Chapter 3 - The Hospital Room Promise
David knelt beside the little girl on the tiled floor, his expensive charcoal suit trousers pressing against the cool ceramic surface without a second thought.
"What if I don't give you the money as charity, Maya?" David asked softly, his dark eyes brimming with genuine warmth and respect.
"What if I hire you right now as my assistant to help me pick out the best cake in the display case?" he suggested gently.
Maya looked into David's eyes, searching his face with a maturity far beyond her six years before giving a tiny, hesitant nod.
Clara wiped a stray tear from her eye, turning around to carefully lift the white frosting birthday cake with its single unlit candle from the glass shelf.
She placed the cake inside a sturdy cardboard box, tying it securely with a bright blue satin ribbon.
"Here you go, Assistant Maya," Clara smiled warmly, setting the box down within the little girl's reach. "Your wage is fully earned."
David handed a hundred-dollar bill to Clara, shaking his head when she tried to give him change. "Keep it for the next kid who comes in."
He offered his hand to Maya, and together they walked out into the crisp autumn air of downtown Chicago.
May you like
A black sleek town car pulled up to the curb, its rear door opened by a uniformed driver who tipped his hat to the young girl.
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