Chapter 3 - The Departure Into The Manhattan Rain
Leo stood at his full height, his dark green hoodie contrasting sharply with the tailored suits worn by the wealthy men around him.
He looked directly into his father's furious eyes, his fingers moving with swift, precise, and uncompromising American Sign Language.
I am leaving with her, Leo signed, his facial expression fierce and unyielding.
Harrison glared at his son's hands, his face turning an unhealthy shade of deep crimson under the warm dining room lights.
"Sit down, Leo!" Harrison commanded loudly, ignoring the uncomfortable glances from the neighboring tables.
"You don't walk away from me! You live under my roof in the Upper East Side! You drive the car I bought you!"
Leo did not pause to listen to the vibrations of his father's yelling through the floorboards; he simply turned toward Clara.
Clara offered him a small, supportive nod, stepping back to give the boy space as he pulled his canvas backpack over his shoulder.
Harrison reached out frantically, grabbing Leo's green sleeve with a tight, desperate grip.
"Don't you dare walk out those doors, boy!" Harrison hissed through clenched teeth. "If you leave, you're cut off!"
Clara moved with quiet efficiency, stepping directly between Harrison's arm and the teenager, breaking the man's grip with a gentle but firm block.
"Touch him again, Mr. Vance, and I will have the club security team escort you to the precinct on 67th Street," Clara warned softly.
Harrison gasped in utter disbelief as Clara turned her back on him, walking alongside Leo down the long carpeted hallway toward the exit.
The heavy mahogany doors swung open, leading them out onto the rainy, upscale New York City sidewalk under the awning.
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The massive American flag hanging proudly from the luxury building's awning swayed gently in the wet autumn breeze.
Behind them, the dining room remained dead silent, Harrison Vance left sitting alone surrounded by his embarrassed peers.
