was trying to trigger a panic among the board members, forcing Daniel’s hand to sign the merger to stabilize the stock. Framing Rosa was just collateral damage.

"Pack a bag for you and Tomas," Daniel ordered, his tone shifting from employer to protector. "But you aren't running away. You're coming with Mia and me."

"Where?"

"To the one place Conrad doesn't know about."

Daniel left Rosa’s room and hurried toward the master suite. He needed to pack for himself and Mia. But as he passed the grand foyer, his eyes landed on the coat closet.

Isabella’s things were still here. She had left in such a humiliated rush after the ballroom confrontation that she had abandoned her overnight bags in his closet.

Daniel yanked the closet door open. A pristine white cashmere coat hung on the rack—the coat Isabella had worn the night of the leak.

Acting on instinct, Daniel reached into the pockets. The right pocket was empty. In the left pocket, his fingers brushed against hard plastic.

He pulled it out. It was a cheap, prepaid burner phone.

Billionaire heiresses did not carry twenty-dollar prepaid phones from gas stations.

Daniel stared at the blank screen. Suddenly, the phone vibrated in his palm. The screen lit up, illuminating the dark foyer.

Incoming Call: Unknown

Daniel held his breath. He pressed the green accept button and lifted the phone to his ear. He didn't speak.

For three seconds, there was only the sound of heavy breathing on the other end. Then, a familiar, impatient voice cracked through the speaker.

"Isabella? Did the housekeeper take the bait?"

Daniel felt the floor drop out from under him. He knew that voice. He had trusted that voice with his life, his company, and his family.

It was Marcus, his Chief Financial Officer.

"Isabella, answer me," Marcus hissed through the phone. "Vaughn wants to know if the flash drive is secure. If Daniel finds the ecological survey on that drive, this whole merger burns to the ground, and you and I both go to prison."

Daniel didn't breathe. He gently tapped the end call button.

Marcus wasn't just his CFO. He was the godfather to Daniel’s daughter.

Daniel rushed to Mia’s bedroom. The five-year-old was fast asleep, her dark curls splayed across her pink pillow. Daniel gently scooped her into his arms, wrapping her in her favorite quilt. She murmured softly but didn't wake.

"We're going on an adventure, sweetie," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

He carried her to the private elevator, where Rosa was already waiting, clutching a sleeping Tomas to her chest. Her eyes darted around like a cornered animal.

"Are we safe?" Rosa whispered.

"We will be," Daniel said as the elevator doors slid shut.

They made it to Daniel’s armored SUV in the underground garage. As he strapped Mia into her car seat, he noticed she was clutching something tightly in her little fist.

Daniel gently pried her fingers open to make sure it wasn't something sharp.

It was a small, black velvet pouch.

Daniel frowned. "Mia, baby, where did you get this?" he whispered.

Mia rubbed her sleepy eyes. "Izzy gave it to me," she mumbled. "Before the party. She said it was a secret game. She told me to hide it in my backpack and never tell Daddy."