He looked toward the signed work order.
“Until accounting closes the invoice.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“You’re hiding.”
“Yes.”
“Coward.”
“Safety-first culture.”
She laughed.
Then handed him an envelope.
“What’s this?”
“Payment confirmation.”
He opened it.
Full invoice.
Already paid.
The Single Dad looked up.
“You did that deliberately.”
“Yes.”
“So now?”
She stepped close enough that her burgundy scarf brushed his chest.
“Now I am no longer your customer.”
He smiled.
“No.”
“Jet is safe.”
“Yes.”
“Business dispute finished.”
“Yes.”
“No pilots waiting.”
“No.”
“No executives watching?”
The Single Dad glanced over her shoulder.
Half the hangar staff immediately looked away.
He laughed.
“Technically.”
The CEO placed one gloved hand lightly against his chest.
“Then I am asking again.”
He looked into her eyes.
“What do you want?”
Her expression softened.
“You.”
The Single Dad stopped smiling.
She continued.
“Dinner first.”
“If you prefer to maintain your inspection schedule.”
He laughed softly.
“Dinner.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“That easy?”
“No.”
“But yes.”
She smiled.
“Tonight?”
“My daughter.”
“Of course.”
He expected disappointment.
Instead she said:
“Tomorrow?”
He nodded.
“Tomorrow.”
Their first date happened at a steakhouse he chose specifically because it was not owned by any company connected to her.
The Billionaire CEO discovered this immediately.
“You researched ownership?”
“Yes.”
“You’re insane.”
“I wanted neutral territory.”
She smiled.
“I like that.”
The Single Dad arrived in a dark button-down shirt.
No grease.
No work boots.
The CEO stared when he approached the table.
“What?”
he asked.
“You clean up.”
He sat.
“You look surprised.”
“I was emotionally prepared for charcoal workwear.”
She wore an elegant dark-green dress.
Less corporate.
Hair loose.
No glasses.
The Single Dad looked.
She caught him.
“There.”
“What?”
“That look.”
“Again.”
He looked at the menu.
“Food.”
“Coward.”
Their dinner lasted four hours.
No private jets.
No counterfeit parts.
Mostly.
They talked about childhood.
Her father.
His wife.
Parenthood.
Business.
Fear.