at a cleaning checklist on his clipboard, but his attention kept drifting to the elevators. He had not stopped thinking about Charlotte since their elevator meeting. Her voice qui

he was. L

his wristwa

he saw her. Charlotte. She looked different in the daylight-less tired and more determined. She wore a beige trench coat

her and laughed-bright, unfiltered, and innoce

froze for half a second b

e said as the

rning." His voice sounde

a," Charlotte said, softl

wide-eyed, frightened amazem

ught himself down to her lev

head. "You are t

hed. "Yes, thi

wink. "Best job

She leaned out and, without hesitation, put

she said

ured a cartoon flower. It mattered more to him than the hu

u," he sa

she is suddenly interested in stickers.

id, smiling. "Makes pe

le longer. Something happened between them

care on the first level before

early,"

ch today," Charlotte said, smiling. "

g. "I baked hea

led. "That s

daughter's forehead. "Come on

daycare entrance. Maya turned back and waved at hi

ationary for a

r of his workplace, wearing neither disguise nor c

ad always desired children, but they had not made it that far. Seeing Maya resurrecte

d to himself as he w

ose were unexpected and painful. He had wealth, power, and a well-established system.

ass and grabbed his phone.

nterns next Friday," he said.

. "Uh, yeah, Mr.

ack in his chair, not sure whe

ved slightly late, carrying Maya on o

the elevator again. Of cour

on!" she shouted, struggling

t in time as she stumb

flower?" she said, pee

Of course. "It

d astounded. "H

es. "Best par

ow. "You are fu

is, too," h

own. Come on, Maya. "Let us no

t," he said.

r arms around his leg b

not too much,"

as per

ct well with many individuals. How ab

ren are excellent j

head. "Are yo

ed. He paused, his eyes clouding sl

d her question. "My apologie

is okay. "You are not t

n them lingered unti

ood day,"

o, Char

d, Barron smiled and exami

ure where th

in years, he wished it w