Chapter 1 - The Child Behind the PillarThe darkness behind the pillar shifted, and a pair of wide, terrified eyes reflected the harsh fluorescent glare of the garage.
Blake Harrington froze. He had dealt with angry city council members, hostile corporate takeover rivals, and aggressive investigative journalists, but nothing in his high-stakes world had ever prepared him for this.
Crouched against the cold concrete was a little girl no older than eight. Her clothes were a patchwork of oversized layers—a faded, soot-stained hoodie that swallowed her torso, mismatched sneakers held together by duct tape, and legs that trembled violently, not just from the damp Chicago chill, but from deep, bone-rattling exhaustion. Her face was smudged with grease and dried tears, but what caught Blake off guard was the fierce, defensive grip she had on a worn-out, plastic-wrapped notebook clutched tightly to her chest.
"Hey," Blake said, his voice dropping an octave, losing the sharp corporate edge he used in boardrooms. He slowly knelt, ignoring the expensive wool of his custom Italian trousers touching the oil-stained floor. "It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you."
The girl flinched away, pressing harder into the corner. "You're from Harrington Developments," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I saw your picture in the lobby. On the big shiny brass plaque. You own this tower."
May you like
Blake’s chest tightened. "Yes, I do. What’s your name?"
"Maya," she breathed. "And you took our home."
