Chapter 4 - Shadows in the Workplace
The moment Julian set the bags on the rickety kitchen table, Maya didn't wait for permission. She grabbed one of the pre-warmed bottles, dropped onto her knees beside the worn sofa, and gently guided the nipple into her brother's mouth.
The effect was instantaneous.
Leo’s frantic screams died away into desperate, greedy gulps. His tiny, pale hands clamped around Maya’s fingers as he drank. His whole body relaxed, settling against her lap as warmth and nourishment filled his belly.
Julian stood near the doorway, watching the scene in absolute silence. He felt a lump form in his throat so large it felt difficult to breathe.
Maya looked up at him, her dark eyes wide and glistening with fresh tears. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Thank you so much, mister. How much do I owe you? I can pay you ten dollars every Saturday—"
"You owe me nothing, Maya," Julian interrupted gently, walking over and kneeling on the worn floor beside her. "Not a single cent."
He unpacked the rest of the bags. He laid out boxes of fresh fruits, warm roasted chicken, loaves of fresh bakery bread, cheeses, three large gallons of organic milk, diapers, wet wipes, and two warm fleece blankets. Finally, he placed a sealed white envelope on the edge of the table.
Inside that envelope was $2,000 in cash—enough to cover food and rent for months.
"Your mother works night shifts?" Julian asked softly.
Maya nodded, keeping her eyes on her brother. "She cleans the giant glass building downtown—the Mercer Tower. She leaves at 9:00 PM and comes back at 6:00 AM. She works so hard, mister. But her boss at the cleaning company cut her hours last month because she refused to work unpaid overtime."
Julian’s eyes narrowed sharply. The Mercer Tower. His flagship building. The building that bore his own name on the brass plaque in the lobby.
"What is her boss’s name?" Julian asked quietly.
"Mr. Gavin," Maya said, her brow furrowing in disgust. "He’s mean. He always yells at my mom and threatens to fire her if she complains about her paycheck being late."
Julian stood up slowly, adjusting his coat. The cold, dangerous corporate titan within him was waking up, but this time, it was burning with a righteous, furious fire.
"Maya," Julian said, his voice smooth as glass. "When your mother comes home, tell her a friend left these supplies for you. Do not worry about milk ever again. Do you understand me?"
Maya nodded, clutching her brother close. "What's your name, mister?"
May you like
Julian looked at the brave twelve-year-old girl who had taken care of her family in the dark.
"My name is Julian," he said softly. "Get some sleep, Maya. Everything is going to change."
