Chapter 5

Mike never would have guessed that the Mr. Leedon rumored to be my "sugar daddy" was actually my father.

I had gone to the hotel with the bouquet, not for a date, but to celebrate my parents' wedding anniversary.

When I was born, there were complications during my mom's delivery, so my devastated dad had me take her last name. Even after more than a year at the Leedon Group, no one suspected my real identity.

When I was with Mike, I never planned to tell him.

Back then, I worried that knowing who I was might put unnecessary pressure on him. Looking back now, if he had known from the start, he wouldn't have been so stingy. Instead, he would have behaved like he is now—groveling—making it harder for me to see his true colors.

"Shirley, why didn't you tell me about your relationship to Mr. Leedon sooner? All those crazy rumors spread around the office, and you didn't think to clear them up?"

In an unexpected show of attention, Mike brought me a box of Sprinkles cupcakes and a Starbu