Her face tightened.
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
Firm.
“I’m supposed to build systems that produce reliable information.”
“I’m supposed to hire people capable of challenging bad assumptions.”
“I’m supposed to slow decisions when the evidence is incomplete.”
“I failed at those things.”
She paused.
“But I’m not supposed to magically know facts nobody has uncovered yet.”
The Single Dad stared.
The answer was honest enough to make anger more difficult.
He hated that.
The Female CEO continued:
“I am responsible.”
“That is different from pretending I am omniscient.”
He looked toward the audit again.
“Did you fire anyone?”
Her mouth tightened.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because unlike what happened to you, I’m not making employment decisions before the investigation ends.”
That landed.
He nodded slowly.
“Fair.”
“Legal has suspended two system administrators.”
“The executive who pushed your termination is on leave.”
“Compliance is reopening six previous deployment disputes.”
The Single Dad frowned.
“Six?”
“Yes.”
“So I wasn’t the first.”
“We don’t know yet.”
“Someone else may have been blamed.”
“Yes.”
He exhaled.
“That’s bigger than me.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you here instead of handling that?”
“Because the lawyers can work without me for one evening.”
“That sounds unlikely.”
“They’ve been trying for years.”
He smiled despite himself.
The CEO watched him.
Then she stepped close enough to touch his shirt collar.
The Single Dad froze.
She lifted one hand.
Slowly.
Giving him time to move.
He didn’t.
Her fingers straightened the worn plaid collar beneath his jacket.
A useless gesture.
The collar had not needed straightening.
Both of them knew it.
Her fingertips rested against his chest.
The Single Dad’s body reacted before his judgment did.
Breath shallower.
Shoulders tighter.
Attention narrowing.
He reached up.
Caught her wrist.
Gently.
The Female CEO looked at his hand.
Then at him.
Neither moved.
The Single Dad spoke quietly.
“You’re still my CEO.”
Her eyes stayed on his.
“Technically, you don’t work for me anymore.”
“That isn’t funny.”
“I wasn’t joking.”
He released her wrist.
She did not lower her hand.
Instead, her palm settled lightly against his chest.
The Single Dad swallowed.
“This is exactly why we should stop.”
“Why?”
“Because three hours ago you signed documents that could put me back inside your company.”
“Tomorrow morning I’ll be offered reinstatement.”
“I assume.”
“You assume correctly.”
“And if I say yes?”
“Then we build boundaries.”
He laughed softly.
“You say that like boundaries are a procurement workflow.”
“I am very good at workflows.”
“This is not one.”
“I know.”
The Female CEO moved closer.
Her coat, still draped over the chair, left her shoulders bare.
The satin caught the warm apartment light.
The Single Dad’s gaze dropped.
Again.
Long enough this time that there was no pretending.
She noticed.
Her voice softened.
“You keep doing that.”
He looked back into her eyes.